Did you know that Mountain gorillas where first discovered on 17 October 1902 by a German Captain, Von Beringe? The Mountain Gorillas where later named after him in 1903 by Professor Paul Matschie and how the they are called gorilla gorilla beringe

Did you know that they are no mountain gorillas in the zoo and that they can only be seen in the wild? Mountain gorillas can only be seen in Uganda, Rwanda and Virunga national park in D.R.Congo.

Karisimbi is an inactive volcano that is found in Virunga Mountains on the border between Rwanda and democratic republic of Congo.it is the highest volcano among the eight major mountains of the mountain ranges and the 5^th highest in Africa which is also part of the Albertine rift valley in the western side of the African rift valley. This mountain rises at an elevation of about 4507m above the sea level.

The name karisimbi came from a local Kinyarwanda word “amasimbi”which means snow. This snow is mostly found at the peak of the mountain during dry season in the months of June, July, august and September. This is the perfect time to do a Rwanda safari involving a hike to the top of karisimbi.

Karisimbi volcano is surrounded by other three mountains such as Mikeno that is in the north, Bisoke in the east and Nyiragongo in the west. Between karisimbi and kirisoke mountain, there exists kirisoke research center that was founded by Dian fossey in order to observe the mountain gorillas that were living in these mountains therefore if one happens to hike karisimbi volcanoes, you have a great chance to visit the grave of an American zoologists who was murdered and her body was lied in at kirisoke research center and golden monkey tracking.

Climbing Mt karisimbi.

The climb starts very early in the morning taking 6 hours which involves navigating through the Bisoke side before reaching the first stopping place at an altitude of 3700km for an overnight camping. Night will be spent here as you’re resting to proceed with the climbing the next day.

Mt karisimbi is 2 days hike there it needs one to have relatively good health and physically fit in order to be able to hike the slippery slopes to reach reach this summit which is white capped as result of snow which accumulates in the higher elevation from its frequent storms. Therefore it implies it will incur one an extra cost to hire a porter to help carrying the language and other hiking equipment’s.

A hike to karisimbi summit is such an amazing hike that it affords sights of variety of different bird’s species and other primates such golden monkeys, mountain gorillas since the volcano lies in the primates park of volcanoes national park. The place is also known for its exotic plants in its four belts of vegetation, from the dense forest at the base of the volcano up to its top of its summit.

The hike to the summits is characterised of muddy trials especially during the rainy season because of its attitude it can rainy at any time therefore we advise the visitors to carry light hiking boots that are water proof and durable enough so that your able to move for long distance in muddy places.

The hike also requires one to carry alight jumper or jacket that is breathable and water proof to ensure that one can still continue hiking in case of any weather changes.

There a number of things you should know when you are planning your gorilla safari in Rwanda and one of them is yellow fever vaccination. Rwanda is Yellow Fever free country at the moment, and considering the current active outbreak of Yellow Fever in Angola and the documenting of imported cases in some countries, the Rwandan Ministry of Health is implementing strategies to prevent the import of Yellow Fever cases and therefore protect the health of residents and wonderful visitors.

In Rwanda, Center for Disease Control does not recommend yellow fever vaccine for most travelers. However, in case you consider staying longer, you are likely to be heavily exposed to mosquitoes, which may be convincing enough for you to have the vaccine.
Country entry requirement: The government of Rwanda requires proof of yellow fever vaccination if travelling from a country with risk of yellow fever or a country with an active yellow fever outbreak but in case you are travelling from a country that does not have a yellow fever background the card is not so strict

All residents travelling to Yellow Fever endemic countries¹ should be vaccinated at least 10 days before travelling. Yellow fever endemic countries include:

Angola, Argentina, Benin, Bolivia Plurinational, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Suriname, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Venezuela.

EXEMPTED

Just in case you would love to get a waiver of the vaccination certification and enter Rwanda; there two reasonable and general ways to acquire and exemption.

The first is to go to a registered provider of a yellow fever vaccine and have them write an exemption on the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis [ICVP] card {yellow card}.

The other is to have your physician write the exemption on practice letterhead.

At About Rwanda all our tourists are given a chance to choose what they want their safari to feature, we only advice and give you the best packages and let you choose what you think would be best for you, and that goes as far as transportation is concerned, some tourists prefer self-drive while others prefer being driven by the guides however you will still enjoy the safari either way.

