AUTHENTIC SAFARIS & PERSONALIZED TREKKING TOURS IN VOLCANOES WITH AFRICANMECCA

Gorilla Safari Trek Guide For Volcanoes Park

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Guests trekking through Volcanoes National Park, known in French as Parc National des Volcans, often talk about the sheer exhilaration they feel when they encounter the magnificent mountain gorillas for the first time. It’s an awe-inspiring experience to be able to quietly squat or kneel near a gorilla family, watching babies roughhouse and play, adults groom one another, and an alpha male, known as a silverback, keeping a close watch on everything that’s going on.

This experience is only one of the many you will have on your safari holiday in Rwanda. Treks through the reserve begin at the park headquarters after breakfast, at 7:30 a.m. It could take you anywhere from an hour to more than four hours to locate the gorilla family your group has been assigned to visit, but the tricky terrain and beautiful scenery will ensure you are never bored while walking up the side of a volcano at altitudes ranging from 2500 to 4000 feet.

The government of Rwanda issues a fixed number of permits per day, 80 to be specific, and assigns a specific family of gorillas to each group of 8 guests. There are currently 10 gorilla families habituated to human presence at Volcanoes National Park. Your tour consultant at AfricanMecca will gather any necessary details and arrange the permit for you.



Given that the trails can be muddy and steep at times, you can request a porter to accompany you and assist with carrying your backpack and any photographic equipment you may be carrying along. Before you leave, your experienced guide will talk to you about the protocols to follow around the gorillas.

Guests can opt for a vacation trek lodge or hotel close to Volcanoes National Park, making it easy to hit the trails early in the day. Another option is to take a day excursion to the park, beginning with an early drive out in the morning from Kigali (a minimum of three hours of transfer time). The many thrilling trails that lead through the forest offer opportunities to see various facets of the park, all of it shrouded in lush greenery. More than 178 species of birds live inside its boundaries, ready to entertain you with their songs and amaze you with their colorful plumage.

While walking in the forest, keep a sharp eye out for small animals like duikers and bushbucks. Among the predators you might spot are mongoose or perhaps, though rarely, a spotted hyena. With a separate permit you can take a designated trail leading to the bamboo forests, where you can spot the park’s other famous inhabitants: the rare golden monkeys.

Volcanoes National Park is located on the Albertine Rift, historically the site of frequent volcanic activity. One evidence of ancient lava flowing in this region is the 2-kilometer-long underground Musanze Caves, just one of dozens of caverns in the area. Recently opened to visitors, it has a paved path and lighting. An expert guide takes tourists through the cave and its various “rooms,” pointing out natural formations, interesting plant life growing in its dim depths, and copious bat roosts. The guide will also describe the cultural significance of the cave to the local people; it has been used for food storage and as a hiding place during times of danger.

Guests in top physical condition may opt to scale the sides of Mounts Bisoke and Karisimbi. Reach the top of these volcanic peaks and you will be astounded by breathtaking views from these higher elevations, including vistas of the Ngezi Crater Lake. The Ruhondo and Burera lakes of the reserve are also must-visit locations.



Take the time also to visit the Iby'Iwacu Village, where you can immerse yourself in the age-old culture of the tribal people while sampling their cuisine or taking lessons in creating traditional artifacts. The village is the creation of a nonprofit organization, whose goal is to improve the lives of communities around the park (including reformed poachers) while providing incentives for conservation. Most visitors also pay their respects at the tomb of Dian Fossey, the brave woman who dedicated her life to researching and protecting the mountain gorillas of Rwanda.

Other Activities Around Volcanoes National Park

1. Golden Monkey Trek	2. Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village Tour
3. Dian Fossey Grave Shrine Tour	4. Musanze Caves Tour
5. Mount Karisimbi Hike	6. Mount Bisoke Hike
7. Buhanga Forest Eco-Park Tour