Volcanoes National Park Rwanda | Gorilla Tracking Trekking | Lodges-Sabyinyo, Gorilla Nest

Volcanoes National Park Rwanda | Gorilla Tracking Trekking | Lodges-Sabyinyo, Gorilla Nest.

Volcanoes National Park is part of the bigger Virunga (Birunga) Conservation area which includes Mgahinga and Virunga National Parks in Uganda and DR Congo respectively. These three parks are the home of Mountain gorillas. The history of Volcanoes National Park (Parc des Volcans) dates back to 1925 when a small triangle between Karisimbi, Bisoke and Mikeno was set aside to protect the Mountain Gorillas. Boundaries were later extended into Rwanda and DR. Congo (Zaire) to form the bigger Albert National Park.

Volcanoes was the first National Park in Africa. The park is famous for Mountain Gorilla tracking and its golden Monkeys. A good gorilla trekking safari experience takes minimum four days ( See Gorilla Tracking Volcanoes National Park 4 days Safari ) with two gorilla treks. The safari can be combined with visits to the nearby Lakes Burera, Ruhondo, Kivu and the local villagers. The gorilla safari can also be combined with chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park. ( See 8 Days Great Primates Expedition).

Gorilla Tracking Rwanda | Trekking Encounter With Gorillas | Dos And Don’ts

Gorilla Tracking Rwanda: Encounter Dos and Don’ts

Encounter with the Gorillas has been described as thrilling, evocative and even emotional. The only advice we can offer you is to try it yourself. The silverbacks are enormous. Young gorillas are a bit adventurous and may come to touching distance of individual trackers. They are particularly attracted to bright colours like yellow. In that case avoid them.

1. Gorilla tracking in Rwanda – Submissiveness

When you encounter gorillas, you are required to portray total submissiveness. Do not look at them straight in the eyes and avoid standing over them. If the male gorilla charge at you, crouch down. Gorillas have freedom of way. Do not drum your chest. Do not shout, talk in whispers. The guides will advice on how to behave on encounter. Always follow the instructions from the guides.

2. Rwanda Gorilla Tracking/ Gorilla Photography/Photograhic Safaris.

Flash photography is prohibited. Tourists are allowed normal photography and filming for domestic use. Special Photographic and filming safaris may be organized for particular groups. These will include those who want to film specifically for commercial use and documentaries. These will require accreditation cards unlike normal tourists.

3. Health of the Gorillas

There are currently approximately 700 mountain gorillas in the wild. Thus these animals are classified as endangered species. Gorilla tracking if unchecked can endager the life of gorillas. Gorilla tracking in Rwanda is restricted to 8 persons per day per group. That makes a total of 56 permits per day.

• Avoid tracking gorillas if you suffer from contagious disease. In case you develop a sever case of flu, your money will be fully refunded if you make this known in advance. However if you attempt to track and fail for whatever reason, or if the guides discover that you cannot track due to disease, you do not qualify for any refund.
• Do not sneeze towards them
• Do not spit in the forest or defecate carelessly. If you need to the guides will help you with a matchet to dig a hole to bury your waste.

4. Environmental consciousness

Gorilla tracking is a clean activity. Leave only your steps in the national park. Do not litter and if you spot any litter, collect it and take it down with you.

5. Tracking gorilla in Rwanda and Uganda- Gorilla Hiking and Trekking facts

How hard should one prepare for gorilla tracking in Rwanda? The facts below will help you to answer this question.

• Rwanda Gorilla trekking Safaris takes place at altitudes of 3000 metres-this means that moderate/ average physical fitness is what is necessary and not athletic fitness.
• Trekking, hiking and Tracking safaris are conducted by patient, qualified and knowledgeable ranger guides with wide experience in natural history with particular attention to gorilla behaviour
• Gorilla tracking safaris is conducted at a moderate pace with plenty of stops for resting, fielding questions further briefs etc. Competitive hiking is discouraged as the aim of the guides, porters and rangers is for all the group members to make it to the gorillas and back to the base. Believe it or not, the slowest hiker/ trekker will determine the pace of the trek.

6. Eating while tracking gorillas

You can carry your picnic but do not eat in the vicinity of the gorillas.

7. Chest beating

Please do not imitate the male ( Silver-backs) gorilla chest beating. The silver-back may take that as a challenge and charge after you which can result in severe injuries. Though charging has not been reported for a long, long time please avoid any provocation as you will come out second best.

8. Age Limit: Only people of 15 years and above can track gorillas. However young children can engage in other activities in volcanoes like tracking golden monkeys.

Book your 4 days 3 nights Rwanda gorilla tracking safari Contact R&N Xplorer Africa Safaris Tel: +254 723 684 974 email: rnxploresafaris@gmail.com

Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tracking Safari-When To Book Or Buy Permit

“Gorilla permits are always in short supply.  Do not waste time. Decide on tracking dates and pay a deposit for your permits”.

Gorilla tracking in Rwanda takes place every day, 365 days in a year.  Tracking, trekking and hiking takes place in Volcanoes National Park (Parc Nationale des Volcans) from Kinigi Park headquarters.  Trekking takes from 4-8 hrs.  Any person of average fitness can track gorillas.   Each day, there are a minimum of 64 gorilla permits available.  Permits available daily depend on the groups available for tracking. By statistics, six (8) families are permanently settled in Rwanda.  Sometimes these are joined by a migratory group from Uganda thus making more permits available.

Many people ask the question,“When do I book my gorilla tracking permit?”  Alternatively what is the earliest date to buy a gorilla permit?

These questions are best answered by another question, “When do you intend to track? Which month?” – January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November or December?

By statistics, the months of June, July, August, September are high season.  To get a permits in these months is difficult and sometimes impossible hence for those intending to track these months book as early as possible.  Early as possible means even a year in advance.  You can try your luck latest 6 months in advance.   For the other months, book earliest 6 months in advance and latest 4 months in advance.

This does not mean you cannot get a permit a day in advance.  You can always try your luck any time.

Valuable links

• Book 4 days 3 nights gorilla tracking safari
• Gorilla trekking rules and regulations, dos and don’ts
• Gorilla tracking, hiking trekking accommodation lodges, hotels
• Car hire in Kigali Rwanda
• Chimpanzee and gorilla tracking 8 days