Mountain Gorilla Experience in Volcanoes National Park.
The mountain gorilla experience in Volcanoes National Park is one of the most rewarding wildlife encounters in Africa, which gives travellers an opportunity to come up close to these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. Volcanoes National Park is located in the northwestern part of Rwanda, bordering the Virunga Mountains in DR Congo and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. This is the most visited national park in Rwanda, celebrated for hosting up to 30% of the world’s total mountain gorillas. It’s the smallest national park in the country, covering an area of about 160 square kilometers and it’s within the Virunga Mountains, which provide beautiful views of these ranges.
Mountain gorillas are among the closest relatives to humans, sharing 98% of our DNA. They are found in a few protected areas worldwide, making Rwanda a vital destination for their conservation and survival, which attracts thousands of visitors each year to come and see them in their natural habitats. Volcanoes National Park is not only known for hosting the endangered mountain gorillas, but it also has golden monkeys, various bird species, butterflies, mammals and primates. The park’s diverse ecosystems provide habitats for the park’s avian life and wildlife species. Apart from gorilla trekking, travellers can also engage in various activities like nature walks, bird watching, golden monkey tracking and hiking.
What is the cost of a gorilla Permit and the minimum age for trekking?
A gorilla trekking permit in Volcanoes National Park costs $1500 for non-foreign residents, $500 for foreign residents, and $200 for East African citizens. The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years, since trekking involves hiking steep slopes.
Best time for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
If you are planning to make your dream come true, having a glimpse of the mountain gorillas in their true wilderness, Rwanda calls for your attention about the best time for gorilla trekking! Mountain gorilla experience in Volcanoes National Park can be done throughout the year; however, the dry seasons, which run from June to September and December to February, offer the best convenient and conducive climatic weather conditions that favour visitors for excellent gorilla trekking experiences. These are dry seasons that receive little to no rainfall, making trekking trails passable with clear views of wildlife species. In contrast with the wet season, months from March to May and October to November receive heavy rainfall, which may make the ground slippery, muddy, and slick, hence making the trekking trails impassable.
Mountain Gorilla Experience in Volcanoes National Park.
Gorilla trekking is a guided activity which starts very early in the morning with a briefing at the park’s headquarters bout the dos and don’ts of the activity. Gorilla trekking involves hiking through dense rainforests and volcanic slopes in search of a habituated gorilla family. Volcanoes National Park has 12 habituated gorilla families ready to be trekked daily, and each family is visited by a max of 8 pax per day. After the briefing, visitors are grouped and meet their assigned park ranger, who leads them in the search for the gorillas through the dense forest and gives them more information about the wildlife and birdlife species they might find. Trekking takes between 1-6 hours, depending on the location of the gorillas. Once participants find gorillas, they are strictly given one hour to be with them and observe how they play, feed, mothers groom the young ones and how the Silverback takes care of his family. Being up close to these awesome creatures is one of the most thrilling moments that shouldn’t be missed by nature lovers and primatologists.
Where to stay on your safari.
Volcanoes National Park offers several eco-friendly accommodation options for travellers, which cater to all travellers’ budgets, from luxury accommodations to standard accommodations, all of which provide unique and memorable stays. If you are looking for luxury stays, consider Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Bisate Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, and Mountain Gorilla’s Nest Lodge. Mid-range accommodations: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Solution Lodge, Ingagi Parkview Lodge and those looking for budget-friendly accommodations, look at Lake & Volcanoes Cottages, Gorillas Volcanoes Hotel, Kinigi Gust House.
