Gorilla Trekking And Chimpanzee Trekking Safari in Rwanda| When Is The Best Time

When destined to go for gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda the best time you can choose is when you are ready. Rwanda gorilla safaris are open all year because the country is not affected by extreme weather conditions no matter the season. Book Now

The dry season however stands out as the most preferred season for doing both gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking safaris in Rwanda. The dry season which is normally June to October and December to February is characterized by dry conditions that favor outdoor safari activities in Rwanda.

To do gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda, there are two destinations that is Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe National Park. These two are dense rain forests situated in an area with a dense network of rivers and streams. Most of the year, these forests are moist because of the dense canopy that doesn’t all much sunrays to penetrate through to the ground. this leaves the ground moist and logged. No matter the circumstances in the forest, seeing both chimpanzees and mountain gorillas in Rwanda is guaranteed.

Trending Safaris

3 day gorilla trekking in Rwanda

4 day gorilla safari in Rwanda

5 day gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda

6 day Gorilla Trekking and Game safari in Rwanda

3 day Gorilla trekking in Uganda

6 day gorilla and chimpanzee trekking Uganda

10 day gorilla, Chimpanzees and game tour in Uganda

6 day gorilla and game tour in Uganda

7 day gorilla, chimpanzee and game safari

8 day gorilla, chimpanzees and wildlife tour in Uganda

What Are The Requirements For Gorilla Trekking And Chimpanzee Trekking Safari In Rwanda

Book Rwanda permit

Reserving either the gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking permit from Rwanda Development Board is very essential when planning this Rwanda safari. The supply of both gorilla and chimpanzee permits is restricted on the number of permits open to the public per day. This is a conservation measure taken to protect these primates from effects of mass tourism.

Reserve Rwanda safari accommodations

Book the necessary accommodations to use during the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda in advance. Both Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe forest offer categories of accommodations to book for your stay during the tour that is luxury, mid-range and basic.

It is best to reserve accommodations for this Rwanda safari in advance as they sell out especially during the dry season. Request for the inclusions in the cost of the accommodations to book during Rwanda safari so that you can plan in advance.

Book Transport For Rwanda Safari

Ensure to book transport to get you to Nyungwe National Park and Volcanoes National Park in advance. Road transport is the main means used to explore different destinations in Rwanda. You need a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition to drive to either destinations. During the peak tourism season in Rwanda, options of safari vehicles get slimmer as the season opens.

The transport costs, includes vehicle hire, gas or fuel, drive guide fee and others.

Charter flight services are available from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park or Nyungwe National Park. Advance reservation is recommended so that necessary clearances can be done upfront.

Bear Some Fitness level before gorilla or chimpanzee safari

Having some level of fitness before gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking is very important. No need to do vigorous exercises but start with simple strides that stretch your muscles beyond the usual. You can seek advise from your fitness instructors if you wish to upgrade your fitness level.

In general both gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking safaris in Rwanda are done in steep area because of the serious influence of Volcanic actions in this country.

Pack The Necessary Gorilla And Chimpanzee Trekking Gears

During gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari, you need to pack the right safari gears. Carry attires that are comfortable when traversing the wilderness that is long sleeved shirt and trouser, warmers, water poof safari boots, safari hat, foldable drinking water bottle, insect repellants and others.

Some Hard cash

Donot forget to carry some hard cash that you can exchange into Rwandese Franks to use for in ground purchases. Credit cards are not easier to used in transactions in Africa. Even when you wish to tip, cash is better to use.

Reserve international flights to Rwanda

Donot wait for the last minute to book the international flights to Rwanda as you may get disappointed. In case you are to start the gorilla safari on arrival, ensure to make necessary arrangements from pick up to the destination you are heading too. It is better to spend the night before the gorilla and chimpanzee safari in Rwanda so that you can drive to the countryside at your own pace.

Do necessary body checkup before gorilla and chimpanzee safari in advance

Being in good health is very important before travelling for the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda. When heading for gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking you need not to be in bad health especially having a cold or cough. The mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are susceptible to human infections that may end in killing massive primates.

Doing full body check-up help you to know more details about your body status before travelling for this Rwanda safari.

How Long Is Gorilla Trekking And Chimpanzee Trekking In Rwanda

The time you take on gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking safari is quite hard to determine as it is determined by factors prevailing in the wilderness. Even though some tourists have reported having seen the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees in 2 hours, other may spend about three quarters of the day.

On the way, you may face some obstacles including slippery surfaces, boggy ground, over grown creepers and much more. Tourists are encouraged to open there mind to seeing other forest inhabitants in these biosphere reserves so as to maintain the vibe of the gorilla or chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda.

Meeting the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees in Rwanda gives you chance to be in the same space with some of the largest primates in Africa.

During gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking safari, only one hour is accepted to be with these primates as they are habituated to be before humans for just hat time.

