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Gorillas In the Mist - The Tour of a Lifetime

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July 24, 2007

“One of the most endangered animals in the world”

This incredible tour takes you into the forested habitat of the mountain Gorilla, where you get to view them with their young, foraging for food. Mountain gorillas are one of the most endangered animals in the world. Scientists estimate that there are about 700 individuals, living in 2 populations of about 300 each, separated by about 20 miles. There is a third population that lives in the Mgahinga range, and migrates between Rwanda and the Congo.

Gorilla in Rwanda are tracked from the Parc National des Volcans which currently has 7 groups and thus 56 permits available per day. The gorilla families here are those of Group 13, Sabinyo, Amahoro , Umubano, Susa, Kwitonda which has crossed from Djomba in the DRC and Hirwa which has recently formed from different habituated families. The Susa group is the largest and thus the best for photographic purposes.


Rwanda is just south of the equator and thus, prone to hot humid weather. You are likely to encounter rain in the forests when you are trekking to locate the gorillas and the entire trek can take anywhere between 1 and 8 hours to locate the gorilla’s. Once the gorilla’s are located, you will get to spend 1 hour in their company. If your budget and time allows, you can track them two days in a row and then perhaps go and see another group.

The peak season runs from June to September and then again from mid December to the end of February.


Permits are required for all tours to see the Gorilla and need to be secured at least three months in advance and sometimes, longer in peak season, Flexibility of dates is essential in booking. The cost of permits is included in the tour. Gorilla tracking permits are limited to 8 permits per gorilla family per day. In Rwanda, 56 permits are available per day and in Uganda, 32. Mgahinga has 8 per day.

Certain rules apply to Gorilla tours and must be adhered to strictly; these are attached along with the contract form. Note that there is a minimum age limit of 15 years.

For further information on this tour, click here or e-mail

Written by philcaines · Filed Under Africa, Eco 

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