Rwanda Gorilla Habituation Experience

Is Gorilla Habituation Offered in Rwanda?

Is the mountain gorilla habituation experience available in Rwanda? Gorilla habituation, which involves a step-by-step training process to make gorillas familiar with human presence, takes a period of 2-3 years. Currently, gorilla habituation experiences are not yet available in Rwanda, except in Uganda, specifically at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. As of to date, Rwanda still offers only normal mountain gorilla trekking adventures where tourists enjoy one hour with a habituated group.

Mountain gorilla habituation is mainly conducted by scientists, conservationists, researchers, rangers, and environmentalists. The move is intended to have a close observation of gorilla behaviors. Gorillas are followed from morning until late in the evening while the team establishes their daily behaviors. During the actual gorilla habituation, each gorilla is given a name for easier identification, and every detail of their behavior is taken note of.

Habituation vs. Standard Trekking: What’s the Difference?

What to Expect from the Habituation Process in Uganda

Gorilla habituation experience mainly involves visiting the semi-habituated family of mountain gorillas, and normal gorilla treks take you on the search for only the fully habituated groups. During the habituation session, researchers/scientists accompany visitors, and the idea is to make the gorillas accustomed to human presence.

Visitors enjoy a maximum of 4 hours face-to-face with the semi-habituated gorilla group, unlike one hour during the normal gorilla trekking adventure. The time duration given for visitor-gorilla interaction mainly allows you to enjoy a close view of the gorillas and take photos.

How Traditional Gorilla Trekking Differs

The standard gorilla trekking experiences are enjoyable in Uganda, Rwanda, & Congo, which isn’t the case with the mountain gorilla habituation. For habituation experience, visitors can only visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is found in Kanungu, Southwestern Uganda. While on a gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi, expect to begin your adventure from the Rushaga region, a trailhead with several gorilla groups. The Bushaho and Bikingi gorilla groups were originally dedicated to gorilla habituation till recently, when they opened for public visits.

Obtaining a valid gorilla habituation permit costs US Dollars 1500 per person, and this is slightly higher than the gorilla trekking permits in Uganda at US Dollars 800, & US Dollars 400 in Congo. Mountain gorilla habituation permits should be secured in advance, and you can do so through a reliable tour operator (Native Africa Tours). Like the normal gorilla trekking permits, only persons above 15 years can book gorilla habituation permits. It is safe to secure a gorilla permit for your habituation adventure at least 2-6 months before the date of visiting Bwindi National Park to engage in your long day excursion.

In terms of capacity, gorilla habituation mainly accepts a limit of up to 4pax per the semi-habituated gorilla group, and normal gorilla treks take up to 8 visitors per habituated gorilla group. Gorilla groups are assigned to guests only during the briefing time in the respective park offices.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda (quick guide)

Rwanda is popular for its exhilarating gorilla trekking experiences. Rwanda gorilla treks are experienced in the scenic Volcanoes National Park, Musanze. The park lies in the Virunga region, the northwestern province of Rwanda, which is about a 2-3-hour drive from Kigali. Rwanda is one of the top places to explore mountain gorillas in their natural habitats, and at Volcanoes National Park, tourists begin their trek from Kinigi.

At Kinigi, expect to get briefed on gorilla trekking regulations, and later, a gorilla group plus ranger guides will be allocated to accompany you. The actual trek through the forest to see gorillas begins at 8:00 am and is expected to take about 2-6 hours. The length of the trek with the Volcanoes gorillas may vary depending on the key factors, including the visitor’s level of fitness, the location of the gorillas, and the overall nature of the gorilla habitat.

Already habituated gorilla groups are available for tourists to explore, with each to be visited by 8 tourists. About 13 groups are currently open to the public to visit in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and include the Amahoro group, the Bwenge gorilla group, Muhoza gorilla group, Kwisanga group, Sabyinyo gorilla family, Susa A, Umubano group, Susa B (Karisimbi), Noheli group, and Agashya gorilla group. Volcanoes National Park also shelters gorilla families like Hirwa, Ugenda, and more. Visitors can explore the tourism-designated groups or those that have been reserved for research, depending on their travel desires.

When to Visit Rwanda for a Gorilla Trek

Rwanda gorilla safaris can be arranged at any time of the year, but to enjoy a trek free of disruption, consider traveling during the dry season. The dry season, which is considered to be the best period to trek gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes, begins from June to September and December to February, which marks the shorter drier months of the year.

Compared to the rainy or wet season, the dry season experiences long sunny days with the ground always kept drier and less slippery for visitors to enjoy a guided trek while searching for mountain gorillas. It is during the rainy or wet season when heavy rains are encountered, with the ground often slippery or muddy, posing a higher rate of disruption while you search for gorillas.

Important Rules and Guidelines for Visiting Gorillas

The standard safety guidelines/measures are available, and all tourists are expected to respect them during the normal gorilla trek or habituation. Below is the list of the gorilla rules and regulations to observe as you interact with gorillas in Rwanda or Uganda;

1. Consider maintaining a safe distance of 7-8m away from gorillas to reduce any risk of transmitting infectious diseases to these precious Apes.
2. Ensure that you are free from cold, flu/other illnesses, and this should be ascertained before you embark on the actual visit to gorillas.
3. On a standard gorilla trek, each gorilla group will be explored by 8pax, and during the gorilla habituation, 4pax.
4. The gorilla habitat should be maintained in its clean state, and ensure that all the rubbish is brought back to the designated points.
5. When you come across gorillas, avoid surrounding them while taking pictures or observing their behaviors.
6. Flash photography is highly prohibited, and we recommend that you turn off the flashlight before you begin taking photos of the gorillas.
7. Stay calm/steel and respect the guidelines given to you by the park ranger guide, especially when the gorillas charge at you.
8. Do not make loud noises during your search for gorillas, either on the normal gorilla trekking or habituation experience. Noise often disrupts the normal behaviors of gorillas.

Essential Packing List for Your Trek

Whether you plan to go on a normal gorilla habituation or gorilla trekking, you must ensure that you carry the right items. On the packing list, here are some of the items not to miss out: thick long socks, a pair of gardening gloves, gaiters, a bottle of water, a light waterproof daypack, long-sleeved shirts, first-aid kits, a sweater, sunglasses, passports, and long trousers.

Where to Stay Near Volcanoes National Park

Safari accommodation options present for overnight stay in and around Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, range from budget to luxury. They include Mountain Gorilla’s Nest Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Da Vinci Lodge, Best View Hotel, Wilderness Bisate Lodge, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Bishop’s House Rwanda, and Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge.

Getting to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park (Musanze) from Kigali

Departing from Kigali is the quickest way to reach Volcanoes National Park for you to begin your gorilla safaris. Driving to Musanze’s Volcanoes National Park takes 2-3 hours in a 4×4 car, and by air, you can take less than an hour to get to Ruhengeri Airport, where you connect to the park by road. To experience the best of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park gorilla adventure, consider booking your tour with Native Africa Tours.