Travel tips for solo travelers to see gorillas in Rwanda

Travel tips for solo travelers to see gorillas in Rwanda. The tips for traveling solo for gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda include booking the gorilla permit in advance. The Rwanda gorilla permit is like the entry ticket to the gorilla trekking safari. The demand for Rwanda gorilla permits is high yet only a maximum of 8 permits are open to the public per day.

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Reserve the accommodations and other logistics that support the Rwanda gorilla trekking safaris in advance especially during the high tourism season that is normally June to October and December to January. The demand for gorilla safaris to Rwanda is at its peak in the dry season and so are the supporting logistics.

Process the necessary travel documents to Rwanda in advance including applying for the Rwanda visa in case you must possess one before traveling for the gorilla safari. Note that Rwanda is very strict with especially travel documents that you need to possess before traveling into the country.

Where To Do Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is the only home of the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. At the moment about 12 gorilla trekking families of Rwanda are open to the public including Amahoro, Umubano, Hirwa, Susa, Karisimbi, Agashya and others.

The typography of Volcanoes National Park is influenced by mainly five Volcanoes that is Mountain Gahinga, Muhavura, Sabyinyo, Karisimbi and Bisoke. These are among the six renowned Virunga volcanoes of this area. The gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes National Park is quite steep compared to its counterparts in Uganda and D.R.Congo.

Sometimes the mountain gorillas move to the slopes of these mountains or deep in the valley where you need to find them. The only way to find the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park is by hiking to the slopes or down in the valley which is quite tiresome but exciting at the same time.

Other than the mountain gorillas, Volcanoes National Park hosts other primates including golden monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons and others. More than 200 bird species have been recognized as residents of Volcanoes National Park.

Tips For Solo Traveler On Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour

Book Rwanda gorilla permit in Advance

The demand for the limited number of gorilla permits is high no matter the season however it is overwhelmingly high in the peak season that is June to October and December to January. In general, Rwanda usually experiences the dry season in this period too and even though Volcanoes forest is known to receive untimely rains, this period is quite different.

Volcanoes forest has a very dense canopy that permits less sunlight to penetrate through to the ground and dry it but in the dry season, there is more sunrays that penetrate to the ground. This reduces the level of precipitation experienced in the forest where gorilla trekking happens.

Most travelers to Rwanda book their gorilla permits at least 6 months to a year upfront to reduce last minute panic. Note that availability of gorilla permits may change anytime without warning so when you confirm the presence of these permits, it is better to place your order.  Contact us to help book your gorilla trekking permits.

Reserve Accommodation To use For The Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour

Book accommodation to use during the gorilla safari in advance. It is best to reserve where to spend the night before the gorilla tour in Rwanda at least within or closer to Volcanoes National Park. Accommodations to use for gorilla trekking in Rwanda are categorized into luxury, mid-range and basic.

During the high tourism season, the demand for these accommodations also gets high creating scarcity for those who book at the last minute. Accommodation to use at the holiday destination is key in creating an everlasting experience while on safari.

Volcanoes National Park accommodations Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Mountain Gorillas View Lodge, Hotel Lebambou, Hotel Muhavura, Kinigi Guest House, Gorilla Nest, Virunga Volcanoes Lodge

Book Transport to Volcanoes National Park

The main means of transport to Volcanoes National Park is by road but reserve the necessary transport to use. It is better to use a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle to Volcanoes National Park because the road gets messy sometimes. Having an experienced driver is an added advantage too.

At Encounter Africa Safaris, can make your booking to Volcanoes National Park a reality and organize the necessary transport and the right driver guide to make your safari comfortable and memorable.

Charter flights are available from Kigali International Airport to Volcanoes National Park but advance arrangements are required in order to clear all the necessary documents.

During the peak tourism season, the demand for private transport to Volcanoes National Park and other Rwanda safari destination is extremely and yet the options of service providers are also limited. To avoid getting frustrated while on a Rwanda visit, book transport to use in advance. Contact us for assistance.

Apply for Rwanda visa in advance

If you must have a Rwanda visa before visiting the country, apply for it in advance so that you can go through the process in advance. You can apply for a Rwanda visa using the online platform and visit the Rwanda consulate in your country.

Rwanda has the provision of applying for a visa on arrival at immigration but it is quite a long process especially if you have jet lag. To avoid getting disappointed during the Rwanda safari, apply for it in advance.

Ensure you book the international flights to Rwanda Kigali International Airport in advance so that you are not frustrated at the last minute. Missing the international flight may end in missing the gorilla trekking experience if you do not show up. Note that gorilla permits are not none transferable to another date. 

Pack the right gorilla trekking gear. As you pack for the gorilla trekking safari, do not forget to use the guide from the list of gorilla safari gear. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park happens in the wilderness where the environment is quite rough and so you need to wear the necessary gear. Do not forget the most essential gears like tracking boots, rain proof gear, insect repellant, camera, safari long sleeved short and trousers to mention but a few.

