The best gorilla trekking routes in Rwanda
The best gorilla trekking routes in Rwanda: Rwanda is well-known for the Gorilla tracking normally done at the Volcanoes National Park. It is a world heritage site with about 50% of the global remaining mountain gorillas. The various trekking routes include; – Mubende Trail, which takes you to different groups of gorillas, Kaguta Trail, or Kitandara Trail, which also takes you to different groups of gorillas. Here’s a guide to the best gorilla trekking routes in Rwanda:
Susa Group
– Difficulty Level: Moderate to Challenging
– Duration: 1-3 hours of trekking
– Highlights: The Susa group is by far the most known gorilla family to trek because it is relatively large containing over 30 individuals and the twins that were born to the mother gorilla called Ngwino. This family is known to be very playful, and seeing this family may at times include long treks where the animals are found on higher ground.
Amahoro Group
– Difficulty Level: Moderate
– Duration: 1-3 hours of trekking
– Highlights: Amahoro means ‘peace’ that’s why this group is not very aggressive. The climb to see the Amahoro group can be steep and arduous especially if the group is deep in the forested country. Watching this family is pleasant as people here are generally not intrusive, and they do not interrupt the onlookers’ admiration of them.
Umubano Group
– Difficulty Level: Moderate
– Duration: 1-2 hours of trekking
– Highlights: Umubano, a word meaning living together in English, boasts of friendly behavior as well as having a Seizable group size. The trek is often less tiring, making it a perfect avenue for those who may not prefer a jogging activity.
Group 13 (Kwitonda)
– Difficulty Level: Moderate to Challenging
– Duration: 1-4 hours of trekking
– Highlights: It is for this reason that this group is characterized by a greater density of habitat with bamboo vegetation. Due to the huge number of hills that are involved in the trek, the whole exercise can be tiresome and tiring, but the view you get of the gorillas blessing this kind of background is rewarding.
Hirwa Group
– Difficulty Level: Moderate
– Duration: 1-2 hours of trekking
– Highlights: The Hirwa group was friendly, and most of the time the group members were observed playfully interacting with each other. This group can be reached through rugged terrains meaning that it is always a beautiful experience to trek to the place.
Tshivurura Group
– Difficulty Level: Moderate
– Duration: 1-2 hours of trekking
– Highlights: That is why this relatively new group was created recently as well and it will provide a rather special experience for the spectators. Trekking can be comfortably done, and therefore it is possible to take along children or people looking forward to a relatively easy hike.
Agashya Group
– Difficulty Level: Moderate
– Duration: 1-3 hours of trekking
– Highlights: The Agashya group is a very large one which contains families of playful young ones, and other elder gorillas. The natural environment surrounding them is normally either short grass or shrubs and there is always hilly terrain before getting to where they are.
Trekking Essentials
– Permits: There are restrictions on the number of people who are allowed to visit the gorillas every day so the trekking permits must be obtained in advance.
– Guides: Every hike is accompanied by a guide, skilled in gorilla behavior and conservation programs.
– Packing: Hiking footwear, a raincoat or umbrella, some food and drinks, and a camera would be useful. For these reasons, trekking poles are valuable when hiking steepness is an issue.
Tours to Rwanda that include gorilla trekking are surely among the most memorable of the experiences enjoyed by tourists eager to cover ecological trails that take them straight to the gorilla habitats. The decision as to which route to take depends on your physical endurance levels, and the kind of interest one has in the family of the gorillas one wants to visit.
