The future of Rwanda gorilla trekking safari adventures is bright as the country’s conservation efforts have greatly paid off. This Friday is Kwita Izina the annual mountain gorilla naming ceremony in Rwanda where baby mountain gorillas born in a year are named. It will be the 19th edition and 23 baby gorillas will be named.
Rwanda Gorilla trekking Safari adventures are done in Volcanoes National Park. The park is located in the northwestern part of the country. It is the Rwanda extension of the Virunga massif and conservation area. Volcanoes National Park has the highest mountain gorilla population in the Virunga massif. It is one of the best places for gorilla trekking safari adventures. Kwita Izina is held near the park except in 2020 and 2021 when it was held virtually because of COVID-19.
This year, tourism has fully opened up and Rwanda Gorilla trekking safari adventures are still in high demand. Let us look at a brief guideline for the planning of a Rwanda Gorilla trekking adventure.
Planning your Rwanda gorilla trekking safari
Volcanoes National Park has 12 habituated gorilla families that are open to tourism. Important to note is that only 8 tourists are allowed to trek to one mountain gorilla family a day. This means that 96 gorilla permits are available per day. Even though 96 seems like a high figure, Rwanda Gorilla trekking Safari adventures are in high demand. The 96 permits therefore get fully booked a couple of months in advance. When planning your Rwanda Safari you Must ensure to book your tour in advance.
Rwanda has over the years become a leading sports destination hosting major tournaments on the continent like Basketball. Many conferences also take place in Kigali time and again attracting many local and international tourists. These usually end up visiting the gorilla park irrespective of the season.
If you are attending a conference in Kigali you stand a chance of getting a discount on the gorilla permit. You are however required to present a conference invitation letter to qualify for this. Visiting Rwanda for a conference, therefore, gives you a chance to track gorillas at a cheaper price. You are still required to apply for this in advance as it could take time to process the discounted permit.
What to expect on a gorilla trekking safari
The gorilla trekking adventure starts in the morning and you are expected at the park headquarters by 7:00 am. Here you are divided into groups of 8 people for the different gorilla families you will be trekking to. The head ranger guide of each group then starts a briefing about the gorilla trekking rules and regulations. Some of the rules include minimizing noise, and keeping at least a 7-meter distance away from the gorillas. Flash photography is also strictly prohibited.
After the briefing, you are guided into the forested mountains by the ranger guide. You are escorted by other armed rangers with firearms that are used to scare away other animals that could be hostile. This is because the park has many other wildlife species including forest elephants and buffaloes that sometimes scare away people when encountered. There are porters for hire to help carry the luggage during the trek.
The Trekking Experience
Gorilla trekking takes 1 to 4 hours or more depending on the movement of the gorillas. This trek is rewarding as you get to see other wildlife species in the park, especially birds and plant species. Once you get to the gorillas, keeping the 7 meters distance away you stay in their presence for an hour. Here you get to observe, learn more, and get photo opportunities.
The 1-hour encounter is a life-changing experience and unmatched in all major wildlife Journeys of Discovery. After this beautiful encounter, you are then guided back to the starting point and awarded certificates of participation.
Essential items to pack
Gorilla trekking is done on foot in the forested mountains and it is important to park right for the trek. Strong hiking shoes, gators, hand gloves, and long waterproof pants are highly recommended. With the nature and relief of the park, rainfall is unpredictable, and having rain gear is important just in case it rains. There is a provision for hiring hiking boots at the park at around $5.
Because photography is key, we recommend packing extra batteries. In case you intend to use your phone then ensure to fully charge it the night before.
The trek to the gorillas is a bit physically demanding and it is recommended to have a packed lunch and drinking water. It can take over 5 kilometers of trekking and drinking water and lunch is a must.
The peak tourist season in Rwanda is from June to September and the festive days of December. January to March is also reasonably busy and when planning a gorilla tour then, book at least a month in advance.
Other Rwanda Primate trekking Safari
Golden monkey trekking is an underrated primate trekking experience in Rwanda. Golden monkeys just like their name are covered in golden fur. They are endemic to the Virunga massif and Volcanoes National Park is one of the few places to see them. You can visit the park not just for gorillas but for golden monkey trekking as well. The 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour caters to this perfectly.
Rwanda beyond the gorillas and golden monkeys has chimpanzees. These live in Nyungwe Forest National Park in the southwestern part of the country. You therefore have an opportunity to combine a mountain gorilla, golden monkey, and chimpanzee trek when on a Rwanda Discovery Journeys adventure. The 5 Days Rwanda Primates and 10 Days Rwanda Safari options have these primate encounters.
