Why Trek Gorillas In Rwanda
Trekking gorillas in Rwanda is a unique and unforgettable experience that allows you to get up close and personal with these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. Rwanda is home to over a third of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, and the country has made tremendous strides in protecting them and their habitat.
Reasons why you should consider trekking gorillas in Rwanda:
There are several reasons that make Rwanda edge other gorilla trekking destinations. Here are a few reasons you should consider Rwanda gorilla trekking.
Conservation:
By trekking gorillas in Rwanda, you are supporting conservation efforts that aim to protect these endangered animals and their habitat. Mountain gorillas can only survive within their natural habitats. Once their habitats are destroyed, they cannot survive elsewhere.
The fees paid for gorilla permits and guided tours go directly towards funding conservation programs and supporting local communities.
Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience:
Trekking gorillas in Rwanda is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you won’t forget. You’ll have the opportunity to observe gorillas in their natural habitat, interacting with one another, and going about their daily lives.
It is not common to encounter such large wild creatures without the fear of being attacked. The hike through the forest along with the history of gorilla trekking in Rwanda will interest you in participating in conservation.
Cultural Experience:
Trekking gorillas in Rwanda also provides an opportunity to learn about the local culture and traditions. You’ll have the chance to meet and interact with local communities and learn about their way of life. Many of these people are former poachers. Others are children of former poachers whose lives have been transformed by the support availed through gorilla trekking.
Stunning Scenery:
The trek to find the gorillas takes place in the lush, verdant forests of Rwanda’s volcanic mountains, offering stunning views and a chance to explore a unique and beautiful landscape.
Overall, trekking gorillas in Rwanda is an unforgettable and worthwhile experience that offers the opportunity to observe these incredible creatures up close, while supporting conservation efforts and experiencing the local culture and stunning scenery.
Security and No Tolerance for Corruption
Rwanda is one of the most secure countries in East Africa. On top of their security, it is also a country where you should expect fairness in case a tour operator provides you with service below standards. This is not the case with Rwanda’s neighbors where the cards are often played in favor of the locals.
Their $1500 gorilla trekking permit is worth the money if you consider Rwanda’s road network, security, and healthcare. This land of a thousand hills is one place you will feel secure without compromising the experience of feeling at home.
Read MoreGorilla Trekking in Uganda or Rwanda: Similarities & Differences
About Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda:
Gorilla Trekking is conducted in Volcanoes National Park which is situated in northern part of Rwanda known as Ruhengeri. The Park is reached after 2hrs drive from Kigali Airport or Kigali city. You can reach Ruhengeri town by public transport or private vehicle however, 4-wheel drive cars are recommended because the area is mountainous. Volcanoes National Park is named after the chain of dormant volcanoes making up the Virunga Massif: Karisimbi – the highest at 4,507m, Bisoke with its verdant crater lake, Sabinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura.
About Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is dominated by tropical rain forest. It’s situated in western Uganda and reachable after 8-9 hours drive from Entebbe International Airport or Kampala city.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is thought to have one of the richest faunal communities in East Africa, including more than 350 bird species and more than 200 butterfly species along side different primates but above all mountain Gorillas. The last gorilla census of 2018 shows that BINP hosts almost half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. This Park is estimated to protect over 459 individual gorillas.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda:
It’s the smallest National Park in Uganda but treasured for hosting travelers looking to gorilla watching safaris in the Ugandan part of the Virunga. MGNP is part of Virunga crescent together with Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo. MGNP is famous for its mountainous relief amidst Virunga Volcanoes like Mt Muhabura (4,127 m), Mt Gahinga (3,474 m) from which the park derives its name, and Mt Sabyinyo (3,645 m). It lies in Bufumbira county, Nyarusiza and Muramba sub-counties and adjacent to the three parishes of Gisozi, Rukongi and Gitenderi.
Similarities between Uganda and Rwanda Gorilla trekking:
Uganda and Rwanda start gorilla trekking with briefing at 7:30am and thereafter, groups of trekkers walk to meet gorillas in their natural habitat. During briefing, guests are equipped with DOS and DON’Ts while with gorillas.
