Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
EMBARK ON UNRIVALED WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS WITH GORILLA TREKKING IN RWANDA
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda offers unmatched wildlife encounters. Tourists on Rwanda gorilla safaris get a lifetime opportunity to soak themselves into the tropical rainforest and enjoy up close and personal with a family of mountain gorillas. Rwanda gorilla trekking trips provide typically exhilarating mountain gorilla trekking experiences.
On the gorilla trek, visitors aren’t left to search for mountain gorillas alone, but with the company of an experienced park guide. The whole idea about tracking these large is to allow visitors to have a deep understanding of how they behave in their natural habitat. Mountain gorillas live in groups and they survive only in the natural environment not at the zoo.
Other than Rwanda, mountain gorillas can also be tracked in Uganda and Rwanda. A trek through the rainforest and bamboo forest to encounter these apes is often described as a life-changing adventure.
DESTINATION - WHERE TO LOCATE MOUNTAIN GORILLAS IN RWANDA?
Mountain gorillas are huge living mammals and in Rwanda, they freely roam in the country’s spectacular Volcanoes National Park. Within Volcanoes National Park alone, there exist about 30% of the world’s 1063 endangered mountain gorillas. A good number of this park’s gorilla groups have undergone habituation and a total of 12 gorilla families can be trekked on the Rwanda gorilla tour.
Volcanoes National Park spans the Virunga Conservation Area –VCA, a region that encompasses part of Uganda in the Southwest particularly Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Virunga National Park in the D.R. Congo. Volcanoes National Park sits right in Northwestern Rwanda, Musanze/Ruhengeri region. This is a compact park, but most popular for its abundant wildlife and birdlife. Volcanoes National Park is endowed with over 12 gorilla families that have been fully habituated each visited by a maximum of 8 visitors.
The habituated gorilla families to consider tracking on the Rwanda gorilla tour in Volcanoes National Park include; the Kwitonda group, Susa B, Amahoro, Titus, Pablo, Agashya, Sabyinyo gorilla group, Bwenge, Hirwa gorilla family, Ugenda and Umubano family group. On a single day, tourists visit only one habituated family in Volcanoes National Park.
A gorilla trekking experience leaves enthusiastic primate lovers thrilled. It guarantees a close encounter and interaction with gorilla families in their natural habitat. The day gorilla trek begins with a briefing on guidelines for gorilla tracking, followed by allocating park ranger guides and gorilla families. This begins early around 7:00 am with a briefing at Kinigi till 8:00 am when each group consisting of 8 visitors depart for actual gorilla trekking.
It is a long search for mountain gorillas, involving hiking through the tropical forest and steep slopes to these large apes. The hike through the park’s vegetation and altitudinal area takes 2-6 hours. Volcanoes National Park altitude ranges from 2500 and 4507m, the hike requires one to be physically fit to have a complete gorilla trek. If you have any challenges to do with fitness and you have heavy luggage, we advise you to hire a porter around the park offices.
Note, that gorilla trekking plays a great part in the development of Rwanda’s communities and the nation at large. 10 per cent of the revenue collected from gorilla safaris/permits by RDB is given back to local communities. The revenue-sharing schedule is aimed at attracting support from communities to embrace gorilla protection and conservation practices.
Before you travel to Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda gorilla permit should be a must-book. We encourage all our clients to have their permits booked early and this should be done at least 2-6 months before the actual date of tracking gorillas. One valid gorilla permit costs USD 1500 per person- this is just part of the gorilla safari package. The cost of obtaining permits is high in Rwanda given the high cost involved in protecting gorillas. Part of what visitors pay for gorilla permits is used to facilitate the various gorilla conservation practices.
A gorilla permit in Rwanda can easily be booked through a reliable tour operator in Rwanda that is WanderLux Safaris – wanderluxsafaris@gmail.com | +250 783 218 250.
Adequate preparation is required if you are to enjoy a successful gorilla tour. This includes understanding when to travel, what to pack, gorilla trekking rules, where to stay and checking your fitness levels, etc.
Volcanoes National Park has its doors open to travelers all year. However, the most favorable time to get to the park for your gorilla trip is around the dry season –from June to September or plan your gorilla tour around December to February. Even during the rainy months, although these are the months when Rwanda as a nation records heavy rains including Volcanoes National Park.
The Rwanda gorilla trekking packing list should have waterproof walking shoes/boots, a good camera, long trousers, long-sleeved shirts, insect repellent, rain jacket/poncho, safari hat, snacks, gardening gloves, gorilla permits, visas, bottled drinking water, and others.
- You must be above 15 years old to be permitted to track Rwanda gorillas.
- A maximum of one hour is guaranteed for up-close encounters with gorillas.
- On a single day, one group is tracked by a maximum of 8 tourists.
- No one will be allowed to visit the gorillas if he or she is ill.
- Gorilla permits are a must-have and should be presented before the park authorities for verification.
- A distance of 8-10 meters should be kept away from gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.
- Do not make a loud noise when in the jungles searching for gorilla families.
- Don’t touch a gorilla – body contact can lead these apes to contract infectious diseases.
Choose the right accommodation for your overnight stay and preferably, the lodge that is close to the briefing point. The park has a long list of budget, midrange and luxury lodges.
- The luxury lodging options: Bisate Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, One and Only Gorillas Nest Lodge, Amakoro Songa Lodge, Virunga Lodge and Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge.
- Midrange options: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, The Bishops Lodge, Tiloreza Hotel, Ndanza Escapes.
Other tourism activities besides gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park:
- Golden monkey tracking
- Birding
- Nature walks
- Ellen DeGeneres camps
- Community walks –Iby’Iwacu Village
- Volcano hiking
From Kigali, drive to Volcanoes National Park head offices for about 2-3 hours. Or connect from Kabale via Katuna border/depart from Kisoro via Chanika to Kinigi.
