When To Book A Gorilla Trekking Permit To Rwanda

Every time is gorilla trekking time in Rwanda but it is best to book the permit atleast 180 days before the expected gorilla trek especially if you hope to travel in the peak season. The peak tourism season of Rwanda is normally June, July, August, September, December, January and early February.

Volcanoes National Park is the only home to the mountain gorillas in Rwanda with currently about 12 gorilla families open to the public. To minimize the effects of mass tourism, at the moment maximum 8 permits are open to the public per day.

The number of gorilla trekking permits for Rwanda is limited and first come first served basis is used. No gorilla permit is reserved without payment as this is the only confirmation that you are interested in meeting the mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas are some of the endangered primates in the world with currently a population of about 1000 living as per the recent population census.

The peak season gorilla permits sell out in advance and last minute bookers normally find it hard to find availability on this season. Even the logistic that support gorilla trekking in Rwanda sell out fast during this season so immediately you secure a gorilla permit, it is best to reserve these amenities.

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The high season attracts more people to book the gorilla permits so expect to share the same space with others.

The low tourism season of Rwanda opens more chances for unprepared for exclusive gorilla trekking experience when there is less disturbance from fellow tourists. The low season is normally March, April, May and November. This too is normally the rainy season but be sure to see the mountain gorillas.

How to book Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Permits?

To book Rwanda gorilla trekking permits, you must have a date or supposed time for the starting and ending period of the gorilla safari. State in advance the number of people you book gorilla permits for as this helps with checking availability.

The Rwanda Development board has the responsibility of selling and regulating the gorilla trekking permits. you may directly book the gorilla permit or use the help of a tour operator. Enquire now

At Arch Safaris And Tours we can assist you book a Rwanda gorilla permits plus relevant additional amenities like accommodation, transport and others. We package our gorilla safaris according to upscale, mid-range and basic.

Upon contacting us to assist book the gorilla tour for you using your details, our tours consultant checks availability from the list of Rwanda Development Board. As soon as we find availability, we gets back to you. Gorilla permits for Rwanda are on first come first served basis and cannot be reserved without payment.

Rwanda opens chances to instalment gorilla permit payment of 30% and 70 % respectively although full payment is the recommended approach. To qualify for instalment Rwanda gorilla permit purchase, you must have booked the gorilla permit before 90 days to trekking date and remember to top up before 90 days to trekking date.

We advise clients to purchase their gorilla permits in advance because they sell out fast and the status of these permits changes any time without warning.

For identification, forward us some personal details like your full names, nationality, date of birth and others. These details are filled on your gorilla trekking permits and retrieved on the trekking day. Part of these details are also used to keep statics of gorilla safaris in Rwanda.

How much is the cost of Rwanda Gorilla Trekking permit?

The current cost of Rwanda gorilla trekking permit is $1500 per person for international nonresidents , $500 for foreign residents and $200 for East Africans. The cost of Rwanda gorilla permit includes one hour with the gorillas, mountain gorilla conservation, ranger guide fees, park entrance fees and others.

Personal expenses are excluded in the cost of Rwanda gorilla permits.

When is the best time to Book Rwanda gorilla trekking tour?

Even though gorilla trekking in Rwanda is open all year, the dry season is most preferred when the forest is full of life. There is scarcity of food in the forest so the mountain  gorillas and others primates tend to stay closer to the ground in order to find food for the day.

Volcanoes forest also hosts other primates like the blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, olive baboon, black and white colobus which may be spotted quicker in the dry season. Even though the Virunga area is known for receiving untimely rains that may flood, the dry season weather is drier.

The trails in this forest are quicker to navigate as more sunlight is let in through the dense canopy to dry up the ground. Volcanoes forest hosts an array of birds including Albertine rift endemics but these may be spotted as you walk through the forest.

Note that demand for gorilla permits for Rwanda in the dry season is high so advance booking is needed. Gorilla permits for the high season sell out early so advance booking saves you from last minute disappointments. Expect to share the same space with other tourists in the dry season since maximum 8 people are allowed to visit each gorilla family per day.

 The low season may attract less gorilla safari bookings opening more chances to solo gorilla safaris on some days. Even those with a limited budget may use the low season to do gorilla trekking in Rwanda since low seasons may attract less bookings so service providers may lower there costs to breakeven.

Why book Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari?

By booking the gorilla permit for Rwanda, you have the opportunity to be just 7 meters away from the only left over mountain gorillas in the world. A few people get that opportunity to share the same natural space with these primates. Mountain gorillas can only survive in the Virunga area and no where else in the world so  expect to see them on three countries that is Uganda, Rwanda and D.R.Congo.

By booking a gorilla permit, you contribute to the mountain gorilla conservation fund. In a bid to collect more money to support the conservation of these primates, the sell of gorilla permits is one of the ways used.