Trekkers are grouped into a maximum of eight people to visit each gorilla family. For more information, each group is headed by ranger guides whose work id to guide, feed information and provide security to the visitors.
A maximum of one hour is given to watch gorillas in their natural environment. Once you meet gorillas, Uganda and Rwanda gives you only one hour to take photos, films and watch the gentle giants as they perform their routine activities.
Trekkers meet only habituated gorilla families which are calm and familiarized to be tracked. For a gorilla family to be trekked, it first under go a 2-3year habituation process which is spear headed by wildlife experts and primatologists among others.
You need a gorilla permit to be allowed to meet Gorillas. Advance purchase of Rwanda and Uganda Gorilla permit is recommended because the permits are on high demand.
Differences between Rwanda and Uganda Gorilla Trekking:
The cost of Rwanda Gorilla permit goes to US$1500 while that of Uganda cost US$700. For that case, Rwanda offers the most expensive gorilla trek on record.
Uganda conducts gorilla trekking in two gorilla parks namely; Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. For that case, Uganda offers two options for tourists to choose where to trek gorillas from.
Uganda protects more than 18 habituated gorilla families in two parks while Rwanda offers 10 habituated gorilla families. That means that Uganda offers more gorilla permits per day, all year round.
Uganda offers both Gorilla trekking and Gorilla habituation for tourists. Rwanda only offers gorilla trekking however, the cost of Uganda gorilla habituation goes up to US$1500 (stay four hours with gorillas) which is equivalent to the cost of Rwanda gorilla trekking (1hr stay with gorillas).
Rwanda offers gorilla trekking from Kinigi park headquarters while Uganda is by far offers four gorilla trekking centres namely: Buhoma, Rushaga, Ruhija and Nkuringo.
It’s a shorter distance from Kigali city to Volcanoes National Park (2hrs drive) verses 8-9hrs drive from Kampala city to Bwindi Impenetrable national Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Rwanda Gorilla Park is situated in northern direction while Uganda gorilla parks are in western Uganda.
Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda is more mountainous that Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The writer of this article is therefore cautioning all travelers opting to trek Gorilla in Rwanda to acquire high level of fitness before the actual tracking date.
Rwanda has ten habituated gorilla groups while Uganda has more than 18 habituated gorilla families. Rwanda gorilla families include Karisimbi Gorilla Family (Susa-B), Sabyinyo Gorilla Family, Amahoro Gorilla Family, Umubano Gorilla Family, Agasha Gorilla Family (Group 13), Kwitonda Gorilla Family, Hirwa Gorilla Family (Hirwa in the local dialect means “lucky one”) and Bwenge Gorilla Family.
Habituated gorilla families in Uganda include; Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura, Bitukura, Oruzogo, Nkuringo, Nshongi, Mishaya, Kahungye, Bweza, Busingye, Nyakagezi, Kyaguriro among others.
Volcanoes National Park is more of bamboo vegetation than Bwindi. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is dominated by tropical rain forest which is characterized by tall trees, ever green vegetation, less undergrowth and canopies.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, covering 32,092 ha, is one of the largest areas in East Africa which still has Afromontane lowland forest extending to well within the montane forest belt. Volcanoes National Park covers 160 km2 (62 sq mi) of rainforest and encompasses five of the eight volcanoes. For that case, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is larger than Volcanoes National Park.
In conclusion, Uganda and Rwanda offers the best mountain gorilla trekking exercise however, your budget will determine were to trek from.
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Hotel Rwanda – All You Need to Know
The quiet heroism of one man, Paul Rusesabagina (Don Checidle), during the Rwandan Genocide. Directed by Irish film maker Terry George, it was produced in 2004 together with Canadian, British, Italian and South African companies, and the first of its kind-produced together with the rival independent film studios, Lions Gate Films and United Artists. It was filmed mainly in South Africa, with a second edition filming in Kigali, which is the capital city of Rwanda.
Hotel Rwanda has been referred to as an African Schindller’s list. Each movie shows one individual who is not perfect-who uses his social position, interpersonal skills, together with quick wit to rescue thousands of lives form a holocaust. Different from its more popular cousin, Hotel Rwanda failed to win any Oscars, though it was chosen for three, including best Actor (Cheadle), best supporting Actress (Sophie Okonedo) and best original screen play.
