Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safaris Tips You Must Know As Solo Traveler

The Rwanda gorilla trekking tips you must know as a solo travelers include booking the Rwanda gorilla permit first and in advance. The Rwanda gorilla permits are few yet there demand is over the top especially in the peak season that is June to October and December to early January. It is better to book your Rwanda gorilla trekking permit in advance. Request A Quotation

Reserve necessary logistics to support your gorilla trekking safari that is transport, accommodation, meals and others. It is better to plan the necessary reservation for these Rwanda Safari logistics in advance. This is to avoid panic at the last minute when options run out.

For gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is the destination where these activities happen. Volcanoes National Park is a dense rain forest situated in North Western Rwanda. The terrain of Volcanoes National Park is quite steep from severe volcanic activities that affected this area. This is why gorilla trekking tours in Rwanda are regarded quite steep.

Pack the right gorilla trekking gears when destined for this Rwanda safari including safari boots that extend above ankles because the jungle is rough and soggy most of the time. Do not forget the safari hat, water proof attires, long sleeved shirt, convertible trousers and others.

Apply for Rwanda visa before the gorilla trekking safari in case it is one of the travel requirements to be presented by travelers from your country. At Immigration one can obtain a Rwanda visa but the process is stressing as there are long ques.

How To Book Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Permits

Choose a date when to do gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda and the number of permits. Note that the age limit for gorilla trekking in Rwanda in 15 years and beyond.

Check gorilla permit availability which you can do with the help of a tour operator or self-help.

Reserve the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit as soon as you can but none is booked without payment yet first come first served criteria is applied. Purchase the gorilla trekking permit in full this is the only confirmation to attending this Rwanda safari adventure.

Currently, the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit cost is

• $1500 for foreign nonresidents
• $500 for International residents
• $200 for Rwandese citizens

There is an option of paying for the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit in instalments that is 30% and 70% however this has terms and conditions. In case you forget to top up the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit reserved in instalments it is reopened to the public without notifying you.

What Is The Cost Of A Gorilla Trekking Safari In Rwanda

The cost of the gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda vary with category that is upscale, basic or mid-range. The cost of the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit cuts across all categories.

Other factors that make part of the Rwanda gorilla trekking safari quotation include accommodation cost, transport costs, driver guide hire and more.

The number of days, people travelling with, additional Rwanda safari activities to combine with gorilla trekking, personal expenses and others also make part of this safari cost.

In general, the Rwanda gorilla safari cost is about $1600 to more.

Rwanda has a provision for a 1 day or 2 days gorilla trekking safari package but you need to have reserved the gorilla permit in advance. This makes it possible to do gorilla trekking in Africa in case you have a stopover in Rwanda then proceed to your final destination.

How Long Is Gorilla Trekking Safari Walk In Rwanda

The time to spend on the gorilla trekking walk in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda varies with the location of the gorilla family and other factors prevailing in the forest. Some tourists have found the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in 2 hours whereas others take more time.

On the way to find the mountain gorillas there are some obstacles you may come across including slippery slopes, flooded rivers, over grown and protruding foliage and others. Some of these may be the reason to delay you from location the mountain gorillas.

Along the way, you may get to find other interesting forest dwellers including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabey and others.

Upon finding the mountain gorillas only one hour is allowed with them as a conservation measure to minimize on the effects of taking long with these primates.

Best Time To Do Gorilla Trekking Tour In Rwanda

The best time to do gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda is the dry season that is June to September and December to January. The dry season is characterized with less wet environment even through Volcanoes National Park is known for being moist most of the time.

The mountain gorillas tend to spend most of the day on the ground as there is less food availability up in the canopies. More sunlight is let in through the dense canopy to the ground reducing on the level of precipitation as the rivers flow within normal course.

Other than the mountain gorillas, other primates, birds traverse the forest and can be spotted along the way.

Note that this is the peak tourism season in Rwanda with expectations of more tourists visiting the country for Rwanda safaris. Competition for the Rwanda gorilla trekking permits and supporting logistics is over the top making it challenging for last minute bookings.

The wet season that is March to May and October to November should never scare you when planning the gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda. Even through the intensity of the rains around Volcanoes National Park is in high gears. Finding the mountain gorillas is guaranteed. The mountain gorillas tend to spend most of the time in sheltered spots in the wet season.

Note that this is the low tourism season in Rwanda so chances of having the gorilla family to yourself with no interruptions are more common.

Most infants are born during the wet season so there are more opportunities of encountering new born gorillas during gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda.

Do not forget to pack the right gorilla trekking gears including rain proof attires, safari water proof boots, safari hat, garden gloves and others.

