Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, is one of the amazing safari activities that give nature lovers a chance to come up close with the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. Volcanoes National Park is the most visited national park in Rwanda, celebrated for hosting the endangered mountain gorillas. It’s located in the far corner of the northern countryside, approximately 2 to 3 hours’ drive from Kigali, the Capital city of Rwanda. The park is within the Virunga conservation area, which includes Mgahinga National Park, Virunga National Park, and Volcanoes National Park, aimed at protecting the endangered mountain gorillas. The park is not only home to the endangered mountain gorillas, but it also hosts up to 236 bird species,12 primate species, butterflies and 36 mammal species. The park has a diverse ecosystem that provides habitats to various wildlife and bird species, like montane forests, bamboo zones, grasslands, and swamps. Gorilla trekking can be combined with other activities such as golden monkey tracking, bird watching, nature walks and cultural encounters, all of which provide exceptional safari experiences in the heart of Africa.
Gorilla Trekking Experience in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Gorilla trekking is a remarkable experience that allows nature lovers and primatologists to come up close with these magnificent creatures in their natural habitats. It begins with a briefing about the rules and regulations at the park’s headquarters. Participants are grouped in groups of eight, and each group is assigned to a gorilla family and a knowledgeable ranger guide who leads the group into the dense montane forest in search of the gorillas and gives more insights about the park’s inhabitants encountered along the way. Gorilla trekking involves hiking over the steep terrains in search of these awesome creatures, and participants should be physically fit. The trek is between 2 and 6 hours, depending on where the gorillas slept at night. Once they are located, they strictly spend one hour with them, observing their human-like behaviours. They will see them feeding, grooming, playing, silverback taking care of the family and seeing them interacting is an amazing experience which is incomparable. Gorillas are our closest relatives, sharing 98% of human DNA, and having a close encounter with them allows travellers to deeply connect with nature.
What to Pack on a Gorilla Safari.
Travellers planning to do gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, should pack essential items to have a memorable safari in the heart of Africa. They should pack comfortable hiking shoes, garden gloves, a rain jacket, light long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, a brimmed hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, a backpack, a reusable water bottle, a camera and extra batteries, so as not to miss capturing those incredible moments with the gorillas, and energy snacks.
Best Time to do Gorilla Trekking.
Gorillas can be seen throughout the year, though some months are better than others. The best months to trek the Mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park are from June to September and December to February. These months are in the dry season, meaning there is less rain and more sunshine. The dry trails make it easier to walk and provide clear views of the gorillas and the forest. This is because the vegetation cover is short due to little rainfall received, hence enhancing visibility of several wildlife species. This is ideal for tourists interested in photography. Tourists can still visit the gorillas during the rainy season.
The rainy season in Volcanoes National Park is from March to May and October to November. There is a lot of rain and little sunshine, making trekking difficult due to muddy and slippery trails. The tall vegetation makes it hard to see mountain gorillas clearly for recording, especially for photography.
