
A Guide To Gorilla Trekking In Volcanoes National Park In Rwanda
Are you looking for Gorilla Trekking In Volcanoes National Park In Rwanda? When its things relating to tourism, most tourists that do come to Rwanda visit volcanoes national park and spend 1 hour with endangered mountain gorillas. The country is famous out there because of so many things but what tops them are the mountain gorillas. Endangered mountain gorillas of Rwanda have found their home in the hilly areas of volcanoes national park in the northwest of the country in Musanze.
Mountain gorillas in volcanoes national park were at a point of extinction and luckily enough Dain Fossey who is now buried in the gorilla cemetery between Mountain Karisimbi and Bisoke came into the park. she loved mountain gorillas so much and taught people about how these apes were of importance to the community, chased away poachers, and bought equipment for people to look after these mountain gorillas and make them get used to human presence. She was later killed in 1986 but by then the mountain gorilla population had started increasing up to now.
There are over 20 mountain gorilla families in volcanoes national park of which only 10 are open for trekking on any day of the year. The 10 fully habituated mountain gorilla families in Bwindi include Amahoro gorilla family, Sabyinyo gorilla family, Agasha gorilla family, Umubano gorilla family, Kwitonda gorilla family, Hirwa gorilla family, Karisimbi gorilla family, Susa gorilla family, Ugenda gorilla family, and Bwenge gorilla family.
The above mountain gorilla families have different family members but trekking any of them gives the same experience. To trek any of the mountain gorilla families and spend 1 hour with it, you need to have a valid mountain gorilla trekking permit. This can be booked with Africa Adventure Vacations who will check for availability of permits with the Rwanda Development Board.
Things to expect on a mountain gorilla trekking safaris & tours in volcanoes Rwanda
Volcanoes national park in Rwanda protects the endangered mountain gorillas of Rwanda, golden monkeys, 115 mammal species, 187 birds, and 3 endangered reptile species. About half of the mountain gorillas in the world do live in 3 national parks – volcanoes, Virunga, and Mgahinga national park. The remaining mountain gorillas left in the world do live in thick tropical and sub-tropical forests of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.
While in volcanoes national park on the day of gorilla trekking, you expect to see and spend 1 hour with mountain gorillas in their natural habitats, different park animals like elephants, hyenas, buffaloes, monkeys, birds, and different park birds. On the day of mountain gorilla trekking in volcanoes, trekkers will be expected to wake up early in the morning and head out to the park offices for a briefing with the rangers at the park offices. The briefing time is when you get to learn about the rules and regulations of mountain gorilla trekking.
After the briefing, you will be split into groups not exceeding 8 and after an armed ranger guide will lead you into the jungle to search for these endangered mountain gorillas. During the search, there will be high chances of seeing some of the park animals, birds, and plants but when you meet the apes, you will be given 1 hour to watch them do daily activities in their natural environment, learn about their habits and take photos.
How much are the volcanoes national park gorilla trekking permits?
Mountain gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda are only 80 and are sold by Rwanda development board a government body in charge of tourism. The gorilla trekking permits do cost $1500 per person per trek and are sold to only children above the age of 15 years. With mountain gorilla permits being few, tourists intending to visit volcanoes for mountain gorilla trekking can always book in advance of 3-4 months to avoid last-minute booking disappointments.
Where to stay in volcanoes national park on a mountain gorilla trekking safari?
As soon as you have secured yourself a gorilla trekking permit, what comes to your mind next is where you are to stay while in the park. Well, volcanoes Rwanda has several accommodation facilities of different categories where you can stay while on a safari. Some of the accommodations include Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Virunga Lodge, One $ Only Gorilla’s Nest Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Ruzizi Tented Camp, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Volcanoes Hotel and Villa Gorilla among others.
The Best time to visit volcanoes national park in Rwanda
Volcanoes national park is open for mountain gorilla trekking at any time of the year but there are some months that are better than the rest and these are the dry months. The dry months of June to September and December to February are characterized by little or no rainfall with thin vegetation cover that gives a clear view of animals. The trekking trails in this period are dry, and the roads to the park are passable.
Tourists can also visit Volcanoes Rwanda in the months of March to May and October to November but during this season, there is plenty of rainfall, the trekking trails are muddy and slippery, the vegetation in the park is thick giving unclear views of the park animals and the roads to the park are passable. Tourists intending to visit the volcanoes of Rwanda need to book their trekking permits in advance of 3-4 months to avoid inconveniences.
Packing list for gorilla trekking tours in volcanoes national park?
There are some things that each traveler needs to move with on the final day of mountain gorilla trekking so as to have the best of their safari. Some of the necessary items to have on the day of trekking include waterproof hiking boots, a pair of binoculars, insect repellents, long-sleeved clothes, a pair of gaiters, gardening gloves, a hat, a rain jacket, sunscreen, camera, and accompanying equipment, face mask, sanitizer, enough drinking water, and energy-giving snacks.