Synopsis
The make is based on actual events which happened during the genocidal violent acts, which broke out in Rwanda in 1994, between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups, the Hutu military and interahamwe militias put to death approximately one million Tutsis in merely three months. The main culprit is Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), a Hutu who owned the four-star Sabena-owned Hotel des Mille Collines in Kigali.
Amidst the fast de-generating confusion of the genocide, and afraid of losing his wife who was a Tutsi, friends and others, he endeavours to keep his luxury hotel as an oasis from the violent acts, changing it to a refuge for as many individuals as it could hold. The remaining part of the world is shown turning its back Rwanda. A well-intended but rather less-resourced UN peacekeeping commander known as Nick Nolte is unable to put to an end the bloodshed, and baffled at the lack of support or concern from outside countries. The harness and failure to provide answers by the international community and the clamorous terror of the genocidal militias and generals, all totally differ from the humble effective life-saving manipulations of Rusesebagina.
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Rwanda: An Amazing Honey Moon Destination
It’s very important to plan your honeymoon on an African continent particularly Rwanda the land of a ‘’Thousand Hills’’. Rwanda is a magnificent beautiful country that offers a perfect honey moon destination in Africa. The country has favorable year round weather which means it can be visited at any month of the year depending on the traveler’s interest, its adventurous filled with scenic wonders, indeed it’s the right country to visit as you begin your marriage safari journey, it’s a perfect location to relax and enjoy Africa at its best.
Rwanda is a country of Choice for those that are looking for a truly unique off the beaten path experience in the heart of Africa, one of Africa’s most scenic. Spending the honey moon deep in the volcanoes national park forest with the most interesting to see endangered mountain gorilla is a memorable moment in life very difficult to forget, these apes are magnificent to watch in their natural habitat, the one hour you are allowed to stay with these animals is a life time experience one should not love to miss especially when you begin your marriage. Nothing is more adventurous than hiking and tracking chimpanzee and other primates in African Amazon the larges African montane forest (Nyungwe forest national park). Sharing the love of gorillas with that of chimps is regarded as a magical experience one should not love to miss on such a life time experience.
Rwanda offers you what is beyond your imagination, it’s one of the smallest countries in the world with no seaport, Lake Kivu offers you Africa inland cost with one of the best lodges beyond your imagination and adventure that gives you long lasting memories, you will enjoy beach activities like swimming, touring to nearby islands among more.
Kigali which is the largest and the capital city of Rwanda is one of the visited incredible Rwanda cleanest safest towns of Africa. Rwanda is known as one of the stable countries and your time here will be without worry of potential safety security problems, so you will be safe during your stay here. Everything in Rwanda superb ranging from the rare mountain gorillas, primates, wildlife, birds to luxury lodging all will meet your needs and beyond.
Depending on your plan, you can also extend your safari to Uganda where you can continue with wildlife viewing, chimpanzee and gorilla tracking, hiking and also white water rafting on the River Nile. Your safari can begin in Kigali and end in Entebbe -Uganda the pearl of Africa without long drive times and enjoy a True Africa beyond your imagination. Book with us we can design your honey moon safari the way you desire it to be, contact us for more information.
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What Makes Rwanda the Best Gorilla Trekking Destination
Rwanda is a small nation which is situated in East Africa. Similar to its neighbor Uganda, Rwanda has no seaport. It’s occasionally alluded to as a place where there is a” thousand hills” because of a lot of hills that occupy the country. This little nation is blessed with a lot of breathtaking natural life which has made it to out-contend numerous other countries. The most known is the uncommon mountain gorillas which has made Rwanda extremely prominent in relation to tourism destinations; countless jet into this little nation to have a look on these amazing primates.
