Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National park
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National park : The Volcanoes National Park is a popular destination for gorilla trekking since Rwanda is regarded by some as the best spot in Africa to view gorillas. The fascinating yet critically endangered mountain gorillas live in this park. There are only three nations where mountain gorillas can be found: Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The northwest region of Rwanda is home to the about 16,000 hectare Volcanoes National Park. It is made up of five volcanoes (Bisoke, Gahinga, Muhabura, Sabyinyo, and Karisimbi), savanna grassland, bamboo forests, and large wetlands. Among Africa’s four highest peaks is Mount Karisimbi. Among many other mammals, the Volcanoes National Park is home to spotted hyenas, buffaloes, elephants, bush bucks, duikers, and golden monkeys.
The Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is a popular destination for gorilla tourism, with a high probability of encountering mountain gorivollas. Hiking through thick bamboo forests and up steep mountain slopes in pursuit of one of Rwanda’s gorilla families is known as “gorilla trekking” in the Volcanoes National Park. One of the most thrilling and unforgettable wildlife experiences in Africa is thought to have occurred during the last interaction with the primates. Double gorilla trekking is another option for travelers who want to see gorillas in Uganda and have the best of both worlds. Some travelers even choose to do triple gorilla trekking, which includes a visit to the gorillas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park. Seeing Eastern Lowland and Mountain Gorillas in the Congo’s Kahuzi Biega National Park is an even more thrilling experience. Although tracking gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park can be difficult, many people believe that the final encounter with the gorillas is the pinnacle of animal experiences.
The price of going on a gorilla trek at Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla Safari in Rwanda: To guarantee a position for gorilla trekking on a specific date, one must reserve a Rwandan gorilla permit in advance. Obtaining a gorilla permit can be quite challenging during busy times such as June through September and December through March. Currently, gorilla licenses in Rwanda cost $1,500. That represents a very small portion of the total cost of gorilla trekking. It is significant to remember that a portion of the fees associated with gorilla licenses are used to fund community initiatives and efforts to conserve gorillas. You can purchase permits directly from the Rwanda Development Board or through your tour operator. The Rwanda Development Board must receive the passport details in order to schedule the permit. There are ten gorilla families that can be visited for trekking, and each group can only have eight visitors each day. This suggests that the several habituated gorilla groups have a daily limit of 80 gorilla licenses available.
How is the Volcanoes National Park gorilla trekking experience?
Around 7:30 am, park rangers and officials give a briefing before gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Participants are split up into groups and assigned to a specific gorilla family during the briefing. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. Groups that are closest to the park offices are allocated to the less physically fit hikers. The park rangers led the group in quest of the gorillas about eight in the morning. As was already said, there are ten habituated groups or families available for you to select from when gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Whatever group you end up with, you are going to have an incredible experience. Just observing the young ones roll about and play may occupy hours. Mountain gorillas are highly inquisitive and always playing. Some might approach you directly, but they don’t mean any harm. It is crucial that you follow your guides’ directions and maintain your composure at all times when you are among the gorillas. Avoid making abrupt movements at all. Depending on the gorilla group to which you are allocated and their exact position on the day of the journey, gorilla tracking in Rwanda might take anywhere from one to six hours.
Tracking Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park: If you have heavy luggage or equipment, consider hiring a porter or porters. Porters are accessible from the beginning. Several of these porters have accepted gorilla conservation initiatives after formerly engaging in poaching. They are prevented from returning to their previous vice by the money they make from providing their services. Read up about gorilla tracking for senior citizens if you intend to travel with your parents. Porters charge between $10 and $15 for their services. You’ll need a raincoat, thick cotton gloves, and appropriate hiking boots. Rules for gorilla trekking and a detailed packing list should be sent to you by your tour company.
How to Get Ready for a Gorilla Trek in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park
Take long walks in the adjacent forests to emotionally and physically prepare yourself in advance.
Obtain appropriate footwear in order to make your way through the occasionally difficult terrain.
Come prepared for heavy rain.
Carry a light lunch and plenty of water with you.
Tipping park rangers and guides is highly recommended as they go above and above to ensure that your gorilla tracking experience is enjoyable. Between $10 and $15, or its equivalent in the local currency, is the suggested tippirorilla Trekking in Rwanda is subject to rules and restrictions, just like any other activity. To get close to the primates, you have to be at least 15 years old. Children are not permitted to be close to the gorillas because they can potentially spread diseases like the flu and cough to the primates. It’s one of the reasons travelers must provide passport information when making travel arrangements. Just 1,000 mountain gorillas are left in the wild due to environmental threats. Every precaution is made to keep children safe from illness. It is forbidden to bring anyone who has a contagious illness close to the primates. Certain illnesses that humans have can also affect mountain gorillas. Additional guidelines and policies pertaining to gorilla trekking are available in another article.
