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Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

by The Travel Captain

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda was my first true bucket list item before I even knew what a bucket list was.  The childhood wish dates back to 1988 when I first saw Gorillas in the Mist and Sigourney Weaver’s portrayal of Dian Fossey,  a scientist who travels to Rawanda and Uganda to study the declining population of mountain gorillas.  A lot has changed since the 1980s.  Since 2005, preservation efforts for the critically endangered species are high and rehabilitated former poachers serve as guides for the treks, they did on my trek at least.

Don’t quote me on these numbers but I’ve read there are less than 800 mountain gorillas remaining in this world and can only be found in 4 national parks in 3 countries (Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo).   Their fate is largely based on political stability as tourist revenues keep conservation afloat.  At the moment, the surrounding region is not that stable.  It is best to track mountain gorillas either in Rwanda Volcanoes National Park or Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park due to instability in certain parts of the Congo.  I chose Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking in Rwanda as the trek could be done as a one day excursion vs three days needed for Bwindi.

 

Permits for Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda requires a bit of planning, mainly due to the gorilla permit.  Visitor access is strictly controlled and only 80 permits are issued per day.  Makes a lot of sense if you think about it… the gorillas wouldn’t take too well to hundreds of people running around their territory clicking selfies every few seconds.  Imagine.  Total mayhem.

Peak season (drier months) runs June through September and December through March.  Securing a permit does take advanced notice given the high tourist count and limited number of permits.  I went in October.  You must get the permit well in advance of your trip as your itinerary will depend on the date for which its issued. Get it either through your travel agency/tour operator or Rwanda Development Board.  I used Magic Safaris for everything in Rwanda.  They organized by whole itinerary from Kigali to Lake Kivu (except for Nyungwe Forest which was a side excursion, you can read about it here).  Magic Safaris were professional, highly responsive by email even after my itinerary went through 30 iterations.  Their jeeps were secure, clean and comfortable and had experienced and courteous drivers.  Everything was smooth sailing.

 

A word of caution, permits are not cheap.  But it’s one of those experiences where you repeatedly justify the price in your head. “It’s a once in a lifetime thing, it’s a once in a lifetime thing.” I’m going gorilla trekking in Rwanda, repeat gorilla trekking in Rwanda! Permits for Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park cost $750 per person for one hour with the gorillas.  The permit cost for Uganda is less and they also run promotions in off season for as low as $350.  Each park offers a different experience and the mountain gorillas are said to be different to one another.

Location for Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park is located in the small village of Musanze, previously known as Ruhengeri.  The drive is 2 hrs from the capital, Kigali, so its very accessible.  The park is situated in northwestern Rwanda and borders Virunga National Park in the Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.  About 5 volcanoes are located in the park and trekking excursions to the volcano peaks are popular.  The movie I referred to at the beginning had an apt title as the volcano peaks were always covered in a heavy layer of fog.

gorilla trekking in rwanda

Volcanoes National Park, a cloud of heavy fog surrounds the area

Where to Stay when Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

There are a handful of lodges to choose from when gorilla trekking in Rwanda.  I chose Mountain Gorilla View Lodge for its location, view of Virunga Mountains and comfort level.  The cost was completely acceptable.  Two other lodges did peak my interest, Virunga Lodge and Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge but the price differential compared to Mountain Gorilla View Lodge was a few hundred dollars per night and it didn’t seem justified based on the pics I was seeing online.

When I arrived, I was delighted at how private and huge my chalet was, with its own fireplace and sitting area.  The lodge is serene and has a complimentary shoe cleaning service which is much needed after your trek.  I thought my shoes were garbage worthy after sliding down mud ridden hills in the park but the skilled hotel employee brought them right back to life.  The one  negative about the lodge was the food, it could use some improvement.

My boots after the trek

My boots after the trek

Morning of The Trek

Yup, its a painful 6am start on this day.  You need to reach the park entrance by 7am.   Bring a jacket and definitely wear trousers and long socks that you can tuck the trousers into… else your feet and not just your shoes will be covered in mud.  You’re kept entertained with a native Rwandan traditional dance in the morning and  then see, if not meet, the other 79 trekkers during this time.  Eventually everyone will be divided into groups of 8 to visit the one of ten mountain gorilla families habituated within.

 

The Trek

A short drive later with the rest of your group and you’re ready to head out.  The trek can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours, all depends on where your designated gorilla group has wandered.  The group’s trackers are in constant touch with your guides via walkie talkie.  We trekked upward for about two hours in very muddy territory and cut through dense bush with machetes.  Finally, the guides spotted two gorillas within the group.

Everyone stops and holds their breath.  Heart pumping, we remember the instruction given to us earlier at orientation: Don’t make direct eye contact with the gorillas, No sudden hand movements, No pointing and Absolutely no drinking or eating (duh! to that last rule).

Next we spotted the silverback, our family had two.  We spent the next hour in complete amazement, literally just a few feet away from the gorillas.  Trackers with loaded rifles stay close by just in case.  I don’t know which stirred more emotion, the indifferent to our presence mountain gorillas or the fact that I was blessed enough to witness this.

gorilla trekking in rwanda

Starting on the trek at the foot of Volcanoes National Park

gorilla trekking in rwanda

The Silverback, gorilla trekking in rwanda

Something to Think About

Mountain gorillas and the park rangers who track and protect them are not free from the threat of poachers.  Baby mountain gorillas are worth tens of thousands of dollars in the illegal marketplace.  Law enforcement is not always in sync with park authorities.  You can read here about one instance in 2011 where a poacher was fined only $37 usd after killing a mountain gorilla due to lack of evidence or here where poachers brutally murdered a park ranger in Cameroon after he discovered the bodies of two lowland gorillas in their camp.  It’s really sad stuff.  I can’t articulate just how sad these stories make me.  With gorilla DNA matching human DNA at 98%,  what do you think the punishment for killing these intelligent and majestic mammals should be?  You can figure out what my answer would be.

