Gorilla tracking tours from Cyanika boarder Rwanda
Gorilla tracking tours from Cyanika boarder Rwanda – Volcanoes National park and Mgahinga National Park
Gorilla tracking tours from Cyanika boarder Rwanda – Cyanika border is located between Uganda’s Mgahinga gorilla national park and Rwanda’s volcanoes National park this makes it easy track gorillas in both Uganda and Rwanda with short drives between the two countries. From the border Mgahinga gorilla national park is 45 minutes’ drive and volcanoes national park is 1 hour drive to the park headquarters in Kinigi. Great adventure safaris can arrange gorilla tracking safaris in both countries without any hustle, and it is a double blessing you can chose which side to take either Rwanda at $1500 per person per trek and Uganda at $700 per person per trek.
Volcanoes National park
Volcanoes National Park (also Known as “Parc National Des Volcans in French and as well as Pariki y’igihugu y’ibirunga in Kinyarwanda”) is found in the Northwestern parts of Rwanda sharing borders with Mgahinga Gorilla National park in Uganda and Virunga National park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Volcanoes National Park is the origin to five of the ancient eight volcanoes of the Virunga Mountains which include Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhavura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo, the rainforests and the bamboo vegetation covers an area of 160 km2. The park is home to one of the world’s greatly endangered species that are the Mountain gorillas and golden monkeys.
The park was gazzeted in 1925 as a small area encompassing only Bisoke, Karisimbi and Mikeno with an aim of combating poachers from hunting the Gorillas and hence making it the first national park to be created in Africa.
Volcano National park is a must visit park and is the leading tourist destination in Rwanda though Rwanda has got her sister game parks like the Nyungwe and Akagera national park.
The offers a lot of memorable experiences to a tourist while on an adventure in Rwanda for example An amazing hike to Dian Fossey tombs who was an American primatologists who arrived in Rwanda in 1967 to study Mountain gorillas, she did her research for almost two decades and she was murdered by poachers in 1985, trekking magnificent golden monkeys which are a rare species to be sighted is another interesting activity, Mountain gorilla tracking is the first priority of every tourist who’s doing a tour in Rwanda.
The gorillas are critically endangered with less than 1000 gorillas left in the whole world and gorilla tracking in Volcano starts at Kinigi the park headquarters (the park has 11 habituated gorilla families) and each gorilla family can be tracked by a group of eight people per day and gorilla permit goes for $1500 USD each.
Volcanoes National Park also offers an additional experience of rare golden monkeys trekking in the highlands of the Virunga Mountains. This another beautiful adventure in the park as most visitors book 3 -4 days to as well enjoy the beautiful Golden monkeys in the park. Trekking the Golden monkeys goes for around $100USD per individuals permit. This is a less tiresome activity because it takes only few hours unlike gorilla trekking in the thickets of the park.
The park boasts of yet another excursion that led to the famous Tombs of the Late Dian Fossey. Dian Fossey was an American primatologist who did her research on the Mountain gorillas for almost two decades. She named her research center as “Karisoke Research Center” combined the two mountains (Mt. Karisimbi and Bisoke). In 1985, she was murdered by poachers and she was laid to rest between the Volcanic peaks Mt. Karisimbi and Mt. Bisoke, near Karisoke Research Center.
For all mountaineers, mountain climbing and mountain hiking lovers, Volcanoes National Park is yet another park to visit and include on your travel list. Mt. Bisoke is at an altitude of 3,700m above sea level with a deep crater lake on top. Hiking Mt. Bisoke doesn’t require Mountain climbing gears but rather you just have to keep fit for climbing up high in the Mountains. This activity goes for 5 – 7 hours and Mt. Karisimbi is the second highest volcanic peaks in the Virunga Mountains.
