Is It Safe to Go Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda?
Rwanda is one of the safest countries on the African continent and in the world, and this is because the government has made Security and safety a top priority after the Rwanda genocide of 1994. Rwanda has been safe for over 20 years now and, with the friendly people, has become a safe safari destination for gorilla trekking and other tourism experiences.
Besides the fact that the population of travelers opting for the Rwanda gorilla safaris has increased, there are still so many asking the same question about whether it is safe to trek gorillas in Rwanda, and the answer is yes. It is understandable when this question is asked because we all need our safety assured, especially if we are trekking through the jungle for the first time. Tourists need to be assured that gorilla trekking experience is safe because even though mountain gorillas are wild animals, they have been habituated to get used to human presence, and once the trekking rules and regulations have been followed, there will be no issue with the experience.
In Rwanda, gorilla trekking experience is done in Volcanoes national park and is one of the only four known destinations in the world that protect the mountain gorillas. Other destinations are; Virunga national park of Congo, and then Mgahinga and Bwindi National Park of Uganda. To ensure that gorilla trekking experience is safe in Rwanda, there are safety measures taken during the encounter and these have to be followed by each and every trekker. Below is the list of these measures;
Purchase of Gorilla trekking permits: Gorilla permits are legal documents printed by Rwanda Development Board and are the only way tourists get to trek the gorillas. These need to be booked in advance because of their high demand. Gorilla permits are part of the safety and security measures to protect the gorillas. A few permits are printed daily to reduce the number of people who trek the gorillas, and each goes for $1500. To know more about the cost of a gorilla permit and how to purchase one, check out our website on how to purchase gorilla permits.
The security checkpoints: After tourists get to Volcanoes National Park from Kigali, each person has to go through a security checkpoint to ensure that they are not a danger to the gorillas, themselves, and other tourists. After undergoing a security check for firearms, knives, and any other considered to be a threat, you will be allowed to enter the park and participate in the activity. Note that immediately after the security check, you must attend a briefing at the park headquarters.
Briefing: The briefing is minutes between experienced tour guides and trekkers. During the briefing, trek rules, and regulations are re-echoed so that tourists get to remember them (we are going to be looking at the trek rules and regulations later on), and it is also the time when groups of 8 are assigned the gorilla families that they are to trek. CCTV cameras: You will notice CCTV cameras in the different parts of the national park, as well as security personnel. Gorilla trekking is a top-earning activity for Rwanda in terms of revenue, and that is why Security is always on standby to help and protect the tourists.
Assignment of experienced guide: As you are heading for a gorilla trekking experience, a professional and knowledgeable tour guide is assigned to you during the briefing session, and he or she will take you through the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking and take you through the exercise. The tour guides are very knowledgeable about the gorilla families and the best routes to use. To be safe, you need to follow all the guidelines and instructions given to you by the tour guides.
The age limit for tracking: The age limit for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is 15 years and above. This is the age limit for all tourists planning a gorilla safari in Rwanda. Age verification using your official identification documents like national IDs and passports will be done. The age limit was put at 15 because all those that are 15 and above can easily be controlled, unlike children below the age who are hard to control and might be forced to run in case a gorilla approaches them.
Provision of armed rangers: The park authorities provide one or two armed rangers to provide Security to all the trek groups within the Volcanoes National Park. The rangers are always in contact with each other, and only use routes they believe are safer. Volcanoes have other wildlife, so the job of the armed ranger is to keep you safe as you enjoy a memorable and safe gorilla safari in Rwanda.
Personal safety
Although safety measures have been put in place by the government of Rwanda, you also need to ensure that you take care of your personal security to contribute to safety during a gorilla trek safari. Below are some security measures you can take during and before the trek.
- Before booking your gorilla safari, make sure that you carefully research the tour company you are planning to use. Ensure that the company is registered; do not pay on personal bank accounts but ask for the company bank account and read reviews on TripAdvisor.
- Get proper clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts and trousers, to protect your body from tree scratches, branches, and sharp plants. A walking stick will be available if you need it, as well as waterproof raincoat and warm clothes to keep you warm. Make sure you do not feel sick during the hike by packing right for the safari.
