1 Day Rwanda Gorilla Tour

1 Day Rwanda Gorilla Tour

With this 1 day Rwanda Gorilla trekking, we assume visitors  already in Rwanda want to take a brief tour of one of the gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park and might want to sign up for a one-day Rwanda Gorilla trekking tour. In Rwanda’s northwest, in the Musanze area, is where you can find the Volcanoes National Park.

Swamps, bamboo woods, and open grasslands define the park. In the past, the Volcanoes National Park reached portions of the Virunga National Park in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The park was shrunk to its current extent after the two nations gained independence. Karisimbi, Sabinyo, Bisoke, Muhavura, and Gahinga are among the five volcanoes in the park, which is located in one of Africa’s most mountainous regions. The tallest of them all is Mount Karisimbi.

The Volcanoes National park is home to over 200 species of birds, hyenas, forest elephants, buffaloes and antelopes. The key wildlife attractions are the mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. Mountain gorillas, also known as Gorilla beringei beringei are arguably the most fascinating creatures on earth. They are creatures that resemble and behave like man. Mountain Gorillas live in peaceful and organized families led by a dominant male. The dominant silverback dictates everything that happens in the family calmly but will use force if necessary. Their close resemblance to humans and endangered status is why a gorilla permit in Rwanda costs $1500 even before factoring in accommodation, transport and other expenses. The gorilla trekking experience is worth every penny. You would be one of the lucky few to see the primates in the wild considering that they don’t exist in zoos. Moreover, you get to contribute towards the conservation of these amazing primates.

The volcanoes national park was the base of a great primatologist called Dian Fossey. She established her base between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke in 1967 after invitation from Richard Leakey. Dian Fossey helped bring to the attention of the world the plight of the mountain gorillas that were facing eminent extinction as a result of poaching. She went away from concentrating solely on research but also to conservation. As an active conservationist, Fossey went after the poachers with her team of armed guards. Her brutal murder in 1985 is attributed to her strong stance against poachers. She left a great legacy behind and her work continues through the Dian Fossey Gorilla Foundation.

The park and its operations are overseen by the Rwanda Development Board. In our 3-day Rwanda gorilla trip package, tourists can also tour the Musanze caves, the twin lakes (Burera and Ruhondo), and the Iby’iwacu Cultural Center in addition to doing gorilla trekking, seeing the mountains, seeing golden monkeys, and going to Dian Fossey’s grave.

Visitors can fly over for a day or two only to undertake gorilla tracking, or they can combine it with one of the activities mentioned above. Choose a group or family based on your general level of fitness from among the many options available. The joy of finally seeing mountain gorillas in their native habitat is beyond what you can imagine, even though gorilla trekking in Rwanda can be difficult. The one hour spent with the gorillas in the wild is indeed a lifetime experience.

Like mountain gorillas, the golden monkeys are endangered and live off the bamboo shoots in the park. Golden monkeys are very cute, shy and playful primates. There only enemies are the African Eagle.  If interested in the monkeys you might interested in the