How to Plan Gorilla Trekking safari In Rwanda On Budget

To plan a budget Rwanda gorilla trekking tour, you need to book the Rwanda gorilla permit first because this is the only document that confirms this African safari. Without a gorilla trekking permit, the status of this Rwanda Tour hangs in balance.

When planning a budget gorillas trekking safari in Rwanda, donot forget to reserve the necessary accommodations to use during this visit to Rwanda. Whether you travel for gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda during the peak season or low season, budget safari packages are always available. Contact Us

The first Step to planning a Gorilla Trekking safari in Rwanda is booking the gorilla permits. A gorilla permit is a document issued by the Rwanda Development Board to confirm payment for the permit for participation day. Rwanda opens maximum 8 gorilla trekking permits to the public per day per gorilla Family

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How to book Rwanda Gorilla Permit.

It is very prudent to first find availability of the gorilla permit you are interested in but Rwanda gorilla permits are sold per day. The dates you are interested in to do gorilla trekking in Rwanda may be confirmed or partial. Knowing the number of people you hope to travel with for gorilla trekking is very important to avoid having to move back and forth with checking for availability of the permits.

As soon as gorilla permit availability is confirmed, we advise out clients to book their permit with immediate effect to avoid getting disappointed later when they sell off. The status of the gorilla permits for Rwanda changes any time without warning.

Note that no Rwanda gorilla permit is reserved without payment and in case you have insufficient money, you may do an instalment payment of 30% and 70%. This applies to those who book Rwanda gorilla permits before 90 days to gorillas trekking date and remember to top up before 90 days to gorillas safari date.

Forward so personal details to be added to the gorilla permit details and use for verification on gorilla trekking day.

• How Much Is The Cost Of A Rwanda Gorilla Permit

Currently, the cost of Rwanda Gorilla Trekking permits is $1500 for international nonresidents, $500 for international residents, $500 for other Africans, $200 for East Africans.

Inclusions in the cost of Rwanda Gorilla Trekking permit are park entrance fees, ranger guide fees, security, one hour with the mountain gorillas, conservation support and others.

Reserve accommodation to use on Rwanda Gorilla Trekking safari

Book the necessary accommodation to use during the Rwanda safari because the demand for these facilities is high in the peak season. The peak tourism season of Rwanda is normally December to February and June October. Accommodations to book for gorilla safaris are categorized into Basic mid-range and luxury. The cost of the budget accommodation around Volcanoes National Park may range from $50 to more than $130

For basic accommodations in Volcanoes National Park here are some suggestions Kinigi Guest House, Hotel Muhavura, Villa Gorilla

Note that most of the basic accommodations around Volcanoes National Park offer services including Bed and Breakfast, or Bed only so carry some cash to use when paying for what is excluded in your package

Reserve Transport To Use On Gorilla Trekking Tour

It is best to preserve the transport to use during the budget gorilla trekking safaris in advance especially of you are hoping to travel in the peak season. It is best to hire a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition to help you get to Volcanoes National Park as the roads get messy as you head to the countryside.

Ensure to have a fully tank of gas before heading into the countryside because refueling stations get rarer as you move deeper. Being in company of a professional and experienced driver guide makes your time on Rwanda safari even more interesting because you get to know Rwanda beyond the gorilla safari.

Pack the right gorilla trekking gears

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is not like an ordinary safari experience because you must have particular attires on.  Before going on a gorilla trekking tour, you need to wear safari boots, long sleeved shirt, safari hat and others. The gorilla trekking adventure includes walking in the forest which is quite rough and messy so you need to wear clothes that will protect you from such possible conditions.

Do Exercise In Advance Of The Gorilla Safari In Rwanda

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda requires having some level of fitness. The nature of the topography of Volcanoes National Park is jugged with a number of highlands that form part of this park. During gorilla trekking tour in Volcanoes forest, the experience is quite strenuous but worth every moment.

Sometimes the mountain gorillas spend time on the slopes of these highlands whereas others times they may have sometime deep in the sun starved valleys with thick tangled vegetation. Having some level of fitness helps to get to the mountain gorillas without fearing to attempt this adventure.

No need to do vigorous exercises but start with the simple stretching beyond your normal routine. Ask your fitness trainer in case you have one to help you with what to do.

Do body checkup before the gorilla trekking safari

Before the gorilla trekking safari, tourists need to do a body check up to ensure your body is in good health. The mountain gorillas are vulnerable primates that are highly susceptible to human communicable infections and tourists are requested to volunteer and stay behind in case they realized have caught any of these infections.

Book International Flights In Advance

It is safer to book the international flights into Rwanda in advance so that you onto have to worry about how to get into the country when you donot find plane seat available at the last moment. It is better to spend atleast a day before the gorilla trek in Rwanda so that you can get comfortable before starting this safari.

In case you miss or donot get the international flight to get into Rwanda before the starting time of the gorilla safari, you may end in not in position to go for this safari. Remember a gorilla permit not used on the date for which it was booked is deemed invalid or no-show so no refund.  

Apply for Rwanda Visa before Gorilla Trekking Safari starts

In case you need to have a visa before entering Rwanda, it is best to apply for it in advance even though you may still obtain one at immigration. The que at immigration in Kigali international Airport may be unbearable especially on arrival from a long flight. 

When Is The Best Time To Plan Budget Gorilla Trekking Safari In Rwanda

If you are to do a budget Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari, the best time to do this adventure is when you are ready as Rwanda is open for this adventure any time. The most sought after time for the gorilla trekking safari is the dry season which is June to September and December to February. During this season, the conditions in the Volcanoes forest provide suitable ambience to traverse the forest in search for the mountain gorillas.

life in Volcanoes Forest is more exciting in the dry season when more forest inhabitants are busy including the mountain gorillas, other primates, the birds to mention but a few. Even though volcanoes forest is known for being wet most of the time because of the regular rains that fall without warning, the dry season atmosphere in the forest is quite different.

The wet season which is normally March to May should not be ignore when booking the gorilla safaris for Rwanda. Chances of finding discounts on some safari logistics are more possible in the wet season since most facilities or service providers want to break even. It is time for those with a limited budget hoping to travel to Rwanda for a safari to take advantage of the situation.

Is Rwanda safe to Do A Gorilla Trekking Safari

Rwanda is a safe destination to visit for a gorilla trekking safari. On ground are well-trained rangers guides and other security officers from the Rwanda government who operate security checks at Volcanoes National Park. This they do routinely to protect the inhabitants of Volcanoes Forest and its boundaries.

A professional ranger guide conducts every gorilla trekking adventure in Rwanda and no person is allowed into the park premises without a guide. The guides escorting tourists on ground carry with them some protective gears, which they use to safe guard the tourists.

Tourists must attend briefing before starting the gorilla safari adventure in Rwanda a practice that is done every time you enter the forest. The mountain gorillas have some unique behaviors that you must be careful about when in the forest or else your reaction may push them into hiding.

The security of your items to use during the gorilla trekking adventure starts with you so be careful with especially your precious belongings that you may be afraid to loose. Avoid eating street food and if you wish to taste local cuisines, ask your driver guide for help with finding a safe spot.

How Much Time To Take On Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda

The time to take on gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda varies with factors prevailing in the forest. Finding the mountain gorillas may take sometimes 2 hours or more. The location of the mountain gorillas may depend on the food proximity, weather conditions prevailing in the day, pace of fellow tourists and others.

Having some level of patience is very important when planning the gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda so that when you finally find the mountain gorillas, you are in position to still enjoy the excitement of being with them.

Keep your mind off just finding the mountain gorillas but open yourself to spotting other forest dwellers including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons and others.

Are mountain gorillas dangerous to See

Mountain gorillas are naturally not dangerous primates to visit because of there serene nature. Before opening the gorilla family to public viewing, they are first habituated for unknown time until proved ready. Even with the mountain gorillas, hey may seem not to mind about your presence so keep munching on there food finally.

Even with such uncompromising characterists, the mountain gorillas can also charge when provoked. Mountain gorillas may showcase some odd behavior like chest thumping, hooting, run into hiding and others. However, this may be a reaction to some family feud, may be a case of territorial fights, and others.

Wait for the ranger guide’s instructions on how to go about the situation even when it means trying to pretend eating some foliage or bowing down as a sign of submission to the supreme leader that is to say the silverback. Try to behave according to the instructions given during gorilla trekking so that you can have your time with them. Only one hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas when you find them.                      

Which is the best or easiest gorilla trekking family in Rwanda

The best gorilla trekking family on Rwanda is not easy to determine because they all have different characteristics. The same case with the easiest gorilla family to trek on Rwanda safari. Rwanda has so far 12 gorilla families some of which include Hirwa, Susa, Umubano, Amahoro, Agashya, Muhoza and others.

If these theses determining the easiest gorilla family to trek is quite challenging because the family that was close the previous day may be the furthest the next day. The mountain gorillas are mobile primates who movements are not stopped by any obstacles.

No matter which gorilla family you are allocated to, the moment you find these primates may over power the challenges you may have gone through on the way. The mountain gorillas are great primates that wonder the forest with freedom. Even other forest dwellers that co-exist with the mountain gorillas may cross your way so open your mind to embracing there presence. During the search for the mountain gorillas you may also encounter some challenges including slippery slopes, tangled creepers and others that may cross your way. These must not stop you from attending this adventure.

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