Booking a gorilla trekking tour in Rwanda can only be done through a registered tour company like Standard Safaris. Booking a gorilla trekking tour in Rwanda is quite simple and reliable if it is done by an experienced tour company, as it enables the visitors to obtain their permits for gorilla trekking in advance. Gorilla trekking is the major tourist activity in Rwanda, and it involves moving through the dense canopies of tropical rainforests looking for the endangered mountain gorillas and spending an hour in their presence. This is quite a challenging experience, but it is all worth the sweat after encountering their primate giants in their natural habitats.
Standard Safaris, a company that has gained its name in crafting the best gorilla trekking tour packages, can handle your booking for a gorilla trekking tour in Rwanda with care and class. Encountering these mountain gorillas is only possible with the purchase of a gorilla trekking permit. A gorilla trekking permit is a document that grants visitors a once-in-a-lifetime moment in the presence of the world’s largest and most endangered primate species, the mountain gorillas. Booking this gorilla trekking permit is best done in advance, at least 3 months before the trekking date. This is because the gorilla trekking adventure is a very demanding experience and often the permits a booked out since only 96 permits are available per day.
All gorilla trekking permits are booked through a registered tour company like Standard Safaris that purchases the permits from the Rwanda Development Board on your behave. As mentioned, the permits should be booked and paid for 100% before the trekking date in 3 months. The Rwanda Development Board is the government body in charge of most of the protected areas in the country.
Where to encounter mountain gorillas in Rwanda?
Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is among the very few destinations in the world that harbor the endangered mountain gorillas. This ideal spot in Rwanda is the perfect and only protected area that offers gorilla trekking experiences. Volcanoes National Park is located in the northern region of the country. It falls under the Virunga Conservation Area together with several other national parks from other countries, like Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks.
Volcanoes National Park hosts over 300 mountain gorilla individuals with 10 habituated gorilla families ready to be trekked. Among the oldest parks in the region, Volcanoes National Park was established in 1926 during the reign of the Belgian government. Its capacity for gorilla trekking became more vivid during the time of Dian Fossey’s stay in the park. She was termed the mother of gorillas due to her strong contribution to the conservation efforts of mountain gorillas. She was the first to trek mountain gorillas in the park after she had introduced it. Visitors can now embark on this incredible experience and enjoy an hour with the mountain gorillas.
What is the cost of a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda?
A gorilla trekking permit price is relative to nationality and the region where the visitors originate. A foreign non-resident gorilla permit costs USD 1,500, a foreign resident and East African citizen costs USD 500, and then USD 200 for a Rwandan citizen. These costs help in maintaining and running the gorilla destination in Rwanda and also contribute significantly to the conservation efforts. These efforts give up to 10% of every gorilla trekking permit purchased, and this percentage also helps in developing the neighboring communities around the parks.
When is the best time to track mountain gorillas in Rwanda?
Mountain gorillas in Rwanda are best trekked during the dry months of the year, though the park is open for visiting any time of the year. This is from June to September and December to February. Rwanda, like most of the other countries in this region, receives an equatorial type of climate given its proximity to the equator. This means that the country receives two dry and wet seasons annually. Gorilla trekking takes place in the dense tropical rainforests of Volcanoes National Park therefore, the dry season presents ideal conditions for this activity. During the dry season, the park has dry trekking trails due to limited rain, thus enabling the visitors to manoeuvre through the park with ease. The little rainfall received during this season also has an effect on the vegetation by keeping it sparse, thus offering clear and uninterrupted views of the mountain gorillas.
However, the wet season experienced from March to May and October to November, can also be used for gorilla trekking. Although this wet season offers challenging conditions of heavy rains that soak the trekking trails and the growth of dense vegetation, it is easier to track the mountain gorillas down. This is because they don’t move longer distances, as they usually circle in one area for warmth, and also, there is plenty of food around them, and they don’t have to move. This ensures that the visitors can trek the mountain gorillas for short periods.
