Rwanda in East Africa, is one of the best places to see gorillas in the wild. Like many countries along or near the equator, Rwanda experiences relatively consistent temperatures annually with slight variations. This causes it not to have distinct seasons like those in regions with more pronounced temperature changes. Therefore, Rwanda has generally two main seasons the dry season and the wet season. The dry season is usually in the months of June to September and December to February. The rainy season usually occurs in the months of March to May and from October to November.
During the dry season, Rwanda’s weather is warmer with relatively less rainfall compared to the wet season. This makes the dry season a popular time for tourists to visit Rwanda for activities like gorilla trekking safaris at Volcanoes National Park. In the United States and Europe, summer usually falls in the months of June to August during which the regions experience warm temperatures. Therefore, during Rwanda’s dry season which corresponds with the summer period in the Northern Hemisphere, the weather is generally warmer and with relatively less rainfall. This makes it an ideal time for actively engaging in gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park since the gorilla trails are drier and more accessible. The chances of sighting the gorillas in Volcanoes National Park is also higher since the forest vegetation is less dense.
Gorilla trekking safaris at Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is located within the Virunga region and covers about 160 square kilometers of land. This is the only place in Rwanda where you can find the endangered mountain gorillas in the wild. There are over 380 mountain gorillas and at least 10 habituated gorilla families available for gorilla trekking safaris throughout the year. Volcanoes National Park is almost 109 kilometers on the road from Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda.
Gorilla trekking safaris at Volcanoes National Park must commence with an early morning briefing session at the park headquarters. Here, visitors are divided into groups of 8 individuals, and each group is assigned to a habituated gorilla family. Afterward, the visitors are led through the jungle by experienced trackers and armed rangers. The hiking adventure could vary from an hour to even 4 hours, depending on the location of the particular gorilla family. Once the mountain gorillas are encountered, the visitors are allowed up to an hour in their presence. This ensures that you can observe their behaviors in the wild while capturing beautiful pictures. After the experience, the visitors return to the park headquarters where they are each awarded a certificate of participation.
Rules for successful gorilla trekking safaris in Volcanoes National Park
While planning your summer gorilla trekking safari to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, kindly consider the trekking rules and regulations established by the Rwanda Development Board. These are meant to ensure the conservation of the mountain gorillas and their ecosystem. These include the following.
All visitors must be divided into groups of 8 individuals and each group is assigned only one gorilla family to locate. This is done to avoid overwhelming the mountain gorillas while also reducing the chances of spreading disease to the mountain gorillas.
While hiking to locate the mountain gorillas, you must not make noise. This can be done by talking at low pitch, turning off your phone as well as limiting abrupt movements.
After encountering the mountain gorillas, all visitors should ensure to maintain a safe distance of at least 7 meters from the mountain gorillas. This distance allows the mountain gorillas to feel comfortable and less threatened. This also prevents infections from humans to the mountain gorillas.
Trekkers are allowed only up to an hour with the mountain gorillas, and this can be reduced in case the gorillas show signs of discomfort.
Taking photographs while with the mountain gorillas is prohibited.
Do not consume your snacks or picnic lunch in front of the mountain gorillas.
If you fall sick on your safari, please do not engage in gorilla trekking. Also, for those prone to sneezing or coughing, cover your nose and mouth while around gorillas. You can also turn away from the gorillas while doing it.
Purchasing a gorilla permit in Rwanda
Since your summer holidays coincide with the best time to go for a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda it is imperative to plan months earlier. This implies that if you wish to enjoy your gorilla trekking adventure in the months of June to September in Rwanda do pre-booking. This requires that you book a gorilla trekking permit that is issued by the Rwanda Development Board.
The Board issues about 96 gorilla permits per day and since they are competitive, advanced bookings are necessary. The gorilla permit is the sole document that allows you to legally track the endangered mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. The cost of a gorilla permit per person per day is USD 1,500 for a foreign non-resident, USD 500 for an African citizen or resident, and USD 200 for a citizen within the East African Community.
Purchasing a gorilla permit can only be done through a reputable and registered tour company. After purchasing your gorilla permit, a copy will be sent to you. Note that last-minute gorilla permits are not possible and you might miss out on your adventure if you wait until the summer.
