Your role
What you'll actually be doing.
Volunteers work alongside rangers and park staff on active conservation tasks — this is a labour placement, not a guided tour with a volunteer label attached. Tasks are assigned based on the site's current needs and your skills.
- Supporting habitat monitoring and data logging alongside ranger teams
- Assisting community education and outreach programmes near the park boundary
- Contributing to trail maintenance, camp operations, or species-monitoring logs depending on rotation
- Working days follow park operations, not a tourist schedule — expect early starts and physical work
Life at the site
A typical day.
06:30Briefing — daily task assignment with the ranger team lead
07:30Field work — monitoring, trail, or outreach tasks depending on rotation
13:00Midday break — meals provided at the volunteer camp
14:30Field work continues — or debrief and data logging on lighter days
18:00Evening — free time at camp, occasional evening talks from park staff
Programme fee
What your contribution covers.
The fee funds the placement itself as well as your keep on site — it is not a profit-generating tour price.
Included
- Accommodation at the volunteer camp for the full placement
- All meals during your placement
- Ranger and staff supervision, task training
- Local transfer between Goma and the site
Not included
- International flights to Goma
- Visa and travel insurance
- Personal field gear (boots, wet-weather kit)
- Vaccinations and pre-departure medical costs
Eligibility
What we ask before you apply.
- Minimum age 18, no upper age limit if fitness allows for the role
- Good physical fitness — placements involve full days on foot in forest terrain
- No specific qualifications required; conservation, education, or veterinary background is useful but not mandatory
- Comfortable with basic camp living conditions and limited connectivity
- A short motivation statement and, for some rotations, a reference check as part of the application
Impact
Where volunteer placements fit in.
Volunteer placements supplement — they don't replace — professional ranger staffing. Programme fees go directly to park operations and the community programmes volunteers support during their placement.
FAQ
Common questions.
Will I trek with the gorillas directly?
Placements are conservation-support roles, not trekking permits. Some rotations include supervised proximity to habituated groups as part of monitoring work, but it isn't guaranteed and isn't the focus of the programme.
Can I extend my placement once I'm there?
Sometimes, subject to spot availability for the following intake — raise it with your on-site coordinator early.
Is this the same application as a permit trek?
No — volunteer placements go through the same application desk but are reviewed for fitness, motivation and role fit rather than permit quota.