Unforgettable Rwanda Safari Tours – Experience Gorilla Trekking Tours & Vacation Trips

Rwanda Safari Tours and Holidays: A Comprehensive Guide to Booking Gorilla Trekking Safaris

Rwanda is a country found in the east region of Africa a few kilometers south of the equator. It is boarded by Uganda, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi. This country is elevated with savannah vegetation in the east, numerous lakes and mountains in the west.

Rwanda is among the top tourist destinations in Africa despite its small size. It is endowed with diverse wildlife, physical features, culture and tradition that have pulled tourists across the globe to flood the country. In the various tourist destinations in Rwanda, there are a number of activities that one can engage in.

The main honey pot for Rwanda is gorilla trekking, as this is one main tourist activity that tourists come to participate in. Volcanoes national park is the only destination in Rwanda where a tourist can participate in gorilla trekking activity.

Volcanoes national park is among the three national parks in Rwanda. This park is located in the north western region of Rwanda; this park encompasses five of the Virunga chain mountains namely, Bisoke, Karisimbi, Muhabura, Sabinyo and Gahinga.

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is one of the main activities besides golden monkey trekking, Dian fossey hike, cultural encounter with the Ibiywacu community, musanze caves hike, birding among others.

Before encountering the gorilla trekking activity in volcanoes national park, a tourist is required to possess a gorilla permit before the actual date of trekking. A gorilla permit in Rwanda can be booked through a travel agent, tour operator or one can book direct at the Rwanda development board offices in Kigali.

The trekking permit for gorilla trekking costs $1500 per person for local residents, foreign non-residents and foreign residents. There are special discounts to specific groups of people according to their interests for the gorilla trekking activity.

For gorilla trekking in Rwanda, about 80 gorilla permits are issued in a day for tourists to trek the 12 habituated gorilla families in the park; these include Susa, Karisimbi, Amahoro, Sabinyo, Agashya, Umubano, Hirwa, Kwitonda, Ugenda and Bwenge, etc.

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park begins as early as 7:00am with a briefing at Kinigi – the park ranger headquarters, about the do’s and don’ts’s while trekking the beautiful mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Trekking starts off at 8:00 am with a guide who will lead through to a particular gorilla family.

A group of only 8 individuals is allowed to trek a particular gorilla family and spend only one hour with the beautiful mountain gorillas. Each individual who is to trek the adorable primates is supposed to be 15 years above and in proper health conditions, for the trek involves hiking steep slopes of the forest for 2 to 6 hours in search of the gorilla species.

The gorilla trekking activity is an experience like no other as you witness the interesting livelihoods of the mountain gorillas as they play, groom, fight, wrestle and feed on the forest produce. You will allow be taking pictures and videos to keep all the good memories with the mountain gorillas.

During gorilla trekking you will also encounter more resident primate species such golden monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, owl faced monkeys, Colobus species among others.

Best Time for Gorilla Trekking

The best time for gorilla trekking in Rwanda is during the months of January, February, July, June, August, September and December. These months are favorable for trekking activity due to the low rains; though during such times demand for the gorilla permits is high.

Volcanoes national park can be accessed by a well maintained tarmac road or a drop off at the nearby airstrip in Kinigi for high end travelers.

Accommodation

During gorilla trekking in the park, a tourist shouldn’t be worried about where to sleep for the park has well-constructed accommodation facilities ranging from budget (hotel Muhabura, Kinigi guest house, villa gorilla) midrange (La Palme hotel, Le Bambou gorilla lodge, Garr hotel) to luxury (mount gorilla view lodge, Bisate lodge, Virunga lodge).

Gorilla trekking is one activity that you shouldn’t miss on your safari to Rwanda for it avails to you an ultimate primate experience like nowhere else in the world.