Comparing gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda with Virunga National Park in Congo- Are you planning to go for gorilla trekking but your finding difficulties in knowing where to go to see gorillas between Volcanoes national Park and Virunga National Park in Congo, today I am putting on table for you the comparisons between the two National park which I believe will be important in influencing your decision on either to go for gorilla trekking experience between the two parks. The fact is that all two national parks protects the endangered mountain gorillas and as the matter of fact the two national parks offers the same gorilla trekking experience. However, we have researched about different things that you can base on in order tom make decision or choose where you can book your gorilla trek either in Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo or in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and these variable will help you to make the decision;
In terms of accessibly, volcanoes National park in Rwanda is easily accessible that Virunga National Park. within about 2 to 3 hours, one can drive from Kigali and reach Volcanoes National Park and this is very short and this means that in a day it also possible for one to move form Kigali go to Volcanoes National Park and again see the gorillas. This is not possible for Virunga National Park as it will take for you about 6 hours to travel form Kigali to Virunga National Park and this means that visitors can easily access Volcanoes National park easier as compared to Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Still, volcanoes national park has more gorilla families than Virunga National park. There are 12 habituated gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda while only 8 gorilla families in Virunga National Park are available for tourists. This means that Volcanoes National Park has got about 89 gorillas permits available on the daily basis as compared to Virunga National Park with only 64 gorilla permit available per day and this means that there could be some flexibility for getting the gorillas permits for Virunga even during the peak season which is not the case for Virunga National Park.
Definitely Volcanoes national park id the best place or park for trekking the gorillas safety without any problem, yes both countries have had some turmoil in the past with Rwanda facing the genocide while Democratic republic of Congo has had various rebel attacks and then the outbreak of the Ebola disease which have strongly affected the gorilla tourism in the Virunga National park. Besides that, Rwanda managed to recover from the genocide and now it is the one of the fastest countries as compared to Congo which is not yet fully stable. Visitors for gorilla trekking in Rwanda will be accompanied by the armed ranger guides ready to protect you from any attacks either from animals and may be if it happens that you find poachers or rebels.
In terms if the accommodation facilities, both Virunga and Volcanoes national park have best accommodation facilities where you can stay depending on your budget. Lodges around the two lodges range from midrange budget and luxury lodges. Volcanoes national park in Rwanda offers the best lodging or lodges that meets the international standards as compared to Virunga National Park in Democratic republic of Congo. The lodges offer better facilities that one would like one could stay for example at Bisate Lodge, Singita and Kwitonda lodge in Volcanoes National Park.
Gorilla permits and trekking is the cheapest in Virunga National Park as compared to Volcanoes National Park. The reason for the price difference is diet the policies of different countries about the gorilla permits that vary. Congo is trying as much as possible to protect its gorilla tourism by attracting several tourists to visit their national park especially after along political instability that has affected the Democratic Republic of Congo for most of the time.
To attract and develop confidence in tourists, the country has reduced accommodation rates and that low gorilla trekking permits. This is different from Rwanda’s that is promoting Rwanda as the luxury tourism destination most for gorilla trekking by just setting its gorilla permit price high and its lodges being luxurious state however the gorilla trekking experience in both national parks of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo is the same.
The gorilla permit prices or Rwanda’s volcanoes national park costs USD1500 per person per trek for each Foreign Nonresidents, USD500 person for Foreign Residents and USD200 for the East African residents of Uganda, Congo, Tanzania, and Burundi) the gorilla trekking permit allows seeing gorillas in Volcanoes National Park for only one hour. Visitors will need to book the Gorilla trekking permit from Rwanda Development Board or by use of the prominent tour operator in Rwanda and as Africa adventure vacations we can help you to do everything as we extend our gorilla safaris to Rwanda. There are currently 12 families of gorillas that are well habituated in Rwanda and bare available for gorilla trekking by the tourists.
In Virunga National park in Congo, the gorilla trekking permit costs USD400 per person per trek during the high season which comes in September March, and then June to October and the prices reduce to USD200 during the low season from mid-October to mid- December and mid-march to mid-May. For the visitors interested in trekking gorillas in Kahuzi Beige National Park, the gorilla permits here costs USD400 per trek per person for Foreign residents, USD200 for easts African residents, and only $20 for the Democratic Republic of Congo Nationals. Visitors will need to book the gorillas permit for the democratic republic of Congo through Virunga National park or resourceful tour companies like Africa Adventure Vacations.
In terms of which park has the best gorilla trekking experience between volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in democratic republic of Congo. The fact is that there is no big difference when it comes top gorilla trekking experience between the two national parks and thus the chances of seeing the gorillas are about 98% in both National Parks and any park that you will chose know that you will have and get the same gorilla trekking experience and you will see these amazing endangered apes.
Visitors planning to go for gorilla trekking safaris in Virunga National Park and Volcanoes National Park need to know that both parks are open all the time and this means that any season of the year or any month or day you can go and do gorilla trekking in these parks. Also, both Virunga National Park and Volcanoes National Park are found within the tropic and thus can receive rain any time of the year. The best time for tracking gorillas in both National parks is the same and the gorillas can be best seen during the drier months of December to February and then from June up to September. These are periods when the rains are fewer and there are no incidences of slippery or even if it is there then it is less. Visitors interested in traveling during March to May and November expect to meet heavy rainfall however, this is the time when companies provide discounts especially on the accommodation. Please contact Africa adventure vacations for the best gorilla safari activities to both Virunga National Park and Volcanoes National Park.
The issue of trekking for long distances to see mountain gorillas depends on the location of the gorilla family being trekked. In both parks, the gorilla family allocation on the day of gorilla trekking depend on the visitor’s physical fitness and their interest. In case you would like to see gorilla families shorter, then you will inform the park staff and they will allocate you a family that is near. Also there is possibility that you might be given the shorter gorilla family but you find that it has moved for some good distance and this means that the behavior of the habituated gorilla family determines also the distance to be covered in order to see gorillas in both Volcanoes national Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo.
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