You recently developed an interest in gorilla trekking and would love to try the activity in Rwanda. But before you go, you want to learn all you can about the experience. The problem is you don't have much time to spare.
If that sounds like you, you're in luck. We've summarized the essential information about gorilla trekking in Rwanda in this article, so you don't have to browse multiple sites to find it. Keep reading to discover the answers to all your questions about gorilla treks in Rwanda.
The venue for gorilla trekking in Rwanda is Volcanoes National Park. To get to this park, you'll need to fly into Kigali International Airport in Rwanda. Then, board a taxi to the park.But you might be worried about boarding an unsafe vehicle driven by a stranger. In that case, you should book our all-inclusive gorilla trekking tour at Good Earth Tours, which includes a transfer from Kigali International Airport to Volcanoes National Park.
The minimum age for gorilla trekking in Rwanda is 15 years old. This age was chosen because few children under 15 can handle the mental stress that comes with walking across Volcanoes National Park on foot. Even if they endure the stress, they might move more slowly than normal, forcing the rest of the group to reduce their pace.
Another reason why trekking across the gorilla trails in Rwanda is not advisable for children is that they are more susceptible to communicable diseases like cholera, which some trekkers may carry. If an insect bites them during the trek, they may also react more severely to the bites than adults.
In addition, gorilla trekking requires participants to stay calm and quiet when the gorillas are being aggressive to avoid provoking them. Children could get scared and scream or even run away, making the gorilla chase after them.
You'll need a trekking permit to book a gorilla trek in Rwanda. You can either get one from the Rwanda Development Board or through a reputable tour operator like Good Earth Tours.
We recommend working with a tour operator because it is the easiest way to get the permit. As Volcanoes National Park only issues 96 gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda per day, it may take you several months to get your permit if you book it via the Rwanda Development Board. But tour operators can use their experience and familiarity with the environment to help you skip the queues.
Even if you are booking the gorilla trek through a tour operator in Rwanda, you'll still need to book in advance so you can get your permit before your trek.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda isn't dangerous. The park authorities have implemented several safety measures to protect tourists throughout the trek.
The gorillas at the Volcanoes National Park have undergone habituation, a process that trains them to interact freely with humans without attacking them. (Link to video below)
Before you start the trek, the staff at the park will brief you on how you should behave around the gorillas to avoid provoking them. One of the most important tips is maintaining a submissive stance in front of the gorillas.
Professional park rangers lead you to the gorillas, wielding AK-47 guns to prevent buffaloes and other surrounding wildlife from harming you. If a gorilla tries to attack you, these rangers will deploy their experience to control and communicate with the gorillas until they retreat.
All the hotels and lodges for gorilla trekkers are situated away from the wild to guarantee maximum protection for everyone. And since the natural water is unsafe for drinking, all the restaurants in the area sell water out of packaged bottles.
As a trekker, you also have a part to play in ensuring your safety. It is important to reach your destination before dark, as staying out too late at night will put you at risk of getting robbed. You'll also need to obtain vaccines against rampant diseases like yellow fever, malaria and cholera ahead of your trip.
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda is challenging. You'll have to deal with high altitudes, slippery trails, and steep rocks on your way to the gorillas. This is why you need to become fit before embarking on your gorilla trek. A fit body will help you maintain your balance on the taxing gorilla trails.
Wearing comfortable clothes will also make gorilla trekking easier for you. Go for athletic shirts, hiking pants, hiking boots, and sports bras. These clothing items will help you move freely across the rocks and muddy paths on the tracks.
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda takes an average of 3 days. On the first day, you arrive at the Kigali Airport in Rwanda and transfer to your hotel.
Then, from dawn on the second day, you start your gorilla trek and end by noon. You can spend the rest of the day recovering from the stress of walking across Volcanoes National Park on foot. Or you could go for a relaxing massage in a nearby spa. The third day is for returning to the airport to head out of Rwanda.
That said, you can spend longer than three days on your gorilla trek tour if you want to. There are other places like the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which you would love to visit.
Luckily, our gorilla trekking tours at Good Earth Tours include a trip to the Kigali Genocide Memorial to discover the history of genocide against the Tutsi tribe in Rwanda. So, you won't have to book the tour separately if you want to visit the building.
Volcanoes National Park only experiences two seasons. One of them is the rainy season, when the heavy rains make the road slippery, and the weather stays chilly for most of the day. You should only book a gorilla trek in this season if you are an experienced hiker. The rainy season falls between March - May, and October - December.
The other season is the dry season. In this season, the weather is hot for most of the day. As such, the rocks on the trails are parched, and even people who are slightly out of shape can hike the trails with little difficulty.
Please note that the weather in this season isn't always predictable. Sometimes, a slight drizzle may occur in the middle of the dry season. In fact, many of the nights in the dry season are chilly.
We have also experienced burning hot weather on many occasions during the rainy season.
This is why we recommend that you always pack warm waterproof tops, coats, hiking pants and hiking boots regardless of when you are trekking at Volcanoes National Park.
Check out the next section for a detailed list of what to wear during your gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park.
Check our article on the best clothes to wear on a gorilla trek for a detailed outline.
The best time for gorilla trekking in Rwanda is the long dry season, which occurs between June and September. Most of the days in this season experience long stretches of sunny weather. As such, the trails become sunbaked, making trekkers move easily through the mountains.
We should note that the other seasons in Rwanda offer unique benefits to gorilla trekkers. Getting a gorilla trekking permit takes less time during rainy months like October and November. Many lodges near Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda also offer discounted accommodation around this time.This is why we recommend that you always pack warm waterproof tops, coats, hiking pants and hiking boots regardless of when you are trekking at Volcanoes National Park.
Check out the next section for a detailed list of what to wear during your gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park.
