What to expect during gorilla trekking in Volcanoes Park, Rwanda
What to expect during gorilla trekking in Volcanoes Park Rwanda: Upon concluding arrangements with your tour operator or agent and once your gorilla permit is secured, having assembled all requisite equipment such as gloves, trekking boots, long-sleeved attire, rain jackets, snacks, packed lunch, and a walking stick (if needed), here is what to anticipate on the day of trekking.
Bring your passport as you proceed to the park headquarters for an early morning pre-trekking briefing conducted by park officials. Your gorilla permits will be verified against your passports to confirm ownership. You now need to have your packed lunch prepared, as the duration of your visit to observe the gorillas remains uncertain.
A cup of tea or coffee is provided while you enjoy performances by local traditional dancers, setting a positive tone for a demanding yet exhilarating day, prior to receiving guidance from the ranger on appropriate conduct during the trip. Following a brief overview of safety protocols and daily expectations, participants will be organized into groups of no more than eight individuals, with each group designated to trek a certain gorilla family. Rwanda possesses 10 gorilla families, permitting 10 groups of 8 individuals each to track on any given day.
The allocation of groups is mostly contingent upon the guests’ fitness levels and ages. Individuals over 45 years of age and those with lower fitness levels are allocated to the ‘easily accessible’ gorilla families that remain close to the trailheads. However, individuals with particular interests in specific groups may advise their guides to assist in negotiations with rangers prior to the allocation of groups, thus ensuring they are allocated to those specific groups as well.
Although wild animals inhabit their natural environment, what appears to be readily accessible may not be so, as these creatures may traverse considerable distances in quest of sustenance, thus rendering their proximity uncertain. Even trails designated for physically healthy and enthusiastic travelers, typically considered tough, can be readily traversed on certain days, rendering the overall experience intriguing and unpredictable.
Each gorilla tracking team comprises a primary guide and two scouts armed with AK-47 rifles, with one positioned at the front and the other at the rear of the group. The purpose of armed scouts is to provide security in the forest from wild elephants or aggressive gorillas. The scouts are instructed to discharge guns into the air primarily to deter animals, but this is executed only in the rarest instances when all alternative measures, such as evading the dangerous creatures, have been exhausted. There are no recorded instances of such creatures attacking tourists; nonetheless, scouts sometimes recommend hiding or remaining motionless until the animals depart. The National Park’s policy prioritizes safety over regret.
Your group will include a pair of trackers dispatched early in the morning, before your arrival in the park, to locate your designated gorilla family and evaluate their potential movements. Trackers relay the gorilla’s movements to the guide, enabling him to choose the optimal approach to encounter the gorilla family.
If you lack confidence in your fitness, please inform your guide so that he can assist you in hiring a porter at the park entrance. A porter is compensated between $15 and $20, contingent upon the items he is tasked with transporting.
Trekking in Search of the Gorillas
The duration of your gorilla safari in Rwanda and the time required to encounter your gorilla family reportedly varies significantly. Locating your gorilla family may take a minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of five to seven hours.
The woodland is lush, humid, and somewhat illuminated, with no identifiable trekking routes. The landscape is characterized by hills and steep volcanic slopes, necessitating the use of branches, plant roots, and bushes for ascent on steep gradients. Adhere to the guide’s recommendations regarding the optimal route and structure to adopt. If you require a respite, inform your guide. It is recommended that you bring energy-boosting snacks and bottled mineral water to satisfy your thirst and enhance your vitality.
Physical Interaction with the Gorillas
Upon locating the gorilla family, the countdown commences.
It is recommended that you remain silent, proceed slowly, and refrain from abrupt movements to avoid agitating the gorillas. Instead, take a seat and refrain from making direct eye contact with the gorillas, since this may provoke them into believing you are challenging them.
It is not problematic to make eye contact with a gorilla; nevertheless, if it charges at you, maintain your position while averting your gaze to signify a desire to avoid confrontation and demonstrate submission. Prepare your cameras and be ready to capture several photographs; however, kindly ensure that flash and sound are disabled.
The gorillas may be foraging on the ground, relaxing, traversing their environment, or engaging in play among the branches of the trees. Acquire the optimal vantage point for photography and study their behavior comprehensively. Maintain a distance of no less than 7 meters when following them, in the event of their movement. The key consideration is your proximity to your mentor and your consistent adherence to his directives.
The trackers frequently cut the underbrush with their machetes to provide a clearer and closer view of the gorillas. It is remarkable how elegant and serene these creatures are, particularly given their substantial size. You will be astonished to observe the silverbacks (adult males) rise and traverse their domain with authority.