Guide to Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Guide to Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Guide to Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda : Mountain gorillas are one of the most extraordinary animals in the world and encountering them is an extraordinary and memorable experience to have once – in – a life time.

Mountain gorillas are critically endangered animals found in the misty jungles of Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo with approximately 1,000 individuals remaining. Mountain gorillas are the world’s most endangered ape, threatened by humans and habitat loss, however in the recent years there conservation has become a successful story.

The numbers of mountain gorillas are increasing on a daily and Rwanda has built a thriving tourism industry around encountering mountain gorillas with 10% of the revenue got from the gorilla trekking permits used for conservation and community development.

Mountain gorillas are fiercely protected by rangers and police who are financed by contributions from gorilla trekking permits and experience at large, gorilla trekking directly contributes to the protection of mountain gorillas and the surrounding communities.

 Witnessing mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is one of the most extraordinary wildlife encounter you will ever experience in your life, though it is not an easy experience. It is worth it as it offers a privilege of spending one hour of being the presence of mountain gorillas, watching baby gorilla play and a silverback protecting the family. Encountering mountain gorillas in the wild is a rare encounter, very exhilarating and eye – opening.

This article details all the necessary information you need to know about gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

Read on to discover everything you need to know about gorilla trekking in Rwanda in details

Where to find mountain gorillas in Rwanda

The endangered mountain gorilla in Rwanda are found in Volcanoes national park – Parc National des Volcans in French , this park is part of the Great Virunga Conservational Area comprising of other mountain gorilla habitats that are Mgahinga Gorilla national park of Uganda and Virunga national park of DR.Congo.

The Virunga Conservation Area stretches along the Virunga Mountains of Central Africa, Virunga mountains are a range of volcanoes extending about 50 miles along the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Virunga national park is located in northwestern Rwanda, this park is among the best places to see these gentle giants and is the only place in Rwanda where you can see them.

How to get to Volcanoes National Park

The easiest and the commonly used way to enter Rwanda is by flying into Kigali city the capital of the country using Kigali International airport – Rwanda’s main gateway, all tourists will receive a 30 day single entry tourist visa at a fee of US$30.

After celaring with the immigration at the airport, you are warmly welcomed and met by a representative from Petnah Africa Tours & Travel and transfer to your hotel in Kigali by a vehicle.

From Kigali City and the airport, Volcanoes national park is about 105 kilometers which is a drive of 2 hours.

  Gorillas in Volcanoes national park, Rwanda

As a result of efforts of conservationist Dian Fossey who spent 20 years of her life dedicated to studying mountain gorillas in Volcanoes national park, the population of gorillas has tremendous increased and because of her works, poaching of mountain gorillas is now a myth.

Volcanoes national park was featured in the film “Gorillas in the Mist” of 1988 which chronicles the work of Dian Fossey.

Currently, there are 12 habituated mountain gorilla families in Volcanoes national park which are open for gorilla trekking , on a daily only 96 permits are available as each gorilla group is visited by a group of 8 people a day.

Best time to visit Rwanda

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda can be done throughout the year, however the best time tends to be during the dry period from June to September. In this period the jungle is less muddy and the paths are less slippery although you should bear in mind that it can mind that it can rainy any time of year.

In volcanoes national park, the wettest months are April and May resulted into tricky muddy trails. However it is still possible to track gorillas, with the bearing of fruits, the gorillas descend to lower altitudes as opposed to dry season when they climb higher up the mountain.

The west season in Rwanda is also an excellent time for tracking chimpanzees, these primates are attracted by ripening fruits to climb down to the lower reaches of the forest canopy.

The rainy seasons also provide best conditions for photography, normally after the rainy shower, the air is clear of any dust thus providing the perfect atmosphere for gorilla photography.

What to expect on a gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda

Gorilla trekking adventure in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park starts as early as possible, trekkers have to arrive at the Kinigi park headquarters at 07:00 am for a briefing session from of the park’s rangers.

You are then grouped into 8 people, a locate a gorilla group you are to trek and begin the search for a gorilla family at around 08:30 am, expect to return to your lodge or camp by 07:00 pm and this is determined by time you will take while looking for mountain gorillas and the difficulty of the trek.

