How To Plan Budget Gorilla trekking Safari in Rwanda

Planning to do gorilla trekking in Rwanda but on budget plan starts with you booking the gorilla permits which costs $1500 per person. You need budget accommodation which are available close to Volcanoes National park. Sometimes Rwanda offers discounted gorilla permits but you must know the terms and conditions

You can also book Rwanda safari activities but cross to Uganda for gorilla trekking and a permit in Uganda costs $700 per person. You need to get an East African visa to enjoy this as per your safari plan.

Volcanoes National park is the home of Rwanda gorilla trekking and from Kigali Airport you need about 3 hours. If you are crossing into Uganda Bwindi Impenetrable National park is the gorilla trekking destination. You use Cyanika or Gatuna border to cross into Uganda.

For overnight, Kigali city has a variety of accommodations in addition to those around the park that you can book but you need to hire a vehicle to drive you early morning to Volcanoes National park before 0730hrs. This is the gorilla trekking briefing time of Rwanda.

How To Go Budget During Gorilla trekking In Rwanda

Saving some moneys during a gorilla trekking safari is satisfying since you have something left to start with after your holiday. After sparing the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit, selecting accommodation where to spend the nights on holiday is the next step.

Close to volcanoes National park are a number of budget accommodations to book for gorilla trekking in Rwanda like Amahoro guest house, Kinigi guest house and may others. You may decide to do camping or spend your night in Kigali city, which has more budget accommodation choices

Although self drive is possible but if you are not familiar with this country its better to hire a driver who is familiar with the Location of Volcanoes National park. Many Roads in Africa are not well mapped so even if you use google map, you may land in a different place and loose out on your gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda.

At Arch safaris and Tours we have experience of over 10 years of doing Rwanda safaris. We offer packages of different budgets that is Luxury, Midrange and Modest. Customer satisfaction  and value for money is key in our services. We tailor or Rwanda safari packages to soot our clients need trust us to tailor the best itinerary for your gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda. ENQUIRE NOW

How To Book Rwanda Gorilla trekking Permits

Rwanda development Board is the selling organ for all its gorilla trekking permits. You have to check for availability and then make payments as soon as possible if its positive. This is because a few gorilla permits are sold by the body per gorilla family.

A maximum of 8 gorilla permits per family are released to the public each day. The only way to show commitment to your Rwanda gorilla safari is by making payments for your permit. No Rwanda gorilla permit is spared for anyone without payment. First come first served basis is the order of the days

What Is the Cost Price For Budget Gorilla trekking safari In Rwanda

The gorilla trekking Rwanda permit, which costs $1500 per person in Rwanda is the commonest expense in the entire safari package. Other elements like number of people on safari, number of days to use for safari, type of accommodation, type of vehicle to use, the driver guide, gas price and others come in during coating.

You need to carry some hard cash when travelling that you can change into local currency in case you need to do some private purchases. Credit card are not a common form of exchange in Rwanda because of the long procedure of obtaining money from them.

When Time Do you locate the mountain gorillas

Gorilla trekking starts with briefing at the ranger station then you go into the forest to begin searching for the mountain gorillas. You are divided into groups of maximum 8 members to trek a particular family. Locating them depends on factors like the proximity of there food, in case they hard a fight with a wild family, death of a family member and so much more.

This is one of the reasons why a group of rangers wake up earlier than others to survey where the gorillas are and under which condition. This helps in understanding the gorilla mood and then let tourists know before finding them. Although they are serene primates, they also have mood swings too.

How Difficult Is Rwanda Gorilla trekking

The topography of Rwanda is generally mountainous and that is where it gets it nickname “land of a thousand hills.” Volcanoes National park the home of gorilla trekking is not spared from this. The area it occupies is hilly so expect hiking some steep slopes to get to the gorillas sometimes. During the severe rainy seasons, the mountain gorillas feed from the slopes because the ground is boggy even plants they could feed on are a times submerged in water.

You need to pack the right Gorilla trekking gears to be on the safe side of the ever-wet forest. A network of rivers at times overflows covering the entire ground.

Doing some simple exercised prior to travelling for gorilla trekking in Rwanda gives your muscles time to stretch while getting ready for this Africa safari. You do not need to spends a lot of time in the gym to gain this fitness but even small unusual walk can prepare you for this hike.

What Is the age Limit For Budget Gorilla Trekking Tour in Rwanda

15 years and above is the age limit for gorilla trekking in Rwanda. This is because of the nature of the terrain that is steep and time for locating the mountain gorillas is unknown. A child below this age may get so tired and exhausted before arriving where the gorillas are.

Even the first glance at the mountain gorillas is scaring. Hiding ones’ reaction may be quite hard so you need someone who is ready to stand before the gorillas without fear. In case one shouts, the rest of the gorillas may be scared too pushing them into hiding.