Another popular activity is the bike riding experience in Rwanda, there are a lot of guided and guided nature walks around the Volcanoes National Park. For example a walk or a ride to Musanze market (Allowing interaction with the locals), a nature walk to yet amazing Twin lakes that are Burera and Ruhondo, a guided walk through the Nyange community brings you to the locals socio-economic lifestyle, a tour to Iby’Iwacu Cultural Villages opens Rwanda’s tradition to foreigners like seeing the Traditional house of a local king, herbal mixtures by an authentic medicine man, Kinyarwanda traditional dance and music and many more interesting experiences.
Gorilla tracking tours from Cyanika boarder to Mgahinga gorilla national park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park was established in 1991 and it features among Uganda most exceptional National Parks that you should consider visiting during your next visit to Uganda the Pearl of Africa. The National Park covers an area of about 33.7 square kilometers and it is the smallest protected area in Uganda. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park with its dense forest is a home of the endangered Mountain Gorillas, the rare Golden monkeys, Bird species and many more.
With an estimate of about 80 rare Mountain Gorillas this Park has only one habituated group and ready for visitors to track. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park lies at an altitude of about 2.227m and 4.127m, south western Uganda. Besides that, the National Park also features three of the eight Virunga Mountain ranges which are Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Gahinga and Mount Muhabura). These Virunga volcanoes stretch up to the Virunga Volcano range of the East Central Africa, Albertine rift in Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and the Uganda border.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park with its thick vegetation is a reason why the its one of the most rainfall catchment destinations in the country with several crater lakes on the Mount Muhabura and swamp crater on the Mount Gahinga summit as well as amazing swamps that lie within the three volcanoes. The National Park also neighbors the Batwa people (pygmies) the famous forest dwellers who are believed to have stayed in the forests for over 500.000 years and left without any effect.
With its mountain gorillas, the National Park can be accessed by road from Kampala, Kabale, Kisoro highway and you will spend about 8 to 10 hours’ drive. You can also fly from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield and then land into Kisoro Airstrip and connect to your booked lodge / hotel or to the National Park by road, less than an hour drive depending on where you are booked for accommodation.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be also accessed through Kigali Rwanda with a four hour driving instead of 10 hours from Kampala, some visitors fly to Kigali International Airport and cross to Mgahinga National Park through Cyanika boarder and this is approximately 4 hour drive. This route has become very popular since the price of Rwanda Gorilla Permits doubled to USD1500 per person per trek. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park now receives many guests especially for short trips like 2 Days Gorilla Safari through Rwanda-Kigali.
Gorilla trekking
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park rewards visitors with lifetime travel experiences in with their Mountain Gorilla Tracking Experience. Mountain Gorilla adventures in this natural forest attract about 75% of the travelers from across the World mainly to track these rare apes while in their natural habitat. In Uganda, Mgahinga National Park is the second Gorilla destination after Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park that you can pay a visit to track the endangered Mountain Gorillas. For those interested in visiting this National Park for Gorilla tracking, you will track the Nyakagezi Habituated Gorilla family the only one ready for visitors in this Park.
Guided Nature Walks and Volcano climbing
Hiking adventures and guided nature walks at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park offers you a chance to hike through the thick forest to the Sabyinyo gorge that also features as the best site for birding safaris and interestingly, visitors can catch a glimpse at the Rwenzori Turaco. The hikes through this National Park take about 4 hours through the Rugezi the popular spot for birding. The hikes also allow you to explore the transcending vegetation zones along the Congo borders where you will glace several calderas. Other incredible wildlife species for you to spot out include the rare Golden monkeys at the Bamboo jungle.
Cultural encounter
After your Mountain Gorilla experience, never miss out to pay a visit to one of the cultural communities adjacent at the National Park and interact with the Batwa people (pygmies). This Batwa trail that takes you through cultural exploration with the Batwa people the famous forest dwellers, hunters and gatherers to explore more about their ancient lifestyle and your presence in the cave is such an incredible moment that you will never wish to leave but rather opt for yet another return to the destination. Contact Great Adventure Safaris to book gorilla tracking tours from Cyanika boarder.