Why trek gorillas in Volcanoes National park – Guaranteed gorilla permits
Why trek gorillas in Volcanoes national park – Rwanda’s gorilla tracking encounters take place in Volcanoes National Park a beautiful and misty national park on the slopes of the volcanic Virunga massif, spanning three countries including Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Together with Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, it remains the only place in the world to view these magnificent creatures, the largest of the great apes, in their natural habitat.
Today there are a total of about 1,000 of the threatened mountain gorillas left in the wild. Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is ranked on top of all destinations for gorilla tracking in the region. It is considered the best managed, with strict rules, well-trained rangers and trackers, and a permitting process that allows a maximum of just 80 guests that are arranged in groups of 8 each visiting one of the 10 available gorilla families per day. This is evidenced by the growing demand from fast-developing economies such as China, Russia and Brazil in addition to the traditional visitors from the U.S. and Europe. Although Rwanda doubled the price of their gorilla-tracking permit earlier in 2017 from $750 to $1,500, they are still becoming increasingly difficult to get given this ever-increasing demand.
When Primate Researcher Dian Fossey decided to dwell here and interact with the mountain gorillas in the slopes of the volcanic Virunga Massif, she famously became the first human to closely relate with this kind of species in the wild. Thanks to the movie version of Dian Fossey’s book, Gorillas in the Mist that helped to draw more attention from people worldwide about the existence of this incredibly intimate wildlife experience. Gorilla tracking is the only wildlife experience where you can get out of the car and move closer to the animals (gorillas), something that cannot be done amongst lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos or the big five for that matter.
Volcanoes National Park is two hours from Kigali International Airport in Rwanda’s capital of Kigali. From the lodge, you drive to the park welcome center very early in the morning, and then the actual treks begin 30-45 minutes away on four-wheel drive roads.
Due to the close proximity of both Rwanda and Uganda’s gorilla tracking destinations, some travellers can also visit the Ugandan side of the massif that has Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks, where permits are less expensive at just $600. The only difference that may make you stick to Rwanda is that the infrastructure this side is less well developed and the hiking is a bit tougher.
Best time for Gorilla tracking in Rwanda.
June to October
The months of June to early October present the long, dry season in Rwanda and as a result, are the best conditions for gorilla trekking. The primates that are endemic to the Volcanoes National Park (mountain gorillas and golden monkeys) are common and easier to see, as well as other resident animals such as elephant and buffalo. Because of such good conditions, these months in Rwanda are deemed as the peak season to travel. If you are looking to travel during these months, we highly recommend booking in advance to guarantee availability on the accommodation and gorilla permits (as only eight permits per gorilla family are issued daily).
Late October – November
The month of November brings the short rains to the country, and although they are less intense and sporadic than the long rains of April and May, the rainfall does represent a “green season” across Rwanda. The trees and plants thrive off the rainfall and as a result, birding in Nyungwe Forest, Volcanoes National Park and Akagera National Park is prolific at this time of year. In regards to the gorilla trekking, this month can sometimes present slightly tougher trekking conditions than the drier months in the year as the forest can be wet and muddy. Overall, the forest is lush and vibrant, with dense green vegetation for the gorillas to wander through.
Decmber to February.
After the short rains in November, the period of December to February present dry and great conditions for visiting Rwanda. The dry terrain makes the trek one of the easiest throughout the year and the risk of malaria is also lower. It is worth bearing in mind though that the festive period in Rwanda is particularly busy and accommodation prices do tend to rise during these months.
March to May.
This period is the long rainy season across Rwanda and East Africa generally and throughout the day, heavy downpours can be expected, especially in the mountainous regions. This is not the best time for gorilla trekking as the walk can be quite challenging with wet and muddy conditions. On the other hand, during the rainy season, mountain gorillas do tend to stick to the lower slopes, as temperatures are warmer and food is more accessible for them. This means that, although you will have to trek through thick mud and dense vegetation, the distance of the trek to see the gorillas will generally be shorter than other times of the year. In Nyungwe Forest, this period is one of the best times to go for those wanting to see the chimpanzees as the primates tend to more stationary, lower on the trees and residing in larger groups. Contact Great Adventure Safaris for details on why trek gorillas in Volcanoes national park and gorilla trekking experience.