National park

Volcanoes National Park

Mountain gorillas and golden monkeys on the Virunga volcanoes.

Northern Province
Best: Jun–Sep

Overview

Area: 160 km²
Gorilla families: 12 habituated, 96 permits a day
Highest peak: Karisimbi, 4,507 m
From Kigali: About 2.5 hours to Kinigi
Briefing: Kinigi headquarters, 7 am

Volcanoes National Park protects 160 km² of bamboo and montane forest on the Rwandan side of the Virunga Mountains. It takes in five volcanoes, Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo, and borders Virunga National Park in DR Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.

Visit Rwanda lists 12 habituated gorilla families. Each family can be visited by eight people a day for one hour, so only 96 gorilla permits are issued daily. Visitors meet at the park headquarters in Kinigi at 7 am and are assigned a family by fitness; treks take from 30 minutes to four hours or more.

The park was the base of the primatologist Dian Fossey, whose grave at the old Karisoke research camp can be visited on a guided hike. Golden monkeys, volcano climbs and the annual Kwita Izina gorilla-naming ceremony in September complete the visit.

Mountain gorillas
One hour with a habituated family; groups are matched to your fitness on the day.
Golden monkeys
Troops of this endangered Albertine Rift monkey in the bamboo zone.
Dian Fossey's grave
A guided hike to the Karisoke camp where Fossey worked and is buried.

Things to do

Gorilla trekking
Permit includes park entry, a ranger guide and one hour with the gorillas.
US$1,500
Golden monkey tracking
Morning treks in the bamboo forest.
US$100
Dian Fossey tomb hike
Two to three hours each way through the forest, above 3,000 m.
US$75
Volcano hikes
Day climbs of Bisoke's crater lake, Muhabura or Gahinga; two days on Karisimbi.
From US$75

Prices are the foreign non-resident rate per person. Resident and East African rates are lower; see the full table below.

Wildlife and nature to look for

Mountain gorilla
Golden monkey
Forest elephant
Buffalo
Bushbuck

When to go

June to September and December to February are driest and trails are least muddy. Treks run all year; March to May and November are wettest.

Jan: Good
Feb: Good
Mar: Wetter
Apr: Wetter
May: Wetter
Jun: Best
Jul: Best
Aug: Best
Sep: Best
Oct: Good
Nov: Wetter
Dec: Good

Fees and permits

Official rates from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) (tourist permit prices on the RDB permit portal). Children, vehicle and accommodation rates are in the full tariff.

Volcanoes National Park fees by visitor category
Item	Foreign non-resident	Foreign resident	Rest of Africa	East African citizen
Mountain gorilla trekking permitper person, one hour with a habituated family (minimum age 15)Rwandan citizens: US$200. The resident, African and East African rates are promotional and RDB says they do not apply from June to October 2026.	US$1,500	US$500	US$500	US$200
Golden monkey trackingper adultRwandan citizens: RWF 4,000. Foreign residents of other EAC countries: US$80.	US$100	US$65	—	US$65
Dian Fossey tomb or Bisoke hikeper adultRwandan citizens: RWF 4,000. Foreign residents of other EAC countries: US$65.	US$75	US$60	—	US$55
Muhabura hikeper adultRwandan citizens: RWF 5,000. Foreign residents of other EAC countries: US$80.	US$100	US$75	—	US$60
Karisimbi hike (two days)per adultRwandan citizens: RWF 30,000. Foreign residents of other EAC countries: US$300.	US$400	US$250	—	US$200

Mountain gorilla trekking permitper person, one hour with a habituated family (minimum age 15)
Foreign non-resident
US$1,500
Foreign resident
US$500
Rest of Africa
US$500
East African citizen
US$200
Rwandan citizens: US$200. The resident, African and East African rates are promotional and RDB says they do not apply from June to October 2026.
Golden monkey trackingper adult
Foreign non-resident
US$100
Foreign resident
US$65
East African citizen
US$65
Rwandan citizens: RWF 4,000. Foreign residents of other EAC countries: US$80.
Dian Fossey tomb or Bisoke hikeper adult
Foreign non-resident
US$75
Foreign resident
US$60
East African citizen
US$55
Rwandan citizens: RWF 4,000. Foreign residents of other EAC countries: US$65.
Muhabura hikeper adult
Foreign non-resident
US$100
Foreign resident
US$75
East African citizen
US$60
Rwandan citizens: RWF 5,000. Foreign residents of other EAC countries: US$80.
Karisimbi hike (two days)per adult
Foreign non-resident
US$400
Foreign resident
US$250
East African citizen
US$200
Rwandan citizens: RWF 30,000. Foreign residents of other EAC countries: US$300.

Rwandan citizens' rates are given under each row. Foreign residents need at least four consecutive months' residence or a work permit in their passport to pay resident rates.
Book permits online through RDB or a licensed tour operator; cash is not accepted at the park. RDB does not say whether prices include VAT. Confirm the amount when you book.
From November to May RDB gives 30% off a gorilla permit if you also spend two nights in Akagera or Nyungwe (or one night in each), with a paid hotel receipt and one paid park activity.

Getting there

By road
From KigaliAbout 2.5 hours
Paved road north through Musanze to the park headquarters at Kinigi.

Open larger map Directions Marker shows an approximate location.

Photos

The Virunga volcanoes rising above farmland on the edge of Volcanoes National ParkPhoto: Nina R, CC BY 2.0

A golden monkey foraging in the bamboo of Volcanoes National ParkPhoto: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0

Dian Fossey's grave and the gorilla graveyard at the Karisoke campPhoto: Fanny Schertzer, CC BY 3.0

Know before you go

Permits sell out months ahead in June to September; book early through RDB or a licensed operator.
You must be 15 or older to trek gorillas. Porters can be hired at the start of the trek.
Altitude is 2,500–4,000 m. Bring rain gear, gloves for nettles and sturdy boots.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a gorilla permit in Rwanda?

US$1,500 per person for foreign visitors. RDB lists promotional rates of US$500 for foreign residents and African citizens and US$200 for East African and Rwandan citizens, which do not apply from June to October 2026.

Is there a cheaper gorilla permit in the low season?

From November to May RDB takes 30% off if you combine gorillas with two nights in Akagera or Nyungwe, or one night in each, and show a paid hotel receipt and one paid activity.

How long is a gorilla trek?

From about 30 minutes to four hours or more each way, depending on where the family is. You then spend one hour with the gorillas.

Sources

Checked on 25 October 2026. Fees and rules change; confirm with the authority or your operator before you pay.

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Combine your trip

Places to pair with Volcanoes National Park

All Rwanda places

Islands and terraced hills on Lake Burera

Caves and lakes

Northern Province

Musanze Caves and the Twin Lakes

A lava-tube cave and the twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo below the volcanoes.

A visitor and an RDB guide looking out over the Gishwati forest

National park

Western Province

Gishwati-Mukura National Park

Rwanda's newest park: restored forest, chimpanzees and golden monkeys.

Green hills and bays of Lake Kivu seen from Karongi (Kibuye)

Lake and lakeside towns

Western Province

Lake Kivu

Beaches, islands and the Congo Nile Trail on a Great Rift lake.

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