You can now trek Rwanda’s mountain gorillas right from you sitting room! YES, even when the actual Rwanda gorilla safaris are temporarily suspended amidst the novel corona Virus pandemic, gorilla lovers can still visit and experience Rwanda mountain gorillas in their homes. The Virtual Reality Film that was launched by Rwanda Development Board gives you a chance to see and enjoy a moment with Rwanda gorillas without traveling to Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda’s Virtual reality film was launched on 22nd April 2020 when the world was celebrating Earth Day. Rwanda Development Board supported by the Ellen Fund, Habitat XR and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund established the new initiative.
Virtual Gorilla Tours in Rwanda
About the Virtual Reality Film
The Virtual reality film is as if real! The experience gives you a face-to-face encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas on your screen in your sitting room. The film covers travelers starting up a trek to meet the gorillas through the thick jungles. On meeting gorillas, travelers are seen taking photos and capturing videos while observing and enjoying the human like characters of mountain gorillas in their families. The film shows you how gorillas feed, play, adult females nurse babies; silverbacks guard their families while juveniles play tirelessly to entertain and keep the whole family lively
Is there any cost to watch the Reality Film?
NO, Rwanda’s Virtual reality film is free of charge to all people e interested in seeing Rwanda’s gorillas. All you need are the personal VR headset and nothing more.
Platforms to Watch Virtual Reality Film
Wondering where to watch the Virtual Reality Film? No worries, the film can be viewed on Rwanda partner platform, which include VEER, Within, Samsung VR and Oculus among others. All these platforms are available online. For those on snapshot, the Virtual Reality Film can be viewed without a VR headset online.
How long is the Virtual Reality Film?
The VR film lasts for 5 minutes but the magical feeling it comes with is undeniably worth the time. If you want to have extended time with the endangered mountain gorillas, you can replay the video as many times as you wish to have enough of this magical experience.
Current state of Rwanda gorilla tours
Apparently, all Rwanda safaris to trek gorillas in Volcanoes National park, golden monkeys, chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest are on halt. Rwanda was the first East African country to close her primate national Parks in a bid to prevent the endangered primates from catching the deadly Corona Virus. Similarly, all other forms of tourism activities and research activities in Rwanda are currently on lockdown. Fortunately, Rwanda relaxed its gorilla permit booking and cancellation policy to enable travelers to reschedule gorilla permits to any future date up to 2022 without any penalty.
Why the closure of primate parks in Rwanda?
The closure of primate national parks in Rwanda and the temporarily suspension of gorilla safaris and other wildlife experiences in Rwanda was meant to prevent the spread of the deadly Corona Virus to the endangered species. African Apes especially mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are close relatives to human beings, which make them susceptible to human illnesses especially the communicable diseases. In the past years, Africa has registered death in mountain gorillas due to common cold and flu transmitted from people. The fear of the spread of human to wildlife diseases is one reason why sick travelers are not allowed to trek gorillas and other primates.
Postcovid19 Rwanda safaris
There is hope for Postcovid19 Rwanda safaris in the near future. Yes, the tourism industry strongly believes in the continuity and resuming of Rwanda safaris after the defeat of the deadly virus. Travel operators and potential travelers are therefore advised to keep ready to enjoy the postcovid19 Rwanda safaris, which will then be fresh. All tourist activities in Rwanda including gorilla trekking, Chimpanzee tracking, game safaris, mountain climbing, nature walks, city tours, golden monkey trekking, canopy walk and cultural tours among others will all resume operating in the near future.
How to book the Postcovid19 Rwanda safari
Contact African Apes Tours to book your Rwanda’s postcovid19 safari. We offer you tailor made gorilla trekking packages to Volcanoes National park complemented by other all other wildlife experiences to suit a travelers interests, time and budget. Having informed us about your travel dates, budget and interests, African Apes Holidays arrange for you a customized trip to offer you a memorable Africa safari experience.
Rwanda’s Virtual Reality film offers you a chance to visit gorillas in Volcanoes National Park from your living room. Take a chance today, tune in on any platform and enjoy a magical encounter with Rwanda’s gorillas at home.
