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Jmill42 Says: As I stated on the opening page, the gorillas defy description, though everyone tries to put their finger on exactly what makes them so special. If you believe in evolution, then sitting there watching creatures do things and act like you did when you were a kid just blows...
grets Says: During our visit, the animals carry on with their feeding, interaction, playing, climbing trees and generally just being gorillas. It is such an intense event full of overwhelming emotions, making the arduous climb seem insignificant and photography meaningless. Gorillas are...
grets Says: “We are near” says Alphonse, and I can feel the excitement rising. We turn off the proper path and scramble through the jungle in amongst the undergrowth, continuing up the steep slopes of the volcano. There! On the path in front of us sits a huge silverback, chewing on some...
grets Says: After a few minutes, the family get up and move on, further up into the forest. We follow. This continues for the entire hour – they stop, spend a few minutes eating, and then move on uphill. The family consists of nine individuals: two silverbacks, one of which is the...
grets Says: Gorillas are primarily vegetarians, with bamboo shoots being the favoured diet, and they spend most of their day eating. Despite their enormous size, no attacks on humans have been recorded, although I would not favour my chances in a fight! They can live for up to 50 years...
grets Says: The path becomes more defined but still quite reasonable, with natural steps in the habitation. We carry on up and up, through bamboo groves and rich shrubbery. After some considerable climbing, we reach a level and can take it easy on a flat walk for a while. At a clearing...
grets Says: The trek starts from a make-shift car park on the outskirts of the village, where porters are available to carry your day pack should you wish. Two armed guards and a vet makes up our party. Alphonse takes the lad, carrying a machete to clear a path from the verdant...
grets Says: The Virunga Mountains straddle Rwanda, Uganda and DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo – formerly known as Zaire), covering a huge area of over 8,000 square kilometres. Parc National des Volcans, Rwanda’s national park, is where Dian Fossey carried out her work with the...
Notre Dame du Fatima: Ruhengeri Basecamp
Jmill42 Says: As I was part of an overland tour, this place was recommended for us. It turned out to be a wonderful place to stay. They pretty much give free reign over the area, allowing you to pitch tents in the yard, or bunk down in one of their dorms. Both options are extremely cheap,...
Silverback Bar and Grill: Well, if its someone's birthday....
Jmill42 Says: I will have to admit, on my night out in Ruhengeri, I remember about the first 2 hours, after which, I had toasted the birthday celebrator too many times. This place was muted when we arrived, but was a cacophony of locals and us tourists dancing and yelling at the end.
Jmill42 Says: Coming from Uganda, with its overwhelmingly friendly and gregarious people, it was immensely noticeable the difference in attitude of Rwandans. It doesn't take much thought or math to figure out why. With Genocide just a bit over a decade in the past, you have to realize...
grets Says: At the car park where the gorilla trek starts, porters are available for hire to carry your gear on the trek. I would wholeheartedly recommend you getting one, not only as it leaves you free to scramble unencumbered, it also helps the local economy.I'm not sure whether it...
grets Says: Although extremely worthwhile, the trek to reach the gorillas can be very arduous! The slopes of the volcano are steep, you may well end off scrambling off the beaten path, and the air is thin here at 3000m above sea level.
grets Says: We are informed about the Gorilla Code of Conduct which we are to adhere to at all times:1. Minimum distance you should get from any gorilla should be 7m. This is to prevent the transmission of airborne diseases that can travel considerable distances. 2. No visit should be...
grets Says: Back at the park headquarters we are all remarkably quiet; words seem superfluous as we are each immersed in our own thoughts and memories of a humbling meeting with man’s closest relative. We are given certificates to commemorate the occasion, an unnecessary action as I am...
Jmill42 Says: So, you may think "Oh, its Africa. In a jungle. I'll just bring shorts." Well, my friend, think again. It was truly cold in the mornings, as you are at elevation. But, that isn't even the main reason. That would be little devil plants called "stinging nettles". They are...
grets Says: Walking boots, strong trousers or gaiters, (gardening) gloves to protect you hands from enormous stingy nettle, waterproof jacket, long-sleeved shirt, warm jacket for the evenings Mosquito repellant, anti-malaria tablets Fast film, tripod/mono pod Torch
You could be in for a long walk....
grets Says: There are four habituated gorilla groups in the Virungas, and it really is the luck of the day which group your permit is assigned to. The Sabinyo Group and Group 13 are both within reasonably easy walking distance, whereas the Susa Group can be up to 4-5 hours walk away....
Jmill42 Says: You just simply cannot get around paying the $600 for an hour visit with the gorillas. Nor should you. Your money does indeed go to the rangers and park personnel in charge of protecting the Gorillas. Now, I am not a hippy tree-hugging, save-the whales, kind of guy. But,...
Plan a Virunga vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Virunga locals
We are informed about the Gorilla Code of Conduct which we are to adhere to at all times:1. Minimum distance you should get from any gorilla should be 7m. This...
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Our visit to Rwanda was purely in order to see the endangered mountain gorilla. Below are extracts from my diary written at the time:
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It goes without saying that if I pay a rate of $600/hour and leave thinking I came away with a steal, it had to have been impressive. The Mountain Gorillas swarming around you in the middle of the...
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