Gorilla trips in Rwanda
Are you planning a gorilla trip in Rwanda? Below is a complete guide prepared by Active African Vacations, one of the best guiding and trusted travel companies. It will help you plan and book your gorilla trip successfully. Gorilla tracking is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that attracts many nature lovers and researchers to the land of a thousand hills.
Despite the high costs, time and aches gone through from booking to the actual hiking activity, as you search and later watch the endangered primates in their natural habitat, gorilla trekking is one of the best wildlife experiences every traveler should participate in while on a Rwanda safari.
What is gorilla tracking?
Gorilla tracking is an amazing activity that involves walking/hiking through lush forests, challenging terrain, crossing rivers and swamps to search for the gorillas. It is an activity that requires one to be mentally and physically prepared. The trek grants you an opportunity to spend one hour in the presence of the great apes. For those who wish to spend more hours, the best option is visiting the Rushaga Sector in Bwindi National Park in Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is only a four-hour drive from Kigali. Although it can be difficult to track gorillas, many people believe that the last encounter with the primates is the best wildlife experience.
Where is gorilla tracking done in Rwanda?
Gorilla tracking is regarded as the most popular activity in Rwanda. It is mainly carried out in the Volcanoes National Park that lies in the northwestern part of the country, covering approximately 16,000 hectares. This mountain gorilla park consists of afro-montane forests, bamboo, vast swamps, and savanna grasslands, and five of the eight Virunga volcanoes, which include Mount Karisimbi, Mount Bisoke, Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhabura, and Mount Sabinyo.
Volcanoes National Park is also home to other wild creatures, including bush elephants, golden monkeys, bushbucks, hyenas, duikers, and buffalos, among others.
What are the other gorilla tracking destinations?
Besides Volcanoes National Park, the other gorilla tracking destinations are Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, in DR Congo in Virunga National Park and Kahuzi Biega National Park, where we find lowland gorillas. Some travellers can opt for double or triple gorilla tracking; the final encounter of the gorilla family is regarded as one of the most exciting and memorable wildlife encounters in Africa.
Cost of gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
For one to participate in gorilla tracking, he/she must acquire a gorilla tracking permit in advance. At least this should be 3 months before the tracking date. Gorilla permits in Rwanda cost $1500 for foreign non-residents, $500 for foreign residents and East African residents, and $200 for Rwandans. Booking the gorilla permits can be done directly through the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) website or your trusted tour operator after presenting your passport details.
There are 12 habituated gorilla families available for daily tracking, and only 8 people are allowed to visit a particular group per day. This means that there are only 96 gorilla permits available for daily tracking.
It should be noted that the permit cost excludes accommodation, flight tickets, meals, ground transport, and other expenses. Your tour operator with provide a detailed breakdown of the gorilla safari.
Actual gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda starts with a briefing from the park authorities and Rangers at around 7:30 am at Kinigi park center. After the briefing, participants are divided into groups and assigned to a particular gorilla family depending on their fitness levels. Hire a porter to help you carry your luggage or extra equipment. The trek may take one to six hours. Always listen to your guide while on the trek and with the gorillas. Stay calm and avoid sudden movements. You will spend one hour in the presence of the gorillas, watch the young ones roll, the females take care of the young ones, and the silverback protects the family, as you take photos and short videos. After one hour, return to the starting point to meet your driver guide. Regardless of which group you are allocated to, the experience is equally rewarding.
How to prepare for gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park
As you prepare for gorilla tracking in Volcanoes, the first and most important thing you should do is to book a gorilla tracking permit, and this should be done three months before the tracking date, especially for those who are targeting the peak season from June to September. A permit in Rwanda costs $ 1500.
Booking your travel vehicle
Though Rwanda has well constructed and improved roads, always consider travelling in a 4×4 vehicle because the road from the park center to the starting point of the trek is not tarmac and has harsh terrain that can only be traversed by a 4×4 vehicle.
What to pack for your gorilla safari
As you prepare for your gorilla trip, the following should not miss your pack
- -Good hiking waterproof boots.
- -Clothing including: 2 pairs of trousers, long-sleeved shirts, rain jackets, a long coat, warm jackets and sweaters, and light clothes to wear while at the accommodation.
- -A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to prevent direct sun rays onto your body.
- -Garden gloves to help you hold on to some plant branches as you trek.
- -Insect repellents to prevent insect stings and bites.
- – Cameras with long-lasting batteries for photography and binoculars to help you focus on other wildlife species as you trek.
- -Avoid wearing bright colours that may attract the gorillas and end up charging at you.
- -Pack enough drinking water to keep you hydrated and some snacks to keep you strong.
- -Consider tipping the porters and guides as an appreciation for the support rendered during the trek. Tipping is optional but you should carry extra money for any emergencies during the safari.
What is the age limit for Gorilla Trekking?
The minimum age limit for Gorilla Trekking is 15 years, and the maximum age is not stated, depending on fitness levels. Gorilla trekking for elders is now possible, especially in the Volcanoes National Park. This is through the provision of sedan chair carriers, to carry those who feel unfit and are unable to walk into the forest at the time of their trek. Porters carry them to and from the forest during your trek. You can hire a sedan chair in advance or on the day of the trek at $300-$500, depending on the trek distance.
What is the best time for gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park?
Primate enthusiasts carry out Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park throughout the year. The best time to do gorilla trekking in Africa is during the drier months. These are December, January, February, June, to September. Traveling to the park in these months is easier and gives a clear view of the gorillas. This is because the vegetation cover is not too dense to obstruct you.
How to get to Volcanoes National Park.
By air: You can get to Volcanoes National Park in the fastest and easiest way by taking a flight that takes 25 minutes from Kigali International Airport to Ruhengeri airstrip. From Ruhengeri, you will take a special to connect to Kinigi park center.
By road: The journey from Kigali to the volcanoes takes 2 to 2.5 hours, depending on your stopovers along the way. Using the road is affordable, convenient and scenic. If you have booked with a tour operator you will drive at your own pace as you enjoy the gentle rolling hills and cultivated slopes at Rwanda’s countryside.
Another budget-friendly road option is using public buses from Nyabugogo to Musanze. However, when you reach Musanze, you will boat a private vehicle or join other trekkers to the park center. Rwanda has well-maintained and efficient road net work that enables you reach your desired destination in the right time.
Travel to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla tracking with Active African Vacations, your trusted tour operator. We offer a range of highly customized vehicles, including safari vehicles, Land Cruisers, vans, Jeeps, minibuses, and Rav4s for both guided safaris and self-drive. Contact us for all your travel solutions in East Africa.