How Hard is Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park?
Discover how hard gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is, with insights on trail difficulty, altitude, fitness levels, and what to expect on your adventure.
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park offers a special opportunity for you to explore mountain gorillas in their natural environment. But before you pack the bags, have you wondered how hard it is to track gorillas in Volcanoes National Park? Trekking in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda demands some fitness levels. Luckily, even visitors with moderate fitness levels can be in a position to enjoy a trek with gorillas.
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park can be challenging the fact that visitors embark on a journey characterized by steep terrains, uneven paths, and dense vegetation. The level of difficulty or hardness of gorilla trekking is influenced by different factors, including;
The terrain & altitude
Gorilla habitats feature uneven terrain. You can bump into steep slopes, muddy floors, and dense vegetation, featuring a rainforest and bamboo. Volcanoes National Park lies at an altitude of 2400 and 4507 meters. The highest point in Volcanoes National Park lies on Mount Karisimbi, which rises to 4507 meters. Generally, gorilla treks revolve around the lower altitude areas of 2400m.
Fitness level
Physical fitness is required for any successful gorilla trekking adventure. You must be fit enough to have a round trek with mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. Unlike other adventures, trekking mountain gorillas doesn’t require advanced hiking skills/techniques. A moderate physical fitness level is enough to get you started with your adventure with mountain gorillas.
Vegetation cover
How dense the vegetation is influences visitor navigation when searching for mountain gorillas in their natural environment. The dense vegetation can cause challenges during photography and also requires clearing here and there to create a path to locate gorillas.
Location of gorilla groups
Where a group of gorillas is found in the course of the day can also influence the level of difficulty of trekking these apes. The longer the location is, the harder it can be to find. Usually, they tend to move to further places during the dry season to search for what to feed on. Gorilla habitats tend to experience scarcity in food supply during the dry season, a factor that forces these apes to move long distances. When they move long distances searching for what to eat, visitors also take longer to find them.
How to prepare for gorilla trekking
A successful trip requires prior preparation and readiness. Here is how you can prepare for your gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo.
Conduct some physical exercise
This should be a must-do before you pack bags for an actual trekking adventure with mountain gorillas. This adventure being so demanding in terms of physical fitness, you must do some fitness exercises in the high elevation areas in Uganda or when back in your home country. Early preparation can make your muscles get used to tough terrains, and during the gorilla trek, you won’t encounter much challenge as you navigate through the rainforest.
Pack the right gear
Not anything must be carried for gorilla trekking. Consider essentials first on your packing list. This should cover the footwear and clothing. The recommended footwear gear to have includes waterproof hiking boots to protect your feet from muddy ground, and also as you navigate through the dense forest where thorny plants are found. You should have waterproof hiking boots that also provide support to your ankles as you walk. This can guarantee you a safe trek to interact with a group of mountain gorillas. Gardening gloves are essential to protect your hands in case you happen to grab thorny or itchy plants for support.
Long-sleeved shirts
Avoid shorts because the trek with mountain gorillas involves exploring the dense vegetation with all kinds of species, from thorny plants, insects and others. Your hands must be protected not only from the biting insects but also from the falling tree branches.
Plan your gorilla trek around the dry season
Don’t pack your bags and set off any time of the year that you are heading to track gorillas. Yes, the gorilla destinations welcome visitors all year round, but the best time to experience gorilla trekking less of challenges is during the dry season. The dry season occurs from June to September, then another phase starts from December to February.
Visiting Volcanoes National Park around the dry months presents you with a chance to navigate the forest with ease. These months record the lowest rain, and the ground is usually drier and vegetation can be clear, thus making it possible to enjoy a trek with mountain gorillas less of interferences.
Book a gorilla tour in advance
Consider securing your gorilla trekking slot in advance to allow you to do adequate preparation for your adventure. Booking a gorilla tour early gives you ample time to prepare and ensure that you have everything it takes to enjoy a successful trek with gorillas, and also prepare yourself physically.
Keep yourself hydrated and energized
Being a long day trek, bottled water and snacks are required to allow you to regain energy to complete the trek. Gorilla trekking is exhausting, and you stand a chance of making a round journey when you keep yourself hydrated and energized. At times, visitors are advised to move with a packed lunch because the journey to see gorillas is generally unpredictable. Thus, you need to be fully prepared for it.
Follow your guide’s advice or instructions
Gorilla trekking is done with the lead of an experienced guide. At all times, you must observe what your trekking leader tells you to avoid encountering challenges during the search for gorillas.
Choose the gorilla family that is easier to track
A visitor can request a group that is not energy-demanding. You can talk to the local tour operator in advance, and when booking gorilla permits, your request can be put into consideration. On the actual day of allocating gorilla families, the park official can be informed of your fitness level and the group to allocate to you. Note, prior communication is required to enable the park management to plan their operations.
Booking gorilla permits
You need a valid gorilla permit to visit Volcanoes National Park for a gorilla holiday. A single gorilla permit in Rwanda as of 2025 still stands at USD 1500 per guest. You should also take note that a gorilla permit is only valid for one trekking session. When your gorilla trekking adventure is done, the gorilla permit is rendered expired. The permits are also nontransferable. The detailed captures are specific individual, and you can’t give them to a colleague or friend to track on your behalf.
Recommended age limit
Anyone above 15 years stands a chance to travel to track gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. Gorilla permits are issued to persons within this age bracket, considering the fact that they are not carriers of infectious diseases, and also they are fit enough.
Ready to go?
The level of difficulty or hardness of gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park varies depending on the number of factors. These factors can be individual fitness level or park-related, for instance, the altitudinal level. Prior preparation is a must for you to be in a position to enjoy a successful round trekking adventure with mountain gorillas.
