Best Time To Do Gorilla Trekking And Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda

The best time to do gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is the dry season. The dry season which is normally June, July, August, September, December and January. The wet season should not scare you when planning to do the gorilla and chimpanzee safaris in Rwanda because no matter the time, mountain gorillas are present all year.  The wet season of Rwanda is normally March to May and November. Request A Quotation

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda happens in Volcanoes National Park which is generally a mountainous destination with five of the six famous Virunga volcanoes. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda starts from ORTPN with briefing then the ranger guides lead the way on the trail heading where the mountain gorillas were last seen. World over about 1063 mountain gorillas are living in only Uganda, Rwanda and D.R.Congo.

Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda happens in Nyungwe National Park a pristine rain forest close to Lake Kivu. Each day two chimpanzee trekking sessions happen in Nyungwe forest in the morning and afternoon starting with briefing at Uwinka the headquarters of the park. Another chimpanzee community lives in Cyamudondo on the outskirts of Nyungwe forest.

The more the merrier so chances of meeting more tourists to do chimpanzee trekking or gorilla trekking in Rwanda with is the peak season. The peak tourism season in Rwanda is June to October and December to early February when more tourists are expected in the country. Even demand for both chimpanzee and gorilla permits is high in the peak season creating scarcity for late bookers.

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What Are The Guidelines To Booking A Gorilla And Chimpanzee Trekking Safari In Rwanda

Book the gorilla or chimpanzee permit in advance

The Rwanda Development board manages and sell both Rwanda gorilla and chimpanzee permits but each has a limit per day. The number of gorilla and chimpanzee permits is regulated to protect the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees for effects of mass tourism. They are wild animals whose life depend on the forest for life supplies and mass tourism may lead to environmental degradation or agitating them.

During the peak tourism season in Rwanda, the demand for both gorilla and chimpanzee permits hits its peak leaving a few of none for last minute bookings. It is best to book gorilla trekking and chimpanzee permits in advance. Ensure to reserve the gorilla or chimpanzee trekking permit as soon as you find availability because there status changes any time without warning.

Start exercising to prepare for gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda

 The topography of Rwanda is generally mountainous so gorilla or chimpanzee trekking safaris are in a steep environment. No need to do vigorous exercising but start with simple stretching beyond the normal then progress as advised by your fitness trainer.

Even the physically challenged tourists can embark on gorilla and chimpanzee trekking adventure in Rwanda because there are stretcher baskets, sedan chair service but advance booking is required.

Reserve Safari Logistics To Use On Gorilla And Chimpanzee Safari

The safari memories are created by experiences right from where you spend the night, how you get to the destination and much more. During gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda, reserving accommodation, transport, driver guide and more to support your time while on safari.

Competition for some of these Rwanda safari amenities gets tighter as the season unfolds and the best options are sold out in advance. Most Rwanda safari amenities are categorized into luxury, mid-range and basic except for the permits.

Cross check packing list for gorilla and chimpanzee safari

While preparing for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking tour in Rwanda, use the gorilla or chimpanzee safari packing list guide. Both gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking involve walking in the wilderness so some special gears are required.

When you forget any of these gorilla or chimpanzee trekking gears, you may feel uncomfortable while searching for these primates. Some of the chimpanzee and gorilla trekking gears include long sleeved shirt, safari hat, safari waterproof boots, insect repellant and more.

Pre apply for Rwanda visa

In case you must have a Rwanda visa before being allowed into the country, apply for it in advance. Even though you can obtain a visa on arrival at immigration at Kigali international Airport or the border posts, the ques are usually extremely long and time consuming. Do apply for the Rwanda visa in advance in case its is one of the necessary travel documents you must posses.

 How Much Is The Cost Of Rwanda Gorilla And Chimpanzee Trekking Safari

The cost of the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda depends on factors like safari category. Number of people travelling with, days to spend on safari, timing of the safari and more.

Rwanda gorilla or chimpanzee permit cost per person is not categorized that is to say:

Rwanda Gorilla permit cost is $1500 for foreign non residents, $500 for international residents and other Africans and $200 for East Africans.

Chimpanzee trekking permit cost for Rwanda $150 for foreign non residents, $75 for foreign residents and $25 for East Africans.

Other necessary costs to support this Rwanda safari include cost of vehicle hire, driver hire, meals, accommodation, personal expenses and more.

How Sure Can I Be To See The Mountain Gorillas Or Chimpanzees In Rwanda

Seeing the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees in the dense forests of Rwanda is guaranteed no matter the season. After paying a hefty cost for the Rwanda permit, every tourists looks forward to getting chance around these primates.

Even though the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees in Rwanda explore the forest with no barriers to stop them, they can be traced because they stay in a particular feeding location for sometime. The troops of these primates can only move when food gets insufficient then they relocate. Even when the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees relocate, it is not normally far from the previous.

