Why Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda
Coming face to face with the Mountain Gorilla is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Staring into the dark-faced red-eyed primates is a special moment for different reasons. The closeness to Human beings these primates ais and also the sheer size and endangered t Gorillas are.
We sought out in search of this experience and decided to make this trip deep into the land of 1000 Hills – Rwanda.
Where to Find the Mountain Gorillas
Mountain Gorillas are endemic to Africa. They are found only in Africa. Three countries are lucky to play host to these animals: Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In Rwanda, the Gorillas are within the Volcanoes national park. The Volcanoes border the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Volcanoes National Park is within the extensive Virunga Mountain Range.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Gorillas are in the Virunga Mountain Ranges. The Gorillas in Rwanda and Congo move across the borders within the Virunga Mountains range.
In Uganda, the Gorillas colonize the eastern part of Uganda, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. These are the primary three locations you can find the Gorillas though trekking in the Democratic Republic of Congo is not advisable due to civil strife in the Eastern Congo.
Getting to Rwanda Kigali
Kigali is the capital city of Rwanda. Getting to Kigali is relatively easy via a flight to the Kigali International Airport. Most major airlines have scheduled flights into Kigali airport.
Kigali is a modern city with various high-end and medium to budget-range hotels. Security in Kigali is excellent, with ample protection and lighting along the streets. You can walk during the day or even take a night walk without worries. The Kigali International Airport is close to the city and a short drive from most hotels.
By road, you can reach Kigali from Uganda or Tanzania. From the Uganda Border, it’s approximately 3 Hours drive from the western Cyanika Border and 3 Hours from the eastern Rusumo Tanzania border.
Getting to Volcanoes National Park
To access the Volcanoes national park from Kigali, you drive towards the Musanze (Ruhengeri). This drive is scenic as you experience Rwanda, the land of 1000 Hills. Moving out of Kigali is hilly and an incredible experience as you head towards Musanze.
Musanze (Ruhengeri District)
Musanze is the second largest town in Rwanda and has all amenities within it. Banks, ATMs, Forex Bureaus, bars, and eateries are within easy access. All Hotels that serve the Volcanoes national park sit within the Musanze region, with some luxury hotels located around the Kiningi – Entrance to the Volcanoes National Park.
One can also charter a flight from Kigali to Musanze airstrip, in the Musanze district and some 10 kilometers from Volcanoes National Park. There are no scheduled flights out of Kigali unless via a private charter arrangement.
What to expect when tracking Gorillas
The Gorilla tracking is a rewarding experience for all. One is allowed an hour to sit with the Gorillas to minimize the stress on the Gorilla family. Note that these are wild animals habituated to get accustomed to humans after persecution by poachers in the wild. To look deep into the eyes of the massive male silverback is an experience beyond measure.
With humans and Gorillas sharing 98% of our genome, it is incredible watching the behavior of these great apes in their natural habitat. The family alpha male is typically occasioned by the Silver Back, the largest and strongest of the Gorilla family, characterized by silver hair on his back. Sitting close to these males, one is easily awed by the massive body size, approximately weighing up to 200 Kilograms and ten times more potent than a man. One cannot emphasize the experience of sitting close to the Male Silverback, who dictates the family movement, when to feed, and when to sleep and move.
Seeing the males’ chest thump as they communicate their sheer strength and dominance is an encounter best described as exhilarating. Despite the loss of adjectives to describe this experience, seeing is believing, and we encourage you to experience it first-hand.
Our Gorilla Trekking Experience
We made this visit in April, which was smack deep into the rainy season for Volcanoes. We were well prepared for any weather eventuality. Upon arriving at the park Headquarters at Kinigi, the heavens opened, and I could tell we were in for a slippery trek. Our group scheduled to visit the Hirwa (Lucky) Gorilla Family was our allocation. The Goriila family was to be a medium trek depending on the located Gorilla family. As we started the walk in high spirits, with the muddy and slippery conditions notwithstanding, we slowly gained altitude as we traced the lower bamboo zone of the Sabyinyo, where the Hirwa Gorilla family had its roaming territory. The rain pounded mercilessly as we slowly clawed and slipped through the Bamboo.
Trekking through the Virunga Mountains ranges, you go through non-defined paths, sometimes with the trackers beating out through the underbrush to make their way into the bush.
We managed to get to the Hirwa family 3 Hours later as they seemed to be on the move, but we finally got to find the family.
After an hour exited and dripping wet from the rain, we had forgotten all about the rain, and we started our Trek back towards the entrance into the Volcanoes. The trackers indicated we leave our backpacks and walking sticks and only have our cameras. We slowly moved into the enclosure where the Hirwa Gorilla Family was resting and enjoyed an hour of pure thrill and excitement, coming face to face with the Gorilla Family. All were excited and had ear-to-ear broad smiles from the experience.
The Trek back was downhill and much faster, probably due to the trekking experience we had quickly acquired ascending the Sabyinyo.
How Much Does it Cost for a Gorilla Trek in Rwanda?
Visiting the Gorillas at Volcanoes National Park will incur some cost that caters to the conservation efforts for the Gorillas.