Can Mountain Gorillas Or Chimpanzees Get Violent During The Trek In Rwanda

The mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are calm primates that normally run into hiding when overwhelmed by anxiety. This doesn’t mean the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees donot charge. When with the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, tourists are encouraged not to stare into the eyes of these shy primates.

Sometimes the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees may show some odd behavior but donot panic because you will throw the entire forest in a stampede.

Be calm, watch and wait for the ranger guide to provide details on how to go forward after the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees charging. Sometimes you may be required to show submission, pretend to chew foliage and much more.

As you get away from the gorillas family or chimpanzee troop, do it without appearing suspicious before these primates.

What Is The Cost Of Gorilla Trekking And Chimpanzee Trekking Safari In Rwanda          .

The cost of gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda is categorized into Upmarket, mid-range and budget. Amongst the three Rwanda safari cost categories, the price of the gorilla permit or chimpanzee permit cuts across all packages.

Currently, the cost of Rwanda gorilla trekking permit is $1500 for international nonresidents, $500 for international residents and other Africans

The current cost of Rwanda chimpanzee trekking permit is $150 per person for international nonresidents, $75 for International residents and $25 for East Africans.

In addition to the cost of the gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking permits in Rwanda, the cost of accommodation, meals, transport and others make part of the final quotation of Rwanda safari.

What To Expect On Gorilla Trekking And Chimpanzee Trekking Safari In Rwanda

Wake up early morning for Gorilla and chimpanzee safari. During the gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking safari, expect to get up early morning to catch up with briefing. On arrival at the ranger station, you present the necessary documents for verification.

Meet Other tourists on gorilla or chimpanzee safari in Rwanda on safari day as this adventure is open to all tourists. After briefing, tourists are allocated to different gorilla and chimpanzee trekking troops randomly.

On the way to find the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees, expect the trails to be wet, especially in the severe wet season, boggy and slippery. The trails or highlands or tree trunks in the forests are draped by creepers and vines that may obstruct your way.

Looking beyond finding the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees in the forests of Rwanda as these are biosphere reserves. In the forest you may get to see black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, olive baboons and others. Ornithologists have an opportunity to spot a wide range of birds as so far Volcanoes forest hosts over 200 bird species and Nyungwe forest with more than 300 bird species including Albertine rift endemics.

When you find the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees, they may pretend to be minding there own business but they are alert. Watch the gorilla family or chimpanzee troop go about there day today activities, take photos to protect as memories of your experience

Why Choose To do Gorilla Trekking and chimpanzee Trekking Safari in Rwanda

When you choose to do gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda, it is an opportunity to be in the same vicinity with the largest primates in Africa. Mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are endangered species whose existence has been supported by both international and external conservation bodies.

The funds collected after the sell of mountain gorillas and chimpanzees permits in Rwanda are used to support the existence of these primates, medical support, pay ranger guide wages and others.

In addition to finding the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees, you may find other primates, birds, identify different tree species and much more that exist in the biosphere reserve.

Rwanda has a number of other safari destination opportunities open for tourists to book and combine with gorilla trekking and chimpanzees trekking including Rwanda’s rich culture, game drive in Akagera National Park, canopy walk in Nyungwe forest and others.

How Safe Is Gorilla Trekking And Chimpanzee Trekking Safari In Rwanda

Gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking safaris in Rwanda are safe as on ground there are professional and well are trained ranger guides to protect these habitats from possible intruders. Each day a team of ranger guides wakes up early to follow up the location where the mountain gorillas may have nested. This helps to also monitor the security system in the wilderness before tourists visit.

Briefing is compulsory to every tourist before any gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda. During this time, you get to know how to behave while searching for the mountain gorillas and others primates in a manner that will not cause them to get agitated.

Wear the right gears before attending the gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking safari as you get to explore the forest on foot and yet these forest have stinging bugs that may hurt your skin.

Tourists are escorted by ranger guides and an armed tourism police officer with a rifle during the gorilla trek or chimpanzee search. The ranger guide follows the pace of the slowest tourists do that you are not forgotten in the forest.

What May Guarantee Finding The Mountain Gorillas Or Chimpanzees On Safari In Rwanda

Finding the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees is guaranteed during Rwanda safari but you need to abide by the guidelines set by Rwanda Development Board. Both mountain gorillas families or chimpanzees communities are first habituated to help them get used to human presence at least for an hour before departure.

The mountain gorillas and chimpanzees live in cohesive groups that are hard to depart unless there are standing reasons. This enables these primates to stay together and even tourists can trace them.

Both gorillas and chimpanzees feed in a particular location for sometime and only relocate when it gets insufficient. This is one reason why you can still find them in the same location they were in before or very close. 

The mountain gorillas and chimpanzees have heavy bodies that donot allow them to move very fast so you can trace where they may be spending the day.

By following the fresh clues that the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees leave behind, you may get the opportunity to find them. Some of the clues these primates may leave behind include fresh footprints, chewed foliage, listen to there murmurs and others.

Request A Quotation