Organizing a 1-day tour to see gorillas in Volcanoes National Park
Organizing a 1-day tour to see gorillas in Volcanoes National Park
Organizing a 1-day tour to see gorillas in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. Are you planning on visiting Rwanda for a 1-day tour to see Gorillas? This blog guides you on adequately preparing for the one-day gorilla safari in the Volcanoes National Park. The one-day gorilla safari can be organized as you plan a safari to other safari destinations in Rwanda or Uganda.
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Overview
Gorilla trekking is a lifetime experience where you spot the endangered gorillas in their natural habitat. Thus, all tourists need at least one day to trek the primates.
Volcanoes National Park is in the northwest part of Rwanda and is home to the endangered mountain gorillas. It is the only place where you can do gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park is part of the Virunga region and is home to five volcanic Mountains. These include Bisoke, Gahinga, Karisimbi, Sabinyo, and Mount Muhabura. Consequently, the mountain ranges harbor gorillas and Golden monkeys. Also, they harbor over 178 registered bird species, bushbucks, forest hogs, baboons, and forest elephants among others. On your 1-day gorilla tour to see gorillas in Rwanda, you will have a chance to participate in other activities within the national park. These include golden monkey trekking, climbing one of the volcanic mountains, primate walks, a walk to the twin lakes, and a cultural tour.
Trip info
The one-day gorilla tracking trip in Volcanoes National Park is designed for tourists who wish to see the fully habituated mountain gorillas and have limited time on their safari. If you are in Uganda for a meeting or conference, you can still spot the gorillas in one day for as long as you booked in advance. Limited-time visitors can opt for the one-day gorilla trekking safari in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
This itinerary is for tourists with limited time on their safari. The safari includes transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle, an English-speaking guide, Lunch, and drinking water in a bottle. It’s also inclusive of the gorilla trek permits that cost $1500 per person. The safari cost does not include International flights, optional activities, visa fees, air tickets and tips, and gratuities.
Detailed itinerary of the 1-day tour to see gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda
We set off for the Volcanoes National Park from Kigali at around 5:00 am. Meanwhile, it will take 2 to 3 hours to get there. After getting to the national park, you will be checked at the gate for any illegalities. Thus, all that should not enter into the park will stay at the gate. After that, you head to the park headquarters, where the lead guide carries out a briefing. During the briefing, the guide reminds you about the rules and regulations and puts you into groups of 8. The trek starts immediately after that.
The time you on treks usually depends on the gorillas’ location and where they spent the last night. After finding them, you have an hour with the primates. You have an hour with the gorillas studying their behavior. Consequently, the lead guides introduce the different family members of the gorilla family as you take photos and record videos. The rangers can cut the hour short, but only if the gorillas are not settled.
After trekking the gorillas, we head back to the park headquarters. Here, you’ll get an award/certificate for participating in gorilla trekking.
You can do other activities after gorilla trekking including golden monkey trekking or cultural trips to the Ibyiwacu village. Also, you can partake in bird watching, and primate walks, among others.
Cost of gorilla trek permit in Rwanda
Rwanda is a luxury gorilla safari destination if you compare it with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is because Rwanda, as a country, is marketing itself as a luxury destination. Thus, the gorilla trek permit in Rwanda is at a higher price. The cost of a gorilla permit in Rwanda depends on the type of tourist visiting the country. It costs $1500 for foreign non-residents, and $300 for East African citizens (Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan). Also, it is $500 for African residents per person per trek. Rwanda offers a trek permit discount to tourists who have booked to also visit Nyungwe Forest National Park and Akagera National Park. There’s also a 10% discount to tourists who have come for a conference in Rwanda and buy the gorilla permits in advance.
How to purchase a gorilla permit
You must purchase the gorilla trek permit must be purchased six months before the safari date because they are scarce and sell out fast. You can buy a gorilla permit from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) or through a local tour operator, but the best option is to purchase through a registered tour operator.
When you contact the tour operator, he will ask for your information. (Names and birthdays as they appear on the passport) and the date you want to trek the gorillas. All this is to check for the availability of the permits. After confirming that the permits are available, you will make full payments for the gorilla permit. He’ll then purchase them on your behalf. A copy is sent to show you that the permit has been purchased. When making payments, ensure that this is done at the payments are not made on an individual account but use a company account.
The cost of the gorilla trek safari for one day in Volcanoes National Park
Tourists also need to know the best travel season as they plan a 1-day gorilla safari tour to Rwanda. There are two seasons of travel, which are dry: June to September and December to February. These are the best times to travel; however, they are also considered the most expensive time for gorilla trekking. Trek routes are not a nightmare during the dry season and you can easily use them. The wet season: March to May and October to November are not bad times to go for gorilla trekking. This is because the routes are harder, slippery, and muddy. Also, if you do not mind the rain, It is, however, an excellent time to organize your one-day gorilla trek.
The size of the group you are traveling in for the one-day gorilla safari in Rwanda affects how much you will spend on the safari. If you want to trek the gorillas in Uganda for one day as a group, it will cost you less because of cost-sharing compared to traveling privately.
Tipping might not be mandatory, but it benefits the people helping you on your gorilla trek safari, from the guides to the porter. Tipping is a form of appreciation for the work the service providers have done well. Thus, any amount you give them helps the locals in a big way.
