What Can Go Wrong On Gorilla Trekking Tour In Rwanda

Anything can go wrong during the gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda if you donot double check your details prior to travelling for this Rwanda safari. Even though gorilla trekking in Rwanda is recommended to be booked in advance so that most of the nitty grits can be solved in advance sometimes things may go wrong with or without your involvement. Book Now

Gorilla trekking in Africa is one of those lifetime adventures on the bucket list of many tourists unfortunately the limited supply of permits kicks off some tourists. Maximum 8 tourists are allowed to visit each gorilla family per day as a conservation measure to reduce on human interaction with these primates. Mountain gorillas are very sensitive with intruders in there vicinity as so can easily get agitated when you take long around them.

On gorilla trekking day in Rwanda, the gorilla permit is the entry ticket to participate in gorillas trekking however you can forget to travel with it especially if you bought the permit in advance and traveled back home with it. Era is to human but forgetting the gorilla permit may lead to getting disqualified from attend this sought after adventure in Rwanda. On arrival at the briefing station (ORTPN) you present your Rwanda gorilla trekking permit first for verification.

Gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda happen in Volcanoes National Park located in North western part of the country. At the moment, about 12 gorilla trekking families are confirmed ready for public viewing in Rwanda however, maximum 8 people are allowed to visit each family each day. Some of the gorilla families in Rwanda include Umubano, Hirwa, Amahoro, Agashya, Muhoza, Sabyinyo, karisimbi and others.

Why You may not go Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Forgetting The Rwanda Gorilla Permit

Since the number of people allowed with the mountain gorillas is limited, only a person with a gorilla permit is allowed to join others for the trek. When you forget or lose your gorilla permit and donot report to the authorities concerned earlier, you may not be allowed to join others or be advised to repurchase another in case there is availability of the Rwanda gorilla permits.

Having a Communicable infection sickness before gorilla trekking in Rwanda

Sickness is not planned for but the safety of mountain gorillas supersedes anything even when you have a Rwanda gorilla trekking permit. In case you catch a cold or anything other communicable infection, volunteer to stay behind to save the mountain gorillas. Mountain Gorillas are susceptible to human infection like covid-19, cough, flu, and it is hard to determine how they will recover from this.

Some of these pandemics may lead to the massive death of the mountain gorillas yet they are just recovering from the rim of extinction. This is the reason why precautions like keep a distance of about 8 meters from the gorillas  during gorilla trekking, wear a clean face mask  when with the mountain gorillas , sanitize before starting the gorilla safaris are in Place. Tourists who genuinely Volunteer to stay behind and report to the station before the gorilla trek are considered for a gorilla permit refund according to the policy of Rwanda Development Board.

Age limit for gorilla trekking in Rwanda

The age limit for gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda is 15 years and over. This age limit was set to this in Rwanda because of the nature of the terrain of Volcanoes National Park which was highly affected by volcanic action. Compared to her counter parts Uganda and D.R. Congo, Rwanda gorilla trekking is steeper. The topography of this park has five of the six Virunga volcanoes that is Muhavura, Sabyinyo , Gahinga, Bisoke and karisimbi

Children below 15 years may not be in position to walk through the jagged terrain and tough jungle. Even some level of patience is required before finding the mountain gorillas which may be hard to contain for children below 15 years. At a glance the mountain gorillas outlook may stimulate  some adrenaline which requires one to control themselves but children may end up Shouting which may scare or agitate the mountain gorillas

In case you are below 15 years by the time of gorilla trekking in Rwanda but have a permit, you may not be allowed to do the gorilla trek.

If you are elderly and cannot hike to do gorilla trekking in Rwanda, you can use the service of sedan chairs but advance booking is necessary.

Break the Rwanda law before gorilla trekking

Rwandese are very serious with law breakers even if you are a tourists. Rwanda doesn’t accept dealing in drugs and this is published even on the bill boards at all its international entry points. Breaking the Rwanda aw may end you in Prison with a hefty penalty slapped on you.

In case you are not out of prison by the time of the gorilla trek even when in Rwanda, you are not allowed to do gorilla trekking and no refund is given. Each Rwanda gorilla permit is valid only up to the day of the trek.

Missing gorilla trekking briefing in Rwanda

Briefing before gorilla trekking in Rwanda is compulsory for every tourists no matter what package you travel. Alltourists expected to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda on a particular day are expected to report to the ORTPN early morning that is before 0700 hours.

Absconding from briefing before the gorilla trek may end in getting disqualified even though you posses a permit or be penalized. During gorilla trekking briefing, tourists are given details of how to behave with the mountain gorillas, what to expect, cleared to join other tourists, allocated gorilla families and others. When you miss briefing before the gorilla trek, you may not be allowed to join others to search for the mountain gorillas. Reporting late for briefing may also disorganize you so it is best to get on ground in time. Protecting the mountain gorillas is the main reason for doing gorilla trekking so you need to follow every beat of the instructions.

