How many hours to spend with gorillas in Rwanda?
How many hours to spend with gorillas in Rwanda?
Have you been asking yourself how many hours to spend with the gorillas once you find them? Safari Vacations and Travel Services is the tour operator who answers all your safari questions. Hence, you have Only one hour to spend with gorillas in Rwanda. Currently, Rwanda has 15 gorilla families open for a gorilla trekking adventure. Some Rwanda gorilla families include Hirwa, Susa, Amahoro, Agashya, Umubano, Sabyinyo, Karisimbi, and many others.
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The Rwanda Development Board restricts visitors to fewer hours to spend with gorillas in Rwanda. It does this for conservation reasons. Consequently, human presence interferes with the running of the day-to-day life of these primates. Mountain gorillas have to feed on enough food to last them day and night, groom their infants, and so much more.
Volcanoes National Park in the northwestern part of Rwanda is the only home to mountain gorillas. Five highlands condition the topography of Volcanoes National Park. These include Mountain Gahinga, Mountain Sabyinyo, Mountain Muhabura, Mountain Bisoke, and Mountain Karisimbi.
For one to book the Rwanda gorilla permits, you need a date and the number of permits you hope to book before checking permit availability. At Safari Vacations and Travel Services, we can help you secure the Rwanda gorilla permit when you enquire from us. Upon receiving your gorilla safari inquiry, our safari consultant checks availability from the Rwanda Developments Board list because we are an accredited company.
Although RDB restricts gorilla trekking to one hour, the experience is unbeatable. It seems not enough for this adventure, standing before the majestic mountain gorillas. However, it may bring you chills while sweating at the same time. This is due to the magic of being just a few meters from a family of mountain gorillas is unforgettable.
When is the best Time To Book the Rwanda Gorilla Trekking safari?
Rwanda is open for gorilla trekking all year, but most people prefer the drier periods. These are in June, July, August, September, December, and January. Demand for gorilla permits for this season is high, creating scarcity for last-minute safari bookers.
To be on the safe side, you need to pre-book Rwanda gorilla permits at least at least six months to a year in advance. As the peak season opens, gorilla permit availability becomes a hassle. Also, the logistics accompanying the gorilla tour, like accommodations become more expensive. Note that competition for gorilla permit availability and services attending it is high in the dry season.
During the peak season, prices for logistics like accommodation, vehicle hire, and driver guide fees are generally high. Meanwhile, this is because of high competition during this season.
The case of Booking the gorilla permits for the low Rwanda is a bit different. This is usually March, April, May, and November. It may give you a chance even up to the last minute. This is because there is less demand for these gorilla permits. Also, the chance of doing the gorilla safari alone or with just a few people you are traveling with is high. Sometimes, the Rwanda Development Board also avails discounted Rwanda gorilla trekking permits in the low season but terms and conditions apply.
If you have a small budget but wish to visit Rwanda for a gorilla safari, you may use the low season. There is usually less competition and demand for services and permits.
What is the cost of the Rwanda Gorilla permit?
The Rwanda Gorilla permit costs $1500 for foreign non-residents and $500 for foreign residents. Meanwhile, it is $300 for East Africans. To purchase the Rwanda gorilla permit, you must confirm when you hope to do the gorilla trek. This is because rescheduling Rwanda gorilla permits calls for a surcharge.
The cost of the Rwanda gorilla permit covers ranger guide fees, security, local community support, and mountain gorilla conservation. It also includes a few hours (one hour) to spend with the mountain gorillas and a certificate after the gorilla tour.
Exclusions in the Rwanda gorilla permit cost include porter hire, packed lunch, drinking water, and other personal supplies.
Can I Pay in installments for the Rwanda Gorilla permit?
Rwanda Development Board allows installment gorilla permit purchases of 30% and 70%, respectively. However, you must buy the gorilla permit 90 days before the trekking day to qualify for the installment. Also, you should remember to top up 90 days before the trekking day. If you fail to top up your Rwanda gorilla permit, RDB re-opens it to the public and does not refund.
Can I Reschedule the Rwanda Gorilla permit?
Rwanda Development Board accepts gorilla permit rescheduling, but it adds a surcharge. To Reschedule the Rwanda gorilla permit, you need to write to the Rwanda Development Board. you are requesting a new date for your gorilla permit. If you have evidence of why you cannot honor the initial gorilla permit date, add it too for evidence. If you are not comfortable with your details, you may leave this out.
Upon confirming the possibility of rescheduling your gorilla permit, RDB rescheduled it. It rescheduled it according to the prevailing gorilla permit availability status per day.
Note: RDB can reschedule only gorilla permits that you fully paid for. Hence, you must top up for the ones you pay in installments before rescheduling them.
The new gorilla permit date to be rescheduled must be within the year for which the current gorilla permit is booked.
Is Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda Strenuous?
