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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE GOING FOR MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING IN RWANDA'S VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK.
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park Rwanda is the ultimate safari experience in Africa. The magic attached to the first sighting of the mountain gorilla is very difficult to describe because it’s much more than overwhelming. Mountain gorillas are giant primates, which weigh about 220 kilograms almost three times heavier than an average human being, and their size is amplified by their rough and luxuriant coat.
Mountain Blackbacks gorilla in Volcanoes National Park
Though mountain gorillas have a frightening appearance, they are extremely peaceful creatures. Mountain gorilla tracking would be considered a very risky Wildlife experience if gorillas had an aggressive character like their fellow apes like velvet monkeys, baboons, or for that matter some human beings also.
The awesome character of gorillas that is highly admired by visitors isn’t either the gorillas’ giant size or their extremely peaceful behavior, it’s their mysterious attitude to people, we call it mysterious because it greatly differs from that of other wild animals that visitors always encounter during their Africa wildlife safaris. Almost everyone human who encounters gorillas in Rwanda experiences a mystical sense. Where everyone recognizes their experience as an incredible one.
Usually one of the giant apes will stop their family business of chopping bamboo for food to just study human visitor’s behavior, their soft brown eyes staring deeply into yours’ as if it’s seeking anything like a connection or relationship, it will also enjoy a thrilling watching experience without the other fellows.
WHAT IT’S LIKE ON A GORILLA TREKKING IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK?
On the day of your Rwanda gorilla trek in volcanoes national park Rwanda, you will have set off very early in the morning, to trek to the gentle giants’ starting from the foothills of the Virunga ranges up to the higher slopes covered by the bamboo forests.
Your guide will pick you up from your arranged safari lodge to the park headquarters in Kinigi village near Musanze town the former Ruhengeri. The guides here in Rwanda are very good speakers, they are fluent in English.
Before gorilla trekking, you will be grouped in a group of 8 trekkers then each group of 8 will be allocated to a certain gorilla family but it is always according to your level of fitness. Then after being allocated to a certain gorilla family, there will be a briefing on safety and gorilla trekking guidelines.
For visitors who have any physical limitations, you will inform the park officials so that they can plan your gorilla trek according to your level of fitness, the officials in the volcanoes national park are looking forward to making your gorilla trek remarkable and memorable so they invented an African helicopter which is carried by 4 porters, if you need to enjoy your gorilla trek you will be charged some few dollars to pay the porters. You can also inform them if you would like to trek a particular family so that you will be permitted to join the group going to that specific gorilla family.
If you feel like you need any assistance to carry your photographic equipment or other gear, you can still hire the services of our porters for the duration of your gorilla trek.
Please ensure that you have all gorilla trekking essentials before you set out for the trek and make sure that you follow all gorilla trekking guidelines this will make your trek magical.
Never forget to wear the sturdiest shoes for the gorilla trek, always wear trousers, and a sweater shirt, don’t wear shining colors, and always carry a waterproof jacket because rainfall in the Virunga ranges is unpredictable. Also, drink a lot of water, and rehydration salts, and always carry some snacks such as biscuits and chocolates.
The first 30 minutes of the trek will be an easy walk through flat farmlands in Kinigi village. Once you approach the forest boundary, the actual gorilla trek begins there.
As you trek, you will see other attractions in the park including the colorful birds, you will also see the golden monkeys and other animals, different tree species, colorful butterflies, and many others.
At an altitude of over 2500m, the pace may reduce, and the hike may be tiring and can be steeper in some parts of the ranges, taking a few hours. And don’t be surprised if you feel a bit breathless at this altitude, this is normal. The good news is that whatever exhaustion you feel on the trek up to the ranges and dense forests will be washed away with the adrenaline that follows the first sighting of the massive great gentle apes.
Gorillas will always be spread around a small area on the slope covered by dense vegetation.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT
www.volcanoesnationalpark.com OR info@volcanoesnationalpark.com
www.rwandagorillatrek.com OR info@rwandagorillatrek.com