- If you are not used to hiking or physically capable, ask for an easier trek so that you can handle trekking a hard one. This can be done during the briefing, or you can ask your operator during the booking process.
- When feeling sick, avoid trekking, this is one of those rules that need to be followed to the dot. You risk infecting the gorillas if you have a contagious disease because mountain gorillas are highly susceptible to human illnesses/diseases. We advise that you wait until you are strong enough and well to enjoy the trekking business.
- Tracking commences from the park office, and each tracking group is allowed a maximum of eight visitors per day
- Treks are usually conducted with one park guide and armed escorts
- The guide liaises with about two to three trackers who have gone ahead to ascertain the location of the gorillas
- Once the gorillas have been located, guests will be allowed a maximum of one hour with the gorillas. This time limit is carefully observed to protect the gorillas from undue stress
- Only people over 15 years old may trek, to minimize the exposure of gorillas to childhood diseases
- Anyone suffering from a communicable disease, such as the flu or diarrhea, is not permitted to enter the park because of the risk of transmitting these conditions
- You should always stay together in a tight group while with the gorillas – do not surround them
- Avoid making loud noises, or making any sudden movements while trekking gorillas. Assume a crouch position while observing them
- It is not permitted to eat, drink or smoke when with the gorillas or within 200 m (656 ft) from them
- You should not get closer than 7 m (22 ft) of the gorilla
- Some parks require you to wear a mask to prevent any possible human contamination. These masks will be provided where stipulated
What to carry for a gorilla trek safari in Rwanda?
For a fun-filled gorilla safari, you will need to carry essential items which include trousers, long-sleeved shirts all in neutral colors, ankle-length hike boots, a warm sweater, waterproof rain jacket, sunscreen, a sunhat, warm clothing, insect repellent, a first aid kit, day backpack, camera and camera equipment, flashlight, binoculars, sandals, running shoes, wet wipes, biodegradable toilet paper, cash (preferably visit UGX and in smaller notes for easy tipping) snacks, refillable water bottle and personal toiletries among others.
Best time to visit Rwanda for a gorilla trekking safari
The best time to go for a gorilla trek in Rwanda is from June to September and December to February during the dry season. This is also the best time to go for other safaris within the country.
Overall, with these comprehensive safety measures and the dedication of Rwandan authorities to protect both visitors and gorillas, gorilla trekking in Rwanda is a safe and well-organized activity. Also, there are several activities carried out in Volcanoes National Park besides gorilla trekking, and these include bird watching, golden monkey trekking, Mountain hiking on the Virunga mountains that are found within the national park, attending the Kwita Izina ceremony, cultural tour to the nearby villages and a guided walk to the Ruhondo and Burera Lakes.
How to Plan a Perfect Safari to Rwanda
Rwanda as an eminent destination in the East African region is not new in the ears of tourists. Rwanda is currently one of the top tourist destinations in the region. This country has built its reputation in the East African region since it put the genocide effects behind them and embarked on the restructuring process especially in the tourism industry. This country has developed a number of tourist attractions which keep on attracting a multitude of tourists. Such attractions include the following;
The Volcanoes National Park in the north-west of the country is the most famous of Rwanda’s three parks and is the place that most people come to on holiday because of its renowned residents, the mountain gorillas. Rwanda’s gorilla trekking is its biggest attraction. Less well-known holiday options are Akagera National Park on its eastern border and Nyungwe Forest National Park in the south.
Akagera is the only park for “traditional” safaris in Rwanda; it offers good wildlife opportunities, although not on the scale of the parks in Kenya or Tanzania. But Akagera’s scenery is beautiful – it could be described as Rwanda’s Lake District – and worth visiting for that alone. In stark contrast, Nyungwe is dense rainforest with interesting hiking trails, bird watching and primate spotting. Rwanda’s national parks are easily accessible by road, so a circuit of all three perhaps including the beautiful shore of Lake Kivu and the capital, Kigali, can make a fascinating and diverse holiday.
