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.