Luxury Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour, Where To Do Rwanda Safari

Rwanda luxury gorilla trekking experience starts with booking the gorilla permit as this is the first confirmation and the guiding principle for other safari bookings necessary for this trip. For premium experience during this Rwanda safari booking the right accommodation with top-notch services is important. At Volcanoes National Park, there are different options of luxury accommodations with in and out of the park that offer upmarket services in the wilderness.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda happens in Volcanoes National Park, which is Northwest of the country. The park is home for so far 12 gorilla trekking families but the habituation process is still on going. Some of the gorilla families open to the public in Rwanda include Amahoro, Umubano, Hirwa, Susa, Agashya and others. Maximum 8 people per gorilla family are allowed to book the gorilla permits in Rwanda per day. Contact Us

The least number of days on a Rwanda gorilla trekking safari is 2 days gorillas trekking in Rwanda but there is quite some rush, as you need to have acquired the gorilla permit, have transport ready and get to the briefing point before time. Return time from the gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda is still hard to determine in case you have to catch up with your next program. In case you are not haste, a 3 day Rwanda Gorilla trekking experience is the ideal choice.

Where To Do Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari In Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park is the only habitat for the mountain gorilla in Rwanda. These primates live in families which are first habituated before opening them to the public until proven ready.

Volcanoes National Park is lush green montane-forested park in northwestern Rwanda home to more than 10 primate species including the mountain gorillas. Through the habituation process about 12 resident gorillas families have been opened to the public in Rwanda and more are expected. The park also hosts over 300 bird species including Albertine rift endemics.

The topography of Volcanoes National Park is quite steep resulting from volcanic action that affected most parts of Rwanda that is why gorilla safaris in Rwanda are deemed strenuous. Sometimes the gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park spend time up on the slopes especially when the ground gets flooded and logged.

After briefing the ranger guide leads the trekkers into the park following the trail leading where the gorilla family was last seen the previous day. The mountain gorillas rarely move far from this location because they stage themselves in one feeding place until food is proved insufficient for the entire family. When you find the mountain gorillas, only one hours is allowed with them as a conservation measure.

How To Plan A Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari In Rwanda

Step 1

Book the Rwanda Gorilla Trekking permit but first select a date when you hope to take in this adventure. To book the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit, you need may contact a tour operator like Arch Safaris And Tours to do the ground work for you or directly contact Rwanda Development Boars

Note that no Rwanda gorilla permit is reserved without payment and first come first served basis is used for these limited mountain gorilla permits. It is best to reserve your gorilla permit for Rwanda as soon as you find availability because there status changes any time without warning. The current cost of Rwanda gorilla trekking permit is $1500 for international nonresidents, $500 for international residents, $500 for other Africans and $200 for East Africans

Step 2

Reserve accommodation to use during gorilla trekking in Rwanda is an important step because the demand for the different categories especially during the high season is overwhelming. For comfort, a number of luxury accommodations to use during gorilla trekking tour in Rwanda are available including Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Virunga Volcanoes lodge, Gorilla lake Kivu Hotel, Hotel Mille Collines, Wilderness Bisate lodge, One & only Gorilla Nest,

These volcanoes National Park accommodations offer world-class standard services in the middle of the jungle aerated by the cool breeze from the surrounding vegetation.

Step 3

Book transport means to Volcanoes National Park in advance with road transport used as the main means to get to the park. The distance from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park is about 107.3 kilometers or 109 kilometers depending in the route you use and drive time is about 3 hours. It is best to use a 4×4 safari vehicle because the roads upcountry get messy so you need a terrain resistant vehicle.

Charter flights are available from Akagera Aviation to Volcanoes National Park which you can use but advance booking is required so that all necessary clearances can be made.

Step 4

Pack the right gorilla trekking gears

While planning the gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda, consider the items you hope to pack for this adventure. Pick a list of gorilla trekking gears when shopping and packing for this adventure so that you donot have to hire when on ground. Some of the gorilla trekking gears include safari boots, safari hat, raincoat, long sleeve shirt, foldable water bottle and others.

Step 5

Exercise before the Rwanda gorilla trekking safari

The gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda happens in quite a steep area which is moist most of the time indeed gorillas in the mist. Trekkers are required to have some level of fitness because of the ridges and plateaus where these primates spend time. No need for vigorous exercises but try out the simple ones to stretch your muscles more than usual.

In case you have physical impairment, sedan chair or basket lifting service is available at a cost friendly price.

5 Day luxury Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking Safari in Rwanda

Day one

Drive to volcanoes National Park

Early morning, the driver guide will pick you from the overnight accommodation and drive to Volcanoes National Park. The drive time to Volcanoes National Park is about 3 hours as you go through winding roads in the countryside.

Check into your lodge

Luxury accommodations in Volcanoes National Park Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Virunga Volcanoes lodge, Gorilla lake Kivu Hotel, Hotel Mille Collines, Wilderness Bisate lodge, One & only Gorilla Nest,

Meal Plan Full Board

Day Two

Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Take breakfast and head to the ranger station with your gorillas trekking gears and packed lunches because return time is not easy to determine. Carry some snacks to munch on during the breaks as you search for the mountain gorillas. Together with others client with who you are allocated a gorilla family and the ranger guides, start the search for the mountain gorillas.

Time of getting to the mountain gorillas may be hard to determine because of the dynamics in the forest however, keep the spirits high by looking out for other primates and birds that are common residents of this dense forest.

There are trackers who wake up earlier to trace where the gorillas family may be heading for the day so they may keep communication with your ranger guide. Note that it is not a guarantee that you will find the mountain gorillas in the same location you been directed to.

Finally, when you locate the mountain gorillas one hour is allowed with them for conservation reasons. The presence of humans disrupts the day today activities of these mountain gorillas so that is why one hour is allowed with them

Return to the lodge later to relax .

Day 3 Drive to Nyungwe National Park

After spending time with the mountain gorillas, head to Nyungwe National Park the chimpanzee habitant in Rwanda. Nyungwe National Park is a biosphere reserve with untamed forest cover that is rich in fauna and flora. The headquarters of Nyungwe National Park is in Uwinka where most park activities start.

The distance from Volcanoes National Park to Nyungwe National Park is about 270 kilometers for drive time of about 5 hours. The drive from Volcanoes National Park to Nyungwe National Park is scenic as you enjoy he towering highlands overlooking the winding roads, lush vegetation cover on the slopes of these highlands and may take some stops enroute to take some landscape photos.

Arrive at Nyungwe National Park ready to check in.

Luxury accommodations of Nyungwe National Park Nyungwe Forest lodge, One &Only Nyungwe Houses, Virunga Inn Resort and spa, Nyungwe Nziza Eco lodge

Meal Plan Full Board

Day 4 Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe National Park

Get up early to do chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park after breakfast. Head to the ranger station for briefing and you may hire a porter to help with your chimpanzee trekking gears. After briefing the ranger guides lead the way following the trails in the Nyungwe forest including Igishigishigi trail, Usamo trail and others.

The terrain of Nyungwe forest is rugged with several highlands around the park so there are also some challenges expected while on search for the mountain gorillas in this park. Nyungwe National Park is home to other primates including grey cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys and others. More than 365 bird species are confirmed residents of Nyungwe forest including Albertine rift endemics.

When you finally located the chimpanzees, enjoy there presence, watch them play, groom, feed, comb there hairs and much more drama similar to the daily life of humans. Indeed, they take the front seat as the closest humans relatives with 98% human DNA. Take as many photos as you can to keep as memories for that moment with the chimpanzees in the wilderness rather than in confinement.

Get back to your lodge to relax.

Day 5 Departure Day

After the 5 days luxury gorilla and chimpanzee safari in Rwanda, get ready to return home. The distance from Nyungwe National Park to Kigali is about 219 kilometers and drive time of about 5 to 6 hours.

The current cost of the chimpanzee trekking permit for Nyungwe National Park is about $150 for nonresidents, $75 for foreign resident and $25 for East Africans.

How Much Is The Cost Of Luxury Gorilla And Chimpanzee Trekking Safari In Rwanda

The cost of the luxury gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda for 5 days varies with inclusions in the entire safari package. At the moment the average cost of a luxury gorilla and chimpanzee Rwanda safaris is $ 2500 per person terms and conditions apply

The cost of the Rwanda gorilla and chimpanzee permits cuts across all gorilla and chimpanzee safari packages in Rwanda. The cost of other logistics that support tourism in Rwanda have to be considered including accommodation costs, transport costs and others.

When Is The Best Time To Book The Luxury Gorilla And Chimpanzee Trekking Tour In Rwanda

The best time to book the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari is the dry season. This primate safari in Rwanda is open all year but most tourists prefer the dry season that is June to October and December to January . Volcanoes and Nyungwe forests are moist most of the time because of there dense canopies that allow no or less sunlight to get to the ground.

Since the chimpanzees and mountain gorillas are endangered and still require conservation for sustainable existence, the number of visitors allowed to see them is restricted. This means the gorilla or chimpanzee permits are limited so advance booking is recommend to avoid last minute disappointments.

The wet season that is March to May is regarded as the low tourism season in Rwanda. Seeing the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees in this season is possible too. There are normally fewer tourists that booking the gorilla and chimpanzee permits in the low season which you can take advantage of incase you donot want to share this experience with strangers.

Are Rwanda Gorilla And Chimpanzees Safari Destination Safe To Visit

Even though bot gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking safaris in Rwanda happen in the wilderness, it is safe. On ground is a team of well trained rangers from Rwanda Development Board who coordinate the security of these Rwanda safari destinations with other security organs in the country.

Both gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda have rules expected to be followed by tourists. Personal security is very important so donot enter any national park in Rwanda without a ranger guide. Contact Us