Getting lost in Volcanoes National Park

When you start the gorilla trek, you are escorted by atleast two ranger guides one carrying a machete and another a rife. You must keep up with the rest of the tourists and not deviate or else you can be forgotten in this thick, no network jungle.

The ranger guide follows the pace of the slowest trekker but some want to sneak away so in case you succeed, you may be forgotten in this thick wilderness. When you get lost, you may not get to see the mountain gorillas or be scavenged on by the forest dwellers. Donot put your life at risk at any one time.

Getting bad injury during Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Gorilla trekking is done at a very slow pace and follows the trails constructed by the usual visitors. An accidents is an unexpected injury so in case you get sprain or any other injury and you cannot carry on, a rescue team is called upon to return you to the briefing point. You may not get the chance to go through with gorilla trekking in Rwanda. When packing for gorilla trekking tour, donot forget a first aid kit with the relevant medically prescribed medication .

Mountain Gorillas May Charge

In nature, mountain gorillas are calm and serene primates but when provoked may charge. Everyone is supposed to follow the guidelines of gorilla trekking fully explained in details by the ranger guides and wardens. Sometime tourists may try there luck and deviate from these instructions. An example in question may be In case you touch the infant of the mountain gorillas or tease them and others.

These mountain gorillas may not directly pounce on you but may show there anger thumping there chests, pull grass around them, hoot and much more drama. Upon seeing this, donot panic to get away because at times it isn’t anyone’s’ fault but await for the ranger guide to establish the root cause of the matter. Follow the instructions the ranger guides give at this moment in order to have time with this gorilla family.

In case the mountain gorillas are agitated by your presence and the ranger notifies you about its, get away slowly as instructed in order not to escalade the already messy situation. Donot insist on staying around the mountain gorillas when instructed to leave.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Rwanda For Gorilla Trekking

The best time for a visit to Rwanda to do gorilla trekking is the dry season that is June to September and December to January when the sun is brighter and there is less precipitation in the atmosphere. The mountain gorillas and other forest dwellers are most active when the atmosphere drier. They also have to search for a meal for the day because there is competition for some food sources in the Jungle yet the top of the ridges may have run out of supplies. Although most of the time the weather in the wilderness is wet but during the dry season, there is generally less precipitation.

The dry season is normally the high tourism season in Rwanda so you need to secure the gorilla permit in advance before they sell out. Book accommodation to use during Rwanda gorilla safari in advance too as options get slimmer as time unfolds.

As many people travel to Rwanda for gorilla trekking adventure expect to share the same space with other tourists.

The wet season is also fantastic for gorilla trekking although less people may be joining you. The wet season is normally March to May and November. There are more chances of having the gorilla trekking family in Rwanda to yourself or a couple of people. Even those with a limited budget may use this opportunity to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda when the cost of the gorilla permits may be discounted in the low season. 

No matter the season you travel to do gorilla trekking in Rwanda, be sure to find them because the mountain gorillas are often monitored by Rwanda Development Board rangers to establish there ways about each day. Mountain gorillas live in cohesive families that stage themselves in a particular location until food is exhausted so there are more chances of finding them.

What Accommodation To Book For Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

A number of accommodations are present to book for gorilla trekking adventure in Rwanda but these are categorized into luxury, mid-range and basic. Some of the Rwanda accommodations to use for Gorilla trekking include Sabyinyo Silverback lodge, Mountain Gorillas View lodge, Hotel Mille Collins, Hotel Muhavura, Gorilla Nest, Virunga Volcanoes lodge, Kinigi Guest House.

There are limited accommodation options to use for Rwanda gorilla safari but you need to book them in advance as option run out during the peak tourism season.

Is Gorilla Trekking adventure in Rwanda Difficult or Easy?

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is exciting but with challenges because of the nature of the terrain of Volcanoes National Park with five of the six Virunga Volcanoes. The way to the mountain gorillas in Rwanda is quite steeper compared to her counterparts Rwanda and D.R.Congo.

The trails are sometimes obstructed by the thick undergrowth and creepers that drapes from the tree braches but the ranger guide with a machete may trim it. The ground is logged and slippery from the regular rain that fall yet less sunlight is let in through the dense canopy. This keeps the ground wet most of the times making it challenging to get through very fast.

Have some level of fitness  before travelling for the Rwanda safari, pack the suitable gorilla trekking gears to get through with this jungle experience in Rwanda. Having some level of patience is necessary to get through to where the mountain gorillas may be spending there day. Follow the guidelines of the gorilla trekking tour as presented by the rangers during briefing.

When you finally locate the mountains gorillas, only an hour is allowed with them then so as to let then go about there daily life. Mountain gorillas survive by the forest supplies and may be this is the reason why they cannot survive else where in the world. Book Now