News

Further to the update Volcanoes Safaris issued on 28 January, we are now issuing a revised note on the current status.

There are unconfirmed reports that the gorilla permit prices in Rwanda will rise to US$750 for all new bookings for travel from 1st June 2012. We also understand that bookings from 1st June are currently not being taken, nor is any information on availability being given, so we apologise for any delay in dealing with new enquiries for travel after that date.

On Sunday 7 August police in Ruhengeri arrested a group of men who were caught smuggling a baby gorilla into Rwanda from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Too often stories involving poachers and endangered species don't have a happy ending. This time however, thanks to the ongoing collaboration between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to protect wild gorillas, there was a happy ending.

The Rwanda Development Board have announced that two new gorilla groups are open for tourism during the 2011 high season months.

Gorilla permits for the summer months of 2011 have been almost completely sold out for many months now, but Volcanoes Safaris have some permits available for last minute bookings on the following dates in Rwanda and Uganda!

Volcanoes were hugely saddened to learn of the death of Mizano, an adult black back gorilla from the Habinyanja group in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. It is believed that the gorilla was killed accidentally by poachers illegally hunting for antelope in the forest when their dogs came upon the gorilla family. This tragic incident leaves the Habinyanja group with 16 individuals and no other black backs.

Some weeks ago there were reports that the Uganda Wildlife Authority would be reducing the price of gorilla permits from US$ 500 to US$ 350 during the low season months of May, October and November.