Where to do A community Visit On Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

During gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda, you may choose to take on a community visit in the country too. Rwanda is one of the interesting growing safari destinations in Africa and stepping out to visit the local communities while on safari gives you a glimpse into their unique heritage.

The Batwa communities in Rwanda are some of the possible communities you can visit as these have been overtime affected by conservation strategies. The Batwa are a small community who lost their ancestral homes for the conservation of mountain gorillas. They are still marginalized by the communities where they were assimilated.

A visit to Communities surrounding Volcanoes National park in Rwanda. By visiting the communities close to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, you contribute to the continued sensitization of the relevancy of protecting the mountain gorillas and their habitat. When you support community projects, you add value to community sensitization too.

 Rwanda Communities You can Visit During Gorilla Trekking

Iby’iwacu Cultural Village

The Iby’iwacu cultural village is local community project composed of mainly reformed ex-poachers who have resorted to utilizing the forest to better their lives.

On a visit to the Iby’iwacu village you may be asked to participate in shooting the bow and arrow, pottery, basketry, ceramics making and more.

More support to this community based initiative is needed in order to preach more about the relevancy of protecting the mountain gorillas and positively benefit from Volcanoes forest. Some of the members of this community participate in gorilla trekking as porters as one of the ways to benefit from the presence of the mountain gorillas.

Kigali city tour

How do you visit Rwanda and miss a moment around its heart beat Kigali city. In Africa, Kigali city is graded as one of the best and organized cities.

While on a city tour in Kigali, you may visit the business centers, sip a cup of locally coffee from a barrister, try on a local Rwandese attire and more. Feel the taste of Rwanda by visiting a restaurant where local Rwandese cuisines are served and taste

Nyange community Project

Reforming some of the former poachers close to Volcanoes Forest in Rwanda is still on going and Nyange community project cannot be missed.

While on a visit to Nyange community project, you may get to participate in sculpturing, pottery, weaving and more items made from local materials.

Visit Ethnological Museum in Rwanda

Conserving culture is of a great deal to Rwandese and at the Ethnological Museum in Huye Rwanda, a lot of items used by ancient Rwandese are preserved.

At this the Ethnological Museum in Rwanda you may get chance to watch cultural dance performances especially the famous Intore dance accompanied by an orchestra of long drums, harps and folk songs.

While on a visit to this Rwanda museum and in company of a professional guide, you get more information about how the people used to live before influx of modernity and evolution of the Rwandese people.

Nyakarimbi Cultural Village in Rwanda

The supermarket of locally made Rwandese crafts are found in Nyakarimbi. While here, you may get the chance to see the renowned cow dung painting called imigongo. Traditional wood carvings, ceramics, mats and more.

Visit victims of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide

The victims of the 1994 Rwandese genocide can testify about the extent to which this period impacted their lives. You may organize to visit some of the members of the community that survived the 100 days or terror that claimed the lives of several Rwandese and they will take you through some of what their memories can recall.

In addition, a tour to the genocide memorials distributed throughout Rwanda gives you a glimpse into what might have happen during this terrific period. These are in place with some of the items left behind by victims and are a reminder to the locals and possible supporter not to take this direction again.

A traditional Rwandese ceremony

 While in Rwanda, you may get chance to attend a traditional ceremony which gives you in-depth understanding of the magnitude of holding local celebrations for the Rwandese. Some of the notable traditional ceremonies in Rwanda include traditional marriage, community parties and more. Most of these traditional ceremonies are by invite so make sure to secure one and dress appropriately.

Even when taking photos at the occasion, seek permission from the organizers in order not to break the rules of the function.

Rwandese traditional functions never end without enjoying a cultural performance especially the Intore dance moves, in company of rhythmic traditional drums, folk songs, poetry and more.

Where to Go For Gorilla Trekking during the Rwanda safari

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is the only sanctuary for gorilla trekking in Rwanda. This ancient forest is home to some of the few leftover mountain gorillas in the world but currently hosts about 12 gorilla trekking families.

Volcanoes National Park with its headquarters at the ORTPN is open all year no matter the season. Note that most of the year. This National park experiences low temperatures and rain fall ant time without warning.

The topography of Volcanoes national Park is influences by several highlands but the most outstanding are five of the six Virunga Volcanoes that is Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhavura, Sabyinyo and Gahinga.

A number of other primates are members of Volcanoes forest including blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus, olive baboons and more. Over 200 bird species are conformed as residents of Volcanoes forest including Albertine rift endemics.

How Much Is The Cost Of Gorilla Trekking And Community Visit In Rwanda

The cost of a community visit and gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda varies with package you choose from upscale or mid-range or budget.

The cost of the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit cuts across all packages and currently the Rwanda gorilla permit cost is $1500 per person.

Additional costs expected to incur on Rwanda safari include accommodation cost, transport cost, driver guide hire and more.

With the help of an experienced African safari operator like Arch safaris And Tours, we can tailor a Rwanda safari package within your budget and inclusive of your interests.

When Is the Best Time to Do A Gorilla Trekking safari and Rwanda Community Visit

Rwanda is open for safari activities all year however the dry season is best preferred time which is June, July, August, September, December and January. The tracks and trails to use during this Rwanda safari are drier and quicker to navigate.

Even though gorilla trekking in Rwanda is in an ever wet Volcanoes forest, the dry season is characterized by less precipitation allowing better chances to traverse the jungle. During the search for the mountain gorillas, you may get the chance to spot other primates including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, olive baboons and more.

While on a community visit in Rwanda in the dry season, you get to explore some of the amazing communities as majority of the locals prefer meeting strangers in an open space rather than closed doors.

The wet season which is normally March to May and November is open for gorilla trekking and a community visits but expect disturbance from the extreme weather.

 Packing List For Gorilla Trekking And Community Safari In Rwanda

Warmers

Safari hat

Garden gloves

Safari boots

Camera

A pair of binoculars

Convertible trousers and shirt

Energy snacks

Toiletries

Back pack

Foldable drinking water bottle

Extra cash

Insect repellant

Rain proof gears

What To Carry For The Community While On Rwanda Safari

Depending on the community you visit while in Rwanda, you may prepare what to carry as a token to forward to them based on the advise you get from your ground operator. As Arch Safaris and Tours. We can help with organizing ground preparation to do the community visit in Rwanda.

Carry some scholastic materials including reading material incase your community-based visit to Rwanda is in line with education.

For health care contribution in the community, you may ship in some necessary hospital equipment to donate to the medical care team in the community. Note that before you extend any tokens to the communities in Rwanda, you need to get government approval.

Soccer balls and other sport related equipment for the community.

Support community based projects by donating some funds to promote their running projects like building water sources for the community, building a road and more.

How Safe Is Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda And Community Visit

The gorilla trekking adventure in Rwanda is safe in company of a well trained team of ranger guide from Rwanda Development Board. No tourists is allowed to move in Volcanoes forest without an escorting armed ranger guide in preparation for uncertainties.

Compulsory briefing must be observed early morning by all gorilla trekkers booked for the day. All tourists must have to adhere to the rules of gorilla trekking as explained in details by the ranger guides at briefing.

Tourists are encouraged to keep closer to the rest of the gorilla trekking party so that you are not forgotten in the dense jungle. Volcanoes Forest has no communication signals that can connect you to the main land.

Wear the right gorilla trekking gears to protect your body from the rough surfaces in the jungle. untimely rains fall in Volcanoes forest so wear rain proof gears to protect yourself from getting wet.

Incase you notice something odd while on gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda, do not panic but wait for new advise on how to maneuver the situation without causing chaos.

While on a community visit in Rwanda, move with a local guide in order to get acceptance from the locals. Do seek permission from the local authorities in the community for back up before carrying on any community activity.

Try not to deliver food stuff to the community without approval from the local authorities. This is to avoid chances of delivering meals that may not be a delicacy to the locals.

How To Get To Volcanoes National Park and community visit

The drive from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park is about 3 hours on the road as you negotiate winding roads curved from highlands that make up the topography of this area.

Having a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle provides comfort on sometimes rough roads that are challenging to drive over by ordinary vehicles.

Not all roads leading to communities with Rwanda are tarmacked so having a safe vehicle eliminates you from feeling the bumpy roads.

Charter flight arrangements can be from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park or any other location in Rwanda. You need to hire a transfer vehicle from the airstrip to your destination.

What To Expect On A Gorilla Trekking And Community safari Visit In Rwanda

 Meeting the endangered mountain gorillas is a must while on a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda. The mountain gorillas are residents of Volcanoes national park and although still wild, they area habituated to a certain extent. This process doesn’t erase their natural character of the mountain gorillas but helps them withstand humans atleast for an hour.

While on safari in Rwanda, expect to share gorilla trekking with other tourists as maximum 8 tourists are accepted to visit a gorilla family per day.

Tourists walk throughout the gorilla trekking adventure as there are no other means to get around in search for the mountain gorillas. If you have physical impairments, use the service of a sedan chair or basket stretcher to get around.

While on a community visit in Rwanda, language barrier may be a problem as most of the elderly with more detailed information about the Rwanda culture speak the local languages or French. You need a local interpreter to understand the details from the communities you get to visit.

Why Choose To Do Gorilla Trekking And Community Visit In Rwanda

Rwanda is one of the few places in the world where mountain gorillas are still existing. When you participate in gorilla trekking in Rwanda, you get to share the same space with these vulnerable mountain gorillas.

A visit to the communities in Rwanda gives you insight in the life of the people. More community sensitization programs are still required so with a visit, you help communicate to the locals about the relevancy of having the gorillas and their habitat intact. World over untamed destinations are getting rarer to find and Volcanoes National Park is still one of the historical wildlife sanctuaries and a biosphere reserve. Beyond the mountain gorillas, while searching, you come across other primates, variety of bird species, different plant species and more.

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