Guide to Best Plan For Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

When planning to go for a Rwanda gorilla trekking safari have a date when you wish to be part of this adventure. Purchase the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit in advance as the rest of the preparations are made based on this confirmation.

During the months of June to September and December to January the demand for gorilla permits is high yet supply is restricted to maximum 8 per gorilla family per day. In Rwanda, this is the high tourism season too with more tourists on Rwanda safari expected in the country. It is better to make all necessary bookings for this Rwanda safari in advance to avoid last minute panic.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda happens in Volcanoes National Park which is a pristine forest situated in Northwestern part of Rwanda. From Kigali, the drive to Volcanoes National Park is about 3 hours by passing winding roads.

Reserving accommodation to use during Rwanda gorilla trekking is very important most especially that within or closer to the park as this enables you to report to the ranger station in time. Every gorilla trekker for a particular date must attend briefing at the ranger station as a compulsory step before gorilla trekking.

How to Book Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

Book Rwanda gorilla trekking permit

The foremost ticket to gorilla trekking in Rwanda is the permit issued by Rwanda Development Board (RDB). This Rwanda Gorilla trekking Permit is a document including details of the participant and it is this information that tourists present to the rangers for verification.

The number of Rwanda gorilla trekking permits is restricted to maximum 8 per gorilla family in order to protect these vulnerable mountain gorillas from the effects of mass tourism.

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Reserve necessary Rwanda safari logistics

Gorilla trekking safari packages in Rwanda are accompanied by logistics including transport, accommodation and more. The demand for these Rwanda safaris logistics is over the top in the peak season that is normally June to September and December to January yet the best options sell out fast.

During gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda, one needs to hire a terrain resistant vehicle that will withstand sometimes rough surfaces along the way and in the jungle.

Book Additional Rwanda safari Activities

Enjoy more of Rwanda by visiting other destinations with in the country some include game safaris in Akagera National Park, Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda Community visits, Kigali city tour and more.

This gives you more insight into the beauties of Rwanda the land of a thousand hills.

A combo of Rwanda gorilla trekking and other Rwanda safari activities is an ultimate adventure in the country as you make memories beyond your home.

In order not to back track during Rwanda safari, ask help from a professional and experienced tour operator for the most appropriate safari itinerary so that you enjoy this African trip.

What is The cost of Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Permit

The current cost of Rwanda gorilla trekking permit is $1500 inclusive of one hours with the gorillas, conservation support, ranger guide fees, park entrance fees and more.

The cost of Rwanda gorilla permit includes community support too as the community must be included in the conservation of these vulnerable primates. About 10% of the annual proceeds accrued from the sell of gorilla permits is given to the community to support their projects.

Hiring a porter during gorilla trekking in Rwanda helps you to reduce on the factors that may weigh you down as you move forward searching for the mountain gorillas. The cost of a porter to use during gorilla trekking is Rwanda is about $30 and over.

What Assurance Can I Have To See the Gorillas During Rwanda Gorilla Trekking safari

Be sure to see the mountain gorillas during gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda. After paying a hefty cost for the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit one would like to get value for money. Gorillas are free primates that move in the forest with no barriers to stop them but tourists always find them.

Each day a team of ranger guides wakes up earlier to trace where the gorilla family may have nested and estimate the possible direction they may be taking for the day. These are some of the clues ranger guides with tourists use to trace the ways abouts of the gorilla trekking family.

At the start of every gorilla trekking adventure, tourists must attend briefing where rules of gorilla trekking tour are explained in details. Each tourist is expected to abide by each rule as abiding by these helps to get to the gorillas without appearing suspicious.

The ranger guide with tourists follows the trail leading where the gorilla family allocated was last seen the previous day. It is rare for the gorilla family to relocate overnight without showing prior clues. Even when the gorilla family relocates, they do not go very far from their previous feeding location as they have bulky bodies that do not allow them to move fast.

Mountain gorillas leave hind clues that can be used to trace the direction they may have taken including fresh foot prints, fresh foliage, listen to their murmurs as they communicate and more.

Some of the factors that influence finding the mountain gorillas during gorilla trekking

• Prevailing weather conditions of the day
• Mood of the gorilla family
• Behavior of gorilla trekkers
• Food location for the mountain gorillas
• Pace of fellow gorilla trekkers
• Level of fitness and more

How secure is Gorilla Trekking safari in Rwanda

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is in the jungle but it is a safe adventure. On ground is a team of well trained Rwanda Development Board ranger guides who are on ground to offer protection the mountain gorillas, their habitat, tourists and close by communities.

Every tourist is expected to abide by the rules of gorilla trekking as explained at briefing because these were set to also protect tourists while searching or when with the gorillas.

A ranger guide with a machete and a tourism police officer with a riffle accompany the tourists and these items are the first protective weapons in case of an emergency. The ranger guide carries a radio call which he can use to ask for backup when need arises.

