Rwanda Gorilla Trekking is currently among the best primate trekking adventures in the region. Despite her size, Rwanda is blessed with a variety of wildlife including the rare and endangered mountain gorillas. Gorilla tour experiences are a great part of Rwanda safari expeditions. Mountain Gorillas live in the forested mountains of Volcanoes National Park located in the western part of the country.
Volcanoes National Park is part of the Virunga conservation area and has the highest mountain gorilla population in the massif. There are 10 fully habituated mountain gorilla families in Park giving people a great opportunity to meet these rare primates.
About Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tours
It is important to book your Rwanda Gorilla trekking tours in advance. Only 98 gorilla permits available per day and they get fully booked especially in the peak tourist season. The festive season is also a busy travel season as people Visit Rwanda for mountain gorilla trekking adventures and overall safari experiences.
Rwanda Gorilla trekking Tours are tailor-made depending on one’s preference and the time they have in the country. The park is a 3-hour drive away from Kigali Rwanda’s capital and it is possible to do a 1 Day Rwanda Gorilla Tour with a pick-up at 4:30 am. This is to ensure that you get to the park headquarters by 7:00 am for a briefing about the trekking experience. After the briefing, it is when you are guided to the forested mountains for the gorilla adventure.
The hike to the gorillas takes 1 to 4 hours depending on their movement. Once you get to them you are allowed to stay in their presence for an hour observing and learning more. After this remarkable encounter, you are brought back to the park headquarters and later head back to Kigali. You can manage to catch a flight departing Kigali at 7:00 pm as you arrive in the city at 5:00 pm just in time for check-in. This 1 Day Tour is most recommended for people with a tight schedule but would love to trek to the gorillas.
Other Rwanda Tour Options
The 2 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour is another great option. It is relaxed with an overnight in Volcanoes National Park ahead of the gorilla trek the following day. The 2-day tour starts with a Kigali city tour for those who have never visited Kigali. In case you have already explored Kigali city you can directly be driven to the park for other simple tour activities. These include a gorilla guardian village tour or a Visit to the Ellen Campus of the Dian Fossey Fund.
A nature walk along the twin lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo is another great option you can look at. Any option you choose makes your 2-day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour engaging. On Day 2 it is when you go for the gorilla trekking adventure and later be driven back to Kigali.
The 4-Day Rwanda Tour gives you a chance to track mountain gorillas twice or opt for the golden monkey trek. Golden Monkeys are rare primates that are endemic to the Virunga massif. With this, Volcanoes National Park Rwanda is one of the best places to see them. Rwanda Safaris of more than 5 days involve visiting other destinations in Rwanda including Nyungwe Forest and Akagera National Park.
Gorilla Trekking Rules & Regulations
There are set mountain gorilla trekking rules and regulations in Rwanda and other mountain gorilla parks. These are primarily aimed at protecting the mountain gorillas that have over 95% DNA similar to humans. Being among man’s closest relatives, mountain gorillas can easily contract communicable illnesses like flu. For this reason, people with severe cases of flu are not allowed to track mountain gorillas.
It is a Must to keep a 7-meter distance away from mountain gorillas. You are also not supposed to touch mountain gorillas as they can get irritated and charge at you. Flash photography and noise are strictly not allowed on a mountain gorilla trekking expedition. Only 8 tourists are allowed to track a mountain gorilla family per day and once you get to the mountain gorillas you only spend an hour in their presence. In one hour, it is when you take photos, observe, and get to learn more about these incredible apes.
Individuals below the age of 15 are also not allowed to track gorillas. They are young and minors and may fail to manage the hike through the forested mountains. The gorilla trekking experience is physically demanding and requires a bit of physical fitness that minors may not manage. Individuals with serious health complications if they insist on trekking are advised to hire porters or sedan chairs to rescue them in case they fail.
What To Wear
It is also recommended to wear clothes that are not brightly colored. Given that gorilla trekking is done in the forested mountains, rainfall is very unpredictable and can occur at any time of the day. It is therefore highly recommended to wear waterproof pants and have a raincoat or poncho. It is also important to have hand gloves and gaiters.
We always share a detailed packing list with several recommended items you can have on your gorilla trek. This helps you to plan accordingly.
Rwanda Gorilla Families
There are currently 12 fully habituated gorilla families that are open to tourism. Each gorilla family has a different setup and individual gorilla numbers. Some have infant or baby gorillas while the majority have a mixture of infants, juveniles, adult females, and their leader, the silverback.
You can request to trek to a gorilla family with infants in case it is what you prefer. Gorilla family trekking allocation is however solely determined by the head Rangers but giving them a heads-up can help.
Our Rwanda Safari adventures are open and you can join in for your ultimate mountain gorilla trekking Discovery Journeys.
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