Mountain gorillas are considered as endangered species just found in three nations which are Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tracking/trekking these gorillas is exceptionally wonderful in all these three nations that possess these creatures since gorillas are habituated to human standards and they can be trekked safely in their natural habitats. In any case, as per confirmations given by trekkers who have the opportunity to track in both nations they give everything to Rwanda as the best gorilla safari destination on the planet. Numerous factors prove this among which incorporate;
Its immediacy favors many would prefer not to go for extend periods of time. From Kigali International Airport to volcanoes national park a protected park for these mountain gorillas is only a drive of around 2-3 hours to Kinigi park central station. This implies even a one day Rwanda gorilla trek is possible. One who arranges a one day gorilla safari needs to leave Kigali city ahead of schedule no less than 3 hours before keeping in mind the end goal to land at Kinigi park central station in time (7:00am) to get short briefings from the park officials about gorilla trekking furthermore to get you apportioned to the guide.
After tracking you go back to Kigali/accommodation or meet your departure flight back home. So if you don’t prefer long drive choose gorilla tracking in Rwanda. So in the event that you don’t favor lengthy drives, pick gorilla tracking in Rwanda. To access Bwindi national park or Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda it needs you to drive for around 7-9 hours which is a lengthy drive for the individuals who don’t favor long excursions.
With regards to viewing and photography, Rwanda takes it all, when contrasted with the impenetrable forest of Bwindi Impenetrable National park and the Virunga national park of DRC. Mountain gorillas of Rwanda ordinarily feed on the bamboo trees and short grass which makes viewing and photography clear, so this component has made Rwanda to be positioned as the best gorilla safaris destination to most particularly the individuals who don’t want to penetrate the thick forests of Bwindi and Virunga woods in DRC. Despite the fact that, you ought to note that it’s not a guarantee for easy viewing since they are wild creatures, the one you think simple to see may turn to be difficult and vice versa so you should be well prepared for the activity, tracking time is unpredictable it can go from 1-8 hours in the jungle while searching for them since meeting them depends on where they spent their last night from.
However much Rwanda gorilla permits are the most costly when compared to gorilla permits of Uganda (650) and DRC (450), it’s the most sold and done tourism activity in Rwanda. A gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda costs US$1500 for every individual for every trek, this has earned the government of Rwanda a considerable measure of income gathering subsequent to more than 80% of travelers to Rwanda come particularly to track gorillas. Meeting these giant apes in their natural habitat deep in the forest is a life time moment that comes true.
Rwanda houses half of the remaining mountain gorillas and all live in volcanoes national park all prepared to get guests and this implies 88 individuals visit gorillas on the regular schedule and in every gorilla family just eight individuals with gorilla permits are permitted to visit these chimps. The one hour you’re permitted to stay with these gorillas while observing and in addition taking photography is viewed as an amazing minute in life exceptionally hard to overlook. For any Rwanda gorilla safari tour book with us, we will take you where you have not yet gone to.
Read MoreThe Bicycle as a Symbol of Coffee and Tourism in Rwanda
Like Colombia’s emblematic Willy’s Jeeps loaded with bags of coffee beans or Costa Rica’s ox-drawn carts, Rwanda also has a symbol that tourists associate with coffee and rural life in general. It is the wooden bicycle.
The bicycle has become an intricate part of Rwandan society and the economic activities of the country in general. It is the primary source of transport for produce and people in the rural areas, and is integral to the coffee production process, helping to transport ready-picked bourbon berries to the next phase of production. The berries are highly perishable, and the quicker they reach the washing station, the better for quality.
Bicycles can also be used to transport green beans to nearby roasteries, if necessary.
SPREAD and Project Rwanda have taken this a step further by designing and in some cases providing farmers with coffee bikes equipped to transport heavy coffee loads on the extended back portion of the bike. Studies are still under way, but preliminary findings indicate that the new coffee bikes shorten the transport time by four or five times the regular time taken with wooden bikes or other modes of transport, thus drastically improving the farmers’ productivity and making their lives easier.
The coffee bikes can certainly be used to tour coffee plantations and washing stations in true rural tourism fashion.
The coffee bikes may end up having multiple uses that stretch from farming, produce collection and transportation to new avenues of international tourism. But it is the bicycle in general that has been embraced by Rwandans and has grown to become a symbol of coffee, outdoor tourism and life in Rwanda.
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