Mountain Gorilla Tracking in Rwanda
Tracking mountain gorillas in Rwanda is the ultimate wildlife experience and the reason why most people come here on holiday: sitting within a small family group of gorillas is a ‘must’ for serious wildlife enthusiasts. This is where Dian Fossey first brought the world’s attention to the plight of these majestic primates in the late 1960s, when only around 250 survived. Today their numbers worldwide have increased to some 880, split between Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo; almost half of them live in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.
The survival of mountain gorillas is one of Africa’s greatest conservation success stories, and tourism has played its role in this. Rwanda is regarded as probably the best destination for a gorilla tracking safari. Although gorilla tracking permits aren’t cheap, your permitted hour with these great apes promises to be a priceless encounter that will remain with you long after your holiday is over. To learn more about this fabulous experience, see Rwanda gorilla trekking safaris.
Primate holidays in Rwanda
Although mountain gorillas are the stars of the show, there are plenty of other primate tracking opportunities while on holiday in Rwanda. Nyungwe Forest is home to thirteen different primate species, among them chimpanzees and Rwenzori colobus, both of which can be tracked. Indeed, Nyungwe’s colobus monkeys can sometimes be seen in spectacular troops of several hundred, believed to be among the largest numbers worldwide. And in Volcanoes National Park, two groups of endangered golden monkeys have been habituated for visitor tracking. Pretty and playful, they’re a delight to watch.
Classic safari holidays in Rwanda
Rwanda may not seem the obvious choice for a typical safari holiday, but if you’re travelling here anyway, Akagera National Park in the east of the country is worth exploring. Scenically it is one of Africa’s prettiest parks, with rolling hills and deep valleys, savannah plains to the north and lakes and papyrus swamps on its eastern border. It includes the largest protected wetlands in Central Africa and is home to some 8,000 animals and over 480 species of birds that include the rare shoebill, making Akagera an interesting destination for a bird watching holiday.
Safari Holidays in Rwanda
Holidays in Rwanda are possible all year, but the most popular times to travel are in the long dry season from June to September, and the shorter dry season around December to February. If you’re intending to track gorillas, you’ll need to plan your holiday well ahead to secure permits – especially around July to September. Rwanda’s main rainy season is from March to May, with shorter rains in October and November; to find out more see Rwanda’s weather and climate information.
Travelling around Rwanda
Travel in Rwanda is very comfortable on our safaris. The roads are largely good asphalt surfaces with many new roads being constructed to replace dirt roads. It’s not a place to drive yourself; our travellers use one of our private guides and 4WDs – allowing them to control the daily schedule and pace of their Rwanda holiday. It’s a lovely way to see the country, often with beautiful views around every corner.
Although there are some excellent hotels, Rwanda’s facilities can sometimes be basic; service and food can be poor, as many staffs are new to tourism. However, to glimpse the heart of contemporary Africa, for some wonderful wildlife viewing and inspiring, thought-provoking travel, a holiday in Rwanda can be fascinating.
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Things to Consider When Renting a Car in Rwanda
Tips to consider when renting a car in Rwanda. Understand the variables
- What the car company’s basic insurance covers?
This is the insurance that covers the car renter from being liable to the damages that may happen to the car like broken mirrors and glasses, dents, scratches and also the third party insurance where the vehicle is protected against any social hardship like destroying a property or person along the road. This kind of insurance is provided by every car rental company in Rwanda.
- What they charge for Collision damage waiver?
First of all collision damage waiver is insurance or protection offered to the car renter in that incase the car collides with another and gets the damages he/she is less liable. Most of the times, the car renter pays some amount of for collision damage waiver. So one has to ask the car rental company to know how much they charge for that kind of insurance if he/she would like to be covered.
- The cost of theft insurance
Theft insurance is the type of insurance offered to car renter to limit his liability in case of stealing the rental car in his/her possession. In Rwanda before you commit to a car rental know the cost of theft insurance.
