Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is done in Volcanoes National Park on several Rwanda gorilla tours/Rwanda gorilla safaris. Rwanda gorilla trekking safaris can be carried out at any time of the year but it tends to be challenging in the rainy season from the months of April through May and then November.
The mountains of Virunga that form a border point of the countries of Rwanda, DR Congo, and Uganda support a count of 480 mountain gorillas which is more than half of the global population of mountain gorillas.
The other section of mountain gorillas (400) is known to thrive in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park of Uganda.
Rwanda features one gorilla protected area destination in the name of Volcanoes National Park which apparently supports a count of ten (10) groups of gorillas habituated for gorilla safaris in Rwanda
Taking a look into the gigantic silverback’s eyes and the silverback itself looking convinced that you are another member sheds off the anxiety that you would have accumulated during the trekking experience.
It can be acknowledged that the gorilla trekking safari which is now listed as the greatest African safari is a prime lifetime encounter that is beyond traditional wildlife viewing.
Gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda can be carried out at any time of the year. It can be noted that hiking the slopes of the Volcanoes tends to be challenging in the rainy season which stretches from the months of April through May and then November.
Also on the raised altitudes of 2000m and above, the rain can fall any time of the year.
The common time preferred by many to undertake gorilla trekking in Rwanda is in the drier months that stretch between December and February and then from June to around Mid-September.
It is advisable to avoid booking the gorilla permits in Rwanda on short notice especially in the popular seasons as you can easily miss out. Prime Safaris has considerable expertise in Rwanda gorilla safari operations and thus can do all the required arrangements to ensure that you have the permit to track gorillas in Rwanda.
In Rwanda, there are always eighty (80) gorilla permits available per day to track gorillas in her Volcanoes National Park positioned in the North West with each permit costing about $750.
Though this amount seems too much, do not resent it as it has provided Rwanda with a persuasive economic reason to justify habitat conservation, paying the 24/7 guards for every gorilla family, and infrastructure development for the communities surrounding and beyond among other things that have contributed positively to the transformation of Rwanda.
Rwanda does not offer discounted gorilla permits even in the rainy season. Her gorilla permits are fixed at $750 per person regardless of the season.
The gorilla permits in Rwanda are solely sold by the Rwanda Development Board which has offices both in Kigali and Ruhengeri. A range of booking agents including Prime Safaris can also help you to book a gorilla permit on the preferred date.
Kindly note that the criteria for booking the gorilla permit is first to come and first serve and you need to submit the passport details for gorilla permit printing.
It can be noted that there is not that kind of super fitness that is necessary for gorilla trekking encounters general fitness is required to avoid being inconvenienced by the challenging landscapes.
The trek to the gorillas is conducted at a slow movement with the speed of the slowest moving person in the group and breaks are made if required.
Depending on the respective gorilla family that you have been allocated to track and the timing of the year, the situation surrounding the gorilla trekking could be varying.
Some gorilla families thrive on the raised slopes which presents a challenging landscape requiring some degree of fitness such as Susa A.
For timing, the rainy season presents plenty of food on the lower slopes and very cold temperatures on the upper slopes prompting the gorillas to keep on the lower slopes of the mountain presenting an easy trek thus requiring no considerable fitness. The duration tends to be short since the gorillas can easily be spotted.
However, this does not guarantee you an easy trek, gorillas still move and you find yourself hiking some impressive steep slopes for counts hours. Also, note that a few hikes through challenging landscapes offer you a more exciting experience than just a gorilla walk of 30 minutes and you are back.
Even when mountain gorilla trekking is noted to be a one-time adventure of a lifetime.
Rwanda Development Board Staff at Volcanoes NP have conducted this activity over the years and feature considerable expertise that enables them to run smooth, safe, and memorable operations making the mountain gorilla trekking highly organized and well structured.
Its the morning of your long waited date and you wake up, have breakfast at your lodge, and then set yourself ready with the items required for gorilla trekking.
Make sure that the safari guide has gorilla permits and water supplies. You can carry packed lunch yourself. You drive to Kinigi Park headquarters which is the center of activities in Volcanoes National Park.
If you arrive early before 8 am, you catch up with the Kinyarwanda traditional performances which are conducted free of charge taking you back to the Rwandan traditional society.
A small tip can be appreciated. Rwanda Development Board also arranges a hot cup of coffee at the station at a zero cost thus you can warm yourself to neutralize the coldness of the mountains.
This is followed by the allocation of gorilla families and then briefing in your respective gorilla groups. You are briefed by the Park ranger guide about the general conduct of gorilla trekking. Communication is in English and is very fluent.
You then embark in your vehicles and transfer to the trial heads from where you start the trek in search of gorillas in the forests. In a group of eight (8), you follow clear footpaths made in the forests and the ranger is always communicating with the trackers over the radio in order to locate the respective gorilla family.
The area is over 2500m in elevation and though the trekking pace is not fast, hiking in some parts can be tiring and challenging due to the terrain. The trekking duration can last from 30 minutes to the whole day. It is normal at times to feel a bit breathless at certain points.
The eventual encounter with the gorillas is memorable. The gigantic Silverback gives you a rather magical welcome though with its frightening nature covered with its typical shyness.
In reality, it has the capacity to tear you up as it’s over 3 times more than the average man in terms of weight. You marvel at how they are spread all over foraging not overly concerned about your coming.
They normally glance at you and embark on their routine. At times, the youngsters approach you so close that at times you have to take steps away.
It can be noted that Mountain gorillas comprise 98% of man’s DNA and as a result, they are prone to disease contraction.
Human infections especially respiratory ones are dangerous to gorillas because the gorillas do not feature the immune system to neutralize such diseases as that of humans. In fact, a common cold to a gorilla can be threatening.
There are various rules that have been put in place to ensure the proper conduct of gorilla trekking in Rwanda. These include;
Taking photos with mountain gorillas is a living testimony of your encounter with them and there is no limit to the number of pictures one should take during his / her one hour with gorillas.
However, it can be noted that light or flash photography is prohibited as it is too sharp in the rain forests and not good for the gorillas especially when all eight people take flash photos at minute intervals for one hour.
Thus, photos have to be taken without a flash. A camera gear is also required to save your camera from rain.
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