Chimpanzee Trekking And Game Drive Safari in Rwanda

To do chimpanzee trekking and game safari in Rwanda you have to visit Nyungwe National Park and do game safari in Akagera National Park. For chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda, you must book a chimpanzee permit for the morning or afternoon session. Request Now

While on Rwanda safari, you get to see several animals that traverse Akagera National Park during the game drives. Akagera national Park is a recovering game park from the effects of civil unrest that affected Rwanda in the past causing several wild animals to flee while other were poached. African Parks together with Rwanda Development Board are steadily rejuvenating the glory this park

Guidelines To Booking Chimpanzee Trekking And Game Safari In Rwanda

Book and purchase chimpanzee permit from Rwanda development Board using the confirmed or tentative dates. Age limit for chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is 12 year and beyond.

Reserve accommodation to use during the chimpanzee trekking and game safari in Rwanda

Book transport to use during this Rwanda safari. It is best to book a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition because of the nature of the terrain of Rwanda with soft volcanic soils that turn messy especially in the rainy seasons.

Having a professional and experienced driver guide while on Rwanda safari is recommended and an added advantage because you get more information about the country and beyond. These ranger guides however are few and majority are booked in advance especially in the peak season which is normally June to September and December to January.

Pack the right gears for your chimpanzee trekking and game safari in Rwanda. Try to avoid clothes in colors that may attract stinging insects that is blue, white, black, bright colors and more.

What To Expect During Chimpanzee Trekking And Game Safari In Rwanda

Report to the ranger station for briefing before chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda where you may find other tourists. Do not forget to carry and wear the right chimpanzee trekking gears.

The ranger guide leads the way to find the chimpanzees using the trails constructed by regular visitors to the forest. Nyungwe forest is moist most of the time and the round wet so wear protective gears that can help you explore the forest.

Time of finding the chimpanzees varies with factors prevailing in the forest including mood of the chimpanzees, weather condition of the day, food location and more.

Along the way, you may spot other forest dwellers including black and white colobus, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys and more.

When you finally locate the chimpanzees only one hour is allowed with them but use this moment to the best of your interests take photos while concurrently watching these chimpanzees too. Standing before the chimpanzees is like reading through history of humans because of their characters that mimic humans.

When you take a game drive in Akagera National Park in Rwanda expect you have high chances of spotting the big five, zebras, elephants, elands, waterbucks, bushbucks and others.

It is best to use a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle to take a game drive where you explore the tracks around the park to use when finding the resident wild animals.  

As Akagera National Park is recovering from the tremor of civil unrest that affected Rwanda in the past, through African Parks a none profit making body with Rwanda Development Board great progress has been registered.

Cost Of Chimpanzee Trekking And Game Safari In Rwanda

The cost of chimpanzee trekking permit for Rwanda is key when planning this Rwanda safari. Currently the cost of chimpanzee safari permit for Rwanda is $100 per person.  Do not forget the cost of Rwanda park entrance fees that vary with the number of days to spend in the park.

The cost of additional Amenities to use while on Rwanda safari that is transport, accommodation and more varies with category.  Accommodation to use on Rwanda safari is categorized into luxury, mid-range and basic.

Include the cost of personal expenses when costing for this Rwanda safari.

Is The Cost Of Chimpanzee Trekking And Game Safari In Rwanda Worth The Money And Time

The cost of chimpanzee trekking and game safari in Rwanda is worth every penny because you stand in a few meters away from the endangered chimpanzees in an untamed environment. These chimpanzees have control over their daily life which has a close resemblance to human life. Chimpanzees have the closest DNA to that of humans amongst wild animals.

Purchasing the chimpanzee permit for Rwanda is a contribution to the conservation fund that supports sustainable existence of these endangered primates. Chimpanzees are some of the endangered primates in the world.

The park entrance fees paid before entering the Rwanda National Parks is also support to the conservation of wild animals in their natural setting rather than in confinements.

When you hire a porter to help with carrying your belongings during chimpanzee trekking, its is one of the direct ways to contribute to the local community.

Safety During Chimpanzee Trekking And Game Safari In Rwanda

Even though chimpanzee trekking and game safari in Rwanda is in the jungle, it is safe. On ground is a team of ranger guides from Rwanda Development Board who help offer security for the wild animals and other park inhabitants.

Before entering Nyungwe forest to search for the chimpanzees, every tourist is expected to attend briefing then in the company of the ranger guide start the search for the chimpanzees. Do not forget to wear the right chimpanzee trekking gears.

In case you notice something odd about the chimpanzees or other forest inhabitants, every tourists is requested not to panic but wait for the ranger guide to offer new instructions or else the situation may escalate.

Tourists must stay close to the rest of the group while searching for the chimpanzees rather than scatter in the forest where tracing may be quite challenging.  No one is allowed to walk in the forest without an escorting ranger guide with some emergency safety gears like a riffle.

