Whenever Rwanda is mentioned, many people’s mind rush to the endangered mountain gorilla. It is true this small country with the most densely population in the world, is gifted to be among the few countries in the world to house the rare mountain gorillas. Rwanda is regarded as the best destination for gorilla tracking. There is no word that can describe mountain gorilla tracking in the world but those who have got a chance to meet these apes in the wild say, ‘’there is no magical experience in the world than an encounter with the rare mountain gorillas’’. Many people in the world come to Rwanda specifically to see these endangered apes in the wild for at least 1-2 days while studying their behaviors as well as taking photography for a period of an hour with the animals.
There are only about 1000 remaining mountain gorillas that are left in the wild and a big number live in Uganda, Rwanda and the rest live in Democratic Republic of Congo. Many travelers prefer tracking the mountain gorillas of Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park) are easy to track as compared to gorillas of Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), within one hour you can meet one of the gorilla groups and by 1.00pm you are at the lodge for lunch. Due to the park’s proximity, one can easily track and come back to Kigali or depart within one day. This means that its just 2-3 hours’ drive from Kigali Rwanda’s capital and largest city to Volcanoes National Park in Ruhengeri Musanze district.
If one is interested in a day gorilla safari , one has to drive very fist from Kigali(accommodation) to kinigi park headquarters for a briefing from the park wardens before 7:00am about the dos and don’ts while with gorilla and then after follow the ranger guide to the forest to begin the activity. After tracking you drive back to Kigali or at the airport to meet your departure flight back home. This is very difficult in Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo due to a long distance involved reaching the park(Bwindi and Mgahinga in Uganda or Virunga national park in DRC).
Rwanda has 12 habituated gorilla families (Habituated means they are used to short visits by humans.) 10 gorilla families are ready for tracking and the two are used for research purpose. In each gorilla family 8 members are only allowed to track meaning that 80 people track gorillas every day. These apes are fabulous fan to watch in their natural habitat meeting eye to eye with the silverback gorilla is a memorable moment in life very difficult to forget.
Gorilla tracking is regarded as the most expensive done activity, but it’s regarded as the most done Rwanda’s major tourist activity. Over 80% of travelers to Rwanda to do gorilla tracking. This has generated a lot of revenue to the government of Rwanda and hence improves the well-being of the people especially those that live near the park.
Gorilla permits costs US$1500 per person per tracking and this fee includes park entry fee, ranger guide etc. Gorilla permits are sold at the Rwanda Tourism Board Offices (ORTPN) found in Kigali. For any gorilla tours and permits contact us we shall get back to you swiftly.