What is it like to volunteer in Rwanda while on your gorilla trek in Volcanoes NP

To Volunteer in Rwanda during the gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, do state the category of activities you wish to be part of that is social, medical, educational, wildlife, cultural and much more. Provide details of your experience in the field you wish to volunteer in, with convincing back up details. These details will help to introduce your request to the people concerned.

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During gorilla trekking in Rwanda, every tourists must have a permit from Rwanda development board which you present on gorilla safari day. Volcanoes National Park is a pristine rain forest home to the few mountain gorillas in the world, several other mammals, birds, different tree species and more.

As a volunteer in Rwanda, language barrier is expected especially when dealing with the community. Rwandese speak main two foreign language French and English so you need an interpreter sometimes. Breaking the law in Rwanda normally ends in penalties so you need to be get a hint on the common mistake likely to cause you trouble and be very conscience while the country.

What To Expect During Gorilla Trekking In Volcanoes National Park

Hold a valid gorilla permit from Rwanda Development board to attend gorilla trekking and this you present for verification on the date for which it was booked. Do not forget your other identification documents as these are required for verification and some of the details on them are added to your gorilla trekking certificate.

At the ranger station, expect to find other tourists as briefing is compulsory for every tourists on gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda. Late each tourist is assigned a gorilla family to trek and a ranger guide.

Expect to move into the forest to search for the mountain gorillas starting with the trail leading where they were last seen the previous day. Along the way, the trails may be quite steep and messy from the regular rains that fall and a dense network of streams and rivers. Volcanoes forest has high humidity yet less sunrays filter through the thick layers of leaves to the ground.

The thick undergrowth along the trails in the jungle may obstruct the way, with vines draping down but the ranger guide with a machete trims some to create a better path.

Time of locating the mountain gorillas is not quick to determine but do not lose hope because seeing these primates is guaranteed. Shift your focus to other forest dwellers including other primates, birds, different tree species, waterfalls and more. When you finally find the mountain gorillas, do take photos concurrently with watching so that you can enjoy every minute with these primates.

Language burrier is common in Rwanda because the country speaks two international languages French and English. Ensure to have an interpreter with you in some places especially when volunteering in the community.

What to expect during Volunteering in Rwanda

In case you choose to volunteer at the wildlife destinations in Rwanda, do honor the guidelines provided by the park management no matter how much experience you may have in the wild.

Expect to face language barrier because Rwanda has two foreign language generally spoken French and English. Some locals speak their local languages only which may necessitate hiring an interpreter.

As a volunteer, you may face cultural shock while in Rwanda but do not try to undermine the locals especially when volunteering in the community. Those with the information you desire to collect from the communities may withhold it. Try to engage in community activities so that the locals can feel comfortable with you and open up.

Expect to use local currency in Rwanda (Rwandese Francs) as means of exchange because credit cards are not common means of exchange used in the country. Do carry some hard cash that you can exchange into local currency from a bank or forex bureau.

While moving in the town centers in Rwanda, protect your precious belongings from public watch because pick pocketers may take advantage of you.

Do not forget to carry your identification documents in case you hope to move around Rwanda for safety reasons.

Expect the weather to remain quite cold in Rwanda most of the day as the climate in the country is also influenced by its highly mountainous environment. Rwanda is referred to as the land of a thousand hills or the Switzerland of Africa.

Do not take photos of the local people in the community without permission.

What are the requirements for booking Gorilla trekking and Volunteering in Rwanda

Rwanda Gorilla permit

Book a gorilla permit for Rwanda in advance to avoid last minute disappointment when they sell out. Each day maximum 8 gorilla trekking permits are opened to the public per family.

Contact Where to volunteer in Rwanda

In case you wish Encounter Africa safaris to be the ground handler of your Rwanda safari including where to volunteer, avail us with your details and the right back up experience in relation to your proposal.

Our team of safari consultants will send your proposal to the companies or organizations in Rwanda that are within your interests. Do provide your official details to be used for verification where necessary.

Do not expect an urgent response because of protocol that most organizations or bodies have to go through. This is why we encourage our volunteers to start planning this in advance just in case there are some delays.

Reserve accommodation to use when in Rwanda

Whether on gorilla trekking tour or volunteering in Rwanda, you need to reserve appropriate accommodation. Accommodations in Rwanda are categorized into Luxury, mid-range and basic.

Volcanoes National Park Accommodations: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Hotel Muhavura, Kinigi Guest house, Mountain gorilla View Lodge, Bisate Gorilla Lodge, Hotel Lebambou, Gorilla Nest Lodge, Hotel Mille Collines

A number of accommodation options are available in Kigali for all budgets.