East Africa is a great safari destination and we are here to take you through from the time you decide to take a vacation to the time it happens. Rwanda a relatively small country but with a lot to offer a tourist. contact us and we will make the impossible happen for you. be it a self-drive safari we can still make everything happen at your disclosure. trust us and we will make magic happen

Famously known to be a place of bloodshed and massive massacres that happened very many years ago and also being known as the gorilla trekking place, the Land of a thousand hills is actually gifted with several other tourism activities that only the safari lovers and adventurous tourists understand that if you do not travel, the world is like a book and you have only read a page. Although Gorilla tours in Volcanoes national park Rwanda is the major attraction placing the Land of a Thousand Hills a number one travel destination in Africa, there also quite a number of other tourism attractions in Volcanoes national park visitors can take part, at a cheaper offer apart from the renown mountain gorilla watching.

GOLDEN MONKEY TRACKING

Trekking these stunning monkeys is not any different from trekking the gorillas, it is a similar experience and in a group of not more than eight people you go trek and spend only one hour with the monkeys once you find them.

These monkeys are very active creatures and can jump from trees which really make it interesting and somehow it becomes difficult to do photographs. While in Volcanoes National Park this amazing golden monkey trek should not miss your budget especially if you are interested in wildlife. Go trek and live with this breath-taking experience.

DIAN FOSSEY HIKE

Dian Fossey was an amazing zoologist, anthropologist and a primatologist from America who was killed in her line of duty in the thick forests of Volcanoes national park. Her body was buried in the park together with her 2 beloved gorillas and today,the site has become a great tourist destination. She was the one who undertook a far reaching study about Mountain gorillas and their groups over a period of 18 years. She kept studying them daily and in their own mountain forests of Rwanda. She went far and established her research center to make her work easy within the wilderness.

As you make your wildlife safari to Rwanda, please go and Hike the Dian Fossey grave just as a tribute to her great work of protecting the mountain Gorillas which are still existing up to date due to her efforts.

MUSANZE CAVES TOURS

This is one of the newest tourism sites in Rwanda and it is found in Ruhengeri, Northern Province of Rwanda in Musanze district. This cave has been readied for visitors by installing walkways, safety measure, trails and stirs which lead you to the dark interiors of the caves. In case you have plans of visiting volcanoes National Park, please do not miss a chance to visit this amazing cave which is two kilometers long underneath and was recently unveiled to be visited by the tourists in 2013 by the Rwanda Development Board with the Rwanda Defense Forces.

THE HIKE AT MOUNT KARISIMBI

At 4507m the peak of mount Karisimbi is the highest peak in the Virunga Range, the highest point in Rwanda and also one of the highest summits in Africa. Hiking mount Karisimbi is an incredible experience but should only be tackled by experienced and physically fit hikers. The climb doesn’t only engage any climbing skills; it will typically take two days. The 4507m above the sea level makes it to qualify to be the fifth highest mountain in the whole of Africa. Climbing to the top of the volcano is hectic however those who climb and reach the top are highly rewarded with the breathtaking views of the natural surroundings of Rwanda, Congo and also those of some parts in Uganda.

IBY’LWACU CULTURAL VILLAGE

The Iby’lwacu cultural village is located near Volcanoes National P ark, in the Northern Province, Musanze district of Rwanda. The visit to this cultural center exposes the visitors to activities and life styles of the local people in the area. Visitors get to know about the artifacts and ways of living of these African people. The Iby’lwacu Cultural Village is dedicated at focusing the ways of living, traditional lifestyles and dances especially to the tourists.

MOUNT BISOKE HIKE

The Bisoke adventure is one of the most unforgettable activities in Rwanda. The top of this Volcano has a magnificent crater lake. It is a 6 – hour hike including the 2 hours descending down to the starting point. Experienced hikers can get to the top of this mountain in a matter of 3 hours or even less and return to the base in about an hour.

The visit to Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda, one of the oldest National parks in Africa will reward you with much more, not only the gorillas and golden monkeys, the park has a unique eco-system with fauna, other wildlife and several other bird species.

Scientifically called the Gorilla beringei graueri, the eastern lowland gorillas are found in the mountainous-forested regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Kahuzi Biega national park. They are the largest sub specie of the gorillas in the whole world, a sub specie of the eastern gorillas, the male adult gorilla can weigh up to 272 kilograms but females weigh quite less. The other three species are the mountain gorillas, cross-river gorilla and the western lowland gorillas.
The evolution of the gorilla is not clear but Kimbel a researcher about primates found out that the gorilla developed as single specie after which they developed into subspecies (mountain gorillas, cross river gorillas, eastern lowland gorillas and western lowland gorillas) distinguished by a few differences.

