Is it possible to do multiple gorilla treks in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda?

Is it possible to do multiple gorilla treks in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda? Indeed, multiple gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes National Park is open as long as you secure your gorilla permits per the number of times you wish to do this adventure. Volcanoes National Park is the only Rwanda gorilla habitat that hosts 15 gorilla trekking families.

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Some of the gorilla families of Volcanoes National Park include the Sabyinyo family, Amahoro family, Umubano family, Susa family, Muhoza family, and others. When you book gorilla trekking permits at the Rwanda Development Board, you may request each permit for the days of your gorilla trek to be allocated in a different family to have some moments with various gorilla families.

 If you wish to have multiple gorilla trekking experiences in Volcanoes National Park, then you need to reserve your gorilla permits as soon as possible before they sell out. A maximum of 8 gorilla trekking permits are opened daily for the public to book.

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we can assist you in booking your Rwanda gorilla permits and additional amenities of the gorilla safari like accommodation, transport, server guide, additional Rwanda Safari activities and so much more. When you enquire from us and fill our Enquiry form with the necessary details, our safari consultant checks for gorilla permit availability per your dates of preference from the list of Rwanda Development Board.

Upon finding availability, we request you secure your gorilla permits as soon as possible since they are for multiple gorilla treks and may be sold out quickly. Demand for gorilla permits is high, yet supply is limited to a maximum of 8 per gorilla family per day, creating scarcity.

Gorilla trekking is done once daily as it is quite a tedious and fun adventure. So you need to have a number of days on safari in order to enjoy the entire experience. Booking is required to avoid last-minute disappointment when planning your gorilla trek in Rwanda.

How Can I Book Multiple Gorilla Trekking Permits For Volcanoes National Park?

As mentioned earlier, you must have dates and the number of people you are to do gorilla trekking with. This helps with gorilla permit availability checking, as you do not move back and forth.

Upon receiving your enquiry, our safari consultant checks for gorilla permit availability from the list of the Rwanda Development Board and gets back to you as soon as possible. If there is no availability, he or she may suggest you alter the dates of your gorilla trekking safari in case you are comfortable with it. Our safari consultants are professional and experienced in organizing several gorilla safaris in Uganda for over 10 years. Our goal is to work with you to tailor the most suitable gorilla trekking safari itinerary.

When the gorilla permits are available per your suggested dates, we advise you to book them as soon as possible to ensure they are sold out. Gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. None of these gorilla permits is reserved without payment.

Send some personal details later for record keeping and identification on the day of the gorilla trek. Forward your full name as presented on the passport, date of birth, Nationality, and expiry date.

What Is The Cost Of Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Permits?

The Rwanda gorilla trekking permit costs $800 per person for foreign nonresidents, $700 for foreign residents and 300000shsh for East African residents. 

Rwanda offers a discounted promotional gorilla permit price of $1050 to foreign nonresidents who travel to Rwanda in the low season of March, April, May and November. The condition for this discount is that you have at least two nights in Akagera National Park, Nyungwe National Park, or both.

What Is Included In The Cost Of Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Permit?

The cost of a gorilla trekking permit for Rwanda includes the following:

• Ranger guide fees.
• Park entrance fees.
• Security during gorilla safari.
• Local community support.
• Mountain gorilla conservation support.
• A certificate after gorilla trekking.
• One hour with the mountain gorillas.

Exclusions in the gorilla permit cost are transport, accommodation, porter hire and any other items of personal expenditure.

When Is The Best Time To Book Multiple Gorilla Trekking Safari In Rwanda?

Rwanda is open for gorilla trekking adventure anytime, but the dry season is most preferred. This serves as the peak Rwanda Tourism season too. The dry season in Rwanda usually is June, July, August. September. December and January.

The wilderness may have less precipitation and be full of life. Apart from the mountain gorillas, even other primates like the black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkeys and others may be easier to spot. The Virunga area is a birder’s haven, so you can also spot various bird species, including Albertine rift endemics. The trails you follow in search of the mountain gorillas are generally drier and passable since more sunray penetration is allowed through the dense forest canopy to the ground in the dry season.

Since demand for the gorilla trekking permits of this season is over the top, you need to secure your gorilla permits as soon as possible at least 6 months to a year in advance.

During the low season, which normally serves as the wet season, demand for gorilla permits is lesser, but availability is only a guarantee sometimes. Secure your gorilla permits upfront to avoid disappointment at the last minute. Chances of finding last-minute gorilla permits are more open in the wet season.

Which is the Best and Quickest Gorilla Trekking Family To Book In Volcanoes National Park?

Determining the best gorilla trekking families to trek in Rwanda depends on what you prefer to see. Each of the 15 gorilla families of Volcanoes National Park has differing traits. Some have many family members, others have charming members, and so much more. Some gorilla trekking families in Volcanoes National Park include the Hirwa, Agashya, Amahoro, Umubano, Sabyinyo, and Muhoza families.

