If it is not on your bucket list, then it should be.
Both Nicola and myself were fortunate enough to get the opportunity to trek up the mountains with the majestical Gorillas of Virunga National Park in Rwanda. We actually didn’t experience it together but both on our own adventures.
We thought we would share a bit of both of our experiences with you.
Here is my experience of a lifetime…
My husband and I lived in Tanzania for almost 4 years straight after we got married. He got a work opportunity and we left SA the week after we came back from Honeymoon in 2016.
If you know me, I have always wanted to live abroad in some major metropolitan city like New York or San Francisco. Instead I got to experience a life in a proper African city in Mwanza, Tanzania.
We had a house overlooking the beautiful Lake Victoria and had such a peaceful and relaxed lifestyle. We could do what we wanted when we wanted to, and we could really experience the best of the East-African countries. Where we were situated was about 2 hours away from the West Entrance of the Serengeti and were really lucky to get to experience the raw beauty of it. (I will post a separate post on this later.)
I never thought that I would get the opportunity to experience the walk up the Virunga National Park with the most extraordinary Gorilla’s. There are a few reasons why, but I guess the number one reason would be that it is quite an expensive trip if you are planning it from outside these countries. Due to us living and working in Tanzania, we were able to obtain residency, and therefore we were fortunate enough to plan this specific trip according to our special East-African residency rates.
We drove from Mwanza to Kigali, Rwanda and stayed with a client of my husband’s. We visited the Genocide memorial museum in Kigali and were reminded of the terrible acts of genocide that incurred in this beautiful country. Rwanda is a special place to visit and there are some special traits to be admired from this nation. It is one of the cleanest African countries as no plastics are allowed in.
From Kigali, we drove to our hotel situated on beautiful Lake Kivu where we spent the night in preparation for the next days’ trek up Virunga national Park.
Waking up early the next morning and heading to the national park, you get the sense of feeling so small between the beautiful landscapes and the animals that are yet to be seen.
There are only a few families of Gorillas that you are allowed to visit and your permit only allows you to stay with them for an hour. We were fortunate enough to visit the family situated in the middle of the mountain. With this in mind, I would say that you at least have had to had a few walks around the block to be able to make the walk up the mountain. The air is thin up there with the highest elevation stretching up to 5106 m above sea level.
It is a feeling that can’t be described unless you experience it yourself. Seeing these majestical animals for the first time evokes a feeling of peace and respect. Like what we do on earth almost doesn’t matter. They are strong and powerful, yet at total peace with their surroundings. I never thought that i would enjoy that walk up the mountains as much as I did, but it was 100% worth it.
A few things I would keep in mind:
- Plan ahead
- Be prepared for anything
- Insect repellent clothing goes a long way
- Have your passport and yellow-fever documentation ready
- Be fit and ready for the climb
xxx Allane
And here’s my experience…
Nature and all it has to offer, has always been my life. Exploring different parts of the world, for wildlife, has been at the top of my list since I can remember. From the Tigers in India, the Orangutans in the rainforests of the Southeast Asian islands of Borneo, to the Jaguars in the Pantanal, South America. The list is endless. But what has always been on the top of my bucket list and because of my love for this continent, Africa, I knew at some point in my life I was going to see the Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda.
I was a solo traveller back in 2014, during the month of August, and because I was not sure whether I would make my way back to Rwanda one day, I had to take the opportunity and head up the mountain twice. First, because I knew that you are only allowed to spend one hour with the gorillas, which meant I would be trying to take as many photos to remember these special moments and secondly, because on day two my main focus would be to just be present. In the moment. Taking it all in and hoping that time would slow down for that one hour.
It is a costly expedition, but worth making the effort to experience the beauty and culture of a country that so deserves it. Rwanda, is still, my favourite country in the world and a nation that have experienced a history that deserves recognition and praise. I am still in awe of what they have accomplished as a nation and how they are protecting a species that have been on the brink of extinction. If it was not for the people of Rwanda, I am afraid we would not be sitting here, typing about our experiences amongst these primates. The guide in me, is so tempted to delve into the subject of primates and one of our closest relatives, but I will have to keep that post for another day. For now, our main focus is to share an experience you have to at least try and do once in your life. From arriving in Kigali, experiencing the Genocide Museum , to the drive amongst tea and coffee plantations all on route to the base of the Volcanoes National Park to start your trek up the mountain, each minute is an experience all in itself. I spent five full days in Rwanda, including all of the above I mentioned, and still did not get my fill. I am secretly hoping I will have the chance again one day to head back.
On both days that I headed up the mountain, our mornings would start at 03:30. Depending on where you stay, some drives are 20 minutes away, and others up to two hours drive. Which was the case for me. But nonetheless, I got to see the city and country side wake up and go about their normal day on route to the gorillas. Once we got to the base or meeting point for the departure of our trek, it is a quick cup of coffee and then you are allocated a gorilla family and of course the choice of what type of trek you would like to do. These treks are referred to as easy, which can take up to 30 minutes of walking, medium which is a little bit harder and can take up to three hours of walking and then of course the hard trek, which can be up to five hours and could result in the “gorillas in the mist” find. These choices are completely up to you but I opted for the medium trek as I knew the quick changes in altitude would probably catch up with me. Which is exactly what happened. I would consider myself fit, but by two hours in of climbing a very muddy and slippery mountain, my porter really came in handy and a shove and a push here or there really helped a lot.
During all this heavy breathing, grabbing hands for help and trying to take it all in, there comes a moment where the guards and guides all go silent. And this is the moment you know that you are a mere few metres away from the gorillas. Once the whole trailing group comes to a standstill, the guides turn to you and ask you to grab whatever you need. a GoPro or camera, even your phone, but your backpack stays behind. All goes silent and it is as if someone has lifted a curtain and then they are there. Just there, feeding, walking, talking to one another and you are amongst it all. A part of them, and a metre or two away. It is surreal, because every nerve in my body, because of being a guide myself in a Big 5 area, is telling me to run. It is beyond my comprehension that this is it, you as human, amongst an animal, twice my age, three times my weight and munching away on a bamboo stick. Showing no interest in me. It is both scary and humbling at the same time. And as you sit there, time does seem to stop as you take in the beauty and noises of the forest, the easy pace of a mother gorilla taking care of her newborn, a silverback lying on its back and a curious toddler at your feet.
It is a once in a lifetime experience. An absolute must…
xxx Nicola