Rwanda Gorilla trekking – Rwanda Safaris
Encounter the endangered mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park in Northern Rwanda. We offer small group gorilla trekking expeditions into the Virunga Volcanoes that make Rwanda, the land thousand hills. The adventure is among the amazing and beautiful experiences one shouldn’t miss out since it creates the most lifetime memories as you set your eyes on the playful apes for the first time. A mountain gorilla is one of the two subspecies of the eastern gorillas and it is among the descendants of ancestral monkeys and apes and are mostly found in the African continent.
These apes have unique features including the thick and longer fur and this allows them to live in colder temperatures. The hair at the back of these apes is shorter than that on other body parts and that on their arms is longer. They inhabit the Albertine Rift montane cloud forests including the Virunga Mountains.
How is the Gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda
In the Republic of Rwanda, gorilla trekking experience takes place in Volcanoes National Park. The park is well known for setting the famous ‘’Gorillas in the Mist’’ movie which was about the primatologist Dian Fossey who played a great role in the conservation of mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. The park is positioned in the northwestern direction of the country – Rwanda occupying an area of about 160 square kilometers of rain forests. Aside the rain forests, Volcanoes national park hosts five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains including Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo.
Volcanoes national park is a home to 15 gorilla families that are open for tourism activities such as gorilla trekking experience.
Among these groups/families include; Amahoro gorilla group, Hirwa gorilla group, Sabyinyo gorilla group, Kwitonda gorilla group, Group 13/ Agashya group, Umubano gorilla family, Ugenda gorilla group, Susa A group, Susa B group, Karisimbi group, Titus group, Bwenge gorilla group and many others. The gorilla trekking experience involves hiking through the rainforests of the park in search of the endangered species and it starts with a briefing from the park ranger guides at the park headquarters where all the trekkers are gathered. After the briefing, you are allocated to different gorilla families by the lead of a ranger guide. Once they are found, the trekker is allowed to spend an hour in their presence as he/she enjoys their daily life practices like breastfeeding, playing, feeding and others.
Cost of Gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda
For one to take part in the trekking experience, he or she must possess a gorilla permit which costs $1500 for the non-resident foreigners. The permits can be obtained from Rwanda Development Board or through any trustworthy tour operators.
Gorilla families in Volcanoes national park
Volcanoes national park is known for protecting about 15 gorilla families/groups that are open for tourism purposes. Of the protected apes, some are habituated while others are non-habituated and among these groups include the following;
Amahoro gorilla group
The word Amahoro means peaceful and this group is led by the Calm Ubumwe. To access this group, one has to endure a steep climb to their territory since they reside uphill.
Hirwa gorilla group
This group was emerged from other groups including group 13, Susa and Sabyinyo. This came after Munyinya the silverback leaving Susa and then got others along the way thus forming another group.
Sabyinyo gorilla group
The group was named after one of the volcanoes – Sabyinyo and it is led by Guhonda. The group mainly favors those people who can’t track long distances since it is closest to the park headquarters.
Kwitonda gorilla group
The name Kwitonda means humble one and the group is led by the silverback Kwitonda. The group migrated from Democratic Republic of Congo and then permanently settled in Rwanda.
Group 13/ Agashya group
During the habituation, this group had only 13 mountain gorillas and thus its name. The group is led by a silverback Agashya and it currently hosts 25 members.
Umubano gorilla family
The name Umubano means living together. It is led by a silverback Charles who was a member of Amahoro gorilla group before a broke off to form this group.
Ugenda gorilla group
This group was named after its unique ways of moving from place to place around Karisimbi area
Susa A group
This is the largest mountain gorilla group in Volcanoes national park with 41 gorillas. This is the group which was studied by Dian Fossey and it is mainly known for having the rare twins of Byishimo and Impano. It is somehow difficult to trek this family since it ranges in the high mountains.
Susa B group, Karisimbi group
This group split from Susa A group and it has two silverbacks. It is one of the hardest groups to trek in the park since it is located on the upper slopes of Mt. Karisimbi
Titus group
This group was named after the silverback called Titus which was born during the days of Dian Fossey’s research
Bwenge gorilla group
The group was formed by silverback Bwenge who broke off with females from other groups. The name Bwenge is translated as Wisdom and it mainly occupies the slopes between Karisimbi and Bisoke mountains.
What to carry for an amazing gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda.
- Carry drinking water to help out in the hiking process
- Carry a rain gear
- Carry hiking boots
- Recommended clothes – long sleeved sweaters and shirts, long trousers, and these are needed especially in the forests to avoid un necessary scratches and bites
- One with communicable diseases like flue and cough won’t be allowed to trek the gorillas
- Photography is allowed in case you don’t use a flash
Best time to visit Rwanda for gorilla trekking experience
The republic of Rwanda can be visited anytime round for gorilla trekking experience but the most suitable time is during the dry season which stands in the months of June to September. This is because the jungle is neither muddy nor slippery during these months.
Besides gorilla trekking experience, there are other activities that can be done in Volcanoes national park and among these include bird watching, golden monkey trekking, nature walking and community visit.
