How many hours can one spend with gorillas in Rwanda?

Only one hour is allowed with the fully habituated mountain 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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Staying with the mountain gorillas in Rwanda is restricted to one hour for conservation reasons, as 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, located in the northwestern part of Rwanda, is the only home to mountain gorillas. This park is home to the only mountain gorillas in the world who love spending time on the slopes of highlands within Volcanoes National Park. The five highlands that condition the topography of Volcanoes National Park 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 Encounter Africa Safaris, 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 gorilla trekking is restricted to one hour, which seems not enough for this sought-after adventure, standing before the majestic mountain gorillas may bring you chills while sweating at the same time, 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: 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, plus the logistics accompanying the gorilla tour, like accommodations. Note that competition for gorilla permit availability and services attending it is high in the dry season.

Prices for logistics like accommodation, vehicle hire, and driver guide fees are generally high in the peak Rwanda Tourism season because of high competition.

Booking the gorilla permits for the low Rwanda, that is, March, April, May, and November, may give you a chance even up to the last minute. This is because there is less demand for these gorilla permits, and the chances of doing the gorilla safari alone or with just the people you are traveling with are high. Sometimes, the Rwanda Development Board also avails discounted Rwanda gorilla trekking permits in the low season terms and conditions apply.

If you have a limited budget but wish to visit Rwanda for a gorilla safari, you may use the low season when there is less competition and demand.

What is the cost of the Rwanda Gorilla permit?

The Rwanda Gorilla permit costs $ 1500 for foreign non-residents, $500 for foreign residents, and $300 for East Africans. To purchase the Rwanda gorilla safari, you must confirm when you hope to do the gorilla trek because rescheduling Rwanda gorilla permits calls for a surcharge.

The cost of the Rwanda gorilla permit covers ranger guide fees, security, local community support, mountain gorilla conservation, one hour 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. To qualify for an installment gorilla permit purchase, you must buy the gorilla permit 90 days before the trekking day and remember to top up 90 days before the trekking day. If you fail to top up your Rwanda gorilla permit, it is re-opened to the public, and the deposit is not reimbursed. 

Can I Reschedule the Rwanda Gorilla permit?

Rwanda Development Board accepts gorilla permit rescheduling, but a surcharge is added. To Reschedule the Rwanda gorilla permit, you need to write to the Rwanda Development Board requesting a new date for your gorilla permit. If you have evidence of why you cannot honor the pre-booked 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, it is rescheduled according to the prevailing gorilla permit availability status per day.

Note

Only gorilla permits that are fully paid for can be rescheduled, and those paid for in installments must be topped up 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 rugged, resulting from the volcanic action in this park. The volcanoes National Park terrain is influenced by five of the six Virunga Volcanoes: mountain Gahinga, mountain Muhavura, Mountain Karisimbi, Mountain Bisoke, and Mountain Sabyinyo.

The mountain gorillas love spending part of their day life along the slopes of the ridges and plateaus within Volcanoes National Park. 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, composed of 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, who may need to be physically capable. The time to see the mountain gorillas requires patience, which children below 15 years may not bear.

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 because the family that was close the day before may be the furthest the next day. Mountain gorillas are free animals that are not restricted by any boundaries. Some Rwanda gorilla trekking families include Karisimbi, Amahoro, Hirwa, Susa, umubano, Sabyinyo, Agashya and others.

The movement of the mountain gorillas may be influenced by factors prevailing in the forest, like the feeding area of the mountain gorillas, the adventurous nature of the mountain gorillas, in case of territorial fight or supremacy, and others. 

Whatever gorilla family you are allocated to is exciting, and you need to embrace it with gladness because you are one of the few lucky tourists of the day to spend an hour with the treasured mountain gorillas in the world.

When you locate the mountain gorillas, you have to exhaust that one hour by watching and taking 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 so that you can 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, where tourists are given information about how to behave while with the mountain gorillas. Tourists are advised not to 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?

• A raincoat or poncho in case it falls any time so that you do not get wet and cold as it rains in this area without warning. 
• Safari boots to cover your feet from getting hurt while trekking to find the mountain gorillas.
• Some warmers as it gets so cold early morning and late afternoon 
• Energy bites to reenergize during the breaks as you trek to find the mountain gorillas.
• A waterproof backpack to carry with your gorilla trekking gear if you need to hand them over to a porter.
• Use garden gloves to cover your palms when traveling and falling in the wilderness.
• Safari hat to protect your head from buzzing insects in the wilderness.
• Insect repellant to keep away insects that may sting you when you are in the wilderness.
• A pair of stockings to tack in your clothes and protect yourself from insects that may creep into them.
• Sunglasses to protect your eyes from insects that buzz in the wilderness.
• A torch
• A camera to keep memories of the gorilla trek.
• Some cash in case you need to make on-ground purchases
• Flip flops
• Travel adopter and charger
• Duffel bag to carry in your belongings, and you need to pack relevantly and light in case you have to offload and carry your bags.
• First aid kit with emergency medication. The wilderness has some inhabitants that may harm you when you least expect it and rough surfaces, too.
• Toiletries, in case your lodge doesn’t provide any
• Light shoe bags for your shoes if you clean them and they do not dry by departure.
• Sunglasses to protect your eyes from buzzing insects that live within the forest

Are you interested in a safari to Rwanda to spend time with the mountain gorillas? Do not hesitate to contact us to plan your safari today.