Your Africa, beautifully told. Tailor-made East African journeys
Mountain gorilla eating foliage in close-up

Nobu / Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park.

Where the mountains hold the mist, and the gorillas hold your gaze.

Start your Volcanoes National Park journey
YOUR AFRICA, BEAUTIFULLY TOLD.
Travel stylePrivate & tailor-made
Start withYour dates and interests
Suggested paceFewer stops, more time
Your next stepA conversation with Nobu

The Nobu perspective

Volcanoes National Park,
at your pace.

Volcanoes National Park brings Rwanda's mountain gorilla encounters into the misted slopes of the Virungas. Forested volcanoes, golden monkeys and a long conservation story give this north-western park a character distinct from the country's lakes and savannah wildlife areas.

The setting matters as much as the encounter. Bamboo, steep green slopes and cloud frame the trek, while time near a gorilla family can bring the forest into an unusually close focus. Its pace belongs to the animals.

Dian Fossey's conservation legacy is part of this landscape's story. Build the chapter around confirmed permits, suitable trekking arrangements and sufficient time, then consider lakeside rest or another Rwanda landscape as a thoughtfully connected continuation.

Aerial of a Virunga volcano above patchwork farmland

VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK

What to experience

Things to do here

When to go

Best time to visit

Start with the season that suits the journey you want, then confirm conditions for your exact route.

A closer look at Volcanoes National Park

Jul / Individual planning

Your dates, your route

Start with your preferred month. Your designer will help match the season, chosen stays and connections to your route, interests and preferred pace.

June to September and December to February

The drier seasons

June–September and December–February generally bring firmer trails and clearer volcanic views. These are sought-after periods, so permit arrangements need advance consideration. Forest conditions and trekking demands still vary; match the dates and pace to the people travelling.

March–May and October–November

The wetter seasons

March–May and October–November bring lush forest and wetter, muddier slopes, sometimes with more demanding climbs. The gorillas are not a seasonal migration event, but encounters require confirmed arrangements. Allow flexibility for trail conditions rather than expecting a fixed walking time.

12 places to stay

Where to stay

Compare the selection by style.

12 stays · All stays

Good to know

Know before you go

Getting there

Road and air connections depend on the wider route and current operations. Nobu confirms the suitable connection for your dates before approval.

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Fees and permissions

Park, conservancy, community, activity or permit rules may apply. Nobu confirms the operative permissions and current fees in the approved quote.

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Time and pace

The right stay depends on season, interests and onward routing. Nobu will recommend a pace for the individual journey rather than promise a fixed transfer or duration.

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Volcanoes National Park fees and entry rules

Good questions. Straight answers.

When is the best time to visit Volcanoes National Park?

The dry seasons, June to September and December to February, give the firmest trails and clearest volcanoes; gorilla trekking runs year-round, with greener forest and fewer trekkers in the wetter months.

Do you need a permit to trek gorillas in Volcanoes National Park?

Yes. A permit is required and issued in limited daily numbers; we secure it well in advance and confirm the current official rate with you.

How hard is the gorilla trek in Volcanoes?

It varies by family: some are found within an hour or two, others require a longer, steeper climb through forest at altitude. We match the family and route to your fitness.

What's the difference between gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda?

Rwanda's Volcanoes is quicker to reach from its capital and known for ease and polish; Uganda's Bwindi often costs less and offers a wider range of sectors —

Can you see golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park?

Yes. The park has habituated troops of rare golden monkeys, tracked on a shorter, gentler trek than the gorillas.

Suggested Volcanoes National Park journeys

A few good ways to begin.

Suggested routes are a starting point for a tailored journey.

All journeys

Helpful stories & guides

Volcanoes National Park travel guides

Useful reads to help you compare places, think through the timing and imagine how your journey could come together.

Use the left and right arrow keys, or swipe, to browse the stories.

Pair it with

Add another chapter.

Give your time in Volcanoes National Park another dimension. We’ll help you consider the connections and the time each place deserves.

Drone view of a curved white sandbar and small boats in turquoise water off Zanzibar, Tanzania

A journey made around you

Your next chapter
starts with a conversation.

Tell us what has caught your attention. We will start there and shape the journey around you.

Begin your journey