Do not step out of your vehicle while on safari in Akagera national park because even though the predators are still few, they are very strategic hunters. Do not risk your life by stepping out of your lodge in the night especially that those situated within the park.

 When Is The Best Time To Do Chimpanzee Trekking And Game Safari In Rwanda

The dry season which is June to September and December to January is best time to do chimpanzee trekking and game safari in Rwanda even though Rwanda safaris are open all year.

The environment in the forest favors quicker movement while searching for the chimpanzees and other primates in Nyungwe National park.

Driving on the tracks of Akagera National Park while on a game drive is amazing in the dry season when the ground is dry and grass lower providing clearer visibility for the animals in the park.

A number of birds live Nyungwe forest and Akagera National Park but during the dry season, you get to see them traverse the park.

Chimpanzee trekking and game safari in Rwanda are open in the wet season too that is March, April, May and November. Chances of finding the infants are more open in the wet season as the grass is higher acting as a hiding spot for the vulnerable in the wilderness.

How Easy Or Hard Is Chimpanzee Trekking And Game Safari In Rwanda

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest involves walking in the dense rain forest with untamed vegetation that seems to be forgotten by time. Different types of plant species are dotted around the forest which can be identified by botanists.

The trails in the forest are wet most of the day from the so much rain that falls and causes the rivers or streams to flood. Since less sunlight sips through the dense leaves, to the ground creating a slippery environment. At times the grass along the paths fall over and decays leaving the ground quite hard to walk through.

During the wet season, the chimpanzees love staying in the canopy so you need a pair of binoculars to see them clearer. Some level of patience is necessary when engaging in chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest because time of locating these primates is hard to determine.

Finding wild animals during game drives in Akagera National Park has no guarantee of spotting the exact animals you may be desiring to see but be open minded to enjoy the entire adventure. Akagera National Park is home to the big five that is Rhinos, elephants, lions, buffaloes and leopards. The ratio of carnivores to herbivores is still low but they are present in the park.

The terrain of the National Parks of Rwanda is mainly composed of highlands resulting from volcanic forces that affected Rwanda in general. If you have to walk in the jungle searching for the chimpanzees, you need to have some level of fitness because these primates are very mobile so on foot you have to locate where they are.

What Accommodation To Use During Chimpanzee Trekking And Game Safari In Rwanda

A variety of accommodations are open for chimpanzee and game safaris in Rwanda and these are categorized into Luxury, mid-range and basic.

Accommodations to use in Nyungwe National Park include Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Gisaku Guest house,

Accommodation to book in Akagera National Park

Take note of the inclusions and exclusions in the cost of accommodation in each of the parks so that you can plan accordingly.

Mistakes To Avoid During Chimpanzee Trekking And Game Safari In Rwanda

Do not forget to book a chimpanzee permit for Rwanda on the morning or afternoon session. Carry your travel documents too for better identification.

Reserve necessary safari amenities to use during Rwanda safari that is accommodation, driver guide hire, transport and more. Book accommodation to use during this Rwanda safari closer to the park so that you can attend briefing in time.

Try not to touch the wild animals no matter how calm they may appear. These wild animals are residents of the jungle and their mood may change any time and charge at you.

Never enter the forest without a ranger guide because you may encounter other forest dwellers that may hurt you along the way.

Do not feed the wild animals because they must depend on the wilderness and not human supplies as one of the rules to note before you visit and National Park.

Why Choose To Do Chimpanzee Safari And Game Safari In Rwanda

Choosing to do chimpanzee trekking and game safari in Rwanda is an adventure where you meet these wild animals in their natural setting. World over, wild animals are kept in confinements and their lives influenced by humans unlike in Nyungwe National Park or Akagera National Park.

Some of the fees you pay before entering the Rwanda national Parks including park entrance or chimpanzee permit purchase are used to support sustainable existence of these wild animals and their habitats.  

Besides chimpanzee trekking, game safari, Rwanda is gifted by mountain gorillas the few leftover in the entire world. By engaging in gorilla trekking, you get to see these endangered primates in their natural setting which is hard to find elsewhere in the world.

Nyungwe National Park is a biosphere reserve that is home to several other primate species including grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys and more. Akagera National Park and Nyungwe forest are home to a plethora of bird species.

The rich culture of the people of Rwanda is amazing and you can participate in the local dance moves ( Intore dance), listen to folk tales, pottery, crafts making, ceramics and more. Rwandese are friendly people and visiting Rwanda makes you feel like a home away from home.

Rules of Rwanda safaris

No feeding the wild animals

Driving off track is forbidden

Stay in a tight group so that you do not appear to be suspicious when with the chimpanzees

Attending briefing before chimpanzee trekking is compulsory in order to be advised on the details of how to behave when with these wild animals.

Do not get out of your vehicle while on game safari in Rwanda

The wild animals have a right so do not harm them.