There is no doubt that Volcanoes National Park gorilla safari is a humbling experience, which happen once in lifetime. The credibility of a gorilla trek in Africa is proved by millions of travelers who flock gorilla destinations every day to have a face-to-face encounter with the gentle and incredible mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. While planning to go for a gorilla safari in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, expect a variety of things along the way, during and after the incomparable thrilling adventure in the jungles. A gorilla safari in Africa can only be done in three countries of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo meaning that a traveler who intends to see gorillas must travel to any one of the three countries. In the course of a safari, various happenstances take place, which you should be ready for. To ensure a smooth flow of your gorilla safari experience, we offer you a highlight of things you should expect from the start to the end of the trekking session.
Expectation on a Gorilla safari adventure in Volcanoes
On the day of trekking, you will have an early morning breakfast and transfer from the hotel/lodge to the headquarters of the respective national park for a simple briefing at as early as 7:00am. You will be introduced to the dos and don’ts to ensure safety while with the endangered species. Still there, you will be joined in groups of eight people and then allocated a particular gorilla family. All responsible government bodies in gorilla destinations legally allow 8 people as a maximum number of travelers to interact with each gorilla family. These bodies are the Uganda wildlife (UWA), Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Institute of Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) in Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC respectively.
What can I carry along on a Gorilla safari?
You must carry a valid gorilla permit along with other travel documents such as passports for clarification. The permit comes along with the receipt bearing the names of the trekker and the sector of the national park Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija or Buhoma for the case of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Without a permit, no one is allowed to trek gorillas and is valid for an hour. Rwanda Eco Company & Safari guide will be having all you document and the permits and will help to carry out all the necessary process for the gorilla trekking, you only have to sign where necessary.
For interested visitors on safari to Rwanda, gorilla families are divided into two; research and tourism purposes and the ones that only accessible by scientists and researchers, they include the Pablo’s Shida’s and Beetsme gorilla family. Rwanda has more than 15 gorilla families but only 10 (ten) have been set for tourism where only 8 (eight) visitors are assigned to track one family each day. The group includes Susa gorilla group, Amahoro gorilla group, Umubano gorilla group, Karisimbi group, Sabyinyo gorilla group, Kwitonda gorilla group, Hirwa gorilla group, 13 group, Bwenge gorilla group.
When to book the gorilla permits?
Due to high demand for gorilla permits, travelers are always reminded to book for the permits at least 6 months before the actual date so as to avoid disappointments at the last hour. This will also help you to get the permits on the exact dates that do much your travel dates. For more information, get in touch with Rwanda Eco Company & Safaris, they have all the answers to your query and are more than ready to assist you.
