Whenever Rwanda is mentioned, many peoples mind rush to the endangered mountain gorilla, its true this small country with the most densely population in the world, is gifted to be among the few countries in the world to house the rare mountain gorillas. not only housing but regarded as the best destination for gorilla tracking. There is no word that can describe mountain gorilla tracking in the world but those who have got a chance to meet these apes in the wild say, ‘’there is no magical experience in the world than an encounter with the rare mountain gorillas’’. Many people in world come to Rwanda specifically to see these endangered apes in the wild for at least 1-2 days while studying their behaviors as well as taking photography for a period of an hour with the animals.
Their only 900 of the remaining mountain gorillas that are left in the wild and a big number live in Uganda, Rwanda and the rest live in Democratic Republic of Congo. Many travelers prefer tracking in the Volcanoes of Rwanda since the gorillas in the PNV are easy to track as compared to gorillas of Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo, within one hour you can meet one of the gorilla groups and by 1.00pm you are at the lodge for lunch and due the park’s proximity, one can easily track and come back to Kigali or depart within one day. This means that its just 2-3 hours’ drive from Kigali Rwanda’s capital and largest city to volcanoes national park in Ruhengeri Musanze district,
If one is interested in a one day gorilla safari , one has to drive from Kigali(accommodation) to Kinigi park headquarters for a briefing from the park wardens before 7:00am about the dos and don’ts while with gorilla and then after follow the ranger guide to the forest to begin the activity. After tracking you drive back to Kigali or at the airport to meet your departure flight back home. This is very difficult in Uganda and DRC due to a long distance involved reaching the park(Bwindi and Mgahinga in Uganda or Virunga national park in DRC).
Rwanda has twelve habituated gorilla families (Habituated means they are used to short visits by humans.) 10 gorilla families are ready for tracking and the two are used for research purpose. In each gorilla family 8 members are only allowed to track meaning that 80 people track gorillas every day. These apes are fabulous fan to watch in their natural habitat meeting eye to eye with the silverback gorilla is a memorable moment in life very difficult to forget.
Rwanda gorilla tracking is regarded as the most expensive done activity, but it’s regarded as the most done Rwanda’s tourist activity over 80% of travelers to Rwanda go gorilla tracking this has generated a lot of revenue to the government of Rwanda and hence improves the well being of the people especially those that live near the park. Rwanda gorilla permits costs 750 USD per person per tracking and this fee includes park entry fee and a ranger guide and permits are sold at the Rwanda tourism board Offices (ORTPN) found in Kigali (close to the PNV). For any gorilla tours and permits contact us we shall get back to you swiftly.