The gorilla trek can last from 2 – 9 hours depending on the movement of the gorilla family you are trekking, your professional guide and the tracker will lead you through the thick jungle using various trails in search for your allocated gorilla family. Expect the trails in the forest to be slippery and muddy most especially in the dry season, deep under the forest canopy it can be very humid that is why you are advised to carry a sweater or warm clothing.

The trek is fairly challenging and you may find it tough as you trek through the dense undergrowth, high altitude and steep, slippery trails making the trek exhausting but it is worth it as you get to spend time with mountain gorillas in the world.

When you find the gorillas you will have an opportunity to spend one hour in their company while observing their behavior and take amazing pictures, after one hour you will head back to your lodge marking the end of this magical encounter with the wild mountain gorillas of Rwanda.

Meeting the mountain gorillas of Rwanda

Meeting these gentle giants is one of the most mind-blowing experiences and when you need them, you will spend approximately 1 hour observing them in their natural habitat.

While in their presence, gorillas are more likely to be just a few meters away from you and they will continue on with their daily live, feeding and interacting with each other under the gaze of a watchful silverback the leader of the group. The time you will spend in the presence of mountain gorillas is incomparable and unforgettable.

Trekkers are advised to talk in a low voice while in the presence of gorillas, loud noises and sudden movements are prohibited. You are requested to keep a 5 meter distance from the gorillas, do not touch them under any circumstance.

 Though mountain gorilla trekked in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park are habituated and used to seeing people on a daily basis, they are still wild and can sometimes react unexpectedly. Because of this, it is essential that you listen to instructions from your guides and trackers at all time while in the presence of the gorillas.

Photography of the gorillas

While on a gorilla trekking experience, taking photographs of is quite challenging due to the light conditions and the unpredictable distance between trekkers and the gorillas. As you are on limited time while in the presence of gorillas, you should be prepared to get the best photos in the limited time frame. Remember to carry a good quality camera for excellent photos, DSLR with a high ISO is recommended.

As you are required to keep a distance of atleast 7 meters from the gorillas, a 70 – 200 mm lens are ideal for photography of the gorillas. A 2.8 lens is betters as the light in the forest can be very poor at times, flash photography is not allowed (photographers are advised to disable the flash on their camera or phone while shooting before getting in the presence of the gorillas).

 Since you are spending a limited time in the presence of mountain gorillas, you should plan your shots rather than shooting away wildly, it is recommended that you find a balance between absorbing the incredible gorilla experience and taking pictures of these fascinating gentle giants.

While in the presence of the gorillas, don’t spend most of the time looking through your camera lens, you should focus on the experience while taking your photographs as well.

Photography Tip

Before you trek into the jungle of Volcanoes national park, make sure your batteries are fully charged and you have plenty of space on your memory cards to store the photos and videos.

Also have a waterproof bags or covers for your camera as it can rainy any time in the park due to the rainforest climate experienced.

Code of conduct while in the presence of mountain gorillas

Once you find a gorilla family allocated to you, you are advised to follow all the dos and donts passed to you by the ranger during the briefing, some of these dos and don’ts are as follows

• Keep a distance of about 7 meters from you and the gorillas
• In case a gorilla comes close to you, you are advised to stay still
• Do not make unnecessarily movements
• Do not make unnecessarily noises
• When taking pictures, make sure your flashlight is off as it irritates the gorillas
• Do not mimic the actions and sounds made by mountain gorillas.

Gorilla Permits in Rwanda

Gorilla permits in Rwanda are issued by Rwanda Development Board (RDB) which manages Volcanoes national park – a home for mountain gorillas in Rwanda, in Rwanda there are a total of 12 habituated gorilla families open and available for gorilla trekking. Since only 8 people are allowed to visit each gorilla group, a total of 96 gorilla permits are issued per day.

Gorilla permits in Rwanda are always on high demand due to the limited number issued compared to the number of tourists interested in gorilla trekking, the permit sellout in months in advance so you need to obtain your permit as early as possible in order to secure preferred dates most especially during the peak months.