What To Pack For Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda

Travel Charger or adapter

To use it for charging electronic equipment that you travel with for gorilla trekking

Long Safari shirt and trousers

To wear when trekking in the jungle because it gets dirty and soggy during your safari

Tracking boots

You need to protect your feet from the slippery jungle and pricking surfaces so you need to wear the right-tracking boots. You need those that will be comfortable when in the wilderness.

 Safari hat

To protect your hair from buzzing insects and water dripping off the tree leaves and stems.

Insect repellants

For your skin to be protected from singing insects that roam the forest

Bug spray

To use for spraying on bugs that you may find in your accommodation that may make you uncomfortable

A poncho or rain coat

Sometimes it rains without warning so you need a rain proof gear to protect you from getting wet and cold.

A fleece or sweater

In the early mornings and late afternoons it is extremely cold lowering temperature to about 7 degrees centigrade. You need to keep warm and enjoy your gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda

Pajamas to wear in the night when going to sleep

 Garden Gloves

To use for protecting your hands from stinging nettles that you may touch while in the wilderness especially when holding a tighter grip on creepers

 A pair of stocking

In addition to tracking boots, a pair of stockings to tack in when in the jungle

Sound proof flash-less Camera

Protecting memories of your experience in the jungle is worth your effort especially when you take photos. You can refer to them later.

A light water proof bag

When you carry gorilla trekking gears, you do not want them scattering in the forest so you need a light water proof bag to put them together. It is hard to scatter them when you falls because they are in one secured bag. When it rains, it does not falls on them to make them wet like the camera lens.

Energy snacks

After breakfast, you need some snacks to keep you going in the jungle because you do not know where and when to locate the mountain gorillas. The ranger guides call for a break in the jungle and you can have some energy bites then.

Which Is the Best Gorilla trekking Family To Trek

Volcanoes National park in Rwanda has a variety of gorilla families that you can choose from to trek. Some of the Rwanda gorilla families include Amahoro gorilla family, Susa gorilla family, Kwitonda Gorilla family, group 13 gorilla family and others.

All these families are different with what clients enjoy when they visit the gorilla families. Some are very playful, some have many infants, others have an autocratic dominant silver back. The drama in the jungle differs from time to time so do expect anything any time. Its hard to identify which family has the best entertainment in the jungle.

 Going into the jungle with an open mind gives you a great experience apart from gorilla trekking. The forest have a variety of other primates like the olive baboons, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey to mention but a few.

What Is the Best Time To Trek Mountain Gorillas

 Rwanda had gorilla trekking through the year mountain however during the dry seasons, there are lighter humid conditions and ground passable so making the trek more interesting. As for the gorillas, they feed closer to the ground more during the dry seasons with lots of food for them to eat.

Most of the wet seasons, mountain gorillas move to the slopes as the ground is normally soaked in rainwater and river volumes higher soaking the food close to the ground.

The dry seasons are June to September and December top Mid-January during the normal seasons

Is Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda

The government of Rwanda is a very active supporter of mountain gorillas so a number of security operatives are deployed in and around Volcanoes National park to ensure all tourists are safe. Although gorilla trekking is a safe activity, personal security is key during your Rwanda Safari. There no security cameras installed in place to trace bad people. You must be vigilant with your belongings. Ensure you   follow the rules of gorilla trekking and followinstructions given by the ranger guide during briefing.

How Aggressive Are The mountain gorillas

The Mountain gorillas may look scaring and aggressive because of there dark coat and fierce face, they are very shy apes . You do not need to provoke them so as to test there patience, they are very sensitive and suspicious of intruders in there vicinity. In case they notice some abnormal behavior amongst there visitors, they normally hoot, beating there chests, walk on one leg and then disappear in to the forest.

Rules Of Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda

Never feed the mountain gorillas because they are wild animals

Do not eat while in front of the gorillas because they may grab what you are chewing which may not go well with there health.

Volunteer to stay behind when you realize that you have contracted an infectious disease. Mountain Gorillas are susceptible to human infections like Ebola, Covid 19, Flu to mention but a few.

Avoid littering the forest because this is he feeding source for the mountain gorillas. The waste alters its nature.

Stay close to your gorilla trekking mates because you may be lost in the jungle

Do not carry anything from the forest after gorilla trekking but only memories of your experience and photos.

Never smoke while in front of the mountain gorillas

In case you want to defecate, as your ranger guide to dig a hole at least 30 cm deep and cover up beyond recognition.

Keep a distance of about 8 meters from the mountain gorillas when you locate them

Only one hour is permitted with the mountain gorillas when you find them.

Do not spit on the vegetation, as this is food for the mountain gorillas. Never use flash Photography when you locate the mountain gorillas. Flashlight may scare them off pushing them into hiding

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