Each day a team of trackers wakes up earlier to trace where the gorillas or chimpanzees may have nested the previous night and estimate possible heading to direction. Some of the clues they avail are what rangers with tourists use to trace these primates. At times, the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees may relocate, but the clues they leave behind may build leads.

 The bulky size of the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees doesn’t allow them to move swiftly. This is why they can be traced during gorilla or chimpanzee trekking.

Both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees troops are first habituated before being opened to the public. The wild mountain gorillas and chimpanzees go through a process called habituation which may take about 2 or more years depending on how they cope.

During gorilla habituation or chimpanzee habituation, the troops are helped to get accustomed to human presence without chickening out. The characters of these primates is not altered but gradually habituators help them get accustomed to human presence.

 Can Mountain Gorillas Or Chimpanzees Get Grumpy

Mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are not dangerous animals but can push the envelope a little and charge. Some of the odd behavior from the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees during trekking may include hooting, chest beating, throwing fruits and more.

Do not panic on witnessing this because you may escalate the situation which may turn ugly later. By nature, mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are serene animals that normally retreat when agitated but that times they cannot leave without causing a scene.

Wait for the ranger guide to provide new solutions and kindly adhere as some may seem quite surprising. Some times to calm the situation, tourists have to imitate chewing foliage, show submission, avoid staring in the dark brown eyes of the mountain gorillas and more.

In general, gorillas and chimpanzees are not dangerous animals but you just have to abide by the rules of gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking to enjoy every moment with these primates.

How Much Time Does Gorilla Trekking Or Chimpanzee Trekking In Rwanda Take

Time to take on Rwanda gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking varies with factors prevailing in the jungle. Some tourists have reported seeing the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees in 2 hours whereas other have spend more time.

Finding the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees in Rwanda depends on factors including food location, weather conditions of the day, pace of trekkers, mood of the gorilla family and more. Have some patience or focus on the presence of other forest dwellers, amazing sceneries, listen to the tales from the ranger guides as you move along. Try not to loose your morale for taking the gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking adventure.

Finally, when you find the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees, one hour of watching is allowed wit them. Use the available time with these primates to the best of your ability, take photos, watch them and most of the questions about gorilla or chimpanzees in your head will be answered.

What To Expect While On Gorilla Trekking Or Chimpanzee Trekking Safari In Rwanda

Expect to see the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in their natural home, with unpredictable day life and more.

At the briefing point before gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda, expect to find other tourists other than those you have travelled with.

Expect to be randomly allocated a Rwanda gorilla family. The criteria used to allocate the gorilla or chimpanzee troop is hard to predict however open your mind to meeting strangers.

Expect it to rain any time without warning during Rwanda gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking. Both gorilla and chimpanzee live in rain forests that receive untimely rains.

The trails in the forests where gorillas and chimpanzees are usually wet from the regular rains that fall yet less sunlight sips through the dense layers of leaves to the ground. Sometimes rivers flood leaving the ground soggy and boggy. Even undergrowth falls over to cover the paths so ranger guides have to trim some of the vines to pave way for tourists to reach the gorillas and chimpanzees.

On the way to see the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees, expect to find a number of other forest dwellers including primates, birds, several natural trees, forest elephants, duikers and more.

Adhere to the rules of gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking in order to get through with the adventures in the jungle. Remember you are the visitor in the forest so you do not know as much as the inhabitants do so you need to abide by the suggested rules.

What are the rules of gorilla trekking and Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda

Attending briefing before gorilla or chimpanzee trekking is compulsory.

In case you contract a communicable infection before gorilla or chimpanzee trekking, volunteer to stay behind rather than passing these germs to the highly susceptible primates.  Some of the human infections may end in massive death of these endangered primates.

No using a flash while taking photos during gorilla or chimpanzee trekking because these primates are very sensitive with unfamiliar sounds and lighting in their presence.

In case you wish to take a toilet break, as the ranger guide to dig a deep hole of about 30 centimeters and cover beyond recognition.

Do not stare in the eyes of the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees because this scares these gentle primates.

Spitting on the ground or vegetation is forbidden because you may contaminate the food that these primates eat top survive.

Provoking the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees may end in them getting agitated

Keep about 200 meters from the gorillas or chimpanzees in case you want to smoke or eat to avoid them grabbing eats from you. They are wild animals that must entirely depend on supplies from the forest and not humans.

Only children aged 12 years and beyond are allowed to do chimpanzee trekking and 15 years above for gorilla trekking in Rwanda. These ages wet set depending in the nature of the topography of the forests where these primates live.

In case you wish to sneeze or cough use a handkerchief or in the elbow or away from the mountain gorillas to prevent chances of passing germs to these susceptible primates.

Keep a distance of 8 meters from the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees to reduce on the chances of spreading an infection to them or them to you. The gorillas or chimpanzees may bridge the gap out of curiosity but you can still slightly get away without causing any suspension.

Only one hour of gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is allowed.