The peak season in Rwanda is experienced during the dry seasons of December to March and June to September, in this period the permits sellout quickly, the rainy season of April to May and November are not so competitive. Trekkers are advised to take advantage of this period to purchase their permit, a gorilla permit in Rwanda costs US$1500 per person. This price includes park entrance, expert guides and trackers, security from a tourism police force in the park and one hour stay in the presence of the gorillas.

Refund or cancellation of Gorilla permits in Rwanda

In case of cancellation of the gorilla permit, you will be refunded 50% of the gorilla tracking permit and this is only if the warden in charge of the park declares you unfit for the trek and this is if you are showing signs of illness.

Tourists with signs of an illness cannot be allowed to take part in gorilla trekking as can be infected by human diseases, the gorillas do not have the necessary immunity to fight diseases. Any sick individual can be a huge threat the gorilla population which is already considered threatened.

Age Restriction for Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Because of safety reasons, to participate in gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park you must be above 15 years of age

Where to stay in Volcanoes National Park

While on a gorilla safari in Rwanda, it is recommended you stay close to Volcanoes national park. There is a range of accommodation options in the park and some of the recommended accommodations include

• Virunga Lodge

Virunga Lodge is a luxury lodge set high on a ridge with panoramic views over the Musanze valley, the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo and the Virunga volcanoes. The lodge is situated about 40 minutes’ drive from Volcano national park and is at the magnificent base from which you can see the mountain gorillas.

During your stay at the Virunga Lodge, you will be able to soak up the breathtaking sights from the comfort of your luxurious banda cottage, the lodge has 10 bandas with each banda featuring a private terrace where you can watch the sunrise, a cosy fireplace, a luxury shower room, colorful Rwandese fabrics and furniture.

At Volcanoes lodge, visitors are signed their own personal butlers who will assist you during your stay.

During your stay at the lodge, you can visit the local people, explore the property on the maze of trails and terraced gardens winding down the mountain slope including treks to the Karisimbi or Visoke volcanoes and Dian Fossey’s grave.

• Sabyinyo silverback Lodge

This beautiful lodge is hidden deep in the foothills of the might Virungas  and is expectionally luxurious, the lodge is only 3 kilometers from the main entrance to volcanoes national park.

The lodge has only 9 stylish cottages made from local stone and terracotta and during your stay you will adore the tranquility of the property. The lodge has an onsite spa to soothe aching muscles after the trekking, a gorgeous fireplace and large private decks with stunning views of the volcanoes and the forest.

 Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is first ever community – owned lodge and is committed to driving socio – economic and conservation initiatives around the national park, at the lodge there are plenty to visit the local community projects.

What to pack for a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda

It is very important to come well prepared for the incredible gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda, for a gorilla safari you do not need to over pack as the domestic flights to Rwanda have luggage limit of 20 kilograms per person.

When packing for a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda, here are the items which should be included in your luggage.

• Sturdy and waterproof hiking boot with good ankle support, when choosing a pair of hiking shoes, make sure they well-fitting as to avoid any nasty blisters.
• Light, breathable waterproof jackets and trousers and long-sleeved shorts, due to variable weather and to avoid any bites from insects, it is important to wear light, long layers.
• Warm clothing such as sweaters and jackets for the chilly mornings and cold nights.
• Long, light weight woolen to be worn over trousers
• Wide – brimmed hats and sunglasses for protection from sun
• Toiletries such as sun screen, insect repellent, after sun, insect bite relief cream and lip balm
• Garden gloves to protect your hands from thorns and help you get grip on the vegetation during the trek
• A small backpack to carry water, lunch, extra clothes, binoculars and camera during the trek
• Binoculars for clear views of the magnificent landscape and wildlife such as birds and monkeys
• Energy giving snacks, the trek can be very strenuous and lasts from 2 to 9 hours that is why you need snacks for extra energy
• A reusable water bottle as you will need plenty of drinking water during the hike.
• Multi – way travel adaptor, in Rwanda plugs of type C (2 round pins) and j (2 round pins and grounding pin) are used and operates on a 220v supply voltage and 50Hz standard frequency.
• Supplies for the local community projects, it is recommended you bring supplies you to donate and drop off at partnering hotels, lodges and schools.