Rwanda gorilla Trekking in August
Rwanda Gorilla Trekking in August is an ideal for since this time falls in the dry season. Given Rwanda’s proximity to the equator, the country receives an equatorial type of climate. Dry and humid conditions with limited rainfall characterize this dry season. These conditions are perfect for a gorilla trekking experience in the country. The dry conditions ensure that the weather is very clear with very sparse vegetation.
Gorilla trekking is a major tourist activity in Rwanda, where visitors have a chance of spotting and encountering mountain gorillas in their natural environment. Mountain gorillas are a rare and endangered species of primates. They dwell only in the Virunga conservation area, located in East Africa. During this trekking experience, visitors can spend an hour in the presence of the mountain gorillas after traversing the dense rainforest.
Where does gorilla trekking in Rwanda take place?
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda takes place at the Volcanoes National Park. This incredible part is located in the northern region of the country, close to the border with Uganda. Volcanoes National Park is the oldest protected area not only in the country but also in Africa. This is because it was established in 1925 during the Belgian colonial rule in the country. The park stretches for over 160 square kilometers in the Musanze district. The park is part of the Virunga conservation area, meaning it harbors mountain gorillas. Volcanoes National Park harbors over 300 mountain gorillas, making it an ideal location for gorilla trekking in the region. There are over 13 habituated mountain gorilla families in Rwanda. Some of the gorilla families include Kwisanga, Umubano, and Noheli. Karisimbi, Amahoro, Kwitonda, Agashya, Sabyinyo, Susa, Igisha, Isimbi, Muhoza gorilla families.
What are some of the other activities to do in Rwanda in August?
Rwanda is full of incredible activities that are interesting to visitors and perfect for a gateway vacation. These activities include the following.
Golden monkey trekking
Golden monkey trekking is one of the must-do activities in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. It involves navigating through the dense forest canopies of Volcanoes National Park, especially the dense lowlands in the bamboo forests, looking for golden monkeys.
This process of golden monkey trekking, visitors are given a maximum of an hour in the presence of these primates. The golden monkeys are a rare species of primates that have golden-like fur on their bellies and backs. The golden monkeys are social animals just like most of the other primates and live in large communities of up to 30-80 individuals. Trekking gives visitors a chance to come up close to the golden monkeys are spot them as they play, feed, and females groom their babies.
Trekking these primates is not very tiresome since they dwell in the lowland areas and often leave trails of bamboo leftovers where rangers can track their movements. Volcanoes National Park has over 5,000 golden monkeys, with two habituated groups ready to be trekked. Each group has over 80-100 individual golden monkeys.
Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee trekking also allows visitors to take on the dense forest canopies of tropical rainforest, searching for the primates and spending an hour with them. Tucked away in the hidden forest canopies of Nyungwe Forest National Park, chimpanzees form an incredible addition to the adventure experiences in the park. These chimpanzees are, in fact, one of the most playful primates in the animal kingdom, much like their human cousins, since they share over 98.8% of our DNA. Visitors are awarded over an hour watching these intelligent primates go about their chores.
Hiking
Hiking is a great way to add to the adventure excitement by giving visitors are hands-on activity that stretches their limits and bodies to exhaustion by burning the extra calories in their bodies. Volcanoes National Park sets the central stage for hiking adventures since it hosts over 5 volcanoes of the Virunga massif. These volcanoes include Mount Karisimbi, which is the highest with 4,507 meters, Mount Bisoke with 3,711 meters, Mount Muhabura with 4,127 meters, Mount Gahinga with 3,474 meters, and Mount Sabyinyo with 3,668 meters. With these great mountains in the park at incredible heights, visitors can have an epic hiking experience in Rwanda in August.
Game drives
Game drives in Rwanda are best done in August, given this month is dry with less rainfall. They are done in Akagera National Park, located in the eastern region of the country. The park is well packed with vast landscapes filled with several wildlife species. The best way to explore these basics is by embarking on a game drive in this park.
How much does it cost to trek mountain gorillas in August?
Rwanda Gorilla Trekking in August can cost USD 1500 for foreign non-residents, USD 1,000 for foreign residents, and 500 for the rest of Africa. This cost is significant to the development of the park and in the improvement of the conservation efforts.
