Gorilla Trekking vs Gorilla Tracking: Is There a Difference?

Search for gorillas in Rwanda and you'll see both "gorilla trekking" and "gorilla tracking". They mean the same thing for visitors — but the word "tracking" points to the people who make the whole experience possible.

Same activity, two names

Whether a brochure says trekking or tracking, you're booking the same thing: a $1,500 gorilla permit, a 7:00 AM briefing at Kinigi, a hike into Volcanoes National Park with a ranger guide, and one hour with a habituated gorilla family. "Trekking" emphasises the hike; "tracking" emphasises finding the gorillas. In Rwanda, "gorilla trekking" is the more common term.

Who the trackers are

Every habituated family is followed daily by a small team of trackers. They set out at first light to the place where the family built their night nests, then read the trail — bent stems, fresh feeding sign, dung, knuckle prints — until they find the gorillas. They stay with the family and radio the ranger guide, who leads your group in. Without them, sightings would be a matter of luck; with them, they're almost guaranteed.

When "tracking" really is different

On the gorilla habituation experience, you do much more of the tracking yourself: joining researchers and trackers from early morning as they follow a family that is still being habituated, and spending up to about four hours with them in a group of no more than four. It's a deeper, more demanding experience than a standard trek.

Which should you book?

For most visitors, a standard trek — see our guide to what to expect on trek day. For photographers and return visitors who want more time, the habituation experience is worth considering.

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