Presently the population of the eastern lowland gorillas has rapidly decreased to only 3800 individuals as of 2016 gorilla census. The population was high counting to 16,900 individuals in 1995, which kept decreasing to 5000 in 2004, and to 3800 in 2016. This indicates that the rare species are highly endangered, and are at the high risk of extinction.
This decrease of approximately 77% qualifies the gorilla specie to be categorized as the critically endangered specie and put under the care of the international union conservation of nature (IUCN).

The decrease in the eastern low land gorillas has been due to several factors, which include poaching. This is done by the armed people who fled to seek refuge in the national park due to the civil wars in the democratic republic of Congo. Also local people who entirely depend on the forest for livelihood hunt down the specie for meat and selling.
Habitat losses along side degradation are threats too. The local people in the democratic republic of Congo are mainly agriculturalists who encroach on the forest for expanded agricultural land.

Concerning the physical description, the short muzzle, large hands, short hair, short teeth and stocky body distinguish the eastern lowland gorilla from other gorilla subspecies. The brown coat of the silverbacks is same in all gorilla species.
On the food they feed on, the endangered species are herbivores and mainly depend on leaves and other vegetation, they rarely feed on fruits. Feeding is done in the early morning after which they rest in the afternoon ad then in the early evening as they head to the sleeping site for that very day.

Concerning behaviors, the eastern lowland gorillas live in families ranging from 2-30 individuals. Each family is headed by one silver back that plans for and defends re entire group from any attack. Females in the family nurse the young ones, which is the real demonstration in a home.

The reproductive cycle in the eastern lowland gorilla is quite slow just like other gorilla species. The silver back is the one to mate with all the female adults in the entire family. Each female give birth to one baby gorilla in about every four years and the baby keeps with the mum for at least 3 to 4 years after which they start moving alone.

Due to the increased loss of the eastern lowland gorillas, the species has been listed under class A of the African convention and Appendix1 of the convention on international trade in endangered species (CITES). In addition to that, the government of the democratic republic of Congo has put legal framework to manage national parks especially the Kahuzi Biega with the support of various nongovernmental organizations.
In conclusion therefore, its evident that mountain gorillas have been conserved and saved from extinction mainly due to the introduction and proper management of mountain gorilla trekking safaris in Africa; Volcanoes National Park, Bwindi, Mgahinga and Virunga National parks. Hence a great need for lowland gorilla conservation through introdiction of properly manged tourism system to aid in the conservation efforts  the critically endangered eastern lowland gorillas in the kahuzi biega national park. This calls upon, governments, nongovernmental organizations, park managers, local people and travelers to care for the species so a to ensure sustainability.

With lots of beautiful sounds and views that collaborate to create a one kind of wild life experience, Nyungwe forest national park is one of the Africa’s oldest forests that have stayed evergreen through the ice age. It covers over 1000 square kilometers located in the south west corner of the Republic of Rwanda at the border with Burundi, to the south, and Lake Kivu and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west.

The national parks is a tropical rain forest which is a home to 12 primates among which are the 400 strong troop of habituated Ruwenzori black and white colubus, 300 bird species including six endemics not found somewhere else in the country. Concerning mammals, the national park is blessed with 75different species of mammals. The closet relatives to humans i.e. the chimpanzees are also found in Nyungwe forest national park.

Travelers to the national park are blessed with a clear view of the lush green mountains and cooling mist in a landscape , beautiful terrain and many others which all provide great and memorable experiences to the travelers.

Canopy walk

Nyungwe forest national park is believed to have the biggest canopy walk in East Africa which is 50 meters above the ground level and 200 meters long. The canopy is a steep and deep valley across a massive forest. The canopy walk has there towers and is a hanging platform which provides travelers with a clear view of different animal species in an eye to eye contact. All animals and bird species which live in the upper scale of the tropical rainforest are accessed by the travelers which are not a case in other national parks that have no canopy walks. Every traveler to Rwanda should not miss out the canopy walk for the greater and memorable experience which cannot be forgotten.

Chimpanzee trekking

Chimpanzee trekking is the most tourism activity done in the Nyungwe National Park. The national park is a home to large population of chimpanzees, the closet relatives to human beings sharing approximately 98% of human DNA. The chimpanzees live in different families each family headed by one dominant who leads the group. They demonstrate different roles in a family with the females nursing and taking care of the young ones, the males protecting the family and the young ones playing and feeding. All this is so interesting that no traveler to Rwanda should miss out.

