Gorilla trekking Rwanda
Gorilla trekking Rwanda
Gorilla trekking Rwanda the ultimate mountain Gorilla trekking experience which can only be achieved in three countries in the entire world. The three countries that host the rare mountain Gorillas are Uganda, Democratic republic of Congo and Rwanda. Rwanda homes over half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world. Rwanda tourism has developed from the ancient bad history of the genocide to one of the popular tourism destinations in the world. The landmark was opened more to Europe after becoming official partners with Arsenal Football Club. Of recent the Arsenal player David Luiz, the Brazilian was in Rwanda doing Gorilla trek Rwanda. When one jet to Kigali international airport only the sad part of the country welcomes you with bad historical happens that are kept in different national Museums citing the genocide event.
Gorilla trekking Rwanda is done in Volcanoes national park which is just 2 to 3hours drive from the city Centre of Kigali. The park is found in Ruhengeri district in the North-Western part near the Uganda border. Unlike other gorilla trekking destinations like Bwindi impenetrable forest or Mgahinga Gorilla national park which are located miles away from the capital Kampala taking more than 9 hours drive. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is more convenient with a possibility of one-day Gorilla tour package from Kigali available, less strenuous due to the small and less driving time. Gorilla trek Rwanda has impacted much in Rwandan Tourism, 90% of the country Tourists come for Gorilla trekking in Rwanda. The other activities that tourists can enjoy in Rwanda outside Mountain Gorilla trekking is Chimpanzee trekking, Canopy walk, Waterfall hike, birding, nature walks all done in Nyungwe Forest national park. Game drives, boat cruise, sightseeing, birding done in Akagera national park and Lake Kivu.
Rwanda currently has 10 habituated Gorilla families that are distributed across the Volcanoes national park. Gorillas are rare primates that share 98% of their DNA with humans hence nicknaming them the human cousins. They leave in families that are led by the dominant male called the Silverback Gorilla. They are territorial animals hence in case of any cross boundaries and accidental meeting with another Gorilla groups most of the Gorillas fight. The Rwandan Gorilla families are Karisimbi Gorilla family, Susa Gorilla family, Umabano Gorilla family, Sabyinyo gorilla family, Hirwa Gorilla family, Bwenge gorilla family, Agasha Gorilla family, Ugende Gorilla Family, Titus Gorila family and Amahoro Gorilla Family.
Gorilla trekking Rwanda starts very early in the morning by 7 am with clearing and general briefing at the park headquarters. Volcanoes national park has only one briefing point unlike Bwindi impenetrable forest of Uganda which has four sectors where Gorilla trekking are done. The briefing is done by the chief warden before the guests are subdivided into groups. Like any other Mountain Gorilla trekking countries, guests are subdivided into groups of 8 travellers. Each group will be led by a game ranger and the group is allocated one Gorilla family. The briefing is done in two languages those are English and French only and all the guides speak the two languages. Gorilla trekking takes from2 to 8 hours depending on the Gorilla group which is allocated to you. Rwanda is unique more as far as Gorilla trekking Rwanda is concerned in that Rwanda development Board allows guests to fully book one gorilla family for tracking. Hence such special cases you’re given a gorilla family where you only will track for that time. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes is nice with vast wildlife experience got. One can sport more birds around the bamboo forest, Golden monkey and others. After meeting the gorilla, the guests are allowed only a maximum of 1 hour to be with the Gorillas, take as many pictures or videos as you can but when following the Gorilla trekking rules and regulations.
How to get to Volcanoes national park?
Volcanoes national park is located in the North-Western part of Rwanda nearing the Border of Rwanda and Uganda. Its found in Musanze village in Ruhengeri just a few kilometres away from Kigali. It takes 2 to 3 hours drive from Kigali to the park headquarters in the hilly area of the Virunga mountains. The road that leads to Volcanoes national park is very good tarmacked and this makes it easy to access the park. The nearest airport is Kigali international airport which is found in Kigali.
How to book the Gorilla trekking permit for Rwanda?
One can book Rwandan Gorilla permit in two ways: one is directly from Rwanda Development Board or through using reputable local operators. The Rwanda Gorilla permit costs 1500$ but it’s worth the experience you get during the Gorilla trekking. The gorilla permit money accounts for the conservation of the Mountain Gorillas. One has to book the Gorilla permit in advance like a month or beyond before your date of tracking Gorillas. Reputable operators have access logins which they use to directly purchase the Gorilla permits on behalf of the guests. The local operators‘ sale all-inclusive Rwanda Gorilla trekking safaris like 2 days Gorilla trekking, 3 days Rwanda Gorilla trekking among others. The costs given to the guests include even the Gorilla trekking permit and any other activities that are included in the itinerary. Currently, there are only 80 Gorilla permits that are sold on daily trekking the 10 gorilla families in Volcanoes. Each gorilla family is tracked by only 8 guests per day.
When is the best time to do Gorilla trekking Rwanda?
This is the most asked question by travellers before booking their safari to Africa. Gorilla trekking Rwanda can be done at any time of the year. Like its counterparts, Rwanda has two rainy seasons and one-two dry seasons this makes the trekking seasons also to be divided into two. The high season is the dry season which always starts from June to October and December to February. The rainy season which is also called as Low season and this starts from March to May and November.
Guests prefer doing Gorilla trekking in Rwanda during the dry season since it is easy to hike the volcanoes during that time compared to the rainy season. The weather is warm during the dry months hence making easy to it see the gorillas. The mountain Gorillas are very active daily during the dry season compared to the rainy season.
Gorilla trekking Rwanda can also be connected to a wide range of other tourists activities in Rwanda and neighbouring countries like Uganda and the Democratic republic of Congo.
