What you need to know to prepare for gorilla trekking in Rwanda
What you need to know to prepare for gorilla trekking in Rwanda: One of the greatest things you can do while visiting Rwanda is gorilla trekking. Because the gorilla trekking adventure begins early, with arrival at the Kinigi park headquarters in Volcanoes National Park at 7:00am for a briefing from one of the park rangers, you must have accommodations booked the night before the gorilla trekking day.
Based on your ability, you will then be assigned to a gorilla family to trek with. Depending on where the gorilla family is being followed, you should anticipate to return by at least 6:00 p.m. after starting your search for them at 8:30 a.m. The length and complexity of the trek you want to do are important factors in choosing which gorilla family you will go to see. Depending on where the particular gorilla family you are tracking is located, your walk could take anywhere from one to nine hours. While it’s not necessary to be extremely fit, having a respectable level of fitness does help to increase your enjoyment of the event. In order to find your gorilla family, the park’s trained trackers and guides will bring you through the woodland pathways. In addition to being extremely humid beneath the forest canopy, the conditions in the forest can be muddy and slippery, even during the dry season. You could find the walk difficult as you make your way through the thick vegetation. The walk can be taxing due to the high altitude and the steep, slick trails, but seeing mountain gorillas in the wild is well worth the effort. You will have the chance to spend up to an hour with these gentle giants when you eventually locate them. After that, you may return to your lodge and think back on your enthralling and unforgettable experience with Rwanda’s wild mountain gorillas.
The rangers urge you to maintain a safe distance of roughly 7 meters from mountain gorillas once you have identified a particular gorilla family that belongs to you. However, some gorillas may stroll in close proximity to humans, so this is not always the case. When a gorilla approaches you, it is best to stay there and not leave or even chase it away because it will eventually leave on its own.
During your one-hour encounter with the gorillas, you are also urged to either speak quietly or in a low voice, and to avoid making loud noises or abrupt movements while you are with them. You will be excited, of course, but you should try to keep your excitement to yourself. This is because, although the silverback is keeping an eye on them, the gorillas are usually a few meters closer to you, going about their regular activities, such as feeding and associating with one another.
Additionally, no matter how near the mountain gorillas are to you, you are never permitted to touch them. Despite their frequent exposure to humans, gorillas are still wild creatures and occasionally exhibit unexpected reactions. You must always pay attention to what your guides and trackers are telling you.
It has never been dull or the same to trek mountain gorillas more than once. You can follow a different family in a different part of the park on the second or third excursion. One of the things you should know to get ready for gorilla trekking in Rwanda is that on a second hike, you’re more likely to lay down your camera, unwind, and enjoy the experience.
Because of the light and the relatively small distance between you and the gorillas, taking pictures of them is difficult. You should make sure you are ready to capture the greatest pictures because your time with the gorillas is short.
A DSLR that can shoot at a high ISO is advised, but it is entirely up to you what camera you use because some great pictures have been shot using iPhones. A 70-200mm lens works best because you must be at least seven meters away from the gorillas. Sometimes there is very little light in the forest, thus a 2.8 lens is even better.
Make sure you turn off the flash on your phone or camera before you arrive at your gorilla group because flash photography is prohibited. You should prepare your shots rather than winging it because your time with the gorillas is limited. You must so strike a balance between shooting pictures and enjoying in this amazing experience.
Avoid staring at your camera the entire time; instead, concentrate on enjoying the moment and capturing pictures. As a result, ensure that your memory cards have enough room and that your batteries are completely charged. Additionally, because of the rainforest climate, it can rain at any time, so make sure you have waterproof bags or coverings for your camera.
Rwandan Gorilla Permits
In order to preserve these critically endangered animals in their native habitat and improve their chances of surviving, mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda is highly regulated, and permits are needed. Gorilla permits are severely limited to 96 each day because there are only 12 habituated gorilla families available for viewing, and only 8 persons are allowed to visit each gorilla family each day. You must get your Rwanda gorilla permit as soon as possible to guarantee your desired dates, especially during the busiest times of the year, as they sell out months in advance. The dry seasons of December to March and June to September are quite popular and permits sell out rapidly, although the wet seasons of April to May and October to November are less competitive.
In Rwanda, permits for gorilla trekking still cost $1500 USD per person. Since gorilla permits must be booked at least five months before to departure, your tour operator can assist with the purchase and reservation of your permit in advance. Park entry, knowledgeable guides and trackers, the protection of a tourism police force within the parks, and a valuable hour spent with the gorillas are all included in the cost.
If the Warden in Charge deems you unfit to monitor the gorillas, you will not be permitted to do so if you are exhibiting symptoms of illness. Human infections can easily infect gorillas, and since they lack the immunity to resist these illnesses, any sick person might pose a serious threat to the gorilla population. To monitor gorillas in Rwanda, you must be at least 15 years old for safety concerns.
What should I bring on a Rwandan gorilla trekking safari?
It’s crucial to arrive well-prepared for the amazing experience of tracking mountain gorillas in Rwanda. This includes knowing how to get ready for gorilla trekking in Rwanda, but you don’t have to bring too much equipment. It is preferable to utilize a soft case or holdall to optimize capacity because domestic flights often limit each passenger’s luggage to 20 kilograms. The following are some suggestions on things to bring on a Rwandan gorilla trekking safari:
You need hiking boots that are comfortable, well-made, waterproof, and have adequate ankle support. Before leaving, make sure your shoes are well-worn in to prevent painful blisters.
Long-sleeved shirts and lightweight, breathable, waterproof coats and pants. Because of the unpredictable weather, it’s crucial to wear long, light garments to protect yourself from mosquito bites.
For the frigid evenings and chilly mornings, wear warm clothes.
Woolen socks that are long and airy.
Sunglasses and a hat with a wide brim for protection.
Toiletries like lip balm, sunblock, insect repellent, after-sun lotion, and bite relief cream.
During your hike, wear garden gloves to protect your hands while you grasp the foliage.
A compact backpack to hold your camera, binoculars, drink, lunch, and additional clothing.
camera with spare batteries and lenses. Don’t underestimate how much RAM you’ll need.
Binoculars to see everything clearly and to see other animals like birds and monkeys.
Snacks: Bring some snacks for extra energy because the hike can be extremely demanding, lasting anywhere from two to nine hours.
You’ll need to pack a lot of drinking water for your hike, so use a reusable bottle to reduce waste.
adapter for multi-way travel. Rwanda runs on a 220V supply voltage and a 50Hz standard frequency, and it employs plug types C (two round pins) and J (two round pins and a grounding pin).
materials for neighborhood projects. Donations can be made and dropped off at participating hotels, lodges, and educational institutions.