Below are the charges for the Gorilla Permits (Single Permit)
*Adult Non Resident – 1500 USD
*Adult Resident – 1500 USD
*East Africa Citizen – 200 USD
**To note is Children below the age of 15 Years are not allowed to participate in Gorilla Trekking at Volcanoes
Best months to Experience Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
Gorilla Trekking at Volcanoes is available all year round, and you can book the Trek any time of the year. The most challenging time to trek is during the rainy season. Gorillas roam an average of 2500 to 4000 Meters above sea level deep in the Virunga Mountain range. This elevation has higher precipitation than average.
We made the Trek during the rainy season in April, and it rained for 4 hours without relenting. Due to this, the Trek was challenging yet achievable. Still, there is also a certain amount of fascination to it. Photographing the gorillas during the rains offers a unique insight into the images of the gorillas with the water-soaked coats and the artistic side of it.
However, the months between June to September are the dry months for travelers preferring a drier experience and less difficulty.
There is moderate and little rain between November and February, which are also good months to make the Trek away from the busier months in June to September.
How many people are allowed per Gorilla Family
Only eight persons are allowed to trek per family. There are 12 different Gorilla families habituated for visiting Volcanoes Rwanda. Only 96 people are allowed into the Volcanoes to make the Gorilla Trek in a single day. Your party will be divided among several gorilla families while visiting volcanoes in a group bigger than eight; each troop will only hold a maximum of eight individuals. There can be no exceptions to this standard.
How Difficult and What to Expect for the Gorilla Trekking
There are three levels of Gorilla Trekking, Easy Trek, Medium Trek and hard Trek.
After entering Volcanoes Park, you can reach the Gorilla Family through the Easy Trek in about an hour. And it is achieved in about three hours on average. Getting to the designated gorilla family after completing the medium Trek takes one to two hours. A typical excursion through the woods might take 4 to 5 hours.
The Hard Trek typically takes 3 hours to complete—3 hours to get to the gorillas, an hour with them, and another 3 hours to return to the exit. It takes seven hours on average.
Everyone should be able to complete the Trek, although the weather will undoubtedly impact how easily it goes. Notably, the gorilla families are mobile within a limited territory. Though the gorilla family would be simple to discover, the time it takes to locate them would depend on where they are each day within their range.
Is Gorilla trekking worth the money?
The Permit fees paid to experience the Gorillas may look like quite a colossal amount at the onset. However, the logistics involved in conservation efforts towards the Gorilla that was at some point considered would be extinct, you would appreciate the efforts made towards these great apes. Considering the number of people allowed and the number of locals employed to constantly track and protect these great apes, every cent is worth the visit. We have approximately 1063 Mountain Gorillas left in the wild, with the Virunga Mountain Range hosting slightly over 60% of these fantastic apes. This population is small, considering only 12 Gorilla families are available for visiting. Remember, the Gorillas have undergone years of poaching and hunting in the Virungas, making it even more challenging to bring them into habituation. The habituation process takes over two years, with meticulous planning and cares approaching the Gorillas to train and habituate them to the presence of human beings.
Gear and clothes needed for the Gorilla Trekking
For the best comfort during the trekking, it’s best to be well prepared for the Trek and prevailing weather.
We have made a list of what you require for the Gorilla trek.
* Waterproof Hiking Shoes ankle high preferably – Depending on the weather patterns, the Volcanoes can sometimes be very wet, and you need to be comfortable walking in dry, comfortable shoes. Additionally, this might be useful while traversing seasonal streams or wet areas.
* Warm clothing is also necessary to wear when hiking. A warm, waterproof fleece jacket while it’s raining or chilly. As you go through the underbrush, the coat shields you from twigs and branches that may graze your skin.
* Poncho – The Ponchos are for use during rains and sporadic showers.
* Gaiters – The Gaitors come in really handy in all seasons. Even during the dry season, we would highly recommend taking gaiters. Walking along the bush, you will, from time to time, encounter the stinging nettle. With gaiters at almost knee level, you protect your hiking boots from the morning dew and also from stinging plants such as the stinging nettle(Urtica dioica)
* Waterproof Rain Pants as extra – When it rains, it pours. This saying might make sense at the Volcanoes during the rainy season. As the rain drains off the Poncho, it soaks over the knee part of the trousers and slowly seeps into your shoes or rubber boots. The solution is to wear waterproof pants over your trousers to keep you completely dry. It’s necessary to have waterproof pants wearable over your regular pants.
All this extra luggage might sound like a ton to take into your backpack. However, porters are available for hire at 10 USD per porter daily. These porters will help you haul your luggage or backpack up the Volcanoes. They can also take your camera gear n a backpack and follow you closely. Trekking becomes more comfortable, pleasurable, and easy on your back.
Tipping and extras
Every gorilla family has a ranger/tracker assigned to them at the headquarters of Volcanoes National Park. You will then drive to the park entrance a few kilometers up the villages, where you will find porters and walking sticks available to start the Trek. Here you can take a porter whom you can pay extra to assist you with your luggage or maneuver the Trek by helping you cross the streams and underbrush as you the Volcanoes park boundary and meet with the trackers who follow and track the Gorilla family.