The Noheli Gorilla Group lives in Rwanda and has one of the most epic stories in Volcanoes National Park. Records show that the Noheli Gorilla Group has 4 members, comprising a silverback and 3 adult females. The gorilla group was established on the 7th of November 2021 with the silverback, Noheli, offering guidance and protection. Previously, Noheli was a lone silverback, but then three females from the Susa and Isimbe gorilla families joined him. One of them came with her infant. The other 2 females got infants after the family was formed.
However, this is where things take a turn. Along came a lone silverback, known by the name Matsiko. This was after he had departed from the Igisha group on the 15th of October, 2019. Now, Matsiko decided to attack the Noheli Gorilla Group and caused a lot of chaos. Matsiko took the 3 adult females on the 18th of November, 2023, while Noheli, realizing his inability to fight Matsiko, departed. To make things worse, the silverback Noheli has never been found since then.
Cost of the gorilla trek
Firstly, you cannot trek gorillas in Volcanoes National Park without a valid gorilla permit. You need to purchase a permit issued by the Rwanda Development Board to enter Volcanoes National Park and track gorillas. Each gorilla permit goes for only USD 1,500 and needs to be acquired in advance. Standard Safaris can purchase a gorilla permit on your behalf to save you time, money, and disappointments. This is because Rwanda gorilla treks are popular, hence increased competition for obtaining the permit.
The permits offered for sale are also limited each day; you have to purchase them at least 6 months before your gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park. Contact Standard Safaris for a gorilla permit through our email, social media, and mobile phone. You will have to inform us about your preferred trekking date. After we confirm the availability of the permit, you will offer details about your passport and make payment. We shall purchase the permit and send you a soft copy. Ensure that you are at least 15 years old.
How to track the gorilla family?
With your gorilla permit, you will arrive at the Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi. There will be a short briefing where the park personnel will walk you through the tracking guidelines. A professional guide offered by Volcanoes National Park will lead you meticulously along the gorilla trails. Follow the trails until you find the gorilla family. While in the midst of the gorilla family, enjoy watching them eat, play, groom, and solve conflicts, among other things. You will be allowed there for one hour. After this, you will return to the start for debriefing.
When to go?
Go for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park all year round, save for the last Saturday of every month (Umuganda day). But your enjoyment of a gorilla trek depends on your preference for the day’s weather conditions. For instance, gorilla treks in Volcanoes are quite challenging during the wet season when the floor is damp, muddy, and slippery. So, if you want to enjoy this thrilling adventure, travel to Volcanoes National Park between March and May and from October to November. These periods are marked by heavy rainfall and relatively higher humidity compared to the dry periods.
For relatively simpler gorilla treks, visit Volcanoes National Park in the dry season. This generally runs in the periods June to August and December to February. These periods are known for less rainfall, relatively lower humidity, and drier forest trails. The vegetation is also quite low in terms of density. With these factors, movement inside the dense forest is easier, while offering clear sights of the mountain gorillas. But, never forget traveling with a warm sweater, a light rain jacket, hiking boots, a head sock, gaiters, scurf, and others.
How to travel?
There are only 2 options you can choose to travel to Volcanoes National Park. One is a scenic road trip that offers breathtaking views of Rwanda and its numerous rolling hills. The total distance covered on this road trip is around 103.8 kilometers from Kigali to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters at Kinigi. Time taken falls somewhere between 2 and 3 hours. At Standard Safaris, we offer vehicles for hire and driver guides. Our fleet has Toyota Land Cruisers, safari vans, minibuses, and others.
The second option to use while traveling to Volcanoes National Park from Kigali is air transport. Board a luxury helicopter from Kigali International Airport to Musanze Airport, situated to the northeast of Kigali city. The latter is the nearest to Volcanoes National Park, and in just a few minutes, you will drive from there to the park headquarters. Nevertheless, the flight from Kigali takes half an hour. Akagera Aviation operates the flights.
Other activities to do
There are still plenty of activities to enjoy in Volcanoes National Park besides trekking the Noheli Gorilla Group. Visitors can also track other gorilla families, including Urwego, Agashya, Umubano, Kwitonda, Susa, Karisimbi, Igisha, Isimbi, Sabyinyo, Kigoma, and Amahoro etc. Volcanoes National Park also offers hikes to the Dian Fossey Grave, nature walks, birdwatching tours, and hiking in the mountains of Bisoke and Karisimbi.
