How to end your safari in Namibia with a Gorilla trek in Rwanda

How to end your safari in Namibia with a Gorilla trek in Rwanda. Ending a Namibian safari with a gorilla trek in Rwanda is an exciting combination that blends Namibia’s desert landscapes and wildlife with Rwanda’s lush rainforests and mountain gorillas. Here’s a step-by-step guide to organize this trip through Eco Adventure Safaris a Rwandan local tour operator.

1. Finish Your Namibian Safari

• Popular Destinations in Namibia: Most travelers end their safari in Namibia in Windhoek, the capital, after visiting highlights like Etosha National Park, Sossusvlei, Damaraland, and the Skeleton Coast.
• Ensure Proper Timing: Wrap up your Namibian safari at least a day before your planned flight to Rwanda, allowing for flexibility in travel.

2. Travel from Namibia to Rwanda

• Flights:
  • Fly from Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) to Kigali International Airport (KGL).
  • Common connections include stops in Johannesburg (South Africa) or Addis Ababa (Ethiopia).
  • Total travel time, including layovers, can range from 8 to 14 hours.

3. Arrive in Kigali, Rwanda

• Spend your first night in Kigali to rest and prepare for the gorilla trek.
• Optional activities in Kigali:
  • Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
  • Explore local markets or take a city tour.

4. Head to Volcanoes National Park

• Drive: The journey from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park takes about 2-3 hours.
• Accommodation: Choose a lodge near the park, such as Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Bisate Lodge, or budget options like Kinigi Guesthouse.

5. Gorilla Trekking Experience

• Permit: Book your gorilla trekking permit in advance ($1,500 per person in Rwanda).
• What to Expect:
  • Trekking duration: 2 to 6 hours depending on the location of the gorilla family.
  • Small group experience with expert guides and park rangers.
  • Close, respectful encounters with mountain gorillas.
• Optional Add-On: Golden monkey trekking or a visit to Dian Fossey’s grave.

6. Extend or Conclude Your Trip

• If you have more time, consider:
  • Visiting Lake Kivu for relaxation and water activities.
  • Exploring Nyungwe Forest National Park for chimpanzee trekking.
  • Touring Akagera National Park for a classic savannah safari experience.
• Departure: Fly out from Kigali International Airport.

Practical Tips

1. Visa Requirements:
   • Namibia: Most nationalities get a visa on arrival or travel visa-free.
   • Rwanda: Apply for an East Africa Tourist Visa ($100) if combining Rwanda with Uganda or Kenya if Rwanda only then you will get the Rwanda single entry visa on arrival at Kigali International Airport.
2. Packing Essentials:
   • Namibia: Light clothing for desert conditions, sturdy hiking shoes.
   • Rwanda: Waterproof jacket, trekking boots, gloves for gorilla trekking.
3. Health Precautions:
   • Namibia: Malaria prophylaxis may be necessary for some areas.
   • Rwanda: Yellow fever vaccination is required if coming from an endemic area.

Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is located in the far northwest of Rwanda, home to the endangered mountain gorillas and rich montane vegetation of bamboo forests and open grasslands. Gorilla tracking at this park is done once daily with 8 individuals visiting a gorilla group per day. The visitors are expected to arrive at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) offices at 7 am where they are briefed about expectations and the does and donts when tracking gorillas and later distributed among the different gorilla groups. Once the briefing is concluded and you are allocated a gorilla group, you will follow your armed ranger guide to start your trek in search of these gentle giants. Your trek can take anything from a few minutes to 6 hours depending on the location of the group that you are tracking. Once the insight into the group, you will be able to stay in their presence for only one hour. Remember the details shared in the briefing and endeavor to follow them for not only your own safety but that of the gorillas.

How to book a Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda

You will need to have your gorilla permit secured in advance from the Rwanda Development Board to confirm that you are booked for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park for a given date. Once you have your planned dates of travel confirmed we will need you to send us an email at Eco Adventure Safaris so that we can check for the availability of gorilla permits online with the Rwanda Development Board once we confirm permits are available for your planned dates we will let you know so that we can send you an invoice for you to make payment for the permits. Once the payment is done and we have received it on our account we will go ahead and purchase your permits immediately and send you a scanned copy of the permits for your records and perusal, this will confirm you are booked for Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes Gorilla National Park

How much is Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

The Gorilla permit price shares a much more cost for any Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda on top of other services like transport, accommodation and guiding. A gorilla permit costs USD1500 for the Foreign nonresident, USD500 for the foreign resident and USD200 for the East African Citizen per person per trek, this gorilla permit gives you an opportunity to spend one hour encounter with the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.  On top of the gorilla permit you will also pay other services for a successful gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda which include transport, accommodation and guiding.

What is the Best Time to trek Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda?

Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda is best done in the months of June to October and December to March during this time it is a dry season in Rwanda with mild rainfall making it easy for the treks in Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking, as well during this time the vegetation is not fully grown and it is easy for creating trails and viewing the mountain gorillas offering great sights for photographs. During the other months of April, May and November which is normally a wet season this makes the vegetations grow high making the sightings unclear however during this time the treks tend to be shorter given the fact mountain gorillas don’t move further distances looking for food, food is readily available. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda can be done throughout the year given the fact it is a very well-organized activity and you have 99% chances of seeing the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.

Where to stay during Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park range from Budget, mid-range to luxury options, Luxury options include Sabinyo Silverback Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Virunga Volcanoes Lodge, Five Volcanoes Hotels and Mountain Gorillas’ Nest Lodge. The price ranges from USD300 to USD1000 per person per night.

The Midrange lodge options at Volcanoes National Park include Mountain Gorilla View Lodge and Lebambou Gorilla Lodge, Davinci Lodge. For budget accommodation in Volcanoes National Park the options are many from basic accommodation to camping which include Kinigi Hotel, Hotel Muhabura, Gorilla Solution Lodge, Villa Gorilla, Virunga Hotel, Faraji Hotel and La Palme Hotel or Home Inn.

How to end your safari in Namibia with a Gorilla trek in Rwanda Through Eco Adventure Safaris.

Eco Adventure Safaris is a local tour operator that conducts Uganda and Rwanda tours. Our team has expertise in adventure Tour/Safaris Operations in Uganda Tour African Safaris, Tanzania African safaris, Kenya Tours Safaris, Rwanda African Safaris, Congo DRC African Safaris, and Zanzibar Safaris that run in the respective destinations hence detailing about us.

Meanwhile, we operate in the other popular East African destinations of Kenya and Tanzania through partnerships that we have established with highly regarded and like-minded local tour operators. We organize private tours for individuals and also offer ground handling for travel companies and agents from around the world. We are very passionate about Eco-tourism and preserving nature and so our tours are organized in a way that respects the environment and local cultures. Contact us here for more information on How to end your safari in Namibia with a Gorilla trek in Rwanda.