Guide to Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda – Rwanda Parks
Guide to gorilla trekking in Rwanda helps you plan your safari to avoid making mistakes. Know what to carry, what is required & best time to book a gorilla trip
Rwanda is one of the three countries in the whole world with mountain gorillas which live in high altitude tropical montane forested volcanoes national park that make up part of the great Virunga conservation area. Seeing mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is a highlight of any adventure holiday in Rwanda.
There are less than 900 mountain gorillas left on planet earth in border areas of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic republic of Congo. Half of these (400) live in Bwindi impenetrable forests of southwestern Uganda, a popular destination for gorilla trekking.
In Rwanda, more than 250 mountain gorillas are estimated to be living between 2,500 to 4,500 meters above sea level in the lush tropical montane forests and extensive tracts of bamboo forests in volcanoes national park in the northwest of the country. Vegetation in the park is more open due to bamboo allowing much light giving it a great deal for crystal clear photographs and less thick under growth make it easier to trek through than the Bwindi.
Gorilla numbers dwindled during the 1994 genocide and civil wars in eastern DRC due to poaching and killing for bush meat, encroachment and habitat destruction. Likewise tourists could not visit the park until 1999 when volcanoes national park was reopened for gorilla trekking with the new reformed conservation policies, ranger monitoring and community education campaigns saw the increase in mountain gorilla population in Rwanda for the last 2 decades. In addition the gorilla naming ceremony has boosted gorilla tourism as well as gorilla tracking safaris in Rwanda leading to strengthened conservation.
Today Rwanda’s volcanoes national park stands out as a model eco-tourism destination and famed to be a research base ground for the late Dian Fossey who pioneered conservation of these rare primates and laid foundation for what would be gorilla tourism allowing few tourists to visit the gorillas by purchasing a gorilla permit that in turn generates revenues used to maintain and conserve wildlife in the park as well as fund community development especially giving people alternative sources of income other than depending on natural resources.
Gorilla tracking in volcanoes national park Rwanda
Volcanoes national park occupies 120 sq km situated in Musanze district northwest of Rwanda is a home an estimated 250 gorillas that live in high altitude forested volcanic mountains offers the best experience of tracking in a natural habitat of montane forests tangled with lush bamboo forests mixed with savannahs and swamps.
Gorilla trekking is the main tourist activity in the park although there is a diversity of other activities such as birding, wildlife viewing, volcano climbing. Other critically endangered primates such as the golden monkeys live in the bamboo slopes as well as mammals such as duikers, worth hogs, forest elephants, buffalos and more than 200 species of birds including the Albertine rift endemics.
There are 10 groups of habituated mountain gorillas meant for tourists which can be seen only with the help of experienced Rwandan development board guides to a limited number of 8 people. Gorilla trekking means you have to walk on foot for hours before you encounter gorillas and this gives an impression that gorilla trekkers must be well prepared for the activity in terms of health and fitness because rainforest conditions are characterized by frequent rains, thorny vegetation, stinging nettles, walking over steep slippery ridges hence it does not require you to be sleazy in any way.
Most people think gorillas could be dangerous which surprisingly not the case is because these primates have been habituated for years and are accustomed to human beings despite being wild animals. Tourists can view gorillas at a close range provided you do not act in a way that threatens their daily life activities such as touching or running after gorillas.
From Kigali on the way to gorillas in volcanoes are green terraced rolling hills scenically beautiful and good for breathtaking and photography up to kinigi the main visitor tracking center where you will meet your guides as they take you through the gorilla tracking rules and regulations which will get you ready to meet gorillas.
Note, however, tourists are advised to stay in accommodations near the main tracking point because tracking commences very early in the morning at 07:00 am.
All tourists above the age of 15 can trek gorillas provided you have booked a permit