Volcanoes National Park

Wildlife & Animals

Expert

Philip is the author of the Bradt guidebook to Rwanda.

Tracking mountain gorillas is one of Africa’s top wildlife experiences, and Volcanoes National Park is perhaps the best place for it. There are 20 habituated troops here, 12 of which are used for visitors (the others are habituated for research purposes). Each troop has its own home range and family structure. Budget-permitting, you can consider booking two gorilla treks on two different days.

GorillaCommon

ChimpanzeeNone

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

LionNone

LeopardNone

CheetahNone

HippoNone

BuffaloRare

ZebraNone

WildebeestNone

ElephantRare

GiraffeNone

Wildlife Highlights

In addition to mountain gorillas, troops of habituated golden monkeys, endemic to the Albertine Rift, can also be tracked. They are among the most beautiful of African monkeys and their gentle nature makes them even more attractive. The monkeys have become totally relaxed around humans, which means you can observe them interacting, feeding and going about their daily routines.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Gorilla trekking is available throughout the year. Sightings are almost guaranteed at any time. In heavy rain, the trails become slippery, therefore tracking gorillas is easier during the Dry season, from June to August, and to a lesser extent in September, when it also rains a bit less. January and February are relatively dry as well. Gorilla trekking in the Dry season may require booking far in advance to ensure getting a permit.