Your day starts early. Briefing at Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi begins at 7am, and groups of eight are allocated to one of the habituated gorilla families based on fitness and preference.
The trek itself can take anywhere from 45 minutes to six hours each way. Guides stay in radio contact with trackers who located the family at dawn, so the route adapts as the gorillas move.
Once you reach the family, you have exactly one hour. Masks are required, a seven-metre distance is the rule, and flash photography is not allowed. The gorillas set the terms — sometimes a curious juvenile will close the distance themselves.
Hire a porter. It costs a small amount, supports local families who once relied on poaching, and it changes the trek from an endurance test into an experience you can actually enjoy.
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