Gorillas Trekking in Rwanda

Gorillas Trekking in Rwanda

One of the most popular tour activities visitors to Rwanda engage in is gorilla trekking within Volcanoes National Park. Officially the Republic of Rwanda, this landlocked nation in Central-East Africa is among the smallest nation on Africa. Burundi in the South, the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the West, Uganda in the North, and Tanzania in the East round Rwanda. The cleanest city on Africa, Kigali is the capital of Rwanda.

• Among the three privileged nations (Uganda and Congo) to live among the surviving mountain gorillas worldwide is Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills. Living in the rich forests and steep ranges of Rwanda, Uganda, and Congo, gorillas are ground-dwelling primates mostly vegetarian.
• Walking or going over the jungle in quest of the mountain gorillas is the essence of Gorilla Trekking. One of the most sought-after sports in Rwanda, gorilla treking is an exciting and rewarding adventure one may engage in during a trip there.
• Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda’s regions of Burera, Musanze, Rubavu and Nyabihu offers gorilla trekking opportunities. From Rwanda, visitors can, however, hike gorillas from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda; it is just roughly 4 hours’ drive from Kigali.
• Covering 160 square kilometers of rainforest including five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains namely Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabinyo, Volcanoes National Park, sometimes known as Parc National des Volcans, is a national park in the northwest of the country. These five volcanoes collectively are extinct. For eighteen years she conducted her study on mountain gorillas at Karisoke Research Center from Dian Fossey’s base, Volcanoes National Park. The widely praised movie “Gorillas in the Mist” made in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park features her painstaking labor.
• reopened in July 1999 to the world following war-related closure in 1991, the number of visitors arriving especially for gorilla trekking rises daily. In this park, ten or more gorilla habituated groups open for visitor trekking; say;
• Comprising the lower base of Mount Karisimbi and currently 33 members plus two silverbacks, the Susa group is the largest mountain gorilla group in Volcanoes National Park. Dian Fossey first looked at this group. Though many visitors choose this specific group to follow despite the challenges in tracking it, the twins in this group are a wonder and source of delight.
• With two silverbacks, the Sabinyo family presently consists of thirteen members. The biggest one of the silverbacks guiding this group comes from Volcanoes National Park. One of the easier groups to follow since the group often wanders the slopes of Mount Sabinyo.
• Amahoro family: Originally meaning peace in the native Kinyarwanda language, this gentle group has lost members to the more hostile silverbacks trying to grow their families. There are eighteen members in the group now, two silverbacks living on the Mountain Bisoke slopes. Trekking this particular group becomes difficult due to the topography of the slopes; so, it is important to try to maintain fit if one intends to trek this group.
• Originally known as group 13, the Agashya family changed their name following the fall of Nyakarima by another strong leader who leads until today. Agashya is named from the word “News.” With one silverback currently, the group consists of 27 members—a more than 13 most likely result of Agashya’s aggressiveness. As they wander around, they can be seen on Mount Sabinyo’s slopes.
• The 23-member Kwitonda Family moved from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and resides on the slopes of Mountain Muhabura; they include four silverbacks. The late powerful silverback who was mainly noted for his modest nature gave Kwitonda its name.
• Umubano family translates as “live together.” There are thirteen family members including two silverbacks. Charles a silverback from the Amahoro family broke off to establish his own family, hence forming this. Living on the same region as the Amahoro group, the slopes of Mount Bisoke
• The Hirwa family: Hirwa is “lucky one”. Comprising members from the Sabinyo family and group 13, this new group of sixteen members included one silverback. They prowl between Sabinyo’s mountains and Mount Gahinga. This group also includes 2011 born twins.
• Karisimbi family: There are sixteen members of the group, one silverback living on Mount Karisimbi’s slopes. It is a split off branch of the Susa family. This is the toughest group to hike since it lives on Mount Karisimbi’s top slopes at 4507m. Those who are up to a physical challenge will fit this category.
• There are eleven members of the Ugenda family, two silverbacks included. Like their name, which means mobile, the group is constantly on the road and barely settles in one area. This group lives on Mount Bisoke, a reasonably simple climb.
• Bwenge Family: One silverback and eleven members make up this family, which represents wisdom. They are easy for one to hike since they wander Mount Bisoke’s slopes. Named for him, Bwenge group was established in 2007. It should be mentioned that this group experienced pretty sad six newborn deaths.
• Titus Gorilla group: This group is reserved for gorilla trekking alone in response to a scarcity of gorilla tracking licenses. This group is named for Titus, a preterm born gorilla who saw his family lost to poachers. He was born at the same period as Dian Fossey was conducting research; he was lucky to have a family close by who raised and protected him. When Titus was thirty-five he passed away naturally.

 

• Given that mountain gorillas do not linger in one area for very long, gorilla trekking in Rwanda can last up to eight hours depending on their position. That schedule calls for trekking back to the headquarters after hiking to where the mountain gorillas are found plus one hour with them. Groups of eight visitors are permitted to follow a gorilla group daily; those under the age of fifteen are not permitted to track the gorillas. Tourists are briefed on the rules for a good walk before the journey.
• One must buy a gorilla trekking permit if one want to hike gorillas in Rwanda. The permit you obtain determines the group one that can travel. These gorilla walking licenses are sold out really quickly since demand for them is too great. To ensure you get a space, one must book far in advance—at least three months in advance. Right now, Gorilla Trekking permits in Rwanda cost $1,500 for all people, including nationals. A gorilla trekking permit can be bought either directly with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), a body of the Rwanda government, or via a reputable tour operator. Visit their website at www. RWandatourism.com.
• Although gorilla trekking is available all year round, it is more wise to schedule one for the dry season. The months of the dry season fall December through March and June through October. Still, it should be mentioned that rain might strike at any hour of the day. Whether or not it is a rainy season, little drizzles might also fall all through the day.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda can be done as a solo trip or as part of a safari to other national parks such Nyungwe Forest National Park & Akagera National Park or any other park in the vicinity.