Volcanoes National Park

Home of the Mountain Gorillas, possibly Africa’s single most exhilarating experience.

What to expect…

There is something in our collective psyche that draws us to gorillas. Something evocative about the mist, the primal jungle habitat they live in, the idea of climbing a mountain to spend one precious hour with one of our closest relatives as they gently munch on leaves and bamboo, and frolic with their babies, equally interested in us as we are in them. The rules around gorilla trekking are strict, you get one hour from the moment you join the family. This is in order to protect them from human diseases, as being such close relatives of ours they are highly susceptible to our viruses. You also have to wear a mask when with the family, and, naturally, no touching or approaching close is allowed. They are a naturally docile ape, chewing away on undergrowth, grooming one another, napping often and playing with the youngsters in a very human-like way.

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An adult silverback gorilla lies down and looks over at us. Volcanoes National Park.

An adult silverback gorilla sits in the misty greenery of Volcanoes National Park.

A gorilla examines their thumb and forefinger. Volcanoes National Park.

When to Visit

Volcanoes National Park is great to visit all year round, though with the long rains of April through May this makes trekking much more difficult due to the mud and visibility worse with the mist and clouds. Short rains in November can have similar effects on hiking. Of course, being wetter generally leads to more mist and atmosphere as well.

Due to its location, Volcanoes National Park can experience rain all year round but the predominantly drier months of January through March and June through October provide the easiest trekking.