Where To Find Last Minute Gorilla Trekking Permits in Rwanda
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When searching for last minute gorilla trekking permits for Rwanda, the easiest way to do so is through a registered tour operator. Rwanda gorilla trekking permits are limited to maximum 8 each day from every gorilla family with currently the country hosting about 12 gorilla families. The number of Rwanda gorilla permits open to the public is still insufficient to satisfy the ever-increasing public demand.
Booking the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit in advance is the best attempt however sometimes the decision to travel for gorilla trekking may come last minute. At times gorilla permit availability at Rwanda Development Board may still be positive but incase all permits are sold out then you may look out for those on resale.
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Travelling to volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking before confirming the gorilla permit may be risky especially during peak season. The peak tourism season in Rwanda is normally June to September and December to February.
Note Rwanda is the best gorilla trekking destination in Africa where you can chip in a visit to see the gorillas while in transit in case you make a stop over the country. The drive to Volcanoes National park is about 3 hours which is not found in other gorilla hosting destinations in African.
How To Find Last Minute Gorilla Trekking Permit and Plan A Rwanda Safari
Step 1 Check Rwanda gorilla trekking permit availability on the dates of your preference
Step 2 Purchase the gorilla permit as soon as you can because there status changes any time without warning.
Step 3 Book accommodation, transport and other necessary Rwanda safari logistics immediately because the best options sell out yet these contribute to the overall feeling after the gorilla trekking tour.
Step 4 Check for additional Rwanda safari activities to combine with gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Some additional Rwanda safari activities include
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park
Hiking
Game drives in Akagera National Park
Canopy walk over Nyungwe National Park
How Much is The Cost Of Gorilla Trekking Safari In Rwanda
The cost of gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda varies from $1600 per person and more. The cost of Rwanda gorilla safaris varies according to category that is Luxury, mid range and basic. When planning the gorilla safari in Rwanda, the cost of the gorilla permit is key and this cuts across all categories. At the moment the cost of Rwanda gorilla permit is $1500 per person.
The overall cost of Rwanda gorilla trekking safari is determined by factors including days to spend on safari, category of gorilla safari package to choose from, Rwanda tourism season and more.
During the low season, at this the Rwanda Development Board opens discounted gorilla permits to the public however this is subject to the board’s decision.
Don’t forget to include extra funds to use for on ground purchases because credit cards are not a common means of exchange used in Africa.
Can I Do Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda Without A Gorilla Permit
The Rwanda gorilla permit is the only document that allows you entry to attend gorilla trekking on a particular day. Every tourist must present one at the ranger station for verification as a participant scheduled for the day.
Rwanda gorilla permit contains some personal details that are used to cross check with the details in the Rwanda Development Board system.
Even at the last minute if you travel on ground to Volcanoes National Park, you cannot be allowed to join other trekkers for the day unless you acquire a gorilla trekking permit. The number of Rwanda gorilla trekking permits is limited as a conservation measure used to reduce on the effects of mass tourism.
How Much Time Does Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda Take
Sometimes tourists have reported seeing the mountain gorillas in thirty minutes while others spend more time. After briefing, tourists with the ranger guide start to search for the mountain gorillas however time it takes may be hard to determine.
The location of the gorilla family assigned to you varies with factors prevailing in the forest like food location, weather conditions of the day, mood of the gorilla family and more.
The pace of fellow tourists and physical fitness contributes to the time to take on gorilla trekking in Rwanda. At times the mountain gorillas spend time on the slopes of the several highlands or deep in the valley and so you have to fellow them in order to enjoy a moment with these gentle giants.
To maintain the yearning and excitement to finally make it for gorilla trekking, it is best to shift the focus to other amazing features and inhabitants in the forest including golden monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey and more.
Upon finding the mountain gorillas only one hour is allowed with them which you need to maximize by taking photos concurrently with enjoying the fun of these vulnerable primates.
How Sure Can I Be To See The Mountain Gorillas In Rwanda
- Mountain gorillas are habituated first before opening them to the public a process that helps them to get accustomed to human presence without altering their nature. Gorilla habituation process helps them to withstand humans atleast for an hour.
- Seeing the mountain gorillas in Rwanda during gorilla trekking in a must no matter the season. Mountain gorillas live in cohesive families that live in a particular feeding area for sometime until it gets insufficient to satisfy the entire family then they move
- When mountain gorillas relocate, they leave traces behind which you can use to find them including freshly chewed foliage, foot prints, rarely keep silent and more. Some of these clues are what rangers with tourists use to trace the gorilla families
- Each day a team of ranger guides follows the mountain gorillas early morning to trace where they nested and establish possible direction to take for the day. The early risers keep in constant communication via radio call with the rangers with tourists however the gorillas may relocate too.
- The mountain gorillas are bulky in size that is an average grown male may weigh about 200 kg and a female almost half this weight. These sizes do not allow the mountain gorillas to move very fast in a hilly area.
