How to celebrate your birthday with gorillas of Volcanoes National Park – Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
Birthday with gorillas of Volcanoes National Park: Rwanda is primarily famous for its gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. Gorilla trekking is possible in four national parks worldwide: Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda’s Virunga National Park, Mgahinga National Park, and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
An unforgettable birthday celebration on a Rwandan safari would not be complete without going gorilla trekking. Located near the hamlet of Musanze in Rwanda’s northwest, Volcanoes National Park has many names, including Parc Des Volcans and Pariki Y’Igihugu Y’Ibirunga.
About 10 gorilla families call the park home, and visitors may trek with them daily. Gather at the park headquarters first thing in the morning for a briefing from your guide, and then go out on foot into the forest in search of your designated gorilla family.
Booking instructions for a gorilla trekking Safari in Rwanda
In Volcanoes National Park, you can celebrate your birthday with a gorilla safari, and our specialists are here to assist you arrange every detail. So that we can assist you in checking the availability of gorilla trekking permits, the first step in scheduling a gorilla safari is to contact a local tour operator. They will need to know your full name as it appears on your passport and the dates you would want to go trekking.
The Rwanda Development Board also has an online tool where you can see whether gorilla permits are still available. Once you’ve confirmed that the days you want to use the permits are available, you may pay in full to reserve them. Just remember to always use the company’s bank account and never transfer money to someone’s account. The Rwanda Development Board will give you a copy of the permit and collect payment directly from you if you make your reservation via them.
The only opportunity for travelers to spend time with the gorillas is to get a gorilla permit from the Rwanda Development Board. You will get a copy of the trek permit and a confirmation email after your purchase. Please double-check that the information you provided when booking the gorilla permit (names, nationalities, etc.) matches what is required for verification when you arrive. Since the gorillas are still considered government property, the park officials will gather the necessary permissions before the expedition begins.
Volcanoes National Park gorilla permits are only good for one hour, and they expire once you’ve trekked around the park. You may request a reschedule with a valid cause, but you need to let us know in advance.
Acquiring a Gorilla permit for a Birthday with gorillas of Volcanoes National Park
Foreign non-residents, foreign residents, and East African nationals are the three types of tourists in Rwanda. The fee for the gorilla permit varies based on your category. The gorillas and their environment are protected by using the funds from the most costly gorilla trek permits, which are sold in Rwanda.
Individuals residing outside of the country… Individually, $15,000.
People living abroad (people from other African nations) Four hundred dollars for each individual
The cost for nationals of East Africa is $300 each.
Gorilla trek permits in Rwanda are 30% off from November to May for non-resident foreigners (down from $1150), however, this is just for those who have already made reservations to visit Nyungwe or Akagera National Parks, not other Rwandan attractions like Uganda. This was done to boost tourism in the nation.
Guidelines for Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes
To preserve the gorillas’ native environment and save these almost endangered animals, the Rwanda Development Board, a conservation organization, established well-defined norms and restrictions. No one may legally engage in gorilla trekking unless they adhere to these regulations, which spell out the specific requirements for doing so.
There are more than 1,070 mountain gorillas that are hiked in three countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. The gorilla trekking safaris and the regulations put in place would have prevented the extinction of these magnificent creatures. The following are some of the restrictions and guidelines for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park:
No more than eight individuals are permitted to accompany a gorilla family on a daily journey. As a result, the gorillas are less likely to be disturbed by people and therefore less likely to get human diseases.
On the morning of the trip day, the lead guide will provide a briefing that all trekkers are required to attend. At this point, the rules and regulations will be reviewed with you, and trekkers will also be allocated to gorilla families.
To ensure the safety of the gorillas, you will not be permitted to travel with them if you exhibit any signs of illness on the day of the journey.
As a precaution against illness transmission, all visitors are required to wash and sterilize their hands before beginning the hike.
Please do not leave trash within the park. Everything you bring into the park must be accounted for and disposed of according to the park’s regulations.
When you’re among the gorillas and on the trip, it’s best to be quiet. No matter how close you get to the gorillas on your journey, you still need to pay attention to the other animals in the park and follow the directions your guides tell you.
Only those with a camera, binoculars, or a phone may approach the gorillas, and you must maintain a distance of 7 meters from the primates at all times. At least fifty meters must pass before you may approach the gorillas with your belongings, including your bag.
You should maintain a distance of 7 to 10 meters from the gorillas after you’ve found them. Even though the gorillas may want to get closer to you, you should do your best to avoid touching them. The gorillas will be more relaxed if you give them some space.
Because flash photography is illegal, you must move carefully and turn off your flash while shooting pictures.