Security during gorilla trekking safari starts with you so you need to protect your precious gears from getting lost in the wilderness.

Wear the right gorilla trekking gears including safari hat, safari attire, long sleeved shirt and trouser, insect repellant, garden gloves and more. The jungle is rough sometimes with chances of touching stinging nettles as you pave your way to see the gorillas.

The mountain gorillas will rarely attack you unless you provoke them and even when you do so, they may retreat into the deeper ends of the forest. As explained at briefing, follow the guidelines of gorilla trekking to avoid turning this life changing adventure into a hopeless drama.

When Is the Best Time To Do Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

• The dry season serves as the most interesting season for gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda that is June, July, August, September, December and January. In general, the dry season favors exploring the dense Volcanoes forest and environment allows better chances of spotting several forest inhabitants.
• Note that demand and competition for gorilla permits plus other Rwanda safari logistics is high in this season leaving no or fewer options for last minute bookers. It is better to make all necessary Rwanda safari reservations in advance to avoid confusion at the last minute.
• The wet season which is March, April, May and November in Rwanda is a great gorilla trekking season too although normally characterized by heavy down pour. The gorilla of Volcanoes forest Rwanda are present all year and can be traced no matter the season.
• Even though fewer tourists are expected in Rwanda during the wet season, finding the mountain gorillas is guaranteed. Chances of attending unplanned for solo gorilla trekking experience are more open in the wet season.
• Discounted Rwanda gorilla trekking permits are likely to be opened to the public by Rwanda Development Board in the low season which is normally the wet season.

What Guarantees Seeing The Rwanda Gorillas During Gorilla Trekking

• Seeing the mountain gorillas in Rwanda has 99% chances even though they are free primates that explore a dense rain forest. The Rwanda mountain gorillas live in the thick volcanoes forest with no barrier to stop them from reach anywhere they dare to get too.
• Before opening the gorilla family to the public, it undergoes habituation a process that helps them get accustomed to human presence without altering their nature. Through gorilla habituation process, the gorilla family is able to withstand human presence atleast for an hour as long as they adhere to gorilla trekking rules.
• The gorilla families live in a particular feeding location for sometime until food becomes insufficient for the family. Even when the gorilla family relocates, they normally occupy areas closer to their previous location so you can trace them.
• A team daily of early risers follows the gorilla families to establish their overnight nesting point and possible direction they are to take in the course of the day. This team of ranger guides gets up before other tourists to take on this work. Some of the clues the early risers provide are what rangers with tourists use to trace the gorilla family.
• The mountain gorillas leave behind some clues as they relocate including foot prints, freshly chewed foliage, keep loud communicating with others and more. Tourists are encouraged to participate in tracing where the gorilla family may be as part of the safari adventure.

After paying for the gorilla permit, most tourists want confirmation to seeing the mountain gorillas as the gist for taking on this Rwanda safari. Indeed, gorilla trekking in Rwanda is a sure deal African safari adventure. Note that mountain gorillas in Rwanda are not kept in confinements and are free to move in the forest.

Why Is The Cost For The Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Permit High

The current cost for Rwanda Gorilla trekking permit is $1500 per person a cost that may seem hefty but worth the experience.

Mountain gorillas in the world are living in only three countries of which Rwanda is one of the lucky habitants. Seeing and being a few meters from the mountain gorillas is an unforgettable African safari adventure that seems to turn the life clock backwards into the life of early man.

As more funds are required to support the existence of the mountain gorillas, by purchasing the gorilla permit, you contribute to the sustainable existence of these endangered primates. At the moment about 1062 mountain gorillas are living in the world.

Part of funds collected from the sell of gorilla permits is shared with the local community as a way to encourage them to appreciate the relevancy of having the mountain gorillas close to them. The funds shared from annual proceeds are used by these communities to support their projects.

 Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is one of the few nature based adventures as fewer destinations of this kind are left with such activities in the world. A number of natural habitats are being replaced by industrialization and modernization.

Gorilla trekking is like visiting the forgotten relatives and revisiting human evolution as the life of these primates has a slight resemblance to the life of humans. The moments you are with the gorilla family you may see a mirror of what happens in the family life.

Beyond the mountain gorillas, Volcanoes National Park is home to other inhabitants that are getting rarer to find too including golden monkeys, olive baboons, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey and more. A wide range of birds over 200 bird species including Albertine rift endemics may be spotted in the forest too.

Is gorilla trekking in Rwanda tiresome

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is quite tiring because of the nature of the topography of Volcanoes forest and the country in general. There are several highlands that form the topography of Volcanoes National Park and these influence the park landscape.

The ragged nature of Volcanoes National park where the mountain gorillas at times spend time deep in the valley or on the slopes of the park so tourists have to follow them. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is quite steep but you finally get to see these endangered primates. Having some level of fitness before gorilla trekking enables you to keep up with the search without getting so tired.

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