Note
The mountain gorillas are vulnerable primates whose life depends on the supplies of the forest so try not to contaminate the ground or vegetation by spitting on it. Follow the guidelines of gorilla trekking as explained by the ranger guide at briefing.
Are Mountain gorillas Dangerous During Gorilla Trekking
Mountain gorillas are not dangerous even though their outlook is mistaken to be for quite aggressive beasts. Physically, mountain gorillas are covered from head to toes by dark fur, walk by knuckle locomotion, do chest thumping which is quite intimidating and more.
Naturally, mountain gorillas are calm, serene and when agitated are likely to move into hiding. Every tourist must attend briefing before gorilla trekking where details of however to behave when, during and after gorilla safari adventure are communicated.
When with the mountain gorillas avoid staring into their deep brown eyes as this appears suspicious, keep a distance of about 8 meters from them and more. This is don’t to avoid circumstances that may end in angering these vulnerable and highly sensitive primates.
What Is the Most Convenient Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari Time
Any time is gorilla trekking time in Rwanda but the dry season provides the best convenient time to engage in gorilla safari adventure. The dry season which is normally June to September and December to January is characterized by higher temperatures and more sunlight that sips through the dense canopy to the ground.
The mountain gorillas and other forest dwellers spend more time close to the ground and when taking their photos, the environment is favorable. Volcanoes National Park is known to be moist most of the time however during the dry season there is less precipitation. Rivers or streams flow within normal course and the ground is less moist.
The dry season in Rwanda serves as the peak tourism season in the country too with more tourists expected in the country so advance booking is required for most of the safari logistics.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda during the wet season is open too and seeing the mountain gorillas is a sure deal. Even though mountain gorilla families spend most of the day in sheltered spots or up in the tree canopy, be sure to find them.
To surpass the trouble of competing for limited gorilla permits of Rwanda, the wet season provides chances to even find permit availability at the last minute since fewer tourists are expected in the country in this low season.
What Is The Shortest Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Itinerary
2 day Rwanda gorilla trekking is the shortest itinerary and convenient for tourists on crash program but you need to have a confirmed gorilla permit. 1 Day gorilla trekking in Rwanda can be arranged too but it is a pressure filled safari program and time keeping is key,
What to do on 2 day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari
Day 1 Drive to Volcanoes National Park in North Western Rwanda. Drive time from Volcanoes National Park from Kigali is about 3 hours on winding roads to Ruhengeri.
Day 2 Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park which starts early morning at about 0730 hours. Departure later.
Note that time of ding the mountain gorillas is hard to determine so it is best to book a late-night departure flight from Kigali in case you have to leave immediately on this same day.
Do not forget to carry the necessary gorilla trekking gears so that you are not inconvenienced when on ground. No need to over pack but carry the basic items to use for gorilla trekking safari.
In case you have extra time in Rwanda, you may choose to engage in other Rwanda safari activities including
- Game safaris in Akagera national Park
- Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park
- Hiking in Rwanda
- Birding in Rwanda
- Sports fishing in Rwanda
- Cultural Experience in Rwanda
- Visit Rwanda genocide memorial
- Rwanda City Tour
Is Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda Easy Or Hard
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is quite challenging but exciting too. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is in the jungle where wild animals move with nothing to stop them. The trails along which tourists move to search for the mountain gorillas are normally wet with undergrowth protruding over. Sometimes there are some biting nettles too.
No matter the challenges you go through during gorilla trekking, meeting the mountain gorillas is gem of this entire adventure.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is in a steep topography with several highlands that compose Volcanoes National park. The terrain of Volcanoes National Park is composed of several highlands including five of the six Virunga Volcanoes that is Mountain Bisoke, Muhavura, Karisimbi, Sabyinyo and Gahinga.
One needs to bear some level of fitness to enjoy the entire gorilla trekking adventure in Rwanda.
To protect your body from the possible rough surfaces in the jungle, wear long sleeved shirt and trousers in wilderness friendly colors other than camouflage.
Why Do Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
The mountain gorillas of Rwanda are some of the few left in the world as they are currently residents of only three countries in the world Rwanda, Uganda and D.R. Congo. A few tourists have the chance of participating in gorilla trekking each year.
When you purchase a gorilla permit, you contribute to the conservation fund that supports the survival of these endangered primates.
Porters can be hired during gorilla trekking in Rwanda and these are from the communities around Volcanoes National Park. In case you wish to support communities close to Volcanoes National Park, you can do so by hiring a porter. They use the money collected to support the running of their daily life.
Volcanoes National Park is home to other inhabitants which may be hard to see else where but you can spot them along the when searching for these primates including monkeys, birds and more. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is the most convenient for tourist in transit because of how close the distance from Volcanoes National Park to Kigali international airport is.
