Why is gorilla trekking the best safari experience in Rwanda

Why is gorilla trekking the best safari experience in Rwanda

Why is gorilla trekking the best safari experience in Rwanda. Gorilla trekking offers the best safari experience in Rwanda because it allows visitors to see some of the few remaining mountain gorillas in the world. Volcanoes National Park, a prehistoric forest, forms part of the greater Virunga region where mountain gorillas continue to survive. Recent census reports estimate the global population of this endangered primate species at around 1,000 individuals.

The mountain gorillas are residents of Rwanda, Uganda and D.R.Congo only and visiting these countries. Is the only opportunity anyone can use to have a moment in the presence of these primates.

In Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, the mountain gorillas are first habituated. Conservationists gradually expose them to human presence to help them become accustomed to people without altering their natural behavior. The process of gorilla habituation in Rwanda takes an unknown time as some may take 3 year and more depending on how they cope.

At the moment, Rwanda has about 12 gorilla trekking families some include Amahoro, Umubano, Agashya, Hirwa, karisimbi and others. A maximum of 8 permits are open to the public each day as a measure taken to prevent mass tourism.

Where to do Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is the only home of the mountain gorillas in the country. The Volcanoes National Park is a primeval forest with tangled vegetation that has survived millions of Years that for accumulating its long list of fauna and flora.

To go gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, you need a permit from the Rwanda Development Board. The board issues only a maximum of eight permits per gorilla family each day. On the trekking day, all tourists report early in the morning at the ranger station (ORTPN) for a briefing. After the briefing, officials assign each tourist to a gorilla family, although they do not clearly explain the criteria used for the allocation.

Tourists with ranger guides use the trails constructed by regular visitors to the park when searching for mountain gorillas. Along the way, the chances of locating other forest dwellers are more possible some include blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, golden monkeys, olive baboons, L’hoest and others.

Volcanoes National Park

For gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, you need a permit from the Rwanda Development Board. But not that only a maximum 8 permits are open to the public per day per family. On gorilla trekking day, all tourists report early in the morning at the ranger station (ORTPN) for a briefing. After the briefing, officials assign each tourist to a gorilla family, although they do not clearly define the criteria used for the allocation.

Tourists with ranger guides use the trails constructed by regular visitors to the park when searching for mountain gorillas. Along the way, the chances of locating other forest dwellers are more possible some include blue monkeys. Red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, golden monkeys, olive baboons, L’hoest and others.

During the low season, Rwanda may discount gorilla trekking permit costs, giving travelers on a limited budget a chance to visit the mountain gorillas, subject to terms and conditions. Safari operators may also discount other logistics that support Rwanda safari activities during this period as they aim to break even.

Rwanda is a safe safari destination worth adding to the list of African safari destinations to visit.

During gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda, it is a chance to test your level of fitness. From the steep environment that composes the biggest part of this park. The search for mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park provides such challenges.

Rwanda’s environment features rugged highlands across much of the country, and lush vegetation actively covers and shades these elevated landscapes. This beautiful scenery is what makes many who visit Rwanda to relate it with the Swiss alps.

Amongst the three famous homes of the mountain gorillas that is Uganda, Rwanda and D.R.Congo, Rwanda is the only one with the least number of days to spend on gorilla trekking safari. 2 days gorillas trekking is only possible in Rwanda as in Uganda or D.R. Congo the least number of gorilla trekking tour days is 3 days gorilla trekking safari.

What Guidelines to follow on Rwanda Gorilla Trekking safari

• Try not to surround the gorillas when you locate them because this makes them feel ambushed. They are very sensitive primates that you need to follow the advise given by the ranger guides to enjoy every moment.
• Wearing a clean mask before meeting the eastern mountain gorillas is compulsory after the outbreak of Corona Virus. This is one of the preventive measures to reduce on the chances of passing this infection to their endangered primate species.
• In case you wish to cough or sneeze, do it away from the gorillas or in a handkerchief to prevent spreading of germs.
• Spitting on vegetation or soil is forbidden because it may contaminate the food on which the eastern mountain gorillas depend.
• Use of flash photography is forbidden because this may scare the gorillas. They are highly sensitive to new occurrences in their vicinity.
• In case you wish to take a long call, ask the ranger guide to dig a hole for you at least 30 centimeters deep and cover everything well beyond recognition. This is to prevent forest dwellers from exhuming what you may have covered.
• Provoking the gorillas is forbidden because they have moods too. They may get agitated and move into hiding.in nature they are shy and serene creatures but do not test their patience.
• Eating or smoking 200 meters from the gorillas may cause them to move and grab it from you. The mountain gorillas are wild animals that must search for their own food and not depend on human provision.
• On tourists ages 15 and above are allowed to do gorilla trekking. This because of the hardships that come with searching for the gorillas like the time of locating the gorillas is unknown, the way to the gorillas is sloppy at times. The provocative nature of the gorillas and much more. A child below this age may not withstand such so in case they make noise they may cause a stampede in the forest.
• Keep a distance of about 8 meters from the gorillas when you locate them. This is to reduce on the chances of passing an infection to the mountain gorillas. They are highly susceptible to human infectious diseases. Even when they approach, try  to stealthily move back.
• Littering the forest or dumping garbage in the forest is forbidden. Because this alters the nature of the forest where the mountain gorillas feed. They are vegetarian in nature  so when you dump indecomposable garbage. It may prevent growth of plants on which the gorillas and other forest dwellers feed.

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