Rwanda offers luxury gorilla trekking to visitors from any part of the world. A luxury gorilla trekking adventure involves traveling in a private comfortable 4X4 safari land cruiser, driven by an experienced guide. You can also choose to travel in a luxury helicopter to encounter the critically endangered mountain gorilla family habituated for trekking. On a luxury gorilla trek, you enjoy personalized services with delightful meals and opulent accommodation.
A luxury gorilla trekking tour in Rwanda also involves exclusive tracking of the mountain gorilla family. This is done either solo, or as a couple or family. A Rwanda gorilla trek can only be enjoyed in the evergreen Volcanoes National Park. A driver guide will pick you up from your luxury hotel in Kigali or as soon as you arrive at Kigali International Airport. You will be transferred to a luxury lodge like One&Only Gorillas Nest in Volcanoes National Park.
You will track the habituated gorilla group in its natural home. Additional luxury activities can be included on your tailored itinerary for your own enjoyment. These can be done in and around Volcanoes National Park or other exciting tourist destinations in Rwanda. These include Akagera National Park, Nyungwe National Park and Lake Kivu.
About Volcanoes National Park.
The Volcanoes National Park is situated in northwestern Rwanda and precisely in the Virunga Conservation Area. Here, Volcanoes National Park alone covers a total land surface area of 160 square kilometers and has majority of the volcanoes that comprise the Virunga ranges. These are Bisoke, Karisimbi, Gahinga, Muhabura and Sabyinyo. The composition of vegetation includes alpine and subalpine vegetation, montane forest, bamboo forest and mixed forest etc.
Volcanoes National Park is nestled in the Albertine Graben, hence a biodiversity hotspot. Mammal and bird species residing in Volcanoes National Park are around 115 and 187 respectively. Besides the mountain gorillas, other primate species found here include vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, golden monkeys and black and white colobus monkeys etc. Other mammals include bush buffaloes, bush elephants and bushbucks etc.
Birds in Volcanoes National Park are composed of both migratory and resident species. There are also Albertine rift endemics. The birds found are as follows: Kivu ground thrush, Rwenzori batis, Shelley’s crimson-wing, Rwenzori apalis, Archer’s ground robin and Grauer’s swamp warbler etc. Besides gorilla trekking, Volcanoes has other attractions for more tourist activities. These are birding, nature walks, hiking tours, Musanze caves and golden monkey treks etc.
How much are the Rwanda gorilla permits?
Each Rwanda gorilla permit costs only $1,500 and it is for a particular visitor per gorilla trek. The Rwanda Development Board is responsible for issuing the gorilla permits. Purchasing a gorilla permit is more convenient if done with a registered local tour operator like Monteero Safaris. A gorilla permit is a document each visitor must present to Volcanoes National Park to trek a habituated gorilla family.
When to do luxury gorilla trekking in Rwanda?
Luxury gorilla trekking in Rwanda is done all year around. But due to slightly varying weather seasons, you can make a choice for yourself. Firstly, it is important to know that Volcanoes National Park experiences both the wet and dry season each year. Most visitors agree that the dry season offers favorable conditions for luxury gorilla trekking tours. June-August and December-February are the dry months while March-May and September-November are rainy.
The dry season offers warmer atmospheric temperatures and relatively lower rainfall patterns compared to the rainy season. This makes trekking in the forest rather less challenging. The gorilla trails are not as muddy and slippery as in the wet season. The forest vegetation is also less dense to allow for better movement and viewing of the mountain gorillas. Chances of it raining during the day is low thus causing interruption during a luxury gorilla trekking tour.
The peak season however happens during the dry season. This means there is intense competition to acquire gorilla permits for a gorilla trek during the dry season. So, to avoid this you can opt to go for a Rwanda luxury gorilla trek during the rainy season. During this time however, the gorilla trails are damp, the vegetation is dense and getting clear views of the gorillas is challenging. Chances and frequency of rainfall is much higher thus interrupting a gorilla trek is quite common.
Traveling for luxury gorilla trekking in Rwanda?
Volcanoes National Park is only 116.7 kilometers from Kigali International Airport. Reaching the Volcanoes National Park headquarters can be achieved by either road or air transport. With a knowledgeable driver guide from Monteero Safaris, you will be taken by private means to Kinigi. Such a scenic drive is best experienced in a 4-wheel safari land cruiser. However, luxury options of saloon cars, minivans and drones etc. are available for you.
But air transport is obviously a shorter mode of transport and will take you only 30 minutes from Kigali International Airport. You will arrive in Musanze Airport, which is near Kinigi, where the park headquarters is situated. Reservations for a domestic flight with Akagera Aviation is hassle-free with a licenced tour operator like Monteero Safaris. Akagera Aviation offers luxury helicopter flights whose flight tickets can be booked in advance.
Gorilla trekking packing list?
Ensure to have the following items with you while traveling for a luxury gorilla trekking in Rwanda,
- A pair of trousers and long-sleeved shirt
- Energy giving snacks
- A refillable water bottle
- A wide-brimmed hat
- UV sunglasses and suncream
- Water proof hiking boots and a pair of socks
- A pair of hiking gloves
- Insect repellent
- Rain jacket that is lightweight
- Smartphone/camera
- A pair of binoculars
- Warm sweaters
- Backpack
- First aid kit
