What to pack for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Are you planning a trip to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda to see the Mountain Gorillas and you want to know what to pack for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park? Packing for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park requires some thoughtful preparation. Here’s a list of essentials to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes National Park:

Clothing

1. Long-Sleeved Shirts and Long Pants: Protect your skin from scratches, insect bites, and sun exposure.
2. Rain Jacket: The weather can be unpredictable, and it often rains in the mountains.
3. Hiking Boots: Sturdy, waterproof boots with good ankle support are essential for the often muddy and steep trails.
4. Gaiters: These will help keep mud, water, and insects out of your boots.
5. Hat and Gloves: A hat for sun protection and gloves to protect your hands from thorny vegetation.
6. Warm Layers: It can be chilly in the early morning and at higher altitudes.

Gear and Accessories

1. Daypack: A comfortable backpack to carry your essentials, ideally with a rain cover.
2. Walking Stick: Helps with balance and stability on uneven terrain. These are often provided by guides.
3. Binoculars: For bird watching and spotting other wildlife.
4. Camera: With extra batteries and memory cards. A camera with a good zoom is ideal for capturing distant wildlife.
5. Reusable Water Bottle: Stay hydrated. Consider carrying a hydration pack.
6. Snacks: Energy bars or trail mix for a quick energy boost.

Personal Items

1. Insect Repellent: To protect against mosquitoes and other insects.
2. Sunscreen: Even if it’s cloudy, UV rays can still cause sunburn at high altitudes.
3. First Aid Kit: Basic supplies including band-aids, antiseptic wipes, and any personal medications.
4. Wet Wipes and Hand Sanitizer: Useful for cleaning hands and small cuts.

Documents and Money

1. Permits: Your gorilla trekking permit, this will be with the tour operator you have booked with, if you are not doing a self drive
2. ID/Passport: Necessary for identification and travel.
3. Cash: For tips and any purchases (small denominations are useful).

Optional Items

1. Waterproof Bag or Dry Sack: To protect electronics and other valuables from rain.
2. Notebook and Pen: For jotting down notes or observations.

By packing these items, you’ll be well-prepared for an exciting and memorable gorilla trekking adventure in Volcanoes National Park.

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park

The mountain gorillas are the famous attraction in Volcanoes National Park with gorilla trekking happening every day throughout the year. Gorilla trekking is an activity that involves visiting the habituated endangered mountain gorillas in their natural environment, as you view the way they feed, move, rest and live in harmony. Volcanoes National Park has more than 12 habituated gorilla families for trekking every day, only 8 visitors per gorilla family are allowed to trek every day. The chances of seeing the mountain gorillas are 99% as you are guided by trackers, guides and park rangers. Gorilla trekking starts every day in Kinigi at 7:00am with a briefing on guidelines to follow while on the trek, even though the gorillas have 99% DNA as the humans, they still remain wild and you are advised to follow the dos and don’ts from the guides. The gorilla trek can take 30 minutes to more hours depending on the movement and location of the gorillas in the forest.

What to pack for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. To go gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, you must have a Rwanda gorilla permit for a particular date secured from the Rwanda Development Board. The gorilla permit costs USD1500 for all nationals and you are allowed one hour of viewing the gorillas and taking photographs. Booking a gorilla trek to Volcanoes National Park is a lifetime experience to complete your bucket list, Eco Adventure Safaris will help you book and tailor a gorilla trek tour that is affordable and memorable.

Other things to do in Volcanoes National Park.

Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Golden Monkey Trek in Volcanoes National Park is amazing experience to do on your trip in Rwanda. Golden Monkey tracking refers to visiting the rare and very beautiful golden monkeys in their natural environment. Volcanoes National Park has two habituated golden monkey communities for trekking every day, these communities have about 80 members each and the number of visitors is not limited. The golden monkey trekking permit costs USD100 for all nationals and can be obtained from the Rwanda development board to allow you to visit the endangered golden monkeys. The activity starts at the park headquarters at 7:00am with briefing on dos and don’ts by the park wardens and later the park guides and rangers lead you to the forest to find them, you can walk for 30 minutes to hours depending on the location and movement of the golden monkeys, once you find them you are allowed to view and stay with them for only one hour and after you return.

Visiting Dian Fossey Tomb and Hike

Dain Fossey tomb tour is one the most famous activities done in Volcanoes National Park by visitors. It is one hour hike to the tomb from Karisoke research camp. The Dian Fossey Memorial hike which is derived from the famous primatologist and Zoologist Dian Fossey from America who spent all her life in the volcanoes protecting the endangered gorillas from extinction and created awareness. She was killed by the alleged poachers and was buried in the park and a memorial was built. She is also famous for participating in the film “gorillas in the mist”. The hike is about 2,500m to 3,000m, this trail leads to the tomb of the late Dian who fought and rescued the endangered mountain gorillas and sensitization on conservation promoted gorilla tourism. Celebrating her charisma, love for the Mountain gorillas, her research and the history makes this experience incredible.

Iby’Iwacu cultural experience

African cultures are very unique and interesting and worth experiencing in Volcanoes national Park when you start your trip from Cyanika border. The Rwanda culture is one that is most enjoyable and to Participate in, The locals used to stay in the forest and even participated in the poaching of endangered species, the were later evacuated and organized into a village, the Iby’Iwacu village is found in Volcano national park in Nyabigoma, Kinigi, Musanze district, Northern Province of Rwanda. We always tailor trips with cultural experience to volcanic national park for you to have an incredible time, visiting the Iby’Iwacu people, you will share with local people home and heritage treasures including lifestyles, activities, artifacts, dances and ways of living of local people. Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village showcases the ways of life, traditional practices and dances to Visitors.

Bird Watching

Bird watching is another activity to do in Volcanoes National Park, for bird watchers, the Volcanoes forest is a habitat to variety of bird species. There are over 300 bird species living in the volcanoes, some of the birds are Grauer’s rush warbler a vulnerable which is a local bird species commonly seen in the swamps, francolin, the Rwenzori turaco, the Archer’s ground robin,the red-faced woodland warbler , the dusky crimson-wing, Rwenzori double collared sunbird, there is the collared apalis and the Rwenzori batis as well as the strange weaver and many others. We do offer birding packages to Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda and Uganda. The professional birding guides will help you spot the birds and identify their names.

Where to stay during Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

There are several options of lodges and hotels in Volcanoes National Park ranging from budget to luxury, namely; Bisate lodge, Gorilla Nest and Virunga lodge are luxury options, Sabinyo Silverback Lodge, Five Volcanoes Lodge, Le bamboo Mountain gorilla lodge are Midrange options to consider, Kinigi guesthouse, Hotel Muhavura and gorilla volcanoes lodge are some of the budget hotels. The hotel rooms can sell out quickly especially during the high season, your accommodation choice needs to booked in advance for your visit to volcanoes national park. You will also be able to get a discount on accommodation when you stay more nights.

Why book a Trip to Volcanoes National Park Through Eco Adventure Safaris

Eco Adventure Safaris offers amazing experiences to Volcanoes National Park. Contact us for our discounted packages and also tailor-made gorilla trips, birding, cultural experiences and golden monkey tracking to the Volcanoes National Park. Our magic in organizing authentic experiences stems from the fact that we have over time assembled a team mixed with young and energetic staff guided by well well-experienced Team and passionate about what they do. Eco Adventure Safaris is highly rated and reviewed on trip Advisor to help you learn on the experiences of the other travelers who have traveled with us, you can as well contact us here about What to pack for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.