Note: A popular itinerary for travelers visiting Rwanda combines gorilla trekking with two days of tracking golden monkeys, cultural excursions, and a trip up one of the volcanoes in the Volcanoes National Park, including Mount Karisimbi and Bisoke. Hiking Mount Karisimbi and trekking with gorillas in Volcanoes National Park will take a lot of resolve and physical stamina to accomplish. In Rwanda, June, July, and August are the prime months for gorilla trekking.
Activities in Rwanda other than trekking with gorillas
In addition to gorilla trekking, visitors to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and surrounding regions can engage in a variety of other activities. You will observe as you travel that the nation has a stunning topography made up of hills and mountains. The following activities can be combined with gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park:-
Trekking golden monkeys at Volcanoes National Park: The endangered golden monkey lives in Volcanoes National Park. The mountain gorillas and these stunning primates share the same habitats. They eat insects and bamboo shoots to survive, and sometimes they may raid farms to steal potatoes. The only true adversaries of golden monkeys, who are gregarious primates, are humans and African eagles. Additionally, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are home to golden monkeys. In Rwanda, licenses for gorilla trekking begin at the same time as those for golden monkey trekking, and they cost $100. Because golden monkeys reside on the lower slopes of mountains, following them in Rwanda is less taxing than tracing gorillas.
Visiting Dian Fossey’s tomb: From her lengthy research and work with mountain gorillas in 1969 until her death in the 1980s in Dian Fossey Tomb, Dian Fossey is regarded as one of the finest primatologists of all time. She spearheaded efforts to stop poaching and raised awareness of mountain gorillas worldwide. She pioneered novel methods of acclimating mountain gorillas through observing their behaviors, remaining among them, and winning the approval of the dominant Silverback. This is particularly noteworthy because the mountain gorillas she collaborated with had come to view all people as potential threats. Due to poachers and pet dealers/traffickers, their numbers had decreased.
Dian Fossey became engaging in gorilla conservation efforts after the trafficking of infant gorillas spiraled out of hand. This was the beginning of her issues, which ultimately led to her murder. One way to honor Dian Fossey and learn about her contributions to the field of primatology is to hike to her grave. To conserve the critically endangered mountain gorillas, Dian Fossey spearheaded activities for gorilla conservation. Check out our 3 Day Gorilla Tour in Rwanda and Dian Fossey Hike package to find out more about how to visit the Dian Fossey cemetery.
Visit the Musanze Caves: One of Rwanda’s historical sights is the Musanze Caves. The caves are located in the village of Musanze, next to the park. It is estimated that the Musanze caverns date back more than 65 million years. The caverns have 31 entrances and more than 20 kilometers of tunnels. The caves are close to Bisoke and Mount Sabyinyo. It is thought that when the two volcanoes developed, lava erupted and then cooled, creating the caves. The Rwandan local monarchs used the Musanze caverns as a place to hide and reorganize during intertribal conflicts with neighboring tribes. You can hire a knowledgeable guide to show you around the caves and explain their history. It costs $50 to explore these caves.
Hiking a Volcano: The Virunga Volcanoes are the perfect choice if you’re up for a challenge and in good shape. The two most well-known volcanoes are Karisimbi and Bisoke. Hiking the Karisimbi Volcano takes two days and is an amazing experience. It just takes a single day to hike Mount Bisoke and see the enormous crater lake at the top. You can get fantastic views of the Rwenzori summits, national parks, the Virunga ranges, and the boundaries of three countries from both of these summits. Mount Bisoke and Karisimbi hiking begins around seven in the morning, following a briefing from the park administration. Following the briefing, a guide is tasked with guiding the hikers.
Birding in Rwanda: With over 200 documented species, the Volcanoes National Park is one of the country’s most significant birdwatching locations. Thirteen of these are native to the region. The attractive francolin and Rwenzori turaco are the most sought-after birds. You will never come across birds as exquisite than this. The Rwenzori double collared sunbird, the dusky crimson wing, the archer’s ground robin, the collared apalis, Grauer’s rush warbler, the red-faced woodland warbler, and the odd weaver are among the other species.
