Trekking among gorillas in Volcanoes National Park
One of the best activities available in Volcanoes National Park for visitors to discover the magnificent Gorilla species is gorilla trekking. The threatened mountain gorillas of Rwanda are housed at Volcanoes National Park within the Virunga massif. Said to be the only park providing the best gorilla tracking experience available worldwide is this one. Rising in northern Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is surrounded north by Uganda. Although the park offers a lot in terms of physical beauty and fauna, gorilla trekking takes the stage among the other attractions. Travelers seeking the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat hike or stroll the jungles known as gorilla trekking. The Volcanoes National Park boasts ten habituated gorilla families—the Susa gorilla family, Amahoro, Agashya, Kwitonda, Umubano, Karisimbi, Ugenda, Bwenge, and Titus gorilla families in addition to the elusive Hirwa gorilla family visiting Uganda.
Transportation to Volcanoes National Park
From Gisenyi or Kigali International Airport, public transit from a little settlement called Musanze makes Volcanoes National Park quite easily reachable. Two hours is the travel to Volcanoes National Park, hence one can undertake gorilla treking and return on the same day. Since the trekking activity starts quite early in the morning, it is advised that one wishing to utilize public means or doing a trip starting from Kigali wake very early in the morning and travel the two-hour drive to the park headquarters of Kinigi.
How can one reserve a gorilla trekking permit for Volcanoes and pay for
One must have a gorilla tracking permit long ahead of your planned trekking date in order to undertake gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. Either one can utilize a reputable tour operator to get this done for you, or you can get this gorilla tracking permission from the Rwanda Development Board headquarters in Kigali or website when you arrive for tracking at the park. For all visitors tracking the gorillas—including Rwanda citizens—the gorilla tracking permits are at $1,500. These gorilla tracking licenses sell out really quickly, hence one should book far in advance to guarantee their place for a certain day. Ten habituated gorilla groups found in Volcanoes National Park are accessible for visitor tracking; only one hour allows one person daily to track a specific gorilla group.
When should I schedule a national park gorilla trekking trip on volcanoes?
Since gorilla trekking is a highly sought-after sport and the permits sell quickly, it is advisable that you plan your gorilla trip safari in Volcanoes National Park at least three to four months in advance. The ideal months and most advised ones to visit these threatened but yet gentle gorillas in their native environment are June, July, August, September, mid-December, January, and February. These are the dry months, so the ideal time for trekking since the rainfall is rather modest. However, a gorilla trekking trip can be scheduled any time in the year and if yours falls on the other months most likely to see rain, then having the greatest and most vital gear for gorilla trekking is very crucial.
Crucially important for Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
- Easy walking requires hiking boots; ideally, waterproof post will help to prevent soaking when you walk across water puddles or during rain. Steer clear of temptation to carry open shoes or sandals.
- Hand gloves will enable you to have strong grips on the walking rod and prevent reactions from the different vegetation you are probably going to come across or insect bites when on the trail. Volcanoes National Park has especially hostile nettles.
- Long sleeved blouses and shirts guard against bug stings and thorny shrubs.
- Rain coats for the always shifting conditions
- Hat and sunglasses to guard from the direct sunlight
- Long pants and stockings piled into boots help to prevent ground insect and crawling bites.
- Since the climb would be somewhat demanding and take longer hours, energy-giving food and water for refreshment will be quite important.
Trekking gorillas in national park time frame for volcanoes
For a briefing by one or more the ranger guides, trekkers are due at Kinigi’s park headquarters by 7:00 am and latest 7:30 am. They are then divided into groups of eight and assigned different gorilla groups. Ten gorilla groups from Rwanda comprise the groupings; among them are the secretive Hirwa gorilla group that occasionally travels to Uganda. Usually beginning at 8:00 am, gorilla treking expects all participants to return to the headquarters by 7:00 pm. Depending on where the gorillas live, the trekking duration could last thirty minutes to five or more hours. The ranger or guide will advise you to decrease in the voices and also keep your food away when approaching the gorillas, whose sounds are identifiable. Once the visitors arrive at the mountain gorillas, they are free to spend up to one hour with the gorillas in which case they can record movies or images or anything else.
Rules for effective gorilla hiking in Volcanoes National Park
- One should always be aware of the seven meters separating the mountain gorillas from one other.
- Keep that inside your group you are assigned with
- If you truly need to talk, whispers are not permitted and noise is unacceptable.
- Steer clear of direct gaze with the gorillas; this endangers them.
- Calm yourself should a mountain gorilla charge. Do as advised by your guide or ranger; follow whatever directions.
- Keep garbage out of the park. Bring back everything you arrived with.
- Eat nowhere near the mountain gorillas. Easting should take place at least two hundred meters distant.
- The gorillas should not be touched.
How can I fit my gorilla trekking expedition with
Apart from the mountain gorillas, Rwanda is a wonderful nation with many attractions. Your gorilla walking safari can visit other national parks and historical sites on this land of a thousand hills. You can choose to hike Mount Karisimbi, Bisoke or golden monkey tracking, or perhaps visit the grave of famed primatologist Dian Fossey within Volcanoes National Park itself. Among other things, you may arrange a visit to a genocide memorial center to learn more about the 1994 Rwanda genocide, which claimed over a million lives, a trip to parks like Akagera for observing animals, boat launches, among others. You can also mention other locations in the region, say Tanzania, Zanzibar, Kenya or Uganda.
Spend some time seeing Rwanda and doing gorilla treking at Volcanoes National Park. Get your reliable tour operator of choice to plan this once-in-a-lifetime gorilla trekking experience for you; you will always yearn to visit again, which you may if you so wish and you will always be welcome.
