Rwanda stands out from the rest of the African countries as the host of a variety of tourist attractions with mountain gorillas as the key highlight. It is important to note that Rwanda is among the three countries in the world that host the remaining population of the endangered mountain gorillas.
The country harbours mountain gorillas in her forest in the mountainous Volcanoes National Park. The mountain gorillas can be observed by travellers of all origins as long as one fulfils the prerequisites of the activity.
Rwanda hosts 459 mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park with 13 fully habituated families ready to be visited by travellers seeking adventure with the gentle giants in their natural habitat that they have inhibited since their existence.
Volcanoes National Park.
Volcanoes National Park stands out from the rest of the national parks in Rwanda as the only conservation area with mountain gorillas which partly explains why it is flocked by thousands of visitors every year and is arguably the most visited in the country.
Volcanoes National Park spans an area of approximately 160 square kilometres in the northern part of Rwanda. It is home to five of the 8 Virunga mountain ranges that are covered by thick tropical rainforests and Savannah Woodlands which form a favourable habitat for the endangered mountain gorillas.
Volcanoes National Park hosts 13 gorilla families that are to say Sabyinyo, Susa, Karisimbi, Umubano, Amahoro, Kwitonda, Hirwa, Bwenge, Agashya, Ugyenda, Muhoza, Titus and Isimbi. All these families have interesting facts about them and are fully habituated hence can be accessed by tourists when they visit. It is however important to note that each permit allows you to visit only one gorilla family.
Volcanoes National Park is a unique place due to the diversity of flora and fauna species it is associated with. This further makes it a favourable place for several adventures for nature lovers.
Volcanoes also give the most exciting gorilla trekking adventures, especially the fact that visitors have the opportunity to hike through the breathtaking Virunga ranges unveiling the beautiful views of the towering ranges as they connect with the clouds. Such moments are good for photography and sightseeing which thus makes the gorilla safari worthwhile.
The procedure of booking Rwanda gorilla permits.
Booking Rwanda gorilla permits takes easy steps and does not consume a lot of the traveller’s time. This is because the activities of booking can be done through registered tour operators who help the traveller book and acquire the gorilla trekking permits in the shortest time possible.
The traveller makes payment to a registered tour operator who goes ahead to check for availability of space to trek on the favourable dates of the traveller, makes payment and acquires the permit from the authorities. Tour operators do the boring official work so the travellers do not have to since they are well conversant with the systems in place.
It is important to note that the Rwanda gorilla trekking permits cost a non-negotiable fee of $1500 per person per trek. The permit is presented to the authorities on the day of trekking for verification just before the traveller is allowed into the jungle to meet the exciting mountain gorillas.
When to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
The dry seasons are the best moments for travellers to indulge in the exciting gorilla trekking adventures in Rwanda. The dry seasons are characterized by low rainfall and steady grounds, unlike the slippery grounds in the wet seasons. Visitors can therefore traverse through the thick rainforests and the mountainous terrain with fewer interruptions.
The dry seasons in Rwanda are categorized into two that is to say the short dry season which runs from December to early February and the long dry season which runs from early June to late September.
It is however important to note that the gorilla trekking activity can be done all year round as the National Park is always open and ready to receive visitors.