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20 comments

Kelly | A Pair of Passports November 24, 2016 - 9:09 pm

So sad to hear about the threat of poachers – truly heartbreaking that an animal isn’t safe in THEIR home. It looks like you had a great time on the trek though and its great that you actually got to see some gorillas!

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Susanna Kelly November 24, 2016 - 1:10 pm

This is a great story!! I love that your guide was a former poacher! I’m so happy you got to complete your bucket list and share your adventure. Personally I think they should be fined more money than the make on the black market! I hope we can preserve these beautiful animals!

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Captainrolio November 24, 2016 - 1:33 pm

Thanks Susanna! I agree, the fine should be way more than what they earn on the black market. I would also like to see imprisonment added to that fine to be honest!

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Travelosio November 24, 2016 - 11:14 am

What an awesome adventure to see Gorillas in their natural habitat! I am dying to do this type of bucket list worthy adventures. Lucky you! Maybe one day I can have my own wonderful experience 🙂

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Captainrolio November 24, 2016 - 11:58 am

it was certainly awesome i have to admit. the whole trip was a little outside of my comfort zone but once i did this, i became hooked to nature treks and other adventure travel.. highly recommend it, just do it 🙂 🙂

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Marissa November 24, 2016 - 8:20 am

Your experience sounds incredible! Did the gorillas seem phased by having humans come so close to them? Do you think they were used to it? Seeing them in their natural habitat must have been a really powerful experience. I also find it so interesting that poachers are rehabilitated to guide trekkers to gorilla locations. Thanks for the really interesting read and great information in your article!

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Captainrolio November 24, 2016 - 11:53 am

I think they had become used to it. we were literally steps from them. they continued grooming each other and were totally natural. i too was amazed that the poachers had become protectors, it was alarming at first but at least they seem rehabilitated. and i guess they know better than anyone the best way to protect against future poachers.

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Marta Nightingale November 23, 2016 - 9:22 pm

I’d love to go to Rwanda, there is so much to learn: I love exploring places with stories to tell, even if they’re not so beautiful. I’m happy there is a daily limit, when animals are made into a tourist attraction it deprives them of any privacy, and harms ecosystems too. At least, as you said, they don’t have hundreds of flashes shooting at them on daily basis 🙂

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Captainrolio November 23, 2016 - 9:34 pm

Yes, exactly. I had zero guilt doing this trek from an animal conservation standpoint. The number of people are highly regulated. And if it weren’t for the funds coming from gorilla permits, no doubt security against poachers would decrease. Its crucial to the survival of the mountain gorillas. This was so much better than going to a zoo. As for Rwanda, it is incredibly beautiful – i honestly had no ideal until i got there, rolling hills of green everywhere. its stunning. 🙂

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Marta Nightingale November 23, 2016 - 10:09 pm

It really feels great to see how our environmental awareness is growing, and that it’s becoming sth “cool,” sth to follow that is finally wiping off the common image of an environmentally conscious person as some kind of a freak tied up to a tree with no meaning behind it.

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Captainrolio November 24, 2016 - 11:51 am

agree. i hope its a trend thats here to stay. current political climate in some countries make me nervous however

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Marta Nightingale November 24, 2016 - 2:23 pm

same here 🙁 I wish I was able to overlook certain aspects of travel, but it’s too late 🙂 once you start traveling to be with locals, and ask and listen it’s the end of carefree backpacking, depending on your destinations, of course. Sometimes it takes me months to shake off the experience/emotions and be positive again.

Faith Coates November 23, 2016 - 6:58 pm

Oh wow what an amazing adventure. I have been watching and reading about the gorillas for years and I know I will never make this trek so thank you for bringing it to life for me in your writing.

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Captainrolio November 23, 2016 - 9:34 pm

Thanks for the comment Faith, Im glad the article had some use for you 🙂

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Spendlifetraveling.com November 23, 2016 - 4:34 pm

So sad to read about the poachers 🙁 But what an incredible and unique trip! I am definitely adding this to my bucket list, thanks for sharing!

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Captainrolio November 23, 2016 - 9:37 pm

The poachers make me so angry. the whole situation is terrible. I try to have some empathy for them in that their situation is probably very tough and they are poaching for survival. but its so hard. i just can’t rationalize the ruthless murder of these animals

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Soumya Nambiar November 23, 2016 - 4:32 pm

My uncle (Dad’s brother) and his family stay in Rwanda and they have been calling me to visit for a long time now. I had already made the Gorilla trek as one of the top things to do when I am there. But I have to save a lot of money to save 750$ for the permit. Like you said, once in a lifetime opportunity. I did not know that there are silverback Gorillas.

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Captainrolio November 23, 2016 - 9:38 pm

Hi Soumya, I would say its worth it. I know its a lot but it really is an incredible experience. As for the silverback, every gorilla family has at least one 🙂

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anonymous July 13, 2015 - 3:52 am

This was great, thank you for the info!

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Captainrolio October 11, 2015 - 3:49 am

My pleasure 🙂

Reply

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