The best time to visit gorillas in Rwanda is mostly the dry season. The country is known as the land of a thousand hills, because of the rolling hills found everywhere. It is located in the heart of East Africa. Her neighbors are Uganda and Tanzania in the north, Burundi in the south and DRC in the east. Various vegetation cover in Rwanda range from savannah plains to equatorial rainforests.
Four national parks exist in Rwanda, but Volcanoes National Park is the only home of mountain gorillas. It covers a total area of 769 square kilometers. Created as a protected area in Africa way back in 1925 as a continuation of Virunga conservation area. This park is also home to biodiversity such as golden monkeys, bird species, reptiles, amphibians and numerous forest mammals.
Gorilla trekking is the main activity that takes place in this park. Volcanoes hosts up to 12 habituated gorilla families. They are open to visitors and always ready to for treks daily. A gorilla trekking tour is an activity where travelers visit natural protected areas of gorillas. They spend a maximum of an hour while in the presence of a habituated family. The overall experience takes about 3 to 5 hours but of great memory.
Rules and regulations of gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
To be able to trek gorillas in Rwanda, there are some precautions you need to take heed of; including;
Age. Only persons of 15 years of age and above are allowed to trek gorillas in Volcanoes National park.
Acquire a gorilla permit in advance. Gorilla permits are required before embarking on a dream gorilla tour in Rwanda. You need to acquire this well in advance, at least 2 months back before gorilla trekking day.
Health precautions. Gorilla trekking is strictly for people not infected with contagious diseases like cough, flu, cold, etc.
Noise control. Making noise during a gorilla trek is prohibited. Instead you can only speak in low tone so you don’t scare away the gorillas.
Gorilla permits to Volcanoes National Park can be purchased from Rwanda development Authority. It is also possible to acquire them through a recognized and licensed tour operator. Now, each permit costs USD 1500.
Best time to visit gorillas in Rwanda.
Most travelers intending to visit Rwanda keep wondering about the best time to see gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. What is important to note, is that all around the year, you can do gorilla trekking in Rwanda. There are reasons one can consider while on his/her Rwanda safari. Take a look at the following variations of seasons.
June to September. This is a peak and long dry season which is the ideal time to visit Rwanda for gorilla safaris. It is during this time when access to the park is fairly easy. Trails in the forest are dry and less slippery. Then there is the issue of less/no chances of rainfall to spoil the gorilla trekking experience. There is also a lot of demand for Rwanda gorilla permits during this time. Solve this by calls for reservations (booking permits earlier enough).
December to February. Which is another short dry season and high tourism time due to the festive holidays. This is very rewarding as numerous migratory birds approach the country from Asia and Europe. The result of this is becoming a perfect time for bird watching. Also, the mountain gorillas tend to go to deeper places in search for food.
March – May and October – November. These are the low tourism months due to heavy rainfall that make forest trails impassable. You cannot navigate mud-filled trails to access the mountain gorillas. Nevertheless, it is much easier to find hem in the forest because they tend to stay closer to the trails where food is in plenty. Birds are also active in this period.
You need to know that Rwanda gorilla trekking permits are on low demand in these months. This makes last minute gorilla treks possible.
As you plan to take a Rwanda safari during the rainy season come with heavy warm clothing. Also, come along with hiking boots, gloves, and insect repellant.
You could as well opt to undertake other optional activities after gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Community tours at Ibyiwachu cultural village is one to do. Then, visit Lake Kivu just nearby to swim and enjoy a boat cruise. A hike to the Dian Fossey graveyard is another great time. Meanwhile, golden monkey trekking, Musanze caves exploration and hiking to one of the Virunga volcanoes are all exceptional experiences.
