Rwanda, also known as the Switzerland of Africa, is one of the few countries in the world where mountain gorillas can be found. These gorillas live in the country’s famous Volcanoes National Park. Mountain gorillas were once almost extinct, but their numbers are slowly increasing due to conservation efforts that help keep them safe in their natural habitat.
Other populations of mountain gorillas are found in Virunga National Park in Congo, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. They live at high elevations in rainforests and have long, thick fur to help them adapt to cold temperatures.
Rwanda offers the most exciting gorilla photography experience in Africa because the mountain gorilla habitat in Rwanda is mainly bamboo. This allows tourists to take clear photos in open spaces, unlike in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, where the vegetation is much thicker, especially during the wet season.
All tourists who come to trek mountain gorillas in Africa want to capture memories to take home or show their friends and family.
A gorilla photography tour must be planned carefully before arriving in the country. When photographing mountain gorillas in Rwanda, tourists must follow gorilla trekking rules and regulations, such as keeping a distance of 7 meters from the gorillas.
The most important rule for photography is to avoid flash cameras. You should either turn off your camera flash or bring a camera without a flash.
For a better experience in gorilla photography, tourists are advised to carry extra batteries for their cameras or ensure the camera is fully charged.
This will allow you to take pictures for the entire hour without the battery running out. It’s also a good idea to bring a waterproof backpack to protect your camera in case it rains.
To make the experience better, it’s recommended that you are physically fit. Mountain gorillas live at high elevations, and it can take 1-6 hours of hiking to find a gorilla family, as gorillas move daily and do not sleep in the same nests each night.
However, trackers go ahead of the trekkers to locate the gorilla family, making the trek easier.
Gorilla Photography Permits
Rwanda does not charge a specific fee for gorilla photography. You only need to buy a mountain gorilla trekking permit, which costs $1,500 per person per trek.
This allows you to photograph and observe the mountain gorillas for an hour. For those interested in gorilla filming in Rwanda, there is an additional fee of $5,000 per hour, plus $2,000 that will be refunded once you give a copy of your video to the Rwanda Development Board and provide proof that the film promotes conservation and awareness of mountain gorillas.
Rwanda can be visited year-round, but the best time to take clear and better photos is during the dry seasons from June to September and December to February.