The gorilla trekking adventure is quite tiresome in Rwanda since you have to walk on steep slopes. The topography of Volcanoes National Park is rough, resulting from the volcanic action in this park. Six Virunga volcanoes influence the volcanoes National Park terrain. These include Mountain Gahinga, mountain Muhavura, Mountain Karisimbi, Mountain Bisoke, and Mountain Sabinyo.
The mountain gorillas love spending part of their day life along the slopes of the ridges and plateaus. You need to bear some level of fitness to hike these highlands to locate the mountain gorillas. The thick vegetation that carpets Volcanoes National Park, dense and tangled foliage, sometimes makes the walk in the wilderness challenging. Still, the ranger guide uses a machete to trim some of it.
Pack some energy treats to munch on during the stops while searching to find the mountain gorillas in the wilderness.
What is the age limit for a gorilla trekking tour in Uganda?
The age limit for gorilla trekking in Rwanda is 15 years and over. This is because the gorilla safari adventure involves walking in the forest to find where the mountain gorillas are. Children below 15 years old may not withstand the conditions in the wilderness.
Hiking to find the mountain is quite straining and may be hard for children below 15 years. They may need to be physically capable, which is hard. The time to see the mountain gorillas requires patience, which children below 15 years may not bear. Also, the children usually have communicable diseases like flu which they may transmit to gorillas. These may be fatal as they are transspecies and thus lead to the death of many gorillas.
At a glance, mountain gorillas look intimidating and may stimulate some adrenaline. But, tourists must be able to avoid displaying this reaction to the mountain gorillas. For children below 15 years, it may be challenging.
What is the easiest Rwanda Gorilla family to book?
It is challenging to determine which Rwanda gorilla family is easy to trek. This is because the family that was close the day before may be the furthest the next day. Mountain gorillas are free animals that don’t have boundaries to restrict them. Some Rwanda gorilla trekking families include Karisimbi, Amahoro, Hirwa, Susa, Umubano, Sabyinyo, Agashya, and others.
Several factors prevailing in the forest may influence the movement of the mountain gorillas. These include the feeding area of the mountain gorillas and the adventurous nature of the mountain gorillas. Also, it may depend on whether there is a case of territorial fight or supremacy and others.
Whatever gorilla family the rangers allocate to you is exciting and you need to embrace it with gladness. This is because you are one of the few lucky tourists of the day. You’ll be spending an hour with the most valuable species, the mountain gorillas in the world.
When you locate the mountain gorillas, you have to exhaust that one hour. Watch and take photos to remember this once-in-a-lifetime moment with these primates.
What Criteria Is Used For Allocating Gorilla Families In Rwanda?
There are no criteria used to allocate the Rwanda gorilla permits. On gorilla trekking day, you register with your details at the ORTPN before the briefing. After the briefing, you are given the different Rwanda gorilla families based on their age bracket, physical capability, family relations, interests, and others.
Embrace the gorilla family you are allocated to in Rwanda. This will help you finally keep the excitement that prompted you to book the gorilla tour. Look out for other forest dwellers to keep your eyes busy, as there is plenty to enjoy in this pristine forest. Look out for the stunning landforms and waterfalls from the dense network of rivers. Birders have plenty to see in the forest, unique botany that may be hard to come across outside the park, and others.
Is Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda safe?
Volcanoes National Park is safe for gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Before the gorilla family is opened to the public, it is first habituated for an unknown time until proven ready for public visits. Gorilla habituation is the process by which a wild mountain gorilla family is helped to get accustomed to human presence without altering their nature.
Briefing is very important before heading for the gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park. Tourists get information about how to behave while with the mountain gorillas. Tourists should not make noise while searching or with mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas are sensitive primates that do not need to be provoked at any time because, when angered, they can charge.
Each group of tourists is escorted by at least two ranger guides, one carrying a machete and another carrying a rifle and radio call to communicate with security on the ground.
Other Rwandan security agencies are on the ground to help keep law and order in and around the Volcanoes National Park.
Tourists are advised to only move into Volcanoes National Park with an escorting ranger guide because the chances of encountering other unhabituated forest dwellers are high.
You must also wear the right gorilla trekking gear like waterproof safari boots, garden gloves, safari hat, long-sleeved safari shirt and trousers, and carry a first aid kit and other gear.
What to Pack for Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda?
Packing for a gorilla safari can get a bit hard when you do not know exactly what to pack. Hence, we have come up with a list of the things that you will need for your gorilla trek. These include a refillable water bottle, snacks, sunscreen, and a sunhat for protection from the sun. Also, you need insect repellent because of the many bugs in the forest and a waterproof rain jacket. Additionally, you need a warm sweater/poncho to keep warm, strong hiking boots, a waterproof camera bag, and. binoculars. Don’t forget a camera, flashlight, extra batteries, lenses and storage for the camera, and socks. Conclusively, you may hire a porter at the park headquarters at $15-20. Porters will help you relieve yourself of the load while hiking to the forest.