Book Transport

To get around Rwanda, you need to book transport and road transport is the main means to get around the country but on winding roads. One can choose to use private or public transport to get to various destinations in Rwanda.

In the peak season that is June to September and December to January, most transport services are over booked so it is better to secure yours especially private means in advance. Do hire a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition and terrain resistant to traverse Rwanda because the roads in the countryside are not in a good condition.

Exercise Before Gorilla Safari

The Volcanoes National Park has steep topography with five of the famous six Virunga Volcanoes especially Mountain Gahinga, Sabyinyo, Karisimbi, Bisoke and Muhavura. The gorilla trekking adventures in Rwanda are quite steep.

Even when you wish to volunteer in the community in Rwanda, expect to hike to get to some locations so you need to have some level of fitness.

No need to do routine vigorous exercising in preparation for a safari in Rwanda but maintain some level of fitness.

Cross Check With Gorilla Safari Packing List

As you pack to prepare for travel to Rwanda, do cross check with the list of items to pack for gorilla trekking. You need to make sure you have safari boots, safari hat, long sleeved shirt, insect repellant, extra clean wear, warmers and more.

Do not forget to pack the materials to use during volunteering in Rwanda in case you require to have some especially if you are volunteering in n education center.

Extra hard cash

Carry extra hard cash on you to use for on ground purchases. Credit cards in Africa are no common because of the lengthy process of collecting money from them. It is easier to change cash into local currency while in Rwanda from a bank or forex bureau.

We encourage our clients to generously tip those who extend a service as a token of appreciation.

How Safe Is The Gorilla Trekking Safari And Volunteering In Rwanda

Gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda is safe even though it happens in the thick forest called Volcanoes National Park which seems to be endless. Before proceeding to find the mountain gorillas, tourists must attend compulsory briefing where guidelines of how to behave when searching and with the gorillas is communicated.

Rwanda is one of the safe African safari destinations a lesson they learnt from the effects of 1994 Rwanda genocide. Some of the reasons why the genocide memorials in Rwanda re preserved to mind the locals or tourists of the effects of ignorance that ended in the massive deaths. Security in Rwanda is paramount and breaking the law ends in hefty penalties.

During gorilla trekking, the group is accompanied by a professional ranger guide and tourism police officer with a rifle in case of an emergency.

When volunteering in the community, ensure you report to the local authorities of your activities and do not try to criticize the way of life for the locals so as to create a relationship with them.

Stay closer to fellow trekkers even though the ranger guide follows the pace of the slowest trekker. Sometimes during breaks, you may step away for a short call however, you must not step away without informing the ranger guide.

Safety starts with you so wear the right gears to protect yourself from the harsh conditions in the jungle. Do not carry your precious items around especially those you are afraid of losing.

When Do You Return From Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda

Returning from gorilla trekking in volcanoes National Park varies with factors likely to encounter in the wilderness and pace of fellow trekkers.

While on the search for the mountain gorillas, the ground is quite soggy and slippery from the decomposing matter and regular rains that fall. The humidity in Volcanoes forest is high almost all year which may delay your movement but carry some waterproof warmers.

Some clients have returned from Rwanda gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park after an hour or more depending on factors like weather conditions of the day, food source location for the gorillas and more. To enjoy the entire adventure, tourists are encouraged to look elsewhere in the forest because there is so much to see beyond focusing on the gorillas.

When blessed with the presence of the mountain gorillas only one hour is allowed with them but utilize it to your best including preserving memories to turn to later like photos, filming and more.

When Is The Best Time To Do Gorilla Trekking And Volunteer In Rwanda

The dry season which is June to September and December to January is the best time to volunteer and do gorilla trekking in Rwanda.  Note that Rwanda is open for most activities all year with no exceptional seasons that are extreme. Even the wet season which is March to May and November is open for safari activities in Rwanda too.

For Rwanda gorilla trekking in the dry season, expect to find the gorillas on ground most of the time because in the tree copies, there is less to eat in this season as competition for most eats is high. Even though gorillas do not normally drink water because of the so much foliage they consume, in the dry season, they get down to quench thirst too.

Volunteering in Rwanda during the dry season gets you to different parts of the community in case you are to work with the locals. If volunteering in the wildlife centers, exploring the forest is quicker and collecting necessary samples or data is less fear of not finding it in the dry season.

Note that more tourists are expected in Rwanda in the dry season as it serves as the peak tourism season.

For wet season Rwanda safaris, since fewer tourists are expected at most destinations, chances of not getting distracted during gorilla trekking or while volunteering are more possible.

In case you desire to find infants during gorilla trekking, the wet season may provide that opportunity. This is because there is sufficient food supply to support the increased population of forest inhabitants.

Contact our team for more information and bookings for your Rwanda gorilla trekking safari.