See the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village (Gorilla Guardians Village): This is Rwanda’s most visited and largest cultural center. It’s close to the National Park of Volcanoes. The Center was established to promote Rwanda’s rich cultural diversity and provide gorilla trekking experiences to the nearby community. The Gorilla Guardians Village is another name for the center, as many of the entertainers were also poachers. Visitors can participate in cultural events including dance, theater, and storytelling while at the Iby’iwacu Cultural Center. You’ll get to sample some of the regional cuisine and alcoholic beverages and discover how a typical Rwandan home is set up. Even the local medicine men are willing to provide knowledge about some of the ancient herbal remedies for common human problems.
Visiting the Rwandan Genocide Memorial Center: Kigali is the most visited of Rwanda’s many genocide memorial sites, which are dispersed around the nation. You will be able to fully comprehend what transpired in Rwanda prior to and in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide, which claimed the lives of about one million people, by visiting the museum. If this museum doesn’t satisfy you, you can learn more about the tragic incident by going to the National Museum in Butale and the former Kings Palace.
One of Rwanda’s main tourist destinations is Nyungwe National Park, which offers a forest canopy walk and chimpanzee tracking opportunities. The world’s largest and oldest afro-montane forest is found in this park. One can see chimpanzees and other primates when they visit the park. This is one location you don’t want to skip if you are taking a primate safari in Rwanda. In addition to chimpanzees, you may see golden monkeys, baboons, colobus monkeys, and vervet monkeys. The finest area in Rwanda to track chimpanzees is Nyungwe Forest. The park officials also plan treks into the forest canopy, ecology, and birding.
Visit Lake Kivu: You want to unwind and take in the stunning African sun in a wonderful setting in between your Rwanda safari. Lake Kivu offers the solution. It is shared between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is one of Africa’s big lakes. Swimming, island hopping, and fishing are all quite good in Lake Kivu. You shouldn’t be alarmed by the possibility of methane gas exploding beneath the lake’s surface, though, given its natural beauty.
Game drives at Akagera National Park: Akagera National Park is a great place to visit if you want to really see Rwanda’s wildlife. It is three hours’ drive from Kigali and Rwanda’s sole safari park. Even while Akagera isn’t as huge as the national parks in Kenya or Tanzania, it nevertheless has all five of Africa’s major beasts.
Other activities: In addition to the major ones that have already been covered, there are also the lesser-known ones, such as going to the Ruhengeri main market to buy locally created cloth from Rwanda, seeing projects in the village, or going to local homes to sample locally produced beer or cuisine. The twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo are a great option for anyone seeking seclusion and breathtaking vistas. I shouldn’t forget to mention the Congo Nile trail. You can even combine gorilla trekking in Rwanda and a safari in Masai Mara in Kenya.
Accommodation facilities during gorilla trekking at the Volcanoes National Park
Rwanda has positioned herself as a luxury gorilla trekking destination and invested a lot on accommodation. There are several high quality lodges close to the Volcanoes national park that can be used by tourists during their time in the park. The lodges offer ultra-luxury, luxury, mid-range and budget facilities. The final decision depends entirely on ones budget. The most popular Luxury hotels include Bisate Lodge, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, One and Only Gorilla Nest Lodge, Sabinyo Silverback Lodge and Virunga Volcanoes Lodge. Five Volcanoes Lodge is arguably the most pocket friendly of the luxury hotels in the Volcanoes National Park. They have a VIP room which can be offered to guests as surprise during certain months of the year. Sabyinyo Silverback lodge offers excellent views of the Virunga Volcanoes. If you want the ultimate luxury lodge, then you should consider Bisate or One and Only Gorilla Nest.
Accommodation in Volcanoes National ParkThe best Mid-range lodges are Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge and Lebambou Gorilla Lodge. Davinci Lodge stands out for its five spacious cottages and tasty international dishes. For the best views of the Virunga Volcanoes and park, you might want to consider Mountain Gorilla View Lodge. If you are a budget traveler, then Virunga Hotel, Gorilla Solution Lodge, Villa Gorilla, Hotel Muhabura, La Palme Hotel or Gorillas Volcanoes Hotel would be perfect. Gorillas Volcanoes Hotel can take large groups considering it has 31 comfortable rooms. Villa Gorilla Lodge is an excellent choice for travelers who wish to stay close to the park offices. La Palme Hotel on the other hand is noted for its excellent restaurant and local Rwandan dishes. If most of the good budget hotels are booked (during peak season), you should consult Kinigi Guesthouse. They have many self-contained rooms that are of good quality.