Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.
High altitude northwest of Rwanda in the Virungas noted for magnificent dormant volcanic mountains; Karisimbi 4507m, Bisoke 3696m, Muhabura 4157m, Gahinga 3493m and Sabinyo 3669m; Volcanoes National Park also known as Parc National Des Volcans 160km2 /62 sq miles.
Touching and sharing international boundaries with Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda, and Virunga National Park; DR Congo, the park represents an international extension of wildlife Originally part of Albert National Park, Volcanoes National Park was first established on an African continent in 1925 for Mountain gorilla habitat and preservation.
Rich in plant nutrients and high altitudinal rainfall, volcanic soils help luxuriant flora dominated by bamboo, lobelia, meadow, thicket and montane forests thrive. Mostly in the lower valleys are swamp, lily, and wetland plants.
These are the natural elements Mountain gorillas need to survive and flourish. Golden monkeys, elephants, buffalo, bushbuck, bush pig, duiker, forest hogs, spotted hyenas, nearly 300 bird species, reptiles, insects and other animal species are additional permanent occupants but uncommon to see in the park.
Close relatives of lowland gorillas are mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei). Eastern gorillas formed by the two subspecies wander East and Central African woods. Teams of international study classified Mountain gorillas as “Endangered” species of wildlife. Mountain gorillas are apes with forward-looking heads, strong sense of thinking and judgment, shaggy body hair and no tail on their bodies.
Whereas their female counterparts average 197 pounds-260 pounds, adult male Mountain gorillas weigh approximately 397-485 pounds. For Mountain gorillas, the thick, black, shaggy body hair aid in thermal control; they absorb solar heat and preserve warmth in colder climates.
Mountain gorillas are very sociable creatures living in families or groups of related individuals. An adult male; silverback; because to old age, a white strip of body fur forms on the back of male gorillas leads family.
Though he may not be the oldest or strongest in the group, the silverback has great degree of establishing coalitions, mobilizing the family, influential and accurate in decision-making. Every mountain gorilla family has a well-known home range—an area thought to be safe with lots of supplies for whole families.
The silverback controls group security and discipline, decides on the path or direction of travel and the activities to be undertaken at that moment. Rivalries for succession and domination produce internal cliques, alliances, violent clashes, upheavals, and family split-up.
Forming a breakaway group, the losing group entices some members of an old family into the new one from their own home range near mother group. Mountain gorillas; diurnal and inactive throughout the night may spend up to 35 years in the wild.
Diet: Mountain gorillas are omnivorous, spending most of their day prowling the woods looking for fresh food including bamboo shoots, bananas, moss, ferns, passion fruit, berries, tree bark, fruits, flowers, seeds, peas, nuts, and tubers.
Mountain gorillas augment their “vegetarian” diet with insects most famously termites; they extract honey and consume bee pupae, mushrooms, rodents, snails, catch fish in ponds and hunt tiny antelopes, other monkeys, pythons and birds for meat.
Mountain gorilla is limited to tropical Africa natural woodland environment averaging 3000m-3700m above sea level, with vast quantities of rainfall, moderate temperatures and average sunlight. To support mountain gorillas’ great food consumption, the temperature, soil texture, and other elements must be suitable for continuous plant growth and simple regeneration all through year.
Only the Virunga volcanic range has these natural conditions; Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda; DR Congo; Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda. Similar environmental circumstances abound at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, where more than half of the Mountain gorillas live.
Threats; Humanity still poses the most danger to Mountain gorilla existence and survival. Their sole environment is being invaded by human activity; habitation, farming and development for commercial agriculture, logging and lumbering for wood, infrastructure including hotels, homes, road building.
While poachers trade in their body parts, scientific researchers, visitors, rangers interact with gorillas’ way of life. Traps placed for other wildlife cause the gorillas to fall in and be injured. Unless very sensitive, the local people shoot or poison mountain gorillas invading their cattle farms or agricultural fields.
Under a ranger guide and porters going into the mountains covered in dense rainforest flora on the lookout of pre-determined families of Mountain gorillas, an entourage of explorers does field exercise. Ten Mountain gorilla groups with more than three hundred individuals (as at the time of writing this) are willing for Mountain gorilla trekking trip in Rwanda. The rangers find gorilla locations depending on several criteria;
Range at home
Last view
Last nesting:
Hearing calls
New footprints, prints, and trails
New bodily waste and faecal droppings
Fresh fruit or food slights
shattered flora
Fruiting season and recurrent seasonal sighting
Gorilla aroma, smell and body odor
A few Mountain gorilla Trek Rules
Advance with a reputable tour agency your mountain gorilla trekking permit, cross verify and confirm. Among others, the permit specifies travel agency, visitor names, age, gender, residence status, date of trekking, costs paid, health report.
One set of eight visitors every day interacts with Mountain gorillas; depending on the situation at hand, one spends either one hour or less.
Organize at the briefing point one hour for a hiking activity.
Head of gorilla treking expedition is Ranger Guide. Trekking among mountains gorillas is a group activity. Maintain together.
Tell rangers about health issues or inabilities so they may designate suitable group
Carry only the most necessary things. On hand at a cost to assist guests unable to carry their bags are porters.
See, project, and maintain an 8-meter separation between mountain gorillas.
On devices when you are near gorillas, disable GPS or camera flash.
Eat light yet lively snacks from lunch boxes and drink average two lts of water.
Eating, drinking, smoking in front of gorillas is forbidden.
When working with the gorillas, avoid copying or displaying pointless body signs.
Stillness is advised when gorillas charge. When a gorilla approaches you calmly, baby gorillas are curious and playful. Keep calm when it reaches your hand or advances in your direction; keep voices quiet.
