Steps you need to take to see Gorillas in Rwanda

Seeing gorillas in Rwanda typically involves visiting Volcanoes National Park, which is part of the larger Virunga Massif conservation area shared by Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, here are the Steps you need to take to see Gorillas in Rwanda:

1. Research and Choose a Park: Rwanda is home to the Volcanoes National Park, where you can find mountain gorillas. Research the park, its gorilla groups, and choose the one that suits your preferences.
2. Permit Reservation: Gorilla trekking in Rwanda requires a permit, and they can be limited. Contact the Rwanda Development Board or a reliable tour operator to secure your permit well in advance.
3. Travel Arrangements: Plan your trip to Rwanda, including flights, accommodation, and transportation to the park. The closest major town to Volcanoes National Park is Musanze.
4. Health Precautions: Check if any vaccinations or health precautions are required for Rwanda. Consult with your doctor and ensure you are in good health for trekking.
5. Pack Appropriately: Pack sturdy, comfortable clothing and footwear for trekking. Also, pack essentials like a rain jacket, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a camera to capture the incredible moments.
6. Arrival in Rwanda: Once in Rwanda, travel to Musanze and make final preparations for your trek. Ensure you have all necessary documents, permits, and equipment.
7. Trekking Day: On the day of your trek, arrive at the park headquarters early for orientation. You’ll be assigned a gorilla group, and a guide will provide information on trekking etiquette and safety.
8. Trekking Experience: Follow your guide into the forest, and enjoy the incredible experience of trekking to find gorillas in their natural habitat. The trek duration can vary, so be prepared for different levels of difficulty.
9. Gorilla Encounter: Once you locate the gorilla group, you’ll have a strictly regulated amount of time to observe and photograph them. Maintain a safe distance and follow the guidelines provided by your guide.
10. After the Trek: After the trek, return to the park headquarters, receive a certificate of participation, and reflect on the unforgettable experience.

Remember, gorilla trekking is a unique adventure, and respecting the gorillas and their environment is crucial for their conservation.

Steps you need to take to see Gorillas in Rwanda. Gorilla trekking Safari in Rwanda is done at 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

Steps you need to take to see Gorillas in Rwanda. For you 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 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

What is the Best Time to book a Gorilla Trekking 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 your Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda

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 access Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park can be best accessed by road; the drive from Kigali town is just 2-3 hours drive to Volcanoes National Park. Your driver guide will meet you for a short briefing at the designated hotel then set off to the park through the beautiful sceneries of the 1000 hills of Rwanda giving you an opportunity for a stop for photographs and sightseeing.

Why Book with Eco Adventure Safaris your Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda

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. We are also members of Safari Booking. Contact us here about the Steps you need to take to see Gorillas in Rwanda.