If you wish to contribute to the local community around the Volcanoes National Park, you may hire a porter. The porters are local people some of whom are reformed poachers who help carry your belongings so as to lift off your head the burden of having extra weight while in the forest.

Rwanda also has other interesting destinations you can add with gorilla trekking like game safaris in Akagera National Park, Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda genocide memorial visit and others. At Arch Safaris And Tours, we can draft an itinerary that suits your needs and interests while on Rwanda safari.

How Sure Can I Be To See The Gorillas In Rwanda

Seeing the mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park is a sure activity as the mountain gorillas are present no matter the season and time. Before a wild gorilla family is opened to the public, it is first habituated for an unknown time. Gorilla habituation is a process by which a wild gorilla family is helped to get used to the presence of humans without altering there nature.

The gorilla family allocated to a group of tourists occupy a particular locality for sometime until food is exhausted. This is the reason why ranger guides follow the trail leading where the gorilla family was last seen the previous day because they rarely move very far.

Each day a team of ranger guides wakes up earlier to monitor the night spot for the gorilla family and possible hangout place for the day. These clues are some of which the ranger guides with tourist use to trace the mountain gorillas although sometimes the mountain gorillas change location.

As tourists during briefing, you are advised to participate in searching for the mountain gorillas by following the clues they live behind like freshly chewed foliage, fresh dung, listen to the sounds they make and much more. Do apply the guidelines of gorilla trekking given by the ranger guides at briefing.

Is Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda Safe?

Rwanda is safe for gorilla trekking as on ground are well trained Rwanda Development Board ranger guides who selflessly work to protect the mountain gorillas, other inhabitants and the forest. They monitor the forest by holding patrols and remove snares in case they are set.

Before starting the gorilla trek, tourists must attend briefing from the ranger guides where guidelines of gorilla trekking are given. The tourists are advised to follow the gorilla safari rules as mountain gorillas are quickly agitated by unfamiliar occurrences in there environment.

While walking through the forest, you are advised to stay closer to the people trekking gorillas with so that you are not forgotten in the jungle in case you walk away. Never enter the forest with no escorting ranger guide so as not to fall prey of the occupants of this forest.

How long Is Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda?

Time take on gorilla trekking adventure in Rwanda may be 2 hour to more depending on situations prevailing in the forest. From the starting point of the trek, finding the mountain gorillas may be determined by factors like food source proximity, weather conditions of the day, in case of a fight with another gorilla family, death of a family member and much more.

Upon finding the gorilla family, one hour is allowed with them. The presence of human disrupts the daily life of the mountain gorillas so time with them is minimized to only one hour. This is to reduce on the chances of looking suspicious before the mountain gorillas it agitating them.

As you get away from the mountain gorillas, donot cause any suspension and do it stealthily.

What accommodation to book on Rwanda gorilla trekking safari?

Accommodations to book on gorilla trekking tours are categorized into upmarket, midrange and basic. Some of the Rwanda gorilla trekking accommodations include Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Mountain Gorilla view Lodge, Hotel Muhabura, Hotel La Palme, Kinigi Guest House, Virunga Volcanoes Lodge, Gorilla Resort

What is the Age limit For Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda?

15 years and beyond is the age limit for gorilla trekking in Rwanda as this adventure required walking in the forest. There are some rough surfaces in the jungle that may be quite challenging for children below 15 years.

When you meet the mountain gorillas, the first sight is scaring because of there dark furred bodies, deep sunken eyes and knuckle walking style. This may stimulate some adrenaline for children below 15 years and cause them to shout. Noise is forbidden in the forest as this pushes the mountain gorillas into the deeper ends of the forest.

Is gorilla trekking in Rwanda difficult?

 Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is quite difficult as you have to walk in the jungle. The topography of the Volcanoes forest is rugged with remains of volcanic action. Sometimes the mountain gorillas spend time at the slopes of the highlands which may require you to hike in order to get to them.

 You need to bear some level of fitness and patience. During the severe rainy season, the trails in Volcanoes National Park are slippery and soggy from the rains that fall. You need to carry some rainproof gears that will protect you from the rains that fall and may make you wet.

The walk through the jungle is quite tiring as the ridges along the way are draped by thick foliage that has existed for sometime. The ranger guide with a machete uses it to trim the vegetation that may obstruct the way.

Compared to gorilla trekking in Uganda and D.R.Congo, Rwanda  gorilla trekking is steeper because of the several highlands  that is mountain Gahinga, Mountain Muhavura, Mountain Sabyinyo, Mountain Bisoke and Karisimbi. To succeed in completing the gorilla trek, you need to bear some level of fitness.  Hire a porter to help carry some of your gorilla trekking gears in order not to be weighed back

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