Rwanda has ten gorilla families that have been habituated for gorilla tracking. These include Sabyinyo Gorilla Group, Susa A Family, Susa-B, Amahoro Gorilla Group; Hirwa Group, 13 Group, Kwitonda Family, Bwenge Family, Ugenda Family, Umubano Group. Mountain gorilla tracking activities are conducted each day, only eight members are allowed to track in each group which means that almost 80 members can track gorillas each day in the volcanoes national park forest. In order to be considered among the eight members to track in a group, you must pay a gorilla permit fee which cost US$1500 per person per tracking including park entry fee and you must also poses a valid passport size to prove that you’re the owner of the gorilla permit.
Go Gorilla Tracking in Volcanoes National Park
Tracking mountain gorillas commence very early in the morning after a short briefing from the park headquarters where information about gorilla tracking are given to clients by the park wardens/park rangers. Then after the briefing, trackers are guided by the ranger guide to head to the forest to begin the activity one of the most breathtaking and memorable moment at the park. You are only allowed one hour with these giants while observing their behaviors as well as taking as many photos as you can. Gorillas usually reside is a group comprising of 6-10 members although the group can extent to up to 35 members. The group is lead by a dominant silverback usually when it reaches the age of 13 years and above, the silverback is responsible for any activities taking place in the group including protecting the group, deciding were to build new nest for the following night, the silverback is also responsible for any fertilization in the group among other duties. Other members in the group include females with their young.
The life of a mountain gorilla begins at around 6am, they wake up and begin searching for food and this normally covers a great part of the morning time. Gorillas normally spent about 30% feeding and about 30% travelling this includes time spent looking for food and 40% resting. Not like other primates, Gorillas live mostly on ground; they travel not more than a kilometer per day within their territory. They feed on roots; leaves, stems and pith of herbs, vine and shrubs, and irregularly eat ants and other insects. They rarely drink water since most of the foods they consume consists too much water. Mountain gorillas have contributed a lot to the government of Rwanda due to a very big number of travelers who track gorillas every day, over 80% of travelers to Rwanda go gorilla tracking and some of the revenue collected goes direct to help the local people that surrounds the park to improve their well-being’s and to stop the habit of hunting gorillas for trade meat and medicine.
Today you can’t talk of Rwanda without mentioning mountain gorillas, this means it has contributed a lot to the government revenue and they have made the country very pride thanks goes to Diane Fossy who habituated these giant apes to human standards that they can be tracked safely in their natural habitat without any harm they caused to human. You are called upon not to miss this chance, just book a gorilla safari package with one of the local tour operators listed on this page.
How to get to Volcanoes National Park
The easiest way to enter Rwanda is by flying into the capital city of Kigali. On arrival at Kigali International Airport, you’ll receive a 30 day single entry tourist visa.
We recommend spending a couple of days in Kigali at the start or end of your trip, or you can make your way directly to Volcanoes National Park. The park is located about 105 kilometres from Kigali and is a two hour drive from the airport.