Each group gets one hour with the gorillas, however, if they’re acting off, their time will be shortened for their own good.
No food, drink, or smoking is allowed within 300 meters of the gorillas. Cravings could fall on the floor after eating or drinking, which might spread germs.
To prevent the transmission of germs, turn your face away from the gorillas and cover your mouth with your hand if you feel the need to cough or sneeze while you are near them.
When you need to use the restroom, have your guide dig a 30-centimeter-deep hole for you (pangas are often used to remove shrubs on treks), and then cover it up.
The Essentials for a Gorilla and Volcano Safari | Birthday with Gorillas of Volcanoes National Park
Hiking boots that are comfortable to use on the national park’s steep, muddy, and slippery trails. Waterproof, ankle-length sturdy hiking boots are a must; to avoid blisters on the trail, break them in by walking about in them before the big day.
Having the proper weather gear, such as a waterproof jacket, warm sweater, gaiters, and bug repellant, is essential for an exceptional gorilla safari. The gaiters shield your legs from the jungle’s hazards, such as dirt, wetness, insects, and rocks.
For a more natural jungle look, try muted tones. If you want to avoid being bitten or scratched by insects when hiking through the wilderness, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.
You can’t have a gorilla walk safari without a camera and spare batteries; not only that, but you’ll want to capture the special moment of your birthday among the primates forever. We recommend bringing additional batteries and memory for use in the forest, even though hotels often have charging stations for cameras.
A waterproof bag that can accommodate all of your daily necessities. For a more relaxing gorilla safari experience, tourists should simply bring the essentials in their day bags.
If you want to see more than just the mountain gorillas in the national park, bring binoculars.
When hiking, garden gloves are a must-have for protecting your hands from sharp objects.
Bring your food, water, a walking stick, sunscreen, a cap, and any other supplies you may need.
Rwanda sets the minimum age for gorilla trekking.
The Rwanda Development Board instituted a 15-year-old minimum age requirement for gorilla trekking to save the endangered species. Trekking is open to people of all ages. If you’re in good enough shape, you may get a gorilla permit and take part in the activity. Reasons for setting the age restriction at 15 include the following:(1) children under the age of 15 are seen to be young, and(2) they are not physically capable of engaging in vigorous physical activity. Their unpredictable behavior makes them more difficult to manage, especially among gorillas.
We cannot guarantee that children under the age of fifteen will adhere to all the regulations established for trekking gorillas in Rwanda since mountain gorillas are docile animals who only respond when threatened. Before you can buy the trekking permits, we need to verify your age by getting copies of your passports. Kids may be a real drag on the hiking group as well. Not everyone will be emotionally or psychologically prepared to do the activity at the same time.
How can I organize my trip with kids less than fifteen? | Birthday with gorillas of Volcanoes National Park
I get this question all the time. Children may participate in a wide variety of activities, that much is true. Simultaneously, they take pleasure in the journey, which includes indoor activities such as playing games, seeing movies, and engaging in guided tours of the hotel under the guidance of hotel personnel.
Staying in a volcano while having a gorilla birthday party
If you’re looking for a place to stay near Volcanoes National Park, you’ll find a wide variety of lodges and hotels to suit all budgets. Mountain Gorillas’ Nest Lodge, Sabinyo Silverback Lodge, Virunga Volcanoes, Bisate, Da Vinci, Kinigi, Lebambou, Villa Gorilla, La Palme, Faraja, and Gorilla Solution Lodge are just a few of the wonderful lodges that we can recommend.
Volcanoes National Park is a great place to celebrate a birthday since there are plenty of things to do there. Activities such as hiking with golden monkeys, bird viewing (best done during the rainy season), guided nature walks, attending the annual Kwita Izina ceremony (attended by the president and other dignitaries in August), and cultural visits are just a few examples.
Methods for Reaching Volcanoes National Park | Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
Depending on traffic, the travel from Volcanoes National Park might take anywhere from two to three hours. Once you’ve had a quick briefing from your driver guide at Kigali International Airport, you’ll be on your way to the national park. Before heading to the Volcanoes for the climb, if you arrive early enough, you may still have time to see Kigali city.
On your birthday, why not have a gorilla trek safari with the greatest local safari company? We’ll help you arrange the trip, show you the ropes, and make sure you have a blast celebrating your special day. Booking in advance ensures that your preferred dates coincide with treks with the endangered gorilla species, which is essential for a top-notch Rwandan gorilla safari.
Get in touch with us via our website and peruse our TripAdvisor reviews for additional information. If you have any questions about gorilla trekking or need assistance planning your safari, please don’t hesitate to use any of our many contact methods.
