Month: April 2022

Akagera National Park has introduced a new activity, rhino tracking, which gives visitors to Akagera a chance to walk in the bush and see the rhinos up-close.

The visitors will join the park’s Rhino trackers who go out each morning to track down the rhinos on foot to monitor them for their security, and gather information about the rhinos such as about their health.

The rhino tracking in Akagera National Park happens in the vast Kilala plains in the north of the park where 30 rhinos of the white rhino species that were introduced into Akagera park at the end of last year of 2021 call home.

White rhinos are grazers, that is, feed downward on grass, and the grassy Kilala plains is the ideal environment for them. On the other hand, the black rhinos are browsers, feeding upward on leaves of tree branches. Little wonder the black rhinos in Akagera are found in the south of the park that is dominated by acacia woodland and forests.

The rhino walk in the company of the rhino monitors will give you a chance to learn about the rhinos and other wildlife you encounter. The walk also gives you a chance to discover and see wildlife that is far from the drive tracks and would be difficult to see if you are driving.

How does one plan to do the Rhino tracking/trekking in Akagera?

Please note the rhino tracking is only available to guests who stay at the Karenge Bush Camp, a seasonal tented lodging found in the north of Akagera National Park overlooking the beautiful Kilala plains. If you therefore plan on including the rhino tracking in your safari trip to Akagera National Park, you have to plan to stay at Karenge Bush Camp.

Karenge Bush Camp does not operate whole year, but for 9.5 months, closing in April and November to mid-December.

Seeing that the white rhinos are in the north of the park, while trips into Akagera start through the south of the park which has the entrance, the ideal itinerary would be two night/three day Akagera tour itinerary. The first night spent in the south of the park, at either Akagera Game Lodge or Ruzizi Tented Lodge, and then go spend the second night at Karenge Bush Camp in the north and exit through the exit gate in the north.

What is the cost of rhino tracking in Akagera national Park?

The rhino tracking costs USD75 per person, taking a minimum of two people and maximum of four people.

Is rhino tracking safe?

You may be concerned about how safe it is to approach the rhinos on foot? The white rhinos are not aggressive and will tolerate your presence as long as you do not approach too close. This is in contrast to the black rhinos that are known to be very aggressive and dangerous. The rhino trackers will guide on the safe distance from the rhinos and how to behave when near the rhinos.

How about the danger of encountering other wild animals such as lions, elephants, buffaloes, etc…? The trackers are knowledgeable about the possible other wildlife to encounter and plan a trail that is safe. The team will also include armed personnel that can fire in the air to scare away an errant animal. However this is very unlikely.

Planning to visit Akagera and want to include the rhino tracking, how about you book this 3 day safari tour to Akagera National Park

Gorilla trekking is one of the most popular tours in Africa. The gorilla trek gives tourists a once in a lifetime chance to see the gorillas in their habitat.

Rwanda has been the most popular destination for the gorilla trekking tours. The other destinations where gorilla trekking is done are Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These three countries are the only places where mountain gorillas are found in the whole world.

Of the three countries, the gorilla trek in Rwanda is the most expensive with a gorilla trekking permit ticket costing $1500 (one thousand five hundred US dollars or fifteen hundred dollars). Tourists are always surprised by the expensive permit and the next question asked is why the permit costs so much?

Below I explain why the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit costs 1500 and why it is a worthy price

More funds to the community

As a policy in Rwanda, 10% off each gorilla permit sold is channeled directly back into the communities around Volcanoes National Park where the gorillas live. This money is used in developing the communities through construction of schools and hospital, improving infrastructure, financing income generating activities, etc… Therefore, the higher the cost of the permit the more money goes to the community.

When the communities see the direct benefits from the gorillas, they appreciate their existence and participate in protecting them and their habitat instead of poaching as previously was the case.

More funds for gorilla conservation activities

The high cost of the gorilla permit means more funds are being generated for the conservation activities toward the protection of the gorillas and their habitat. A few decades ago, the mountain gorillas were critically endangered and were on the verge of extinction. By then less than 800 gorillas were left. But with the introduction of gorilla tourism which raised awareness about the mountain gorillas and generated funds the trend was reversed and currently there are more than 1000 mountain gorillas.

With the gorilla population on a steady increase, the gorillas will need more space. Rwanda is therefore taking a very ambitious project to expand the boundaries of the park to accommodate more gorillas. Therefore, the high cost of gorilla tracking in Rwanda will help expand the home of the gorillas.

Rwanda targeting fewer tourists to protect the habitat of the gorillas

Still on the side of conservation, the high cost of the gorilla trek will limit the number of tourists tracking the gorillas, thereby protecting the gorilla habitat from mass tourism.

Making the Rwanda gorilla trek a more exclusive experience

The high cost of the Rwanda gorilla permit means tourist are fewer per gorilla family. This makes the experience more exclusive and more enjoyable for tourist. This is in contrast to the cheaper gorilla destinations where the gorilla groups are full and tourists jostle to see the gorillas.

Making Rwanda a high-end destination

The high cost of the gorilla tracking permit is in line with government ambition of turning Rwanda into a high end destination.

To participate in the gorilla trekking tour in Rwanda you require a gorilla tracking permit, or call it a ticket or pass. The gorilla permit or ticket or pass is the most important item of your gorilla tour in Rwanda because without it you cannot visit the gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.

Cost of the Rwanda gorilla trekking permit ticket in 2024

Below are rates for 2023

Note the following:

Foreign Residents in Rwanda, East Africa Community (Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo), and African countries must have a minimum of four consecutive months’ residency status / work permit in their passport or diplomatic card to qualify for the foreign resident offer.

East African residents/citizens need to provide EAC ID Cards or Passports

From the month of June to September, Rwanda citizens, East African citizens, and African citizens, have to purchase the promotional permits not less than a month to the trekking date otherwise the full fee of $1500 shall apply.

Why is the Rwanda gorilla permit so expensive?

The expensive Rwanda gorilla permit pass means more revenue going into the community as 10% off each permit is channeled towards direct developments in the communities neighboring the gorillas. Schools, hospitals, and income generating projects, have been set up from this revenue. In the process, after seeing the direct benefits from the gorillas the local communities happily protect the park and the gorillas which they would previously poach.

Also, the expensive permit has increased revenue toward conservation efforts for the gorillas and the park. Already there is an ambitious project to expand the boundaries of the park, as the conservation efforts are paying off and gorilla population increasing the park is becoming smaller…

How to buy/book the gorilla permit in Rwanda

You buy/book a gorilla permit through a local tour operator in Rwanda. You can send us an email to help you buy your gorilla permit ticket (info@eastafricantrails.com)

When can I buy the Rwanda gorilla permit?

As only 8 people can track a habituated gorilla permit per day, and there are 12 habituated gorilla families in Rwanda, hence a maximum of 96 permits are issued per day, you need to book your permit well in advance. Months of June, July, August and September are high tourism season and permits sell out well in advance so you need to book several months before.

Can I get a refund after purchasing the gorilla permit but I am unable to travel to Rwanda for the gorilla trek?

No refund is given for cancellation of the trip for any reason

Can I change dates after purchasing the gorilla tracking permit?

Yes, a gorilla trekking in Rwanda can be rescheduled after purchasing it, but at a cost of 30% of the price of the gorilla permit.

Can I be refunded if I miss the gorillas during the trek?

Yes, tourists who track the gorillas and fail to see them will be refunded 75% of the gorilla tracking fee.

However, there are very few chances of missing the gorillas.