- The cost of adding another driver
There are few companies or no company in Rwanda that charge for additional driver. An additional driver is normally a colleague or companion the car renter travels with but would also wish to drive the car at some point. So if you land on any car rental company in Rwanda that charges for an additional driver then ask the cost.
- One-way rental fees (if you’ll be returning the car to a different city)
Sometimes people rent cars for one route without returning to the point where he/she started his/her journey and the car rental agency picks up the car at another point where the traveler has left the car. However, this option comes with a fee and as a car renter you has to know the cost of one way rental.
- Office locations and hours (consider the most efficient pickup and drop-off points)
When renting a car you have to know the location of the premises and the working hours of the car rental company you have booked with in Rwanda. this gives you the insight the most efficient pick up and drop off points.
- Whether it’d be cheaper to pick up the car from an office in the city center
This normally works for budget car renter who would like to minimize cost of car rental so they always look for the cheaper point to pick up the rental car from.
- The cost of changing your drop-off location or time
Most of the car rental companies Rwanda charge their clients who wish to change the location or time of dropping off the rental car so as the car renter ensure you get to know the cost of changing your drop off location or time.
- The availability and cost of extras you might want, such as automatic transmission, child-safety seats, GPS, or Wi-Fi.
Almost all car rental agencies offer GPS extra child seat and these usually come with a price. It is advisable for a renter to know their availability of the cost of acquiring them.
- Age restrictions (if you or any co-drivers are under 21)
The minimum age of renting a car in Rwanda is 21 year below that you ineligible to rent a car so ensure you above that age.
- Cancellation fees, in case your itinerary changes
Car rental companies in Rwanda charge their customers who wish to cancel their reservation of renting a car especially those who have paid some deposit or all the money. There are always percentages of money charged of the number of the days remaining to take up your car rental before cancellation.
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Best Time to Go Gorilla Trekking
Wondering about the best time to go for the gorilla trekking expedition? Many travelers will ask you this question. The good answer is that you can go anytime given that most destinations are found in the tropics and the climate conditions are favorable all year round. To others, they need more specific months for the best safari experience given the different known seasons.
When is the best time to go on a gorilla safari in Uganda and Rwanda? Which months should one try to avoid, which months are the best for gorilla trekking? These are some of the common questions that this section will labor to put to rest.
While trekking mountain gorillas can be done any time of the year in either countries where (mountain gorillas are found i.e Rwanda and Uganda), because of the relatively wetter/ rainy seasons in the mountain gorilla inhabited national parks, many tourists often prefer the months from June to September and then December, January and February.
In Rwanda, the first rains start coming in late February through March, April and May and so many tourists try to avoid these months for fear of getting muddy and all wet while tracking the gorillas deep in the forest. However, during these months, because of the rains there’s plenty of gorilla food down slope and it’s much colder on the upper slopes. So the mountain gorillas keep on the lower slopes where they find it warmer and get food easily. So if you track the gorillas during these months, most likely your trek won’t be a long one – many trackers find the gorillas after 2 hours hike and by 2PM they are back.
The same applies to Uganda although the rains there come in March, April and May. Of course this makes it rather harder to trek the steep terrains. Even then, the rain only comes for like 1-2 hours in like every 2-3 days and the sun comes out. We have noticed that even in the so-called drier months, the rain will often come in though this time it is not so heavy.
This seasonality of gorilla trackers can also be attributed to the weather seasons in the visitors’ home country and the nature of their jobs. When it is summer for example in Europe, numbers of gorilla trek visitors increase and the gorilla trackers numbers decrease when it’s winter.
However, there are other gorilla trekkers who often take advantage of the seasonal discounts on mountain gorilla tracking permits. For instance in Uganda, gorilla trekking permits in those rainy months(April-May and October-November). Several accommodation and lodging facilities in mountain gorilla inhabited areas will also make discounts on their rates during these same months.
Whatsoever the case and explanation may be, experience shows that mountain gorilla trekking can be done any time of the year and you will most likely get the same experience.
