Reasons why Rwanda has no gorilla habituation experience in Volcanoes National Park
Joining a group of habituators and researchers into the wild to track a family of semi-habituated mountain gorillas is an adventure known as “gorilla habituation.” Gorilla habituation is currently being done in Rwanda to create gorilla families, however no tourists go on an expedition with this team in Volcanoes National Park.
There are currently 15 gorilla families in Rwanda that are fully habituated for public viewing; nevertheless, Volcanoes National Park requires a gorilla permit. The Susa, Hirwa, Karisimbi, Sabyinyo, Amahoro, Agashya, and numerous other families are among the Rwandan gorilla families among others.
A Rwanda gorilla trekking permit costs $1500 per person for an hour-long hike.
In the southern region of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, you can experience gorilla habituation. There are two gorilla families available for gorilla habituation, however a maximum of four guests are permitted to participate.
What is the experience of gorilla habituation?
Following a family of semi-mountain gorillas for four hours with a group of habituators is known as the “gorilla habituation experience.”
In Uganda, a permit to experience gorilla habituation costs $1500 per person per trek, with a maximum of four hours permitted with the gorilla family.
What the Gorilla Habituation Permit Cost Does Not Include
Park fees, researcher service costs, security during gorilla habituation, community assistance, gorilla conservation support, and a certificate upon completion of the gorilla trekking experience are all covered by the gorilla habituation permit.
Tips, transportation to the site, the porter fee, and any other personal belongings are not included in the price of the gorilla habitat permit.
Given that a gorilla permit in Rwanda costs $1500 for an hour, but a four-hour gorilla habituation experience in Uganda costs the same $1500 per person, the competition between Rwanda and Uganda for gorilla licenses may also be the reason Rwanda lacks gorilla habituation permits.
How Do I Reserve Gorilla Permits in Rwanda?
Decide how many gorilla permits you want to buy and the date you want to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
Our safari adviser looks up the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit on the Rwanda Development Board list when you inquire about it, and they get in touch with you as soon as the results are favorable.
Because they sell out quickly, we ask that you buy your gorilla permit as soon as possible. Gorilla permits sell out quickly during the busiest months of June, July, August, September, December, and January. Due to lower demand, low-season gorilla permits can still be available at the last minute.
Provide certain personal information as listed on the passport, such as your complete name, date of birth, nationality, and the date the passport expires.
Is It Possible to Reschedule the Rwanda Gorilla Permit in Parts?
The most pleasant option is to purchase your gorilla permit in full, but you may ask for installment payments owing to various reasons. The Rwanda Development Board permits 30% and 70% installments of gorilla permits, respectively. A Rwandan gorilla permit costs $1500 for each trekper.
You must have bought your gorilla permit 90 days prior to the gorilla trekking date in order for installment payments to be accepted.
You risk a fine if you don’t renew your gorilla permit 90 days prior to the gorilla trekking date.
Take note:
Rwanda charges for the gorilla permit rescheduling.
Why Visit Rwanda for Gorilla Trekking
The sole mountain gorilla habitat in Rwanda is Volcanoes National Park, where gorilla trekking took place.
Gorilla trekking offers you the opportunity to get up close and personal with the gentle giants that are only found in the Virunga region of the universe.
When you buy the gorilla permit, you are contributing to the conservation effort for mountain gorillas. According to a census conducted by primatologist Dian Fossey, there were only about 300 mountain gorillas left by the 1980s, putting them in danger of going extinct.
When you climb to Dian Fossey’s grave while seeing Rwanda’s mountain gorillas, you can donate to the Dian Fossey Foundation. You can hike in the footsteps of the late primatologist Dian Fossey after gorilla trekking.
Other fascinating primates, such as golden monkeys, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkeys, and others, can be found at Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.
With more than 300 species found in the volcanic forest, the number of birds in volcanic National Park is unparalleled. This is a double opportunity for avid birders, who may be able to spot several Albertine endemics while gorilla trekking. Among the birds you might see are the Handsome Francolin, Dusky’s Crimsonwing, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, and Rwenzori Turaco.
Is It Hard to Gorilla Trek in Rwanda?
The Rwandan gorilla hiking habitat, Volcanoes National Park, has a primarily volcanic landscape with highlands including Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhavura and Mountain Sabyinyo, Mount Bisoke, and Mount Karisimbi. To reach the mountain gorillas, who spend a portion of their lives on the slopes eating or relaxing, expect to climb.
Expect to trek steep hills and descend deep valleys because the trees grow on the slopes of mountains, ridges, and plateaus.
Stay close to the folks you are assigned to go gorilla trekking with since the ranger guide follows the pace of the slowest hiker. The ranger guide uses a machete to cut and clear the way since the forest is covered in creepers that you must crawl under to reach the mountain gorillas.
How Much Time Does It Take to Gorilla Trek in Rwanda?
It’s unclear how long it takes to find the mountain gorillas in Rwanda because some hikers report seeing them two hours after beginning their walk, while others may need up to three-quarters of the day. There are several theories as to why the mountain gorillas were delayed or quickly located.
The mountain gorillas’ food is near by; the closer the food is, the more likely it is that the gorillas will be found.
When mountain gorillas fight, they do it for a variety of reasons, including dominance and the right to mate. The gorilla family may become divided as a result, and it might be difficult to locate at times.
