Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National park
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is Rwanda’s best primate safari destination on a Rwanda safari, the park is also known as Parc National des Valcans in French. Volcanoes National Park is located in the northwestern part of Rwanda is a small town known as Musanze that is formerly known as Ruhengeri. Volcanoes National Park is Rwanda’s oldest national park in Africa that is a home to the endangered mountain gorillas of Rwanda and these brings various tourists to the country to do gorilla trekking. Volcanoes National Park borders Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo, and then Mgahinga Gorilla national park in the South-western in Uganda, the park covers an area of about 160 km squared with the rainforest and the bamboo. Minus the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes national park is a home the endangered golden monkeys, and other mammal species like buffaloes, hyenas, bushbucks and among others and various bird species like Archer’s ground robin, Rwenzori double collared sunbird, Red-faced woodland warbler and among many others . Volcanoes National Park also is a home to the five of the eight volcanoes of the Virunga Mountains that includes Mount Bisoke, Mount Karisimbi, Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Sabyinyo. Volcanoes National Park is known as a home of American zoologist Dian Fossey, a lady that turned out to be a passionate about Gorilla conservation that her woks are still living up to date.
Gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes National Park.
Volcanoes National Park is a home of about 12 habituated gorilla families that are ready for the tourists to do during gorilla trekking; Gorilla trekking starts very early in the morning at the park headquarters with the briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during gorilla trekking by the park guides and park rangers and the expectations. After the briefing, you will be sub-divided into groups of 8 members per group and later each group will be provided with the experienced guides and rangers. You will start trekking in the jungle to look for the mountain gorillas, this takes a period of about 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on where the mountain gorillas are located because these gentle giants like to move from place to place in search of food. Along the way while looking for the mountain gorillas, you will have the chance to view other wildlife species like mammals, bird species and other primates, and once you find the mountain gorillas, you will be given a period of one hour to be in the presence of the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat where you will witness the gorillas doing their activities like watching them play, breastfeed, female mothers grooming their young ones, taking their photos and recording their videos. After the experience of one hour you will return back to the starting point where you will rewarded with the gorilla trekking certificates for taking part in gorilla trekking safaris.
Gorilla trekking permits in Volcanoes National Park.
Gorilla trekking permits are legal cards or documents that are issued to the travelers that are above the age of 15 years that allows them to visit the mountain gorillas and spend one hour with them in their natural habitat;
Gorilla trekking permits in Volcanoes National Park cost 1500 USD per person for the gorilla trekkers that is valid for 24 hours that includes one hour with the mountain gorillas, service of an experienced park guide, services of armed park rangers to ensure security during gorilla trekking, park entrance fees. The Gorilla trekking permits in the park can either be booked in two ways that is either Rwanda Development Board (RDB) where you will contact the park offices in Kigali through the email or telephone calls. Also on the other the gorilla trekking permits in the park can be booked through a trusted tour operator like African Vacation Safaris where you will contact us with the date, month and the year when you want to do mountain gorilla trekking. After contacting us, we will check for the permit available on your preferred dates from Rwanda Development Board and if there are permits available, you will therefore be asked to make a deposit for the gorilla trekking permit. And once the payment has been made, we will be able to get the permit on your behalf and we shall send you a scanned copy of the receipt as a confirmation.
Booking a gorilla trekking permit in Volcanoes National Park through African Vacation Safaris is the perfect option to go with; that is we will not only acquire your gorilla trekking permits on your behalf but we shall also plan for your entire safari that includes the accommodation to where you will staying during the safari, transport, meals, service of the full time English speaking driver guide, safari vehicle and among others.
When to book gorilla trekking permits in Volcanoes National Park.
Gorilla trekking permits in Volcanoes National Park can be booked at least 3 to 6 months in advance before the actual date of gorilla trekking especially during peak season or high season during the months June, July, August, September, December, January and February that’s when the permits are very competitive and they usually get sold first and so to avoid the last minute disappointments, so kindly you are advised to book early in advance.
What to pack for gorilla trekking safari in Volcanoes National Park.
While preparing yourself for stunning gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park you are advised to consider and pack the essential number of the items and these includes long sleeved shirt and trouser, garden gloves, insect repellent, waterproof rain jacket, energy snacks and energy drinks, warm sweater, camera and extra batteries, a pair of binoculars, long cotton socks, walking sticks, facemasks and among many others.
Best time to go for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park can be done at any time of the year; though the best time to do gorilla trekking is the dry season or peak season in months of January and February June, July, August, September, and December. The dry season receives less amounts of rainfall in the park, the gorilla trekking trails will be dry and passable which makes gorilla trekking very easy compared to rainy season when the trails are slippery and muddy that makes gorilla trekking difficult.
How to get to Volcanoes National Park.
Volcanoes National Park is situated in the northwestern part of Rwanda and the park can be very accessed by the road transport from Kigali International Airport to the park headquarters which takes about 2 hours’ drive.
