Facts or Tips to Consider on Mountain Gorilla Safari in Rwanda: Volcanoes National Park is a home highlight to the world’s unique endangered mountain gorillas which attracts millions of tourists from around the world. However, the best way to meet up with these great creatures in their nature habitant, must book his or her gorilla permit in advance before their time of arrival and gorilla trekking is worth a visit.
More fact, Volcanoes National Park is renowned as the top tourist safari destination on the African continent, lies in the northwestern Rwanda region and covers an area of about 62 square miles composed of bamboo forest and five beautiful volcanoes inside the park, such as Muhabura, Karisimbi, Sabinyo, Bisoke, and Gahinga. Furthermore, the park borders Uganda’s home to endangered mountain gorillas –Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Congo’s Virunga National Park.
Despite the fact that Volcanoes National Park sounds like one of the world’s stopping safari destinations for gorilla trekking tours due to the great effort done by the primatologist Dian Fossey. Dian Fossey built a gorilla research institute ‘’Karisoke Research Centre’’ for study purposes about mountain gorillas. Her great work left a legacy of innovations in gorilla research and conservation to continue thus enabling Rwanda Tourism Hub to grow at a high rate. The government of Rwanda appreciates her great work due to her contribution to the country.
Today the world celebrates her great effort and possible extinction to the mountain gorillas.
Historically, by 1925 the area was still recognized as human residents and later turned into a park as part of the wider Virunga Conservation area to protect the mountain gorillas that were living within Mount Mikeno, Karisimbi, and Bisoke. After some time, its boundaries were marked to be part of only Rwanda. Then by 1967, the park became known around the world as the base of Dian Fossey American primatologist who put in much effort to protect the rarely mountain gorillas in the park. Sadly, she was murdered in 1967, but still today Dian Fossey is remembered for introducing great groundbreaking discoveries about mountain gorillas in ‘’Gorilla Research’’.
Note: Without her great work in gorilla research, we believe mountain gorillas would be extinct by now in the wild.
Besides, Volcanoes a home to major endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys; It is also home to species like black-fronted duiker, forest buffaloes, bushbucks, elephants, and spotted hyenas, and also hoven for birders such as; Scarlet-tufted sunbirds, Ruwenzori nightjar, Ruwenzori batis, Ruwenzori Apalis, Lagden’s bush-shrike, Dusky turtle dove, Grauer’s swamp warbler Ruwenzori double-collared sunbird among others.
Well, the park’s main attractions are the mountain gorillas which can be trekked in different gorilla families. However, Volcanoes National Park consists of 10 habituated gorilla families including; the Agashya gorilla group, the Sabyinyo gorilla family group, the Titus family, the Amahoro gorilla group, the Susa A group, the Umubano group, Susa B –known as Karisimbi group, Hirwa gorilla family, Kwitonda group, Bwenge group, Ugenda group, and each gorilla group is comprised of 30 individuals and above.
Generally, Volcanoes National Park is under the protection of the ‘’RDB’’ Rwanda Development Board together with international agencies and other partners. The government of Rwanda has benefited through getting revenue from permits sold.
Rwanda Gorilla Permit costs USD 1,500 per person per trek.
Apart from doing gorilla trekking, travelers can opt to do hiking adventures along; mount Karisimbi, Visit Dian Fossey’s grave, Track Golden monkeys, Tour the Iby’Iwacu cultural village, or Visit the twin lakes Ruhondo and Burera.
Before you start planning your gorilla safari in Rwanda, you should know first;
Frequently asked questions before you set off your traveling journey to the beautiful land of 1000 hills;
What to wear or carry on gorilla safari?
What are the rules for trekking mountain gorillas?
What is the best time to visit Rwanda gorilla safaris?
What is the age limit for trekking mountain gorillas?
Where to stay at Rwanda Gorilla Safari-Volcanoes National Park?
If you have heavy luggage, you need to hire a porter who is available to help you carry your heavy luggage or push you to and fro at an affordable price of USD10 to USD10.
What is essential to carry on a gorilla safari?
While planning to visit Rwanda on a gorilla trekking safari, we advise you to carry useful essentials such as;
Comfortable rubber boots –shoes
Hand gloves
A light raincoat
Energy-giving snacks and enough mineral water bottles
Porter to help with extra heavy luggage
Hat and sunglasses
Pair of Binoculars
Waterproof bag to keep your documents safe.
A rain Jacket
Warm clothes
Long-sleeved shirts and trousers
Cameras and extra batteries and flashlight
The tracking pole enables you to balance when moving on steep ground in the forest.
What are the rules and regulations for trekking mountain gorillas?
Always wash your hands before you go for gorilla trekking.
Do not litter rubbish inside the park.
Flash cameras are not permitted in the forest because they scare gorillas away.
Respect the maximum number of individuals to track ‘’8 per group to trek gorillas on a particular day’’.
Keep a distance of between 5 to 7 meters away from mountain gorillas when you meet them.
Always keep your voice low while in the forest.
Do not touch the mountain gorillas because they are wild animals.
Do not drink or eat while you are near the mountain gorillas.
Stay in tight groups while you’re with the mountain gorillas.
Ask the question as many as possible the guide will be able to answer all your questions.
The maximum time permitted to observe gorillas is one hour. Why is it one hour, it’s because they limit their disturbance.
After the visit, endeavor to keep your voice as low as possible.
General Health Rule About Gorilla Trekking Safari –Rwanda
Know that mountain gorillas are our closest cousins with whom we share 98% DNA, meaning they are very susceptible to human diseases.
If you feel ill please stay at the lodge and be arranged for another activity, or be refunded your money as per gorilla’s reservation guidelines.
If you feel a cough near the mountain gorillas, please turn your head away and cover your nose and mouth in order to minimize the spread of the viruses to our dear mountain gorillas.
If you feel to go to the toilet while in the forest, please ask the guide to dig a hole of about 30 meters and cover it.
What is the age limit for trekking mountain gorillas?
The maximum age to go for gorilla trekking experience is 15 years and above.
What is the best time to visit the Rwanda gorilla safari?
Rwanda Gorilla Safari can be visited all around the year. However, the best time to enjoy the Gorilla trekking without any disappointment of heavy rainfall is during peak season when the tracking trails are dry and are good to go for gorilla tracking. Peak season ‘/dry season usually happens from June to mid-September and December and February. Get Started Booking Now!
