June 20, 2026 · 6 min read
Photo: François Terrier, CC BY 2.0
Rwanda’s Behind the Scene Gorilla Package — Three Days Inside Gorilla Conservation
The Behind the Scene Gorilla Package is Rwanda Development Board’s most immersive gorilla product — a three-day conservation experience that takes private visitors inside the daily operational world of mountain gorilla protection. Priced at $15,000 for a minimum of three visitors over three consecutive days at Volcanoes National Park, it stands apart from both the standard trekking permit and the Exclusive Mountain Gorilla Experience in the depth of access it provides.
This is not a product for the casual visitor. It is designed for those who want to understand what it actually takes to keep mountain gorillas alive, not just to watch them for an hour.
What the Behind the Scene Package Includes
The Behind the Scene Package includes all the benefits of the Exclusive Mountain Gorilla Experience — private group access, lodge briefing, park headquarters briefing, gorilla family selection by request, and flexible starting times — plus an additional set of experiences exclusive to this product:
Pre-Trek Conservation Briefing by Park Management
Before any trekking begins, the group receives a full presentation and meeting with park management on the state of gorilla conservation in Volcanoes National Park. This covers population monitoring, health protocols, habituation progress, anti-poaching operations, and the data behind Rwanda’s mountain gorilla recovery. It is the same briefing given to international conservation organisations visiting the park — not the tourist summary given at Kinigi Headquarters.
Gorilla Trekking with Tracking Experts and Conservation Specialists
Each gorilla trek during the three-day period is conducted with the park’s tracking experts — the rangers whose daily work involves locating and monitoring gorilla families from before dawn — and with gorilla conservation specialists. The experience of trekking with people who know the individual animals in the family by name and by temperament produces a qualitatively different encounter than trekking with a generalist guide.
Live Experiences with Anti-Poaching Teams, Researchers, and Vets
The Behind the Scene Package provides direct access to three professional groups that most gorilla visitors never encounter:
Anti-poaching teams — the rangers who patrol the park’s boundaries and buffer zones continuously. Understanding the operational reality of anti-poaching work in the Virunga landscape — the scale of the terrain, the nature of the threats, the community dynamics involved — provides context for the gorilla encounter that no standard briefing can offer.
Gorilla researchers — scientists conducting long-term behavioural and ecological studies on the habituated families. Spending time with researchers gives guests insight into what is actually known and unknown about mountain gorilla social behaviour, communication, and family dynamics — and the methodology behind gathering that knowledge.
Gorilla Doctors vets — the veterinary team that monitors the health of habituated gorilla families and intervenes when medical issues arise. Understanding the disease vulnerability of mountain gorillas, the protocols in place to manage the boundary between human and gorilla health, and the cases the team has managed provides a layer of understanding of why the rules around gorilla trekking exist.
Complimentary Experiences — Golden Monkeys, Musanze Caves, Nature Walks, Buhanga Eco-park
The Behind the Scene Package includes complimentary access to four additional experiences in and around Volcanoes National Park:
- Golden monkey trekking — Volcanoes National Park is home to the endangered golden monkey (Cercopithecus kandti), found only in the Virunga mountains. The RDB golden monkey trekking permit costs $100 per person as a standalone booking. The Behind the Scene Package includes this at no additional charge.
- Nature walks — guided walks through the park’s buffer zone and surrounding landscape, providing context for the agricultural boundary zone and its relationship to gorilla habitat.
- Musanze Caves — a 2km network of lava tubes beneath Musanze, formed by volcanic activity on the Virunga range. Standard access costs $50 per person. Included in the Behind the Scene Package.
- Buhanga Eco-park — a sacred forest of significant cultural importance to Rwanda, with ancient trees and medicinal plants. Standard access costs $40 per person for the nature walk. Included in the Behind the Scene Package.
Community Visit — Interaction with Former Poachers
One of the most distinctive elements of the Behind the Scene Package is a visit and structured interaction with members of local communities adjacent to the park — including former poachers who have been integrated into the conservation economy through RDB’s community programmes. Understanding the human geography of the gorilla conservation story — why people poached, what changed, and what the conservation economy now means to these communities — is context that transforms how the gorilla encounter is understood.
Personalised Autograph Photo
At the conclusion of the Behind the Scene experience, guests receive a personalised photograph signed by the park rangers, guides, and conservation experts they have worked with over the three days. A small but meaningful record of a significant experience.
The Price — $15,000 for a Minimum of 3 Visitors, 3 Consecutive Days
The Behind the Scene Package costs $15,000 at the same price point as the Exclusive Mountain Gorilla Experience, but the structure is different. The minimum group size is three visitors (not two), and the booking covers three consecutive days rather than a single day. The $15,000 is for the package — not per day — making it $5,000 per day for the group, or approximately $1,667 per person per day for a group of three, reducing per-person cost as group size increases toward the eight-person maximum.
The low season discount does not apply. The MICE conference discount does not apply. This is a fixed-price product.
Who This Experience Is Designed For
The Behind the Scene Package is relevant for a narrow but specific group of travellers:
- Conservation professionals, researchers, or donors with an interest in gorilla conservation operations
- Serious wildlife photographers who want multiple days of gorilla access with expert guidance — combined with Rwanda’s filming and professional photography permit ($5,000 for three consecutive days), the Behind the Scene Package creates the most comprehensive gorilla photography access available
- Documentary film productions seeking access to anti-poaching, research, and veterinary operations alongside the gorilla encounter — additional filming crew fees apply ($12,000 per day for a crew of up to 8)
- Private families or groups for whom a standard gorilla trek would be insufficient — who want an experience that cannot be replicated, and that produces a lasting understanding of what mountain gorilla conservation actually involves
Booking the Behind the Scene Package
The Behind the Scene Package is arranged through a licensed Rwanda-based tour operator in coordination with RDB. The lead time for booking is longer than for standard permits or the Exclusive Experience, as the package requires coordination with anti-poaching teams, researchers, and veterinary staff whose schedules must be aligned with the visit dates. Begin the enquiry process a minimum of three to six months before your intended visit.
We manage the full coordination with RDB and the park’s operational teams — confirming availability, structuring the three-day schedule, arranging any additional filming permits required, and selecting appropriate lodge accommodation for the duration. Contact us with your intended dates and group composition to receive a full proposal.
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