Do Exercises before the Gorilla Trekking Safari

The nature of the terrain of Volcanoes National Park is quite steep because of the highlands that form the terrain of this park. Volcanoes National Park has five Volcanoes that is Mountain Muhavura, Bisoke, Gahinga, Karisimbi and Sabyinyo.

Sometimes the mountain gorillas spend time on the slopes or deep in the valleys of this national Park so you need to find them. This makes the gorilla trekking in Rwanda quite steeper compared to her counterparts in Uganda and D.R.Congo. 

To keep fit, do some simple exercises to keep the body fit in case you have to hike during the gorilla trekking tour.

Hire a porter for the Gorilla Trekking safari

Hiring a porter before starting the gorilla trekking is very helpful especially if you have a backpack with some weight. A porter is a person from the local community who helps you carry your gorilla trekking gear and may give you a push when exhausted. This is at quite a small cost and these porters earn a living by helping tourists.

If one of your intentions for visiting Rwanda is to give back to the local community, hiring a porter is one of those direct moves you can use.

Book other Rwanda safaris in advance too

Other than the mountain gorillas, on a visit to Rwanda, you may combine gorilla trekking with other safari activities including game safaris, birding, mountaineering, hiking, Kigali city tour, a genocide memorial tour and others. Advance arrangements are required.

Tip during gorilla safari in Rwanda

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we encourage our clients to generously tip those who offer service that makes your dream Rwanda safari a reality. This is one way to encourage them to better their services and even provide more information. Tipping while on Rwanda safari is compulsory but a token of appreciation.

When Is The Best Time To Book Rwanda Safari As Solo Traveler

Rwanda is open for a visit any time of the year but the most exciting time is the dry season. The dry season in Rwanda is normally June to September and December to January. In general most of the time the weather in most parts of Rwanda has low temperatures compared to other African countries in the tropical region however, in the dry season there is a rise in the temperatures of the country.

This change in the climate also supports some Rwanda safari activities including gorilla trekking. Note that due to high demand for gorilla permits in the peak season, availability is also scarce and those who book this Rwanda safari late may get disappointed. No gorilla permit is booked without payment. Sometimes when you book the Rwanda gorilla permit in advance, you may be allowed to pay for it in instalments terms and conditions apply. There may be chances to reschedule the Rwanda gorilla permit in case you change your mind and prefer a future date.

The wet season which is normally March to May and November is not bad time for booking a Rwanda safari. This is because no matter the season, be sure to find the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.

Compared to the dry season, the wet season gorilla permits in Rwanda may be available even at the last minute because this is the low tourism season of the country however, this is not guaranteed all the time.

How Much Is The Cost Of Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

The cost of the Rwanda gorilla trekking safaris varies with packages that is luxury, mid-range, and basic. The cost of the Rwanda gorilla permit is the foremost price that is at the moment $1500 for foreign nonresidents, $500 international residents, $500 other Africans and $200 for East Africans.

Consider other expenses to incur during the gorilla safari in Rwanda including accommodation, transport, driver guide and others.

Contact our safari consultant to assist with booking the Rwanda gorilla safari and offer the safari quotation that suits your budget and desire. Our safari team has expertise in organising African safaris a position we have achieved in over 10 years experience.

What To Pack For A Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

• A Camera to keep memories of the gorilla safari experience in Rwanda. Rwanda has some unique safari destinations worth adding to your bucket list.
• Binoculars bring closer the far-ranging features at the destinations as sometimes visibility is obstructed by obstacles around these features.
• Rack sack or backpack to carry with your belongings and keep them from scattering.
• Raincoat or waterproof gear in case it is the rainy season and some destinations in Rwanda receive untimely rains.
•  Swimming costume in case you wish to relax by the pool after the long day in the jungle
• First aid kit with properly prescribed medication in case of an emergency. Most safari destinations in Rwanda are in the wilderness
• Warm clothes as temperatures get colder in the morning and late afternoons.
•  A torch to use for lighting in the night in case power runs out. Most of the accommodations within or closer to Volcanoes National Park use solar energy for lighting.
•  Extra fully charged batteries in case one runs out of power
• Travel adapter and charger in case you need to recharge your gadgets
• Water bottle to carry drinking water in case you need it.
• Safari shoes to protect your feet from the harsh conditions in the jungle in case you have to walk in the jungle
•  Insect repellent to keep away stinging insects that may hurt your skin.
• Large brim safari hat to protect your head from buzzing insects that roam the wilderness and other destinations.
• Toiletries in case your lodge doesn’t supply them or just to be sure of them
• Some cash in case you need on ground purchases as credit cards are not a common means of exchange in Africa,
• Sunglasses to use as Rwanda is a tropical country where the sun shines so bright

For more information, kindly get in touch with us.