What Is in An All inclusive Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

While on a visit to Rwanda but hoping to do an all inclusive Rwanda Gorilla trekking Safari, some of the items that may be included in this package includes meals (Breakfast, lunch and Dinner), transport to and from, accommodations, driver guide and others.

Gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda are conducted in Volcanoes National Park in northwestern part of Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park is part of the vast and famous Virunga area inclusive of Uganda, Rwanda and D.R.Congo.At the moment, Volcanoes National Park has about 12 gorilla families open to the public some of which includes Amahoro, Umubano, Agashya, Susa, Hirwa and others. Book now

Booking an all inclusive Rwanda gorilla trekking package saves you from worrying about your meals, accommodations, transport and others necessities. You get the time to enjoy your Rwanda holiday and relax knowing that everything is under control.

Other than watching out for the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, you have the chance to watch out for other forest dwellers like blue monkeys, black and white colobus, olive baboons, red tailed monkeys and others. A wide range of birds find there way into Volcanoes forest each day and keen birders have so much to enjoy too.

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Some Of What Is in An All-Inclusive Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour

Transport to Volcanoes National Park

Road transport is the main means to Volcanoes National Park going through the countryside for about 3 hours from Kigali. It is best to use a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle in good conditions because the ground gets messy sometimes especially during the severe rainy seasons.

Hiring a professional and experienced driver guide on your gorilla trekking safari is a plus as he or she provide more details about Rwanda beyond the mountain gorillas. These Rwanda safari driver guides even know spots where you can do an optional detour before or after the gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park

It is best to have full tank of gas in your vehicle before proceeding to Volcanoes National Park because chances of finding refueling stations get slimmer and you move deeper into the countryside. The cost of fuel in Rwanda varies with the prevailing prices word over and the consumption capacity of the different vehicles.

Accommodations In Volcanoes National Park

Most of the accommodations in Volcanoes National Park serve full Board service depending on your budget. These accommodations are categorized into luxury, mid-range or basic and in case you hope to spend time at any of these facilities, you may request for full board services.

Some of the accommodations in Volcanoes National Park include Sabyinyo Silverback lodge, kinigi guest house, Virunga Volcanoes lodge, Gorilla Nest, Mountain Gorillas View lodge, Hotel Muhavura, and others.

Meals on Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda

During the gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda, you need to have meals that is mainly Breakfast, lunch and dinner. For you not to worry about what your next meal shall be or how much it will cost, the all inclusive Rwanda gorilla safari has you covered.

Most of the upscale lodges and mid-range lodges in and out of volcanoes National park serve different cuisines from across the globe but for specials, you may put in your request in advance.

You can take your taste bags on a tour of Rwanda by trying the local cuisines. You may also try Rwanda cuisines even outside the accommodations in Volcanoes National Park like in Kigali city. The Rwanda coffee has those unique aromas as it is brewed from coffee grown, dried, roasted within the country its self.

For packed lunch during the gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda, request for it from your lodge and it is best to do this in advance so that it can be prepared and handed to you before moving to the briefing point.

For drinking water, our company offers free drink water while in the vehicle but for other drinks most lodges donot include this cost on there meal plan.

Driver guide cost on Rwanda Gorilla Safari

Having great company while on a road trip is memorable and this is stirred by a professional , knowledgeable and experienced driver guide to take you through the unknown. Sometimes the drive to Volcanoes National Park gets messy especially during the severe wet season so you need a good driver to get through some parts of the road.

Donot expect a smooth ride as the roads are quite bumpy and so if you get road sickness, take some pills in advance. Go good driver may also take you in an optional detour on the way or after the gorilla trekking safari in Volcanoes National Park.

Rwanda Gorilla trekking Permit

The gorilla permit is the entry ticket to the gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda. Even though gorilla permits are on high demand in Rwanda, there supply is limited to maximum 8 per gorilla family per visit per day. The limited number of gorilla families in Rwanda outnumbers the people hoping to visit Rwanda for this adventure so advance booking is necessary.

At the moment, the cost of Rwanda gorilla trekking permit is $1500 per person per trekking and this is an unforgettable African safari experience.  On the day of gorilla trekking, all participants are expected to report to the ranger station to go through all compulsory formalities before proceeding to start searching for the mountain gorillas. You need to abide by the rules of gorilla trekking because they are in place to protect you and the forest dwellers so violating them may end in a stampede.

Gorilla family allocation in Rwanda is random though sometimes technique like age brackets, relations, capability and others may be used. No matter which gorilla family you are allocated to, the moment you face the gorilla family may stimulate some goosebumps. It is unbelievable to be in the same space with the only leftover mountain gorillas in the world with there huge and majestic bodies yet coward in nature.

Only one hour is allowed with the mountain gorilla family for conservation reasons as they need to go about there daily activities later.

