Rwanda is one of the best places to view the Silverback Gorillas in their natural habitat and it is the reason many people come to this stunning Landing in this incredible landscape. For most people who embark on the trek and the visit to the gorillas it is the wildlife experience of a lifetime - something that simply cannot be beaten. In total the Volcanoes National Park is home to over twenty families of Mountain Gorilla, with around 280 individual gorillas living on the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes. The gorilla families that are visited are rotated on a daily basis, but it doesn't matter which family you meet, they are all incredible. 

It is important to stress that opportunities to visit the gorillas is limited so you need to book well in advance. Don't expect to be able to see them if you only try to obtain a permit on arrival in Rwanda. 

The treks start first thing in the morning departing at around 07:30am after a short briefing. You should be in good physical condition if you plan to make the walk as some of the treks can be physically demanding. The trek normally lasts between two and five hours depending on the location of the gorilla family and a maximum of eight visitors is allowed per gorilla family. The minimum age for gorilla trekking in Rwanda is 15 years and time with the family is limited to an hour maximum.