Gorilla trekking family allocation in Rwanda is done on the day of the trek, and the criteria used to allocate the gorilla families is hard to determine. 

Sometimes Rwanda gorilla families are allocated according to physical capability, age bracket, interests, etc. This can only be done on the day of the gorilla trek after briefing. 

Determining the quickest gorilla family to trek is hard as the movement of the mountain gorillas is unrestricted. They are wild animals that meander freely in the wilderness. The gorilla family that was close the previous day may be the furthest the next day. You must be patient and enjoy the walk to find the mountain gorillas.

How Difficult Is Gorilla Trekking In Volcanoes National Park?

Gorilla trekking is generally strenuous in Rwanda because of the steep slopes. Rwanda is the land of a thousand hills, and the Volcanoes National Park is not excluded. The topography of Volcanoes National Park comprises five of the six Virunga Volcanoes: Mountain Sabyinyo, Mountain Muhavura, Mountain Karisimbi, Mountain Bisoke and Mountain Gahinga.

These mountains have a lot of influence on the topography of Volcanoes National Park. Sometimes, the mountain gorillas spend their day on the slopes or deep in the valley. Tourists are required to hike in order to get to them. Some level of fitness is required in order to enjoy the entire experience. Sometimes, you may be required to creep beneath the tangled vines to get to the mountain gorillas.

Patience and physical fitness protect you from getting bored and exhausted while you trek to find the mountain gorillas.

The ranger guide follows the pace of the slowest trekkers so that no one is forgotten in the wilderness, but try not to delay the rest. 

Cary the required gorilla trekking gear so you can walk through the soggy and slippery conditions in the wilderness. Doing some simple exercises before the gorilla trek saves you from getting tired in the wilderness.

Why Do I Have To Hire a Porter In Gorilla Trekking Safari in Volcanoes National Park?

A porter is a local person you can hire to carry your gorilla safari gears while you search for the mountain gorillas. The porters are affordable and can be booked before starting a gorilla trek. The porter may also give you a push when you are so tired. This is all an experience you can have while you trek to find the mountain gorillas.

Hiring a porter is one of the most direct ways to give back to the local community, as the funds collected are used to support the running of their day-to-day lives like paying for health care, purchasing scholastic materials, and so much more.

 You also contribute to sensitizing the local community about the relevancy of conserving mountain gorillas and their habitats. When these porters get paid, they go back to the community and spread the gospel about the importance of the mountain gorillas. Even those who think about setting snares for the mountain gorillas and others primates get to know about this gold amidst their community.

When Do You Return After Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park?

Finding the mountain gorillas is hard to determine, but some tourists have located them in two hours while others have spent over three-quarters of the day. Upon finding the mountain gorillas, only an hour is permitted with them for conservation reasons. 

Return time after gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is unknown as it depends on factors prevailing in the wilderness:

In case of food scarcity, the death of a gorilla family member, a fight from another gorilla family, the pace of other trekkers and so much more.

You need to be patient and open your mind to see other interesting features in the wilderness like other primates, birds, beautiful butterflies, different bird species and so much more.

Do Mountain Gorillas Bite?

Mountain gorillas are serene primates even if the outside world portrays them as aggressive, especially in the animals and films. When you finally locate them during gorilla trekking and look at their faces, you realize they are also shy. Although you are advised never to stare at them, sometimes it is inevitable but do it stealthily. 

When angry, these primates hoot, thump hard their chests, walk on one foot, and dash into the deeper forest when agitated. Upon observing these behaviors, do not panic, as you may cause a stampede in the forest.

Wait for the ranger guide to establish the root cause of the matter and provide a solution. It would be best if you abide by the rules of the forest to enjoy that one hour with the mountain gorillas.

Sometimes, the mountain gorillas may be having a family feud or may have been attacked by a wild gorilla family, but no matter the reason, follow the instructions from the ranger guides.

What can I pack for Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda?

• A camera to keep photos of your gorilla trekking experience 
• Garden gloves in case you need to hold a tight grip when you trip and fall
• Safari boots are comfortable enough to walk through the soggy and slippery jungle.
• Safari hat with a foldable large brim
• A torch
• Insect repellant to keep away from buzzing insects in the jungle.
• Long trousers and shirt in wilderness-friendly colors.
• A pair of binoculars
• Backpack to carry with your gorilla trekking gear
• Flip flops
• Shoe bags to put in your shoes so they do not stain your other items when repacking. 
• Toiletries in case your lodge doesn’t provide 
• Extra cash for on-ground purchases as credit cards are not commonly used for African transactions.
• First aid kit with emergency medication
• Travel adaptor and charger
• Duffel bag that you can carry in case you get no assistance 

It is possible to organize multiple gorilla treks in Volcanoes National Park. Contact us for more information.