The 1 day Rwanda gorilla trekking tour is a short trip that takes safari enthusiasts to the verdant Volcanoes National Park, found in the north-western side of Rwanda to encounter the endangered Mountain gorillas that call the Park home. Volcanoes National Park was established in 1952, covers an area of 160 square kilometers and is one of the four magnificent destinations that offer shelter to the remaining population of these great apes in addition to being home to five of the 8 Virunga Volcanoes.
There are presently 10 habituated gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park and can be visited by a group of 8 persons per day per family. The gorilla families include Hirwa, Umubano, Karisimbi (Susa B), Kwitonda, Bwenge, Susa A, Sabyinyo, Agashya (Group 13), Ugenda and Amahoro. With a permit of $1500 per person per trek, you can be able to trek one of the mentioned gorilla families and spend quality one hour taking their photos and studying their remarkable behavior.
The 1 day Rwanda gorilla trekking tour guarantees more than just the mountain gorillas but other residents of Volcanoes National Park such as other primates like the Golden monkeys, Olive baboons, and L’Hoests monkeys as well as buffaloes, duikers, bushbucks, and several bird species. The safari starts and ends in Kigali City.
Detailed itinerary of our 1 day Rwanda gorilla trekking tour
The 1 day Rwanda gorilla trekking tour begins from Kigali where you will be picked by our experienced driver at 4:30 am (after your early morning breakfast) for a 116 kilometers/3 hours’ journey to the lush Volcanoes National Park. Drive through the breathtaking hilly countryside that makes Rwanda the “land of a thousand hills” and arrive at the Park Headquarters at 7:00 am for a hot cup of coffee/tea. Later get briefed by Park Rangers on the dos and don’ts of the activity before being assigned to the gorilla family.
You will be driven from the Park headquarters to the trailhead (starting point) at 8:00 am to start the trek that will be led by Ranger guides and escorted by armed escorts and lasts 30 minutes to 4 hours (depending on the pace of movement and location of the allocated gorilla family). On finding the allocated gorilla family, you will spend one hour with them and be amazed by their remarkable behavior and take photos of them foraging, playing or resting.
After the one hour with the gorilla family, trek back to the trailhead where you will find the driver waiting to take you to the Park headquarters for lunch. Enjoy lunch and drive back to Kigali arriving in the evening for your return flight (if the flight is on the same day) or to the Hotel in Kigali.
End of the 1 day Rwanda gorilla trekking tour
The 1 day Rwanda gorilla trekking tour package includes;
- Ground transportation with 4 WD vehicle.
- Bottled water.
- Full-time English speaking driver/guide.
- Airport transfer (so long as the flight is on the same day the safari ends).
- Gorilla Permit.
- Relevant Government Taxes.
The 1 day Rwanda gorilla trekking tour doesn’t include;
- Personal expenses such as tips, travel insurance, souvenirs, laundry fees, cigarettes, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
- Air tickets.
Dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
- Only 8 persons are allowed to trek a habituated gorilla family per day.
- Tourists are allowed only one hour with the habituated gorilla family.
- The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15 years.
- Tourists with contagious diseases such as cough and flue are cautioned against trekking the gorillas because mountain gorillas are 98% related to humans thus susceptible to human diseases.
- Do not use flash cameras because the flash startles
- A distance of 7 meters has to be maintained when with the mountain gorillas.
- Keep voices low while trekking and when with the mountain gorillas.
- Don’t litter the Park during gorilla trekking and ensure to leave the environment the way you found it.
- Avoid eating and smoking when in the presence of the mountain gorillas.
- Avoid direct eye contact with the mountain gorillas because they perceive it as a provocation and once they charge, you have to respond by looking down.
What to carry for the 1 day Rwanda gorilla trekking tour
- Carry long-sleeved shirts that will protect your hands against stinging nettles and tree branches.
- Packed lunch/energy giving snacks.
- Enough drinking water.
- Gardening gloves.
- Walking stick (can be acquired from the Park Headquarters).
- Rain jacket/poncho.
- Hat and sunglasses.
- Cotton socks.
- Hire a porter (from the Park Headquarters).
- Strong waterproof hiking boots.
- A non-flash camera.
- Pair of Binoculars.
- A waterproof backpack for carrying your lunch, drinking water, camera, and binoculars.
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