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The Story of Africa’s Last Mountain Gorillas
Eye-to-eye with giants
Volcanoes National Park Safari Trips & Tours
Volcanoes National Park
Straddling the border of Uganda, DRC and Rwanda, the Virungas are the luscious, magical and utterly spellbinding home of 480 mountain gorillas (sadly, that's more than half the world’s remaining population). On the Rwandan side, the Parc National des Volcans, or Volcanoes National Park, is the place to go for face-to-face encounters with these wonderful primates – an experience worthy of every superlative in the dictionary. But don’t stop at the gorillas; the Virungas are also home to the rare golden monkey and offer a variety of excellent climbing and trekking options, both deserving of an extra linger.
Start with a recommended trip or create one from scratch
11 nights from $23,479 per person
12 nights from $0 per person
12 nights from $21,885 per person
17 nights from $0 per person
11 nights from $20,988 per person
8 nights from $14,773 per person
Volcanoes is one of the best places in the world for gorilla trekking, so there are no prizes for guessing what you’ll be getting up to. There are several habituated gorilla families in the forest so it’s (slightly) easier to gauge trekking times, but there’s still no guarantee how long you may need to walk for. Pack those comfy boots! Treks depart with the sparrows, are led by seasoned guides and scouts, and will take you through the juicy, green forests of the lower volcanoes. After you first lay eyes on your gorillas, you’ll spend an hour with them before heading back. Aside from the furry star attraction, there’s a good selection of activities in Volcanoes making a longer stay attractive. If you’re keen to dig deeper into the forest and all its inhabitants, try trekking with endangered golden monkeys or hiking to Dian Fossey’s grave and seeing what you can spot along the way. Possibilities include lots of monkeys, gorgeous flora, and small antelope. We also recommend taking a walk into the local villages and meeting the communities, and exploring the crater lakes, time allowing.
Not only is the Volcanoes Park dramatic and stunningly beautiful; top-class conservation ethics and excellent transport links to the major safari destinations on the continent make gorilla trekking in the forested mountains an absolute joy.
Active Bisoke Volcano is often described as the "perfect" volcano due its iconic pyramid shape, and hiking to the beautiful crater lake at its top is one of the most memorable experiences in Rwanda (after gorilla trekking of course!).
Permits for trekking in Rwanda currently cost US$1500 for a single day excursion. Funds are channelled directly into the conservation of the endangered gorillas and to the communities on the edge of the park, which is always good news – but there’s no denying it’s expensive…
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