Forest walks

These are made possible because of different trails those lead travelers to different directions. The trails are colored differently and they include among others the water fall trail which leads the travelers to the pretty waterfalls in the forest, Kamiranzoru Trail, Bigugu Trail which is the toughest trail that leads one to the bigugu peak, it requires one to be physically fit, but it is so interesting especially after reaching at the top of the peak. Travelers following the trails have high chances of encountering other different bird and animal species all which adds to the total experience that one will live to remember.

Monkey trekking

Alongside the chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest national park, monkey trekking is yet another interesting and highly participated in activity. The national park is a home to the two threatened species of monkeys which are the owl faced monkey and the golden monkey. The most celebrated of Nyungwe’s primates is the Ruwenzori Colobus which is highly arboreal and acrobatic leaf-eater, easily distinguished from any other primate found in Nyungwe by its contrasting black over all color and snow-white whiskers, shoulders and tail tip. The colubus monkeys in Nyungwe forest national park typically move in troops of several hundred animals. Other types of monkeys in Nyungwe National Park are the L’Hoest’s monkey, Silver monkey, golden monkey; Owl faced monkey, red tailed monkey, Dent’s Mona monkey, crowned monkey, Velvet monkey, and Olive baboon among others all interesting to the travelers to the national park.

In conclusion therefore, Nyungwe national park in the south west corner of Rwanda is a best tourism destination. It is blessed with many unique natural, cultural, historical and man made features for every traveler to get a great and memorable experience.

Whilst a gorilla trekking safari is liable to be a unique ordeal for you, the staff at Volcanoes National Park Rwanda has been doing this for quite a long while and run an extremely smooth operation, henceforth treks to the mountain gorillas are very much composed and obviously organized.

What it’s like on a gorilla trekking safari

Upon the arrival of your gorilla trekking, you’ll set off at a young hour in the morning to track to the apes from the edge of the forest. Your driver/guide will take you from your hotel (see spots to stay in Volcanoes National Park) to the headquarters of the park in Kinigi town. The guides here speak amazing English and are great. They will take you to a particular group of “habituated” mountain gorillas, which they know well and are used to humans.
You’ll be divided into portions of 8 and after instructing you the well being and gorilla trekking behavior, you’ll be taken to the beginning of the trail to reach your mountain gorilla group. Your guide will then lead you along for the more clear ways up into the forest, in radio communication with the trackers that stay with the groups so they can be found. The altitude is more than 2,500m, so despite the fact that the pace is unhurried, the trek is tiring and can be steep in parts, taking from 30 minutes to a couple of hours. Try not to be surprised if you become a little breathless at this altitude its perfectly normal.

Most trekkers are a little apprehensive – a large silverback male gorilla can weigh up to 200kg, or three times the heaviness of the average man, however the anxiety generally vanishes when you see the group. Frequently the gorillas will be spread around a little range of thick vegetation. They’ll proceed with their encouraging and co operations, impassive about their guests, however watching you with interest. Once in a while one, frequently a lively adolescent, will approach you with interest – sometimes coming so close that you’ll need to move away.

When to go gorilla trekking

Gorilla trekking safaris should be possible throughout the entire year. The hiking itself can be more challenging in the wet seasons from April – May and in November, however at an altitude of 2000m and that’s only the tip of the iceberg, it can obviously rain here whenever of the year. For more detail, see Rwanda’s climate

The most mainstream times for gorilla tracking are during the dry months, between December and February, and from about June to mid-September.

Permits for gorilla trekking

Definitely, securing permits for gorilla trekking over these high season periods can be really troublesome at short notice, so you ought to plan well ahead. We will make all possible arrangements for your permits

An at most of 80 gorilla tracking permits are accessible every day. permits cost US$750 per individual per visit, which may appear a great deal yet don’t resent it; this money furnishes Rwanda with a convincing economic reason to conserve the park each and, amongst different things, pays for a 24-hour protection for every gorilla group. (Armed teams always track each habituated group– like imperial bodyguards in the UK!).

There is some discussion of lessening the expense of gorilla permits later on amid the low, rainy season so get in touch with us for more information on this in case you’re considering taking a gorilla trekking safari in April, May and November.

How fit do I need to be to track gorillas?

You don’t need to be super-fit for a gorilla tracking safari however it helps in the event that you have a general level of fitness, if just to improve your general satisfaction in the experience. Walking will be at a moderate pace with time for breaks if necessary. Depending on which group you track, and the season of year you go (gorillas tend to move down the mountains in the rains), you may end up walking on some really steep mountain slopes for some time. Then again, you could reach your group following a 30-minute walk. It’s best to plan for the most active option however, and if nothing else, a few hill walks before you leave would be beneficial.