It may take some time to reach the mountain gorillas during the intense rainy season because they usually remain on the slopes, which can be slick and wet at times.
the speed with which you are paired with a gorilla family of trekkers. Finding the mountain gorillas takes longer when other hikers are sluggish. The gorilla trip can go quickly if everyone is healthy and motivated.
When going on a Rwandan gorilla trek, are mountain gorillas hostile?
Despite their intimidating appearance and stature, mountain gorillas are calm, shy creatures by nature. A mock exercise is used to acclimate a gorilla family to the presence of strangers in order to verify that they are prepared for human presence.
To ensure that you act appropriately in front of the mountain gorillas, you must adhere to the guidelines provided by the ranger guide at the ORTPN.
The ranger guide sets the tone for the gorilla family on gorilla trekking days before allowing trekkers to enter the area. Because they share 96% of their genes with humans, mountain gorillas likewise experience mood swings.
The mountain gorillas will hoot, pull grass around them, bang their chest loudly, or walk on one foot when they are upset. When this occurs prior to tourists, the ranger guide looks to see what is causing the ire before allowing you to continue seeing the mountain gorillas if it has nothing to do with the tourists.
When Can I Reserve A Rwandan Gorilla Trekking Permit?
The easiest way to guarantee the gorilla permit and lessen last-minute anxiety is to book it in advance. There is a daily cap of eight mountain gorilla permits per family per trek.
Although gorilla trekking is possible throughout the year in Rwanda, it is most popular during the dry season, which typically lasts from June to September and December to January.
The jungle is teeming with life during this season, and the mountain gorillas are feeding closer to the ground. People who live in national parks, including birds, butterflies, and other primates, are eager to observe other volcanoes.
Because there are typically fewer reservations during the wet season, which runs from March to May and November, you might be able to go gorilla trekking alone.
According to the Rwanda Development Board, there is a chance that gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda will be less expensive during the off-peak months, but this is not a given.
How Much Does a Rwandan Gorilla Trekking Safari Cost?
Rwanda’s gorilla trekking safari packages are categorized as luxury, mid-range, and affordable. The one expense that affects all programs is the gorilla trekking permit.
The following factors are taken into account when creating the gorilla trekking quotation:
The duration of a Rwandan gorilla trekking safari
The cost of the safari increases with the number of days on the Rwandan gorilla trekking vacation. The majority of service providers have daily fees.
When to reserve a Rwandan gorilla trekking safari
Gorilla trekking is expensive during the busiest time of year because of the strong demand for services, particularly from nearby Uganda safari reservations.
The frequency of your gorilla trekking excursions in Rwanda
In Rwanda, you can go gorilla trekking more than once. For every interaction, a gorilla permit must be purchased.
The safari package you select for Rwandan gorilla trekking
There are three different gorilla trekking packages available: luxury, mid-range, and economical. There are differences in the features and exclusions of each gorilla safari package. The cost of the bundle increases with the number of inclusions.
The quantity of tourists visiting Rwanda for gorilla trekking
The cost per person is lower when going gorilla trekking in a group than when going alone.
What other gorilla trekking activities are available in Rwanda?
Trekking with chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park
Chimpanzee trekking is available in Nyugwe National Park, which has its headquarters in Uwinka. A Rwanda Development Board chimpanzee trekking permit is required. Because they are semi-habituated, chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park are likely to venture into the park’s more remote areas at any time.
While trekking with chimpanzees, you might see a variety of different primates, such as grey-cheeked mangabey, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus,
You can sport a variety of birds because the forest is home to a large variety of them.
Akagera National Park game drives
In Akagera National Park, you can go on a game drive in the morning or the afternoon. Due to its use as a battlefield during the Rwandan genocide in 1994, the park is still recuperating. Zebras, elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, lions, leopards, and other creatures might be visible to you.
A voyage by boat
You can take a boat ride on Lake Ihema and take in Rwanda’s highlands, often known as the “land of a thousand hills.” Keep an eye out for a variety of birds along the coast, particularly those that feed on the swamp flora.
Rwandan cultural encounter
The Rwanda Ethnography Museum in Huye is a great place to learn about Rwandan ethnology. The various Rwandese cultural norms are explained here. This institution teaches Rwandese arts and crafts as part of a community rule project. The purpose of this is to teach the kids about Rwandan culture. Among other things, you can paint, weave, make ceramics, and perform traditional dance steps.
Visit to Rwanda Genocide Memorials
Many genocide memorials are positioned throughout Rwanda to educate the next generation about the reasons behind the 90 days of ignorance that killed millions of people in 1994. Learn about what might have happened and how Rwanda is moving past this tragedy by going there.
The Gisozi Memorial, St. Familie Memorial, and other genocide memorials are among those you can visit.
Rwandan birdwatching
You can visit a number of birding locations in Rwanda. Among the fascinating places to go birdwatching in Rwanda are the Volcanoes Forest and Nyungwe Forest. Numerous birds, including endemic Albertine birds, can be found in these forests.
Nyungwe National Park canopy walk.
A suspension bridge allows you to cross the thick canopy of Nyungwe National Park. Savor the stunning scenery of the nearby greenery and landscapes.
