The Mysteries of Gorilla Tracking in Rwanda

While in the depths of Rwanda’s forested steep slopes, when you meet the mountain gorillas they appear eye-catching and yet scary.

While on your Rwanda Gorilla Safari you will be allowed to meet them, however, while in their presence you might feel contradicting desires to draw back or reach them for a hand shake (although this is not allowed) when. How a gorilla scratches itself, snoozes or stares at you in an inquisitive way will not be very familiar, but wild.

When you stare at the mountain gorillas, you surely can’t tell what they are thinking!

This sense of connection helps clarify why today more and more tourists are going to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, progressing an industry viewed as crucial for the well being of these severely endangered mountain gorillas and Rwanda’s economy. Also worth noting is that even visitors who go to see them pose a threat considering the fact that gorillas are very susceptible to catching human diseases. But in case of injury or sickness, there is a great team of doctors – the Gorilla Doctors who take care and treat the gorillas.

Unfortunately, the number of mountain gorillas drastically dropped in the last hundred years due to poaching, sickness and encroachment by man; the good news today is that great efforts have been centered on conserving them and at the moment there are almost 900 gorillas living in the forests of Uganda, D.R Congo and Rwanda.

Gorilla Conservation is a very big concern for the Rwanda government. For each gorilla family, 8 people are allowed to visit it for an hour at a time. For one to visit or see the mountain gorillas, you will be required to acquire a gorilla permit and each of these costs $750. The park’s website indicates that 20 % of the permit profit is channeled to local community development distributed among the local schools and clinics.

As reported by the Rwanda government, in just 2014, over 20,000 people have traveled from all parts of the world to see gorillas in Rwanda- which is almost thrice the number of visitors that Rwanda received in 2003. Most of Rwanda’s visitors come from Canada, the United States, Germany, Britain and Australia.

Gorilla Tracking Experience in Volcanoes National Park

When going Gorilla tracking you will set out early in the morning in the company of park ranger guides who will lead you through the forest hike. The walk may take anything from one hour to a couple of more hours of going through the green forest undergrowth.

As you draw closer to the gorillas there are some ground rules you should not forget among which are: do not point at the gorillas, speak gently, do not cough or even sneeze while in the presence of the gorillas and at all times maintain a 7 meters distance been you and the gorillas. In addition, don’t forget that when you are approached by a gorilla simply crouch down and avoid eye contact.

You will find the gorillas in any part of the forest like the clearing or even in the bamboo area. Each gorillas group comprises of several members including adult males and females, the youths and then the young ones and all these are lead by a silverback – this is the dominant adult male with silver-white hair on its back.

Dian Fossey’s Great Work towards Gorilla Conservation

The rest of the world learnt about the Gorillas of Rwanda after the great work of Dian Fossey who was an American researcher that lived most of her life in Rwanda with the gorillas researching about them and also interacted with the gorillas in their natural habitat. Dian also wrote a book “Gorillas in the Mist” after which a movie was acted. In 1985 Dian Fossey was murdered and buried close to her favorite gorilla digit. The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund which was started and this is dedicated to the conservation of gorillas and their natural habitat in Rwanda

Unfortunately, Rwanda’s tourism industry suffered bloody mayhem back in 1994 during the genocide and its only 10 years down the road since the government started reviving this industry, however, a Safari to Rwanda will never disappoint you as the development there is overwhelming.

Did you Know that Bill Clinton Co-founder of Microsoft Visited Rwanda?

Rwanda has actually received a number of prominent visitors on holiday among whom is Bill Gates the co-founder of Microsoft and several renowned actors from Hollywood. Another advantage that Rwanda has is that the Gorillas habitat is just two hour’s drive from the capital city Kigali. Join AA Safaris & Tours for a memorable Safari in Rwanda during which you will be able to meet the mountain gorillas