Are you planning to go to Africa? Rwanda is place to go and the gorilla trekking safaris are the major reason for the largest number of tourists going to Rwanda. The experience in Rwanda is unique because trackers have to hike and slope through the volcanic tropics and bamboos. Volcanoes National Park is the world’s best-known gorilla trekking destination, as evidenced by the crowds encountered on the trek.
Though gorilla trekking in Rwanda seems to be the most expensive, it remains the most popular trekking destination. Here, it’s easier; it can be done within a single day and returned for your next flight.
This means you can trek gorillas and fly out of Rwanda within the limits of a day. Trekking in Rwanda remained for luxurious trekkers who could afford the costly permit and the cost of accommodation facilities, which are spread across Volcano National Park.
About Gorilla Trekking Experience
Gorilla trekking means taking an early morning drive to the park information center. You should have your trekking permit at hand. By 7:00am, you have to be at the place, get briefed, and at 8:00am, you should enter the forest. Volcanoes National Park is characterized by slopes of valleys and highlands accompanied by thick tropical forests and bamboos.
When entering the forest, you must be well prepared with a day pack, as the trek can last for about 30 minutes to 5 hours. Wearing your jungle trekking boots, a long-sleeved shirt, and a long pant, you roll into the thick forest to initiate a search for the gentle giants.
Through the highlands and valleys, walking on the unmade paths, the gorillas at Volcanoes National Park are known for living in the valleys. The lead of experienced park rangers will take you into flesh breaks, watching several forest dwellers, and it’s a silent moment not until the gorillas are before you.
Many writers have named a moment with gorillas a lifetime moment. It’s the moment you get to trace this amazing creation and realize the science behind it being the source of mankind. Before the gorillas, you have an hour before them.
Be silent, they will draw close to you and even touch you, but you’re encouraged to stay calm. The experience is not like the rest of the jungle adventures; with gorilla trekking, you come close to the apes.
Where to trek gorillas in Rwanda
Rwanda has a single gorilla destination: Volcanoes National Park, where to trek mountain gorillas. Volcanoes National Park is located on the northern side of Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. The park is part of the central African forest that extends from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
This is the common Virunga Forest, which is shared among Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park is among the three parks in Virunga Conservation Areas, which are Virunga National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and even Volcanoes National Park.
Volcanoes National Park is situated within the arrays of the western arm of the Albertine Rift Valley. It’s an endemic habitation for mountain gorillas, and the park hosts the highest number of gorillas within the Virunga Conservation Areas.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda
Rwanda, being a pinnacle trekking destination, is the best country to go for gorilla trekking safari in the wild. The trekking started way back in 1968, during the time of renowned conservationist Diana Fossy. Diana Fossey introduced gorilla conservation, which foresaw habituation as one way to maintain their existence in the jungle.
Since then, gorillas have been made ready for humans only during habituation. Mountain gorillas are aggressive mammals, and their huge size allows them to attack in case of any threat. To calm their aggressive nature, gorillas undergo a habituation process for a period of not more than 2 years until they become familiar with human presence.
Habituation is done by researchers, conservationists, scientists, and rangers who study each of the gorillas in the habituated family. Rwanda has about 12 habituated gorilla families, which are readily available for trekking.
Is gorilla trekking safe in Rwanda?
Rwanda is a safe and friendly country to trek gorillas, being one of the safest countries in Africa. The low crime rate, influenced by the standardized practice of set laws, makes Rwanda a safe destination to experience Rwanda gorilla trek and still easy to connect to Uganda and take 02 day gorilla trekking safari in either Mgahinga Gorilla National Park or Bwindi Forest National Park.
Though Volcanoes National Park is located attached to the Congo’s forests, which are prone to rebel activities, Rwanda remains safe. When trekking gorillas, there is always the accompaniment of an armed and expert guide who will lead you into the deep forests.
Gorilla Trekking Etiquette
According to the International Union for Nature Conservation (IUNC) report, mountain gorillas are endangered species that are endemic to the forests of Virunga Conservation Areas and the highlands of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The mountain gorillas are very cautious primates in their surviving ambiance of survival. They can easily be affected by even a cold cough, which can lead to their death, so measures have been set for any person willing to encounter the apes.
There are various standard trekking etiquette that must be followed by any trekker. What you must do and must not do when on a trek trail for the gorillas
What to do
- Attend the orientation times before setting out for trekking.
- Present your valid trekking permit.
- Wash your hands before setting out to trek the gorilla.
- Always dig a ditch when you want to defecate and cover it afterwards.
Don’t include:
- Don’t litter in the forest.
- Don’t eat before the gorillas.
- I had to maintain silence when I found the gorillas.
- When taking photographs, cameras must not have flashlights.
- When found, the gorillas maintain a distance of 5 to 7 meters.
- Stay in a group.
- Don’t look straight into the gorillas’ eyes.
- Don’t ever run from the gorillas.
- Don’t sneeze or cough before the gorillas.
- Not touching or attempting to touch the gorillas
Rwanda gorilla trekking permits
This is the most expensive gorilla trekking destination. So, for a moment, the gorillas in Rwanda must have a permit. And a permit costs $1,500, nearly three times as much as that of Congo, which costs $450, and over double that of Uganda, which costs $700 per person.
Then with Rwanda you can also take the new packages introduced. These include: US$ 15,000 for personalized & exclusive mountain gorilla visits for a requested targeted gorilla family and US$ 30,000 for a minimum of 3 visitors for 3 consecutive days (Behind the scenes)
30% discount (US$ 1,050) for combined trips within National Parks in Rwanda (Gorilla Trekking, Akagera and or Nyungwe Forest National Park) for at least 3 days during the months of November – May. 15% discount (US$ 1,275) on conference delegates who stay pre & post MICE events to see gorillas.
When is the best time to trek gorillas?
It’s true that gorillas can be trekked throughout the year; however, the dry season is considered the best time to trek gorillas. Dry months manifest in June, July, and August, which are the longer dry seasons. It’s the best time of year to see gorillas in their sanctuary.
As well, the extension of December, January, and February as dry months is also good for trekking gorillas. During the dry months, there are limited rains and the grounds are dry, which makes it perfect to visit Rwanda.
Is fitness needed when trekking gorillas?
Gorilla trekking involves hikes through slopes, valleys, and highland terrain; it’s a walk-through thick vegetation, edging to cliffs and valleys. So, a certain level of fitness is needed; however, unfit elderly people of 80 years and older have been seen on a trek and met gorillas.
Gorilla trekking is an active encounter that requires a certain level of energy. For trekkers who can’t afford to use that energy, there are porters who help carry their backpacks. However, several trekkers have used porters to carry them at a cost of $15, and they get a moment before the gorillas.
What to carry on a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda
The trek involves entering the forest and spending a good time there. Consider the packing list very important. Below is the important packing list for your trekking.
Long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, waterproof jungle boots, thick socks, garden gloves, a rain jacket, a wide-brim hat, sunscreen, body insect repellent, at least 2 litters of water, a camera, a headband and hair ties, snacks, a packed lunch, a walking stick, and binoculars.
