How to Plan Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari In Rwