Whenever Rwanda is mentioned, what comes first in the people’s mind are the endangered mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. The gorillas are the star attraction of the country, and meeting the great apes in their natural home is quite a lifechanging experience! Today gorilla tracking is the most popular and thought after tourist activity that can be done in Rwanda.
Gorilla tracking is one of the awesome and inspiring moments that one shouldn’t miss while on a safari in Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park [also known as PNV], which protects almost half of the remaining population of the mountain gorillas that live in the section of the Virungas, is a popular place for gorilla tracking most especially for tourists looking for shorter trips to the endangered gorillas.
Mountain gorillas are regarded as endangered species! Currently in the whole world there are only 880 mountain gorillas remaining in the whole world. These great apes live within three countries i.e Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda is home to a couple hundred mountain gorillas. Nearly half of the total remaining world population of the gorillas live within the Volcanoes National Park. Unfortunately, these gorillas are currently endangered and thus require maximum protection.
Many travelers prefer to do gorilla trekking in Rwanda given that the Volcanoes National Park can be easily accessible from Kigali (just 3 hours drive along a tarmacked road). The Volcanoes National Park is more accessible than the impenetrable forests of Bwindi and the Virunga National Park in DRC. Today, Rwanda is the leading safari destination for mountain gorilla tracking in the world.
Gorilla Groups
There are ten habituated gorilla families that are officially open for trackers in Rwanda;
The susa group; This is the highly populated gorilla group with about 39+ mountain gorillas Including about 3 silverbacks, 5 black backs, 8 females, 12 youths and 3 infants. This group has the biggest male and can often be up to 5 hours trek a day. If you get a chance tracking this group, it will become your finest and memorable moment with wildlife.
The amahoro group; recorded to be with a total of 15 gorillas with 1silver back, 5 females, 1 black back, 3 youths and 2 infants.
Sabinyo group; This is recorded to be with a total population of 9 gorillas comprised of 2 silverbacks, 2 youths, 2 infants and 3 females
Umubano group; This group has a total population of about 7 gorillas with 1 silverback, 1 youth, 2 females and 1 infant.
Group 13; This group consists of an overall total of 10 gorillas with 1 silverback (leader), 4 females, 1 youth and 4 infants.
Gorilla Tracking in Volcanoes National Park
Mountain gorillas in Rwanda are mostly found in Volcanoes National Park situated in Musanze district covering about 125 km² of incredibly scenic forest-covered mountains, as well as six volcanoes. The park’s gorillas are uniquely known as the most wholly habituated in their families. They mostly prefer staying in bamboos than dense forests; this fate makes photograph lovers easily take photos with a very clear view of these 98% human giants.
Rwanda is chiefly enriched with about 10 well habituated groups of the internationally rare Mountain gorillas. Most of them can be sighted in Volcanoes National Park (Parc National des Volcans), that is part of the Virunga Conservation area. This is where Dian Fossey devoted all her life to study about and discover the behavior of these then highly poached and mistreated animals.
Currently there are ten habituated gorilla groups that can be visited by eight tourists per group every morning, meaning that eighty permits’ are available daily. These gorilla tracking permits cost US$ 750 each, and advance booking is usually necessary atleast 3 monts to your preffered dates most especially in the peak season.You can make a booking for gorilla permits through at a local tour operator, or directly through the Rwanda Development Board [RDB]. The RDB offices are located along the Boulevard del l’Umuganda in the capital Kigali or via email at eresevetion@rwandatourism.com (website: www.rwandatourism.com]. If you are prepaid to risk non-availability, it is also possible to pitch up at the park headquarters at the Kinigi the day before you want to track, and to buy the permit on spot.
Gorilla Safari Planning
Any safari to Rwanda without gorilla tracking is regarded as incomplete. Watching the Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda is one of the top highlights of most journeys into East Africa. This rare experience is one the magical things that Rwanda offers to its tourists! However, this adventure comes with a price that aims at not only protecting the great apes on which tourism is based but also improving the well being of the locals that live in the neighborhoods of the park. Gorilla trekking is a one of a kind experience to be able to follow and view these amazing creatures. This kind of vacation is perfect for anyone who cares about gorillas and nature or wants a once in a lifetime opportunity for an amazing experience trekking through Rwanda. Also, by visiting Rwanda for a gorilla tour, one can help support Eco-tourism and a sustainable economy that can help the gorillas.
About the Mountain Gorillas
They are very intelligent creatures capable of using tools and communicating amongst themselves.
They are now accessible to people who wish to see them and spread the word about their plight. There are several tour operators in Africa that offer amazing trips to the gorillas. These Rwanda Safari tours take people to view troops of mountain gorillas. A person who goes on this tour will journey into the forested hills and mountains through lush vegetation tracking traces of gorillas.
Trip Planning
Don’t let you tour be cancelled because of visa worries, in Rwanda almost everything in readily solved, visas are available on the border and at the national airport at a general cost of US$60 valid for 30 days.