How to get to Volcanoes National park for gorilla trekking
How to get to Volcanoes National park for gorilla trekking

How to get to Volcanoes National park for gorilla trekking

I want to go gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. How do I get there? Many people who are interested in seeing the magnificent mountain gorillas ask this question. If you’re interested in going on a gorilla safari in Rwanda, one of the best places to start is Volcanoes National Park, which is also known as Parc National Des Volcanos in French. This park is home to Rwanda’s only mountain gorillas, and getting there is one of the simplest parts of visiting Rwanda. With its location in Musanze/Ruhengeri, the park is thought to be the oldest in Africa and the home of the mountain gorilla.

It shares borders with the Volcanoes National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks in Uganda, creating the largest concentration of gorillas on Earth. More than half of the world’s gorillas call this region home.

Among the many primates and wildlife species found in the park are the stunning golden monkeys; other creatures like as hyenas, buffalo, elephants, bushbacks, duikers, etc., add to the area’s allure and appeal for visitors. Those who come to the park to monitor gorillas or participate in other activities may enjoy trekking through bamboo forests, savannah grassland, vent swamps, and five volcanoes (Gahinga, Muhabura, Sabinyo, Kaisimbi, and Bisoke).

One may wonder how to get Volcanoes National Park in order to do gorilla tracking, given that this is the most sought-after activity there. You may reach the park by road or by air; which one you choose depends on your interests and, sometimes, your money. The road route is straightforward and easy to follow.

There are ten different gorilla families accessible for monitoring within this pack of around 700 mountain gorillas. Notable among them is the Susa gorilla family, which inhabits the mountaintops of Mount Karisimbi and was studied by primatologist Dian Fossey. Different groups are continually on the move and tend to congregate lower on the slopes, making them simpler to follow.

Traveling by road from Kigali Airport to the park takes about two to three hours. However, if you book your trip with a tour operator like Katland Safaris, you won’t have to worry about the drive or getting lost because our safari guides are well-versed in the park’s location and Rwanda. They will take you there quickly and then connect you to Kinigi Headquarters, where you’ll receive a tracking briefing and be assigned to a group.

Although the park can be accessed from Kigali Airport, there are other possible connections. For example, visitors from Uganda who spend time on safari and in other national parks can connect to Volcanoes National Park, which is about 6-7 hours away depending on where you are. Those interested in double-tracking, which involves tracking in both Uganda and Rwanda, can reach the park from Bwindi Forest, which is just 2-3 hours away through the Cyanika Border.

Because of its proximity to Kigali, Volcanoes National Park is unique among its rivals in that visitors may do gorilla tracking and then return home on the same day. Traveling to Bwindi and Mgahiga National Parks from Entebbe Airport would necessitate an additional night at the park, as the drive is about 8 to 9 hours long and can be quite tiring and busy for tourists who aren’t passionate about nature.

By plane.

The park is conveniently adjacent to the capital, so all you have to do is be punctual, and your driver will transport you to your Ruhengeri hotel. Unlike Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which would require at least 5 hours if the flight landed in Kigali or 8-9 hours if it landed in Entebbe, this park is so close to the city that visitors can land at 1700hrs Rwanda time and still reach the park in time for the night, allowing them to be ready for gorilla tracking in the morning.

If you’re planning to start your journey in Entebbe or Kampala, Uganda, you have the option of taking a domestic flight to Kisoro Airstrip. These flights are available at affordable prices, but please note that all of them take place in the morning due to weather conditions in the region.

Rooms to rent.

There is a wide selection of hotel options close to the park, from high-end to more affordable options; the choice of where to stay is totally up to the traveler, depending on their budget and personal desire. The Sabinyo Silverback Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Virunga Volcanoes Lodge, Mountain Gorillas’ Nest Lodge, and In Luxury Five Volcanoes Hotels are the most popular hotels amid the volcanoes. Lodges go to extraordinary lengths to make sure their guests are happy and comfortable; for example, VIP rooms may feature in-room dining and complimentary alcoholic beverages (check the lodge’s inclusions before making a reservation).

Volcanoes National Park offers a variety of lodging alternatives, including midrange lodges like Mountain Gorilla View Lodge and Lebambou Gorilla Lodge, as well as more affordable options like Davinci Lodge, that provide excellent value for your money.

Guests on a tight budget may pick from a wide variety of lodging alternatives, including the Gorilla Solution Lodge, Villa Gorilla, Virunga Hotel, Faraji Hotel, Kinigi Hotel, Hotel Muhabura, La Palme Hotel, Home Inn, and Hotel Muhabura.

How to get to Volcanoes National park for gorilla trekking
If you want to go gorilla tracking, we recommend that you stay at a hotel or motel close to the park headquarters. That way, you can easily connect to the park and be at the headquarters by 7:00 in the morning, when the briefing exercise begins. At that time, you will learn the ins and outs of gorilla tracking and register.

The cost of the gorilla permit.

Volcanoes National Park has the most expensive gorilla permits at $1500 per person per trek; however, visitors to the other three Rwandan national parks can get their permits for $1500 per person per trek at a discounted rate of $1050.00 per person per trek, and conference attendees can get their permits for $1755.00 per person.

What time is best to go?

Although gorilla tracking is possible year-round in the park, it is most popular between mid-September and the driest months of June, July, and August. However, the park is open all year. December to February, with the remainder of the year seeing rain. Since gorilla tracking is an activity that can be done at any time of year and permits are available daily, travelers may pick and choose the times that work best for them.

Extras to enjoy in Volcanoes National Park if time permits.

If you’re planning a trip to Volcanoes National Park, don’t restrict yourself to only gorilla tracking; there are plenty of other activities to enjoy as well. Tracking golden monkeys is one of these, and it takes a whole day because the process is very similar to tracking gorillas: you get a briefing at the park at 7:00 in the morning, and then you go out into the forest to find the monkeys. Once you meet them, you get an hour to spend with them, just like with gorillas. For non-Rwandan nationals, the Golden Monkey permit is $100.00; for Rwandan nationals, it’s $65.00; and for East African nationals, excluding Rwanda, it’s $80.00.

You might also go trekking; the park is home to five of the Virunga mountains, and treks are available every day without any special preparation. With Mount Karisimbi at 4507 meters, Mount Bisoke at 37771 meters, Mount Gahinga at 3470 meters, Mount Muhabura at 4157 meters, and Mount Mikeno at 4437 meters, there are plenty of possibilities for a day climb to the summit and back.

Among the many other things to do in the area include birdwatching, hiking, caving, volunteering, and exploring the world-renowned Dian Fossey route. You may book all of them on the spot and don’t need to make any type of advance preparations.

A guide to arranging a gorilla safari.

If you want all of your services booked and verified, it’s preferable to choose a reputable safari provider. If you’re having trouble deciding which firm to work with, Katland Safaris can help. If you want to know more about our reputation, you can check out our TripAdvisor and Safari Bookings pages. We have years of expertise in trip planning and provide trustworthy service.

 

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