Gas or Fuel Cost For the vehicle

The vehicle you hire for the Rwanda gorilla safari needs to be fueled or refueled before proceeding into the deeper countryside. Finding a refueling station with quality gas in the countryside may be hard too.

What Is The Best Time For Doing Gorilla Trekking Safaris In Rwanda

The dry season is the best time for gorilla trekking in Rwanda even though the activity is open all year around. Gorilla trekking in the dry season allows you to move in the wilderness without worrying too much about slipping in the ever wet and soggy forest. The mountain gorillas and most of the other forest dwellers are more active in the dry season.

The dry season environment in Volcanoes forest maybe moist but allows you to take better view of not only the mountain gorillas but the unparalleled scenery of the forest. While taking photos in Volcanoes National Park in the dry season, more light is allowed through the dense canopy to the ground during this season too so you can capture better photos.

The amount of undergrowth in Volcanoes National Park in the dry season is lower along the paths giving you the opportunity to move even faster.            

More tourists visit Volcanoes National Park in the dry season so demand for gorilla permits increases in this period. Expect to rub shoulders with other tourists but open your mind to the beauties in the forest.

The wet season is not bad for a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda with better chances of finding gorilla permits at the last moment. The mountain gorillas spend more time on the slopes of the mountains so expect to hike in order to find them. There are better chances of going on a solo gorilla trekking safari in the low season incase there are no other booking.

How Long Is The Gorilla Trekking Safaris In Rwanda

When you start the search for the mountain gorillas after briefing, time of returning is hard to determine as this is influenced by the conditions in the wilderness. When the source of food for the mountain gorillas is far, these primates tend to move deeper into the wilderness. During the severe rainy season, the ground is very messy and slippery from the decomposed matter there for making fast movement in the wilderness slower. The vegetation along the paths overgrows to obstruct the paths and a times has to be trimmed to create a path. The mountain gorillas and other forest dwellers tend to also move to areas where they can find shelter so you have to follow them even on the slopes.

This may take sometime and so delaying the time of returning from gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Note that the nature of the terrain of Volcanoes National Park and Rwanda in general is mainly composed of highlands.

For the best gorilla trekking experience, open your mind to seeing other forest dwellers instead of putting all your focus on finding the mountain gorillas there is plenty more to enjoy all the way. Only one hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas as a conservation measure used to protect these primates.

How Easy Or Difficult Is Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda

Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda is quite strenuous from having to hike to where the mountain gorillas may be spending the day to remembering the guidelines of gorilla trekking when you finally face these primates. The way to the mountain gorillas has challenges as the ground is often wet from the regular rains that fall yet less sunray penetration is allowed to the ground. The dense volcanoes forest company that doesn’t allow so much sunlight to get through to the ground.

Sometimes even the dense network of rivers floods and logs creating a mess in the forest which may slow down your search. During the severe rainy season, even the mountain gorillas and other forest dwellers tend to go into deeper places where they can find shelter and these may be quite hard to get to.

No matter the challenge you may encounter to find the mountain gorillas, you need to keep the spirit of meeting them high because the first glance is full of mixed emotions. There first encounter may stimulate some adrenaline amidst excitement that fills your entire body. Try to control your actions so as not to seem suspicious before the mountain gorillas until departure time which is also carefully done.

Packing List For Rwanda Safari To The Mountain Gorillas

A camera to take photos and keep memories of this once in a lifetime adventure with the mountain gorillas.

Safari foldable hat with a large brim to protect your head from buzzing insects in the jungle.

Safari convertible trousers and log sleeved shirt in wilderness friendly colors like tan and Khaki to use while in the jungle. Camouflage is not accepted in Rwanda as this is related to military wear.

Warmers as it gets so cold in the morning and late afternoons so you need to keep warm.

Foldable waterproof bottle to carry with water in order to quench thirst

Waterproof backpack on wilderness friendly colors that you are not afraid to get dirty.

Safari waterproof boot to use when walking through the jungle which is quite slippery and soggy from the decomposing matter.

Garden gloves to hold a tighter grip on to the vines while walking along the trails

A pair of binocular to capture a better vision of the far ranging features in the jungle.

Rain coat in case it falls as these tropical rain forest may receive rains the entire day

Hard cash to use as a means of exchange when purchasing on ground items like souvenirs as credit cards are not easy to use in Africa because of the lengthy process of obtaining money from them.

First aid kit with medication for emergency treatment.

Insect repellant to apply and keep away insects that may hurt you while in the jungle.

Sunglasses to protect your eyes from insects that buzz in the jungle.

Fully charged batteries to exchange with in case one run low.

Energy treats to munch on as breakfast is taken too early to last the entire time you are in the jungle.

An adopter and charger in case you need to recharge your gargets.

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