GORILLA TRACKING - en attente de traduction

Why Rwanda?

The difference between Uganda and Rwanda is that in Uganda it is best to fly by charter to the gorilla tracking area of Bwindi as it is otherwise a long day's drive. Also, due to flight schedules, you need to come in the night before from Tanzania because flights to Bwindi take off very early due to the strong winds there. In Rwanda there is a range of accommodation in Volcanoes National Park (although the term budget is used rather losely in Rwanda, none of these tours are for a budget traveller) that is two to three hours from Kigali by road. Lastly, despite being at a higher altitude than the gorilla tracking in Uganda, the ground is more open, making walking and tracking easier.

Rwanda  is home to approximately one-third of the world’s population of mountain gorillas.There are currently seven gorilla families which can be tracked in Volcanoes National Park.Here is the current make up of each family group:

Susa group

Size: 28 members, including 3 Silverbacks

The group originally studied by Dian Fossey, this group split in 2008 and formed a  newgroup called Kalisimbi. The group is well known for having young twins: Byishimo (meaning ‘happiness’)and Impano (‘gift’).

The drive fromthe startingpointatKinigitakes approximatelyone hour.Clients should be prepared for a severe hike, particularly as this group sometimes migrates to higher altitudes making them harder to track.

Sabyinyo group

Size: 12 members, including1 Silverback (the largest of all the Silverbacks in the park).      This groupresides inthe gentle slopes betweenMountSabyinyoand Mount Gahinga.

Tracking the gorillas could take anything from ten minutes to an hour to reach, but generally,the gorillasare easy to reach and the slopes aren’t too daunting (though they can be slippery after rain).

 Amahoro (‘Peace’) Group

Size: 18 members, including 3 Silverbacks

This is a gentle and tranquil group,usually found on the slopes of Mount Visoke. Trackers are faced with quite a steep climb to reach this group and the difficulty rating is intermediate.

13/Agashya (‘Special’) Group

Size: 26 members, including 1 Silverback

This was the first habituated group in the park, which has grown from an initial 13 members! Its name has since been changed to the Agashya Group.

These gorillas can be found in the same area as the Sabyinyo group,although they sometimes move deeper into the mountain.

Umubano (‘Live Together’) Group

Size: 12 members, including 1 Silverback

This group was formed by members of the Amahoro family after one of the males (Charles) broke off in order to lead his own group.

Their territory overlaps with tha t of the Amahoro Group.

Kwitonda Group

Size: 21members, including 3 Silverbacks

This family is named after the dominant Silverback of the group and means ‘humble one’.

The group inhabits the lower slopes of Mt Muhabura and is also one of the more difficult families to track.

Hirwa Group

Size: 16members, including 1 Silverback

This is still arelatively new group which was formed from two different families, Group13 and Sabyinyo.

The group can usually to be found in the foothills of Mount Sabyinyo on the Gahinga side.

Accommodation:

·    Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge (up-market)

·    MountainGorilla View Lodge (mid-range)

·    Gorillas Hotel (lower mid-range)

·    Kinigi Guest House (budget)

All of these are located close to the start of the gorilla tracking trailhead.

Some Itineraries

Permits are granted for a maximum of eight people per group per day.

DAY 1  ARRIVAL KIGALI - VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK

Arrival in Kigali. City tour, visit of the Genocide Memorial Centre and local markets. Lunch in Kigali. Tranfser to Volcanoes National Park

Overnight at MOUNTAIN GORILLA VIEW LODGE / GORILLAS HOTEL / KINIGI GUEST HOUSE

DAY 2 VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK

Gorilla tracking in the morning. Lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon visit of the local markets in Ruhengiri and the Ibi'wacu Cultural Village.

Overnight at MOUNTAIN GORILLA VIEW LODGE / GORILLAS HOTEL / KINIGI GUEST HOUSE

DAY 3  VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK - KIGALI

Gorilla tracking in the morning. Lunch at the lodge. Transfer back to Kigali.

Overnight at KIGALI SERENA (SUPERIOR ROOM) / HOTEL GORILLAS / HOTEL GORILLAS

DAY 4  KIGALI - DEPARTURE

After breakfast transfer to the airport.

A trip of a day longer is also possible in which case day 4 is the same as day 3, and day 5 is the Kigali and departure day.

A summary of costs (lowest price first) in US Dollars, minimum 2 people, is below.

Connections to Tanania:

Rwandair flies betwen Dar es Salaam and Kigali and Kenya Airways fly from Dar, Arusha, and Zanzibar to Kigali via Nairobi.