The Virunga Mountains which straddle the borders of
Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda are home to about 1063
mountain gorillas. This is more than half the world’s entire population of the
primates (the rest are found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda).
The Rwandan part of the Virungas, in the Volcanoes
National Park, 10 gorilla groups are habituated now for gorilla safaris. This
is more than anywhere else in the world!
Planning for your gorilla adventure gorilla Rwanda
When
to go gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking safaris may be done throughout the
year. But the hiking itself may prove to be more difficult during the rainy
seasons from April to May and in November.
When you want to do gorilla trekking, the most
popular period is during the drier months, between December and February, and
from around June to Mid-September.
Securing
your permits for gorilla trekking
Securing permits for gorilla trekking during these
popular periods may not be easy at short notice. Therefore, we advise you to
plan. Virunga Ecotours will make all the arrangements for purchasing your
permits.
Permits
for gorilla trekking
Each day, a maximum of 96 gorilla trekking is
available. But note that as of May 6, 2017, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB)
increased the cost of gorilla permits from USD 750 to USD 1,500. According to
RDB, the new price is aimed to strengthen conservation efforts and support
local community’s development.
What
it is like on a typical gorilla trekking safari
On the day of your gorilla trekking, you are going
to set off very early in the morning to track the primates from the edge of the
forest. Your guide or driver is going to guide you from your lodge (like the
popular The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, and it was
opened in February 2022 or other places near the Volcanoes National Park) to
the park headquarter which is found in Kinigi village. The guides speak excellent
English, and are very good and experienced. They’ll be taking you to a
particular group of ‘habituated’ mountain gorillas that they are quite familiar
with, and are also used to human visitors...
You are going to be divided into groups of eight,
and after some briefing on safety and gorilla etiquette, you are going to be
driven to the start of the trail to reach your mountain gorilla trekking party.
Your guide is then going to lead you along normally clear paths into the
forest, in radio communication with the trackers which stay with the group so
that they may be located. The altitude is above 2,500 m, therefore even though
the pace is unhurried; the hike may be tiring and may be steep in parts, taking
between 30 minutes and a few hours. Do not be surprised when you feel a bit
breathless because of this altitude. It is perfectly normal!
Majority of trekkers are normally a little bit
apprehensive- a large silverback gorilla may weigh up to 200 kg. This is three
times the weight of the average man. However, this apprehension normally
vanishes when you see and meet the gorilla group. Sometimes the gorillas are going to be spread
around some small area of dense vegetation. They are going to continue with
their normal feeding and interactions, not caring about the visitors, although
they watch with some keen interest. Sometimes one, often a playful youngster,
is going to approach you with curiosity, often coming so close that you are
going to be forced to move away.
When you are with your group, you should try not to
make sudden movements, and keep your voice low.
Photography
on a Rwanda gorilla trekking safari
When you are a keen photographer, taking your own
images of mountain gorillas is among the most magical photo sessions you are
going to ever experience. Remember that the light may be poor in the rain forest
and that using flash is not permitted.
Read More
The Virunga Mountains which straddle the borders of
Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda are home to about 1063
mountain gorillas. This is more than half the world’s entire population of the
primates (the rest are found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda).
The Rwandan part of the Virungas, in the Volcanoes
National Park, 10 gorilla groups are habituated now for gorilla safaris. This
is more than anywhere else in the world!
Planning for your gorilla adventure gorilla Rwanda
When
to go gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking safaris may be done throughout the
year. But the hiking itself may prove to be more difficult during the rainy
seasons from April to May and in November.
When you want to do gorilla trekking, the most
popular period is during the drier months, between December and February, and
from around June to Mid-September.
Securing
your permits for gorilla trekking
Securing permits for gorilla trekking during these
popular periods may not be easy at short notice. Therefore, we advise you to
plan. Virunga Ecotours will make all the arrangements for purchasing your
permits.
Permits
for gorilla trekking
Each day, a maximum of 96 gorilla trekking is
available. But note that as of May 6, 2017, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB)
increased the cost of gorilla permits from USD 750 to USD 1,500. According to
RDB, the new price is aimed to strengthen conservation efforts and support
local community’s development.
What
it is like on a typical gorilla trekking safari
On the day of your gorilla trekking, you are going
to set off very early in the morning to track the primates from the edge of the
forest. Your guide or driver is going to guide you from your lodge (like the
popular The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, and it was
opened in February 2022 or other places near the Volcanoes National Park) to
the park headquarter which is found in Kinigi village. The guides speak excellent
English, and are very good and experienced. They’ll be taking you to a
particular group of ‘habituated’ mountain gorillas that they are quite familiar
with, and are also used to human visitors...
You are going to be divided into groups of eight,
and after some briefing on safety and gorilla etiquette, you are going to be
driven to the start of the trail to reach your mountain gorilla trekking party.
Your guide is then going to lead you along normally clear paths into the
forest, in radio communication with the trackers which stay with the group so
that they may be located. The altitude is above 2,500 m, therefore even though
the pace is unhurried; the hike may be tiring and may be steep in parts, taking
between 30 minutes and a few hours. Do not be surprised when you feel a bit
breathless because of this altitude. It is perfectly normal!
Majority of trekkers are normally a little bit
apprehensive- a large silverback gorilla may weigh up to 200 kg. This is three
times the weight of the average man. However, this apprehension normally
vanishes when you see and meet the gorilla group. Sometimes the gorillas are going to be spread
around some small area of dense vegetation. They are going to continue with
their normal feeding and interactions, not caring about the visitors, although
they watch with some keen interest. Sometimes one, often a playful youngster,
is going to approach you with curiosity, often coming so close that you are
going to be forced to move away.
When you are with your group, you should try not to
make sudden movements, and keep your voice low.
Photography
on a Rwanda gorilla trekking safari
When you are a keen photographer, taking your own
images of mountain gorillas is among the most magical photo sessions you are
going to ever experience. Remember that the light may be poor in the rain forest
and that using flash is not permitted.