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Hire a Rental Car in Rwanda: Enjoy Comfort and Convenience
As of today many travelers are shifting towards hiring cars in Rwanda for transportation. This is nice to the extent that everybody makes the best traveling means. Wherever you travel either long or short, car rental agencies are there to offer people the comfort and convenience. Hiring a rental car in Rwanda has become popular as so people love to travel around Rwanda via a rental car or preferably self drive.
Rental cars Rwanda come with incentives and cleanliness as there are food and drink handle, baby seats, air conditioners and mp3 players which enhance traveling especially long distance traveling. In addition to that there are always clean and this makes you travel in a dust free atmosphere.
Rental cars offer a variety of options of cars to travel by. Car rental companies have a fleet of cars that is in luxury mid range and budget cars. So it is upon the traveler to ride in a vehicle of his/her choice. Some of the cars offered by the rental companies are Toyota land cruisers, safari vans, Toyota super customers, Toyota RAV4, Nissan patrol, 4×4 safari land cruiser and Toyota Premio for city tours.
Pick and drop off convenience. The rental cars pick you up or drop you off at your convenient point. These rental cars offer door to door services; there is no need of traveling to the station to queue up in order to embark on the transport carrier. Rental cars can pick you up from either the airport, hotel or home or nay point you might be.
Rental cars do not have fixed timetable of traveling, they can be used at anytime of the day whether day or time and also anytime you feel like traveling they are there to traverse you around Rwanda. They operate 24/7 and they can reach anywhere in Rwanda as long as it is accessible a vehicle.
Car rentals can accommodate all groups of people. For instance a for a family traveling together a rental car is the best traveling optional as it gives privacy and independence the family it may need while traveling. Car rentals normally have facilities that can cater for a family like child seats that can make children comfortable in the course of traveling.
Car rental have experienced chauffeur who drive passenger safe on the road. These drivers know all the routes that can lead to various tourism destinations in Rwanda. the chauffeurs also have good driving skills as they drive defensively in the sense of avoid accidents on the roads. this implies that one is assured of safety while traveling in Rwanda.
Enough room for travelers and the luggage. Car rentals have spacious seats where the traveler have a enough room to stretch their bodies and also relax during long distance travel. In addition the trunks are also big enough as the traveler does not have to compete for space with his/her own luggage and the luggage is always kept safely in the trunk or cargo cabin.
For cases of self drive tours in Rwanda, car rentals provide the traveler with GPS navigator or tourist maps that can always help him/her to identify different routes that lead to different tourism destinations in Rwanda. With those tools, the traveler can reach his final destination without losing his/her bearing.
Hire a rental car and get all the convenience and the comfort, you need on your Rwanda tour.
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How to Find a Discounted Rwanda Primate Safari
Planning for Rwanda primate Safari holiday can be interesting and challenging at the very Same time , many travelers are looking for primate safari companies to ensure they enjoy the gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Mountain gorilla trekking can be done in only three countries in Africa; Rwanda, Uganda and Congo. This is due to that these rare apes are endemic to two distinct territories; the Virunga Massif that spreads offer Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo as well as the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Reserve of Uganda.
Rwanda primate safaris is a local safari company that is offering gorilla tours to Africa for over a decade. Select the reliable safari company to offer you an interesting Rwanda Safari Tour and Find the complete things to guide you on the finding the ultimate safari company.
There is nothing that make ones vacation a success than finding the right company to organize such a safari on his/her behalf. However, every safari company is after profit maximization and you as a tourist is after profit minimization. So there are some factors that can play in your favor to find the cheap company for the task.
1) Always take advantage of Low Seasons
There are seasons when these safari companies are fully booked or have an influx of tourists. So what they normally do is to raise their total safari cost in order to drive away some of them. So always try to travel in low seasons where you will get a very low cost since very few people travel during these times and this force every service provider like hotels, car hirers, meals to lessen their prices thus affecting the total safari cost positively to the tourist.
2) Desist Last Minute Bookings
There is nothing as bad as last minute inquiries. This is very bad and leads to over pricing as the safari company. So it is always better to book your safari company in advance. This will help you to consult several companies and take your time to select the one with the cheapest and lowest rate. In this case you will get a good deal at a very cheap rate.
