The first thing to look into if you’re thinking about trekking with mountain gorillas in Rwanda is how to obtain gorilla permits. These permits, which are required by the IUCN red list, allow tourists to be guided to see critically endangered mountain gorilla species up close. Primate species can be found freely in Rwanda’s northern volcanoes national park, which is home to Africa’s first conservation areas in the Virunga volcanic region, which spans an area of about 160 square kilometres and borders Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Volcanoes National Park was once a vast forest, but because of internal conflicts and the effects of war, its area continued to shrink and become human settlements. Thanks to the Rwandan government’s persistent conservation efforts, the park has survived the test of time. American primatologist Dian Fossey made the park famous with her groundbreaking research on mountain gorillas, and the park was also featured in the film “Gorillas in the Mist,” which further increased its international recognition. With the exception of a few that are shared with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, the park is made up of five out of the eight series of the magnificent Virunga Mountains, which are home to the highest mountain in the range, Mountain Karisimbi.
The Rwanda Development Board is the sole managing body responsible for obtaining gorilla permits in Rwanda. The cost of a permit is $1,500 for non-resident foreigners, $500 for residents of other countries, and $200 for citizens of East Africa. Permits can be obtained directly from the board or via a ground handling tour operator operating in Rwanda. To minimise disappointments and missing out, it is best to purchase these in advance of the reservation deadline. All payments for permissions have been made. The gorilla permit can only be purchased by those who are under 15 years old.
The gorilla trek starts at the park headquarters in Kiningi and is quite demanding, but it is ultimately very rewarding. Getting to see the primates is an exciting once-in-a-lifetime experience that one will never forget; it takes two to eight hours of trekking, sometimes even the entire day, and you have an hour to return afterward. It is recommended that trackers dress in long sleeves and pants, hiking boots, rain gear, waterproof covers for cameras and phones and rain gear. If carrying heavy equipment, it is advisable to hire a porter before beginning the walk.
Permits are required for various activities at Volcanoes National Park, such as following golden monkeys in the bamboo forest. These primates are peculiar to the Virunga mountains and are distinctive among monkey species, standing out from other monkeys with their golden-brown colour and hint of black. It is necessary to have paid park entrance fees and forest walks to the authorities in order to walk the Dian Fossey tombs area.