The only suitable place where you can trek gorillas in Rwanda is Volcanoes National Park. Volcanoes National Park is located along the northwestern border in the Virunga Mountains. This park is a perfect place to watch gorillas in their natural habitat. Expert local trekkers and guides lead small groups of tourists on gorilla treks every morning.
For someone in engage in gorilla trekking in Rwanda, he or she has to first book a permit in advance through a trusted tour operator or directly through the Rwanda Development Board before the date of trekking and the permits cost USD1500 each. The permits seem to be expensive but the activity since worth the money paid.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda starts with a briefing from the park authorities and Rangers in the morning at the park offices.
During the briefing, participants are divided into groups of 8 members and assigned to a particular gorilla family. The less fit hikers are assigned groups which are closer to the park offices. After the briefing, the park rangers lead the group to search for the gorillas.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda offers about 10 habituated gorilla groups or families to choose from and so regardless of which group allocated to you, you will find the experience amazing.
Upon locating the gorillas, you will spend about an hour just watching these giants roll around and play. Mountain gorillas are always playful and quite curious. Some may walk right up to you but with no harm intended. While with the gorillas, it is important to listen to instructions from your assigned guides and to always stay calm. Never make sudden movements. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda can take between 1-6 hours depending on the gorilla group you are assigned and their specific location on the day of the trek.
On a gorilla trek photography is allowed as long as you are using non flash light camera. Before joining the gorilla trekking experience, you must have suitable hiking boots, thick cotton gloves and a raincoat.
Apart from visiting Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking, you can as well pay a visit to Gishwati -Mukura National Park on your Rwanda safari tour to enjoy a variety of other activities.
Gishwati – Mukura National Park is the Rwanda’s fourth national park which was made up of two separate forests that is to say the larger Gishwati and small Mukura forming a total of 34 square kilometres plus a buffer zone. The park is made up of about 60 species of trees including indigenous hardwoods and bamboo.
Gishwati – Mukura National Park was created in 2015 with the government passing the law in an effort to protect the chimpanzees found in this park.
The park is currently the least visited park with minimal tourism traffic. The park is situated on the ridges of the Congo-Nile strange giving you an experience of some species of the Albertine region.
The park is mostly a home to primates such as chimpanzees, Golden monkeys, L’Hoest Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Olive Baboons, Vervet Monkeys, Black and White Colobus monkeys and many more.
Gishwati – Mukura National Park is also a home to a variety of bird species such as Regal Sun bird, Grauer’s swamp warbler, Ruwenzori Batis, Wood hoopoe, Purple-breasted Sun bird, Martial Eagle, Strange weave, Grey Crowned Crane, Dusky Crimson wing, Ruwenzori Turaco, Mountain Yellow Warblers, Red – throated Alethe among others.
Community-based activities around this park include a farm stay, a live cultural dance, making handicrafts, beekeeping, a tea plantation tour and the chance to learn from traditional healers who use natural plants to support modern medicine and synthesized drugs.
The national park consists of two forests that’s to say Gishwati and Mukura Forests. On of the tourist activities you should not miss engaging on your trip in Gishwati – Mukura National Park include the following;
Chimpanzee trekking. This is the major activity carried out in this park and since the park is still so much based on research, the chimpanzee permit price is not yet set. Like in Nyungwe National Park, chimpanzee trekking in Gishwati – Mukura National Park also starts in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to be followed and the briefing is done at the park offices.
After the briefing, you can be led by the expert guide into the forests to start searching for the chimpanzees and upon locating them, you can spend about 1 hour in the natural habitat while watching them carrying out their daily activities.
Chimpanzee trekking in Gishwati – Mukura National Park can be carried out all year around though the best time is during the dry seasons because during the wet season the trails can be quite slippery and hence making the activity uncomfortable.
Monkey trekking. There are a number of monkey species that can be seen in this park which will give you an amazing experience during your Rwanda safari. Some of these species include golden monkey, mona monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, silver monkeys, baboons among others.
Birding. For birding, Gishwati – Mukura National Park should be part of the birding destinations to visit to have a memorable birding experience in Rwanda. So, when going for a birding expedition, you should carry your birding checklist because the park is a home to over 200 bird species of which the 15 species are endemic to the Albertine rift valley.
Some of the different bird species that can be seen include Regal Sun bird, Grauer’s swamp warbler, Ruwenzori Batis, Wood hoopoe, Purple-breasted Sun bird, Martial Eagle, Strange weave, Grey Crowned Crane, Dusky Crimson wing, Ruwenzori Turaco, Mountain Yellow Warblers, Red – throated Alethe among others.
Visit the waterfalls. There is more that can be seen when you visit the Kazaneza waterfalls which are situated in the middle of Gishwati – Mukura National Park.
The waterfalls offer rewarding views in the park that are worthy of photography. Visitors can also take picnics while at the falls and also get to watch a number of primates that get the visit the waterfalls to quench their thirst from the bottom of the falls.
The only luxury accommodation facility where one can stay while in the park is Gishwati lodge. Gishwati lodge is a luxury lodge operated by Wilderness Safaris. It is the best lodge in the Gishwati – Mukura National Park. Gishwati Lodge has about 6 luxury chalets which house less than 15 guests at a time. The lodge offers privacy and was built with amazing views of the park. Visitors are served by highly skilled, experienced and friendly staff who are trained to treat residents with great attention. Gishwati lodge combines adventure, conservation and luxury into one to provide an unforgettable experience for travelers. The lodge is perfect for those who wish to explore the national park and visiting one of the communities of chimpanzees or golden monkeys in the forests. Gishwati lodge is not only about comfort but it is also where most of the park’s wildlife conservation and Eco-tourism ideas and projects are sold to potential donors.