3) Always make use of the travel forums
It is always better to go somewhere after getting some information from those people that have gone there before. These people will always have first-hand information and share it with you and this can really help you. Such information caters for all areas of travel from car hiring companies, cheap accommodations, competent safari companies and estimation of safari total cost. So all this can be achieved through such travel forums like trip advisor, lonely planet, Brandt, thorn tree, Fodor
4) Compare prices across multiple companies
Gone are those days when one safari company could operate throughout the country. So Rwandan currently boasts of several safari companies from which you can have a wide range of them to select from. Each one has its own quotation it can avail to you for scrutiny which means that a particular company might not be the cheapest one at all times. It is best if you search across many and make a decision from an informed point of view.
5) Book everything with one company
There is a tendency of travelers booking everything separately. This is very bad and always desists from it as it ends up making you pay heavily for everything. When you happen to book everything with several companies, you are always highly priced yet when you book with one company; you are liable for a discount since you have booked a lot of services from them thus getting a cheap deal from that company.
6) Plan in advance
Finally, the most traditional and the most accurate way to find those cheapest companies to serve you is to plan in advance. This way you might get subsidized rates especially for booking. If you are one of those who can plan 3 to 6 months into the future, then you can get some fantastic fares. But, the key is to plan well in advance, which is always very difficult.
Hope the above information will guide you on finding the ultimate gorilla tour company that will reward you experience in Rwanda, Uganda and Congo with the chance of viewing the mountain gorillas, Eastern Lowland gorillas and other primates like golden monkey.
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Choosing a Rental Car for Travels in Rwanda
Are you planning for a self drive safari in Rwanda? Would you like to take your rented car and adventure in the neighboring destinations? Here are hints to help you plan a perfect trip! This information will help you to decide which type of car you should use if you are to adventure through East Africa trouble freely.
In most cases tourists ask us this question when they inquire for their safaris to either Uganda or Rwanda or even both and we go on and advice. But it’s always a good practice to make your own choice so that you can have the best experience on the safari without any inconveniences related to the car used. Choosing the type of car to hire depends on what type tourism activity you are going to do and the number of people you are travelling with. Sometimes clients inquire with us and they want small cars yet they are many in number. We always advise them to go for bigger cars like vans which can accommodate their number. Its always good to travel with a classic touch and freedom other than travelling while congested in a small car. Small cars like saloons and small Benz’s are suitable to use if clients are 2 or 3 but not more than that as it would mean to squeeze yourself which is not good.
Te distance to be travelled and the destination that you want to go to is also important while selecting the type car to hire. If you know that you are travelling for longer distances and to places which are challenging with undulating typologies and hills, then the best type of car to hire is that with a 4×4 wheel drive system. This is because 4×4 cars can penetrate through muddy roads and hills without any problem and without getting stuck. Sometimes people make wrong choices and they go with cars which are not fulltime 4×4 and they end up getting stuck in muddy roads forcing them to hire another towing car to remove them from the mud. This is bad as it leads to increase in the expenses. The only way to avoid this is by hiring a 4×4 wheel drive car which cannot easily get stuck in such conditions.
It should be noted that both Uganda and Rwanda have some places with bad roads and this is common in national parks especially in Uganda where there are animals to be viewed. Such parks require 4×4 cars for a game drive experience .safari vehicles like 4×4 land cruisers with a popup roof are the best cars to use for a successful game drive. In case one needs to go for a town running (driving around the town) then he/she can book these other cars which have no 4×4 system because roads in all urban places kin both Uganda and Rwanda are in good conditions and no threat is imposed to the user.
When you book with us we always ask you what you intend to use the car for and we give advice when it comes to choosing the type of car to use. Some clients seem to be complicated and ignore our advise because they think roads in Uganda and Rwanda are like those in their home countries and they end up making mistakes which are regrettable. And at the end of their safari they regret why they ignored our advice.
In conclusion, you should always put in mind two factor before selecting which type of car to use and that is;- the destination you are going to and the number of people you are traveling with.
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