The Republic of Rwanda, a country that suffered terribly from the Rwandan genocide of 1994 yet has risen to become a prosperous country with a happy and thriving integrated population once again. Rwanda Mountain Gorillas natural mountain habitat is in the corner of the three countries, Congo, Uganda & Rwanda. It is estimated that there are only 800 Mountain Gorillas left in the Jungles of Central Africa. They are considered extremely endangered as they cannot be breed in captivity.
In order to track gorillas anywhere in east and central Africa, you need a permit. In Rwanda there are 80 gorilla permits available per day, the smart thing to do is purchase a permit for your desired dates of gorilla trekking early enough. A gorilla permit in Rwanda costs US $ 750. We here at Rwanda Gorilla Safari we can make all the necessary arrangements on your behalf, including booking your gorilla permit.
On the day you arrival in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, one is immediately struck by the cleanliness and well maintained town making it the cleanest town in Africa. The terrain consists of mountains and gently rolling hills, with plains and swamps in the east. This mountainous country, including mountain gorillas and other wildlife, have led to a fast-growing tourism sector. English and French are the official languages although other local languages are spoken in the country.
Your safari starts in Kigali for the sights on a city tour visit to the Genocide Memorial and then transfer to the Volcanoes National Park in Ruhengeri and trek to get up close and personal with the mountain gorillas. Then transfer to your lodge, located in the foothills of the Virunga Mountains, a chain of volcanoes, which reach more than 4,500 metres tall at their highest point. The lodge is just minutes from Volcanoes National Park with views to the Virunga Mountains and surrounding countryside.
This is the start of your unforgettable mountain gorilla experience. You’ll be guided on a trek through verdant forests of moss-covered Hagenia trees and Lobelias. Then enjoy one of the world’s greatest wildlife encounters as you spend an hour observing gorillas in their natural habitat. The thick bamboo provides the perfect vantage point to get an up-close and intimate look. Despite their size, these powerful primates are very peaceful and, at the end of your visit, you’ll understand what kept conservationist Dian Fossey here for 18 years researching and protecting these gentle giants.
The late Dian Fossey spent 18 years in the Volcanoes National Park researching and studying the Rwandan Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat. The Karisoke research Centre in Rwanda was founded by Dian Fossey on 24th September 1967. The camp was located in Rwanda, between Mt. Karisimbi and Mt. Visoke, and was therefore given a name which was a mixture of these two mountains. Over and above her research she fought against poachers who killed mountain gorillas for body parts to make witch doctors medicines. She buried all slain mountain gorillas in the gorilla cemetery which she established. After her murder she too was buried high up in the mountains next to her beloved gorillas.
The reason for Dian Fossey savage murder has never been established though it is generally thought that she may have been murdered by poachers. On December 26, 1985 Dian Fossey’s skull had been split open by a Panga (machete) a tool widely used by poachers. Dian Fossey’s Gorilla Fund International -Gorilla protection in Africa, through anti-poaching and daily monitoring, is central to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International’s historic mission.
Even though gorilla trekking can be done all year round, some times of the year make for a better trip than others, April-May, November is the rainy season, which means the ground is constantly wet, and it is rainy and called. It can be quite challenging to hike through the forests in the rainy season.
The best time to go gorilla trekking is during the dry months of June to September and December to February. Although rain in these parts of Rwanda can fall at any time of the year, these particular periods are drier than the rest of the year.