Volcanoes National Park is the only place in Rwanda to encounter the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats. This park is under the Virunga conservation area that encircles Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park of Uganda. Volcanoes National Park stretches for over 160 square kilometers in the northwestern region of Rwanda. Before gorilla trekking visitors are briefed and grouped in groups of 8 people and each group is assigned a gorilla family to trek. There are about 15 mountain gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park and the Urwego gorilla group is one of them.
Urwego gorilla family
The Urwego gorilla family is unique in Volcanoes National Park because it is the only family led by a blackback. This Urwego group is quite new in the park as it was formed in 2023. A blackback named Urwego came to the stoplight when his desire to lead a family outgrew his age and right before he matured into a silverback fulfilled his dream. The Urwego gorilla family was once part of the Kwitonda group, however, that changed on the 20th of April 2023 when it split. Right from a young age, Urwego showed great leadership, and in 2023 as a blackback made a record when he split from the Kwitonda group with 8 members. However, that was half the struggle as he was now tasked to defend the family from the intruding big silverbacks. Urwego has then stood the test and protected the family and is now slowly growing into a silverback.
What is the best time for trekking mountain gorillas in Rwanda?
Gorilla trekking is the major activity in the Volcanoes National Park. This activity involves traversing through the dense vegetation cover of the park to the natural habitat of the endangered mountain gorillas. Rwanda has a tropical type of climate and thus receives two dry and wet seasons throughout the year. The dry season is often experienced from June to September and December to February. This period is characterized by humid temperatures with little or no rainfall. Therefore this is the best gorilla trekking period since this activity involves walking through the forest canopies. During this period the trekking trails are dry and the vegetation is sparse making spotting these endangered mountain gorillas very easy.
How to obtain a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda?
Thinking of gorilla trekking to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, well you need a gorilla trekking permit. This gorilla trekking permit is a document that allows you access to trek the primates. Obtaining this gorilla trekking permit is only through a trusted local tour operator who will purchase the permit for you from the Rwanda Development Board. The tour operator can also organize your entire trip and suggest other places and destinations to visit. Gorilla trekking is a highly anticipated activity by many visitors thus it is advisable to always book your permit three months before the tracking date.
How much does it cost to trek gorillas in Volcanoes National Park?
Trekking mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is not a walk in the park but rather requires a certain fee. This fee is issued by the Rwanda Development Board a bodge responsible for managing and maintaining all the protected areas of Rwanda. Each cost a visitor pays to encounter the mountain gorillas goes to the conservation and protection efforts. A fraction of this payment also helps in running the park like paying the game rangers and a certain percentage is put to develop the communities around the park. This is a way of giving back to the community and encouraging them to foster conservation efforts.
The cost of gorilla trekking permits varies from region to nationality of the visitor. Foreign non-resident visitors pay USD 1500, foreign residents USD 500, and East African citizens including Rwandans pay USD 200.
What to pack for a gorilla trekking adventure in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park?
When preparing for a gorilla trekking adventure in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, it is important to pack the essential materials to use for this adventure. Below are some of these essential items to pack.
- First aid box
- Hiking boots
- Insect repellent
- Long-sleeved shirt and jungle trousers
- Waterproof jacket or raincoat
- Reusable water bottle
- Camera with enough battery
- Extra money for tips
- Energy-giving snacks
- A hat
- Binoculars
- Accessories like sunscreen and sunglasses