One should give personal cleanliness first priority. Spitting or urinating in ungazetted areas is forbidden. Tell the ranger guide of any natural call to make required preparations.
Never litter. Bring with you all food wrappers, packs, and bottle lids and drop them at gazetted areas.
What clothing to wear?
Body-fitting safari pants; khaki, jeans, track suits
Body fitting long sleeved tops, blouses or shirts in subdued, environmentally safe colors
Rubber Boots or Water Resistent Hiking Shoes
Excellent stocks
Poncha or rain cover.
Hand gloves for gardeners
Roundhat, cap, or head scarf
Light warm attire
Items to pack
Back bag
Binoculars
Photograph camera
Repellent for insects
Sun protector
Lunch Box
bottle of water
basic first aid tool
Field manual
Waist bag
Plan Map
Change wears
Walking stick; maybe improvisational at the hiking assembly point
Trekking trends in mountain gorillas
January, February, June, July, August, September, December are Peak Season.
March, April, May, October, November are low seasons.
Other kinds of tourism
Monitoring Golden Monkeys: Another primate also under threat is the lovely Golden monkey, native to the Virunga range. There are less surviving individuals than mountain gorillas still found worldwide. Hiking into their bamboo zone around Virunga mountains is the sole chance to see the Golden monkey.
Bird viewing; Volcanoes National Park has about three hundred different species. The park’s bird population combines high altitude species with woodland elements. There are plenty of chances to see visiting aquatic bird species from Lake Kivu twenty-minute drive south. For visitors to Rwanda, the park is a reliable bird viewing safari location and a worldwide Important Birding Area.
Hiking safaris; every adventurer finds great attraction in the distinctive, picturesque, dormant volcanic mountains found in Volcanoes. For curious explorers looking for other means of seeing and learning about the pristine Africa, the park provides trekking trails. The highest mountain in the Virunga range, Mt Karisimbi 4,506m, is visited on two-day adventure safaris.
One day and back expeditions on Mt Bisoke 3,771m summit. Trekkers into the highlands get a chance to discover the distinctive natural settings, engage with various animal species, challenge and overcome the rough African terrain.
The Mountain gorilla trekking safaris are feasible as the indigenous Rwandan villages around the park have coexisted with and welcomed animal conservation. Gorilla Guardians’ village trip Tourists visiting the settlement of Gorilla Guardians observe local Rwandan life. Using music, dance, theater, the community passes on a message about wildlife preservation all around.
The people of the village like living with mountain gorillas and have advantages from it. The guests have quick encounters with pottery, basketry, traditional cuisine, beer making, distillery, African craft making.
Nature walk: Volcanoes National Park’s rich animals and other lovely natural views come from its dense woods. This provides adventurers with a range of choices to maximize their exploration and achieve thrilling wilderness encounters. A excellent trail system connects to other paths with varied interesting sites.
Strong volcanic activity is shown by the ancient subterranean Musanze Caves 2km long. Unique and significant for social and political history are the updated caverns including illumination and other exquisite African art walks and decorations. Another path Dian Fossey acknowledges efforts in animal study and protection.
Primatologist, wildlife specialist, and researcher Dian Fossey worked at Karisoke Research Center in the foothills of Bisoke Mtn. She pioneered mountain gorilla habituation, protection, and wildlife preservation as well as advocated these things. The path brings one to the research center, where Dian Fossey was killed and buried.
Researchers have a bio data bank including all habituated gorillas; individual members, age, gender, physical abnormalities, health condition among others. One can clearly see the birth of new members. The Rwandan national cultural event known as Kwita izina names newborn and infant gorillas in honor of foreign personalities supporting the preservation of animals.
The event is grand and draws eminent political, financial, social local, worldwide characters. The event is marked by music, dancing, theater, speeches honoring aspirations and successes in animal conservation.
Batwa community tour: Originally living in the jungles with Mountain gorillas and other animals, Batwa tribes are indigenous. The Batwa left the woods to provide room for conservation of animals. Visitors of their homesteads come to share their traditional wilderness experiences.
Lake Kivu is typical 30 minutes driving nearby. Musanze is a lake coast town with active urban beaches. After exhausting Mountain gorilla hiking, Lake Kivu is the perfect place to re-energize. Adventurers could choose to sail on lake, eat, play beach games or rest and cover from tiredness.
Areas around Volcanoes National Park provide a great range of choices for lodging. Depending on the client’s budget and degree of quality, anything a tourist is seeking is within reach.
One luxury safari camp, Bisate Lodge, Virunga Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Mountain gorilla view lodge, Gorilla Volcanoes Lodge, Le Palme Hotel, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Muhabura Hotel, Kinigi Guest House, Musanze town with a wide options for urban accommodation is 20 minutes drive from Kinigi while Kisoro town in Uganda is 30 minutes north.
Accessibility; easy route from Kigali International Airport and Kigali City links northwest to Kinigi, Volcanoes National Park is about 150 km, 2.30 hours’ trip. One should definitely advise private travel. Public transport from Kigali to Musanze town or Kyanika border crossing brings visitors to Kinigi.
For customers unable of using road transport or with more of a travel budget, charter helicopter trips to Kinigi town are available.
Not a stand-alone excursion in Rwanda is mountain gorilla trekking safari in Volcanoes National Park. Visitors on a tour of Rwanda get the chance to see Africa’s Big 5 safari Mammals in Akagyera National Park: rhinos, elephants, buffalos, lion and leopard. Akagyera National Park is home to giraffes, elands, waterbucks, hippos, and many lovely birds.
Nyungwe National Park farther south gives visitors in Rwanda a chance to monitor and engage with families of habituated chimpanzees as well as many of other resident species.
