Expectations for Rwandan Gorilla Trekking
Expectations for Rwandan Gorilla Trekking: Africa is renowned for offering once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to see wildlife. Meeting mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is one of the most unforgettable (and frequently included on traveler bucket lists) experiences.
About 1,000 mountain gorillas, divided into two groups, remain in the wild today. The first is located in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda. The Virunga Mountains, which border Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, are home to the second, larger population. Every nation in the Virungas has its own national park. In that order, they are Virunga National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Volcanoes National Park.
The best place to undertake gorilla trekking is thought to be Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. With better infrastructure and more reliable travel agencies, it is a safer destination than the DRC.
With just one habituated gorilla group, Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is significantly smaller than its neighbors. As a result, there are significantly fewer trekking permits available, and visitors may completely miss the gorillas because the group regularly crosses the border.
Rwandan gorilla permits are far more expensive than those in Uganda ($1,500 versus $700), but they sell out more quickly, so you’re more likely to be able to visit on the dates of your choice. It is also possible to go on a day trip from Kigali, which cuts down on wasteful spending. From the best time to visit to our recommended activities, this guide will help you organize your gorilla trekking trip in Volcanoes National Park.
What Can We Expect from Rwandan Gorilla Trekking?
Twelve habituated gorilla communities are available for tourist engagement at Volcanoes National Park. Every one of them has a silverback, or alpha male, and his harem of females and teenagers. At 7 a.m., your group will be assigned to a troop and given an orientation on gorilla visiting regulations at the park headquarters in Kinigi, where your journey will start. According to these rules, you must maintain a distance of about 22 feet from the gorillas and refrain from hiking if you have any serious illnesses that could infect them. We’ll also go over the fundamentals of safe interactions, like avoiding flash photography, speaking quietly, and minimizing movement.
Your party will be the only one interacting with your designated unit on the day of your visit. In order to make the experience as unobtrusive as possible for both humans and gorillas, each group is limited to eight people. As migratory animals, gorillas spend their days on the move, searching for the vast quantities of plants required to sustain their gigantic size. Because of this, it is difficult to forecast where each unit will go on any given day, but they often stay within a preferred wide area.
A significant portion of the journey entails stumbling through the misty jungle to find them, which could take anything from thirty minutes to five hours or longer. Porters are available to help with the transportation of cameras and baggage, and troops are frequently assigned based on the physical capabilities of each group.
Once you’ve located the troop, you can sit quietly within a few feet of them for up to an hour, observing them as they go about their everyday lives without being bothered by their human guests. In order to minimize the impact on each troop, encounters are strictly time-limited. Gorillas share 98 percent of our DNA, making them our closest cousins after chimps and bonobos. Because of this, a lot of their behavior can be recognized, such as when a mother is raising her young or when juveniles are fighting while the adults forage for food.
What to anticipate while trekking with gorillas in Rwanda Trekking with Gorillas
What should I pack for a Rwandan gorilla trek?
Wear appropriate clothing whenever you visit Volcanoes National Park because it is cold and wet. To stay warm while sitting with the gorillas, you should dress in layers; but, when hiking, you should take off your clothes. It also includes sturdy hiking boots or shoes with adequate traction for slick, steep terrain, as well as waterproof coats and tights.
Thick-woven clothing and gaiters are also recommended due to the abundance of stinging nettles. Bring sunscreen, a sunhat, and sunglasses for when the sun peeks through the clouds if you are prone to being sunburned.
How Can I Reserve My Rwandan Gorilla Permit?
Eight people are permitted to visit each of the 12 habituated gorilla families at Volcanoes National Park each day, with a maximum of 96 permits available for any given day. This implies that they sell out months in advance, making it somewhat challenging to get one.
Don’t wait to schedule your authorization until you are in Rwanda. Instead, schedule the rest of your trip around your permit reservation. The Irembo government website allows you to purchase your permission alone, although it is located in Kinyarwanda, and most visitors would rather have their tour operator walk them through the process.
How Much Should Your Rwandan Gorilla Trekking Safari Cost?
Rwanda is often hailed as the world’s best place to go gorilla trekking. With licenses costing $1,500 per person, it is the most expensive. Ten percent of this money is given to community events in the area, and it can also be used to compensate farmers in the event that gorillas infiltrate their land and destroy their crops. This increases local support for gorilla conservation while also fostering a positive relationship between conservationists and the community.
You’ll need to budget for airfare, accommodation, transportation, meals, tips, and other expenses in addition to the trekking permit. The most economical choice is sometimes to reserve an all-inclusive package with a company that specializes in gorilla trekking excursions.
In this manner, you will be aware of the entire cost in advance and have plenty time to save money without worrying about unanticipated fees. However, depending on the type of accommodation and other variables, package prices can differ significantly. For our selections of the best package vacations for every budget, keep reading.
How is Volcanoes National Park accessible?
The main entry point for the majority of foreign visitors is Kigali International Airport, which is located roughly 6 miles east of Kigali City. The closest town to the park, Musanze, is slightly over 70 miles away and can be reached by automobile in less than three hours. After that, all gorilla trekking safaris leave from Kinigi, the park headquarters, which is a 30-minute drive away. Most tourists either rent a car with a driver or arrange a planned trip that includes transfers in order to get to Volcanoes National Park.
In conclusion, the essay above outlines the main points of Rwandan gorilla trekking.
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