Easiest Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Family To Book

Determining the easiest Rwanda gorilla trekking family to trek is hard because the challenges faced in the jungle vary with factors prevailing. Rwanda currently has about 12 gorilla trekking families to trek including Hirwa, Susa, Amahoro, Umubano, Karisimbi, Agashya and others.

The Rwanda gorilla trekking family that was located closer the previous day may be the furthest the next day. Mountain gorillas are mobile primates that relocate any time depending on the mood in the forest so open your mind to exploring the forest.

Volcanoes National park has five of the six famous Virunga Volcanoes that is mountain Gahinga, Muhavura, Sabyinyo, Bisoke and Karisimbi and other highlands. Sometimes these primates spend time on slopes or deep in the valleys of these highlands which makes gorilla trekking in Rwanda steep.

Having some level of fitness is very important in order to traverse the forest and hike to find the mountain gorillas. The forest has some rough surfaces that may cause some skin irritations so try not to touch the plants along the way.

The ranger guide with a machete uses it to trim the protruding vegetation along the way and create a path for tourists to move to where these primates may be spending the day during gorilla trekking.

 Accommodation To Book During Gorilla Trekking Safaris In Rwanda

Accommodation to book during gorilla trekking in Rwanda are categorized into Luxury, mid-range and basic. You need to know the inclusions and exclusions in the cost of accommodations at Volcanoes National Park to plan according. Some accommodations offer full Board services, half board, Bed and Breakfast, Bed only, Camping and others.

The accommodations of Volcanoes National Park include Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Kinigi Guest House, Gorilla Nest, Virunga Volcanoes Lodge, Hotel Muhavura, Hotel Lebambou and many more.

How To Get To Volcanoes National Park

From Kigali, road transport is the main means to get to Volcanoes National Park. The distance to cover from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park is about 179 kilometers for about 3 hours drive. The roads are winding because of the several highland in Rwanda generally but do not expect a smooth ride all the way.

Flying gorilla trekking safaris are open in Rwanda with chances of hiring a private charter plane from the Akagera Aviation. Ensure to hire a transfer vehicle to Volcanoes National Park.

What To Expect During Gorilla Trekking Safari In Volcanoes National Park

During gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park expect to be allocated a gorilla family with other tourists as maximum 8 tourists are allowed per gorilla trekking family.

Briefing before gorillas trekking in Rwanda is compulsory no matter how many times you have been to Rwanda for the same safari activity. Briefing in Rwanda starts with document presentation and verification then head to the briefing point. More most current information about the mountain gorillas is communicated.

On the way to find the mountain gorillas, expect the trails to be soggy and wet most of the time from the regular rains that fall. At times the mountain gorillas spend the day in the deep forest or the valleys or slopes and you need to get to them.

Expect to encounter other primates and forest dwellers including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys, olive baboons and others. Several birds have been recorded as residents of Volcanoes National Park that is over 200 bird species including Albertine rift endemics.

Upon finding the mountain gorillas, they may pretend not to acknowledge your presence and go about their daily activities but do not be fooled by their behavior as they have spies. Try not to violet the rules of gorilla trekking as explained during briefing.

Expect to have one hour with the mountain gorillas upon locating them. This enables the mountain gorillas to go about their daily activities. Mountain gorillas have to consume foliage that will take them through the day and night because they are vegetarians.

What Guarantees Seeing Mountain Gorillas During Gorilla Trekking In Uganda

The mountain gorillas are present in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda with more than 99% chances of finding them.

Each day a team of Ranger guides follows and traces the location where the mountain gorillas nested and establish the possible direction of where they hope to spend the day. Some of these clues are what ranger guides with tourists use to trace the mountain gorillas. Although these clues may not be absolutely correct because of the liberty of these primates but it helpful.

Gorilla families open to the public are first habituated till proved ready for public viewing. Gorilla habituation process helps the mountain gorillas to withstand human presence without altering their nature. The time it takes for mountain gorillas to get accustomed to human presence is hard to determine as the process may take 2 year or more.

Ranger guides may request the tourists to assist with tracing the mountain gorillas following the clues they leave behind including fresh dung, chewed foliage, foot prints and others. Listen to the calls and murmurs that the mountain gorillas make as these lead to the right direction to take and trace them.

Why Book Gorilla Trekking Safari To Rwanda With Arch Safaris And Tours

 Booking the gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda with Arch Safaris And Tours enables you to relax and enjoy the entire safari because we do the ground work for you and keep you up to date with every detail. We are a credible African safari company with over 8 years of experience in organizing Gorilla safaris in Rwanda and Uganda.

We have a professional safari team ready to work with you to create life changing memories, book gorilla permits, safari amenities, advise you on what you know about gorilla safaris and other activities. Contact Us about gorilla trekking safaris on info@archsafarisandtours.com . Our team of safari consultants is ready to work with you to make ever last African safari memories.