Gorilla Trekking Experience in Rwanda.
Gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda is one of the most amazing wildlife encounters in Volcanoes National Park, which offers an opportunity to have a close encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. Volcanoes National Park is situated in the northwestern corner of the country, covering an area of about 160 square kilometers making it the smallest National Park in Rwanda. It’s one of the oldest national parks in Africa, formed in 1925 to protect the endangered mountain gorillas that existed at that time. It’s about a 2-3 hour drive from Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, to the park.
Volcanoes National Park encompasses five of the eight Virunga mountains, including Muhabura, Gahinga, Karisimbi, Bishoke, and Sabyinyo. The park is home to the endangered mountain gorillas with 12 habituated families accustomed to human presence. Gorilla trekking is one of the most popular safari activities that attracts thousands of visitors to see these magnificent creatures. The park is not only home to mountain gorillas, but it also hosts the golden monkeys, up to 237 bird species, vervet monkeys, buffaloes, bushbucks, hyenas, duikers and more. If you are looking for exceptional gorilla trekking safaris, Caracal Explorers can assist you in organising your dream African safari in the land of a thousand hills.
Gorilla Trekking Experience in Rwanda.
Travellers going for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park should first obtain a gorilla trekking permit, which is an official document that allows travellers to trek gorillas. They are advised to book gorilla permits early, like three months before, since permits are limited and are subject to availability on a first come, first serve basis. The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years. Participants should assess their level of fitness since gorilla trekking involves hiking steep slopes in search of the endangered mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda begins very early in the morning with a briefing at the park’s headquarters about the rules and regulations of the activity.
Participants are grouped into groups of 8, and each group is assigned an armed ranger guide who ensures their protection and gives them important information about the park’s inhabitants encountered. The guide leads the trekkers into the forest to search for the gorillas. They hike through the dense forest, and the duration is between 1- 6 hours, depending on where the gorillas spent their night. The search for the endangered mountain gorillas is tough, but the joy of locating them in their natural habitats is incomparable. Once gorillas are located, participants are given strictly one hour to observe them. They will see how they feed, groom the young ones, play, and mothers taking care of the young ones. Observing gorillas is an incredible moment for all nature lovers and primatologists since gorillas are our closest relatives on earth, sharing 98% of human DNA.
Things to Pack on a Gorilla Trekking Experience in Rwanda.
Travellers visiting the park for gorilla trekking safaris should pack essential items to enable them to have a successful safari in Rwanda. They should pack comfortable hiking shoes to enable them to pass through the dense forest, a waterproof jacket, since it can rain at any time of the day, a camera with extra batteries to enable them to take as many pictures as possible, a water bottle, long-sleeved shirts and long trousers, insect repellent, a brim hat, and sunscreen.
Best Time to Visit the Park
Gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda can be done at any time of the year, and the best time depends on the visitors’ travel plans. Rwanda experiences two seasons: the dry season and the wet season. The wet season is the most preferred period by travellers, which runs from December to February and June to September. During this period, the park receives little to no rainfall, and the park is less muddy and drier, making it easy to search for the endangered mountain gorillas. The wet season runs from March to May and October to November; during this season, Volcanoes National Park receives enough rainfall, and the park is muddy and slippery, making it challenging to penetrate. However, this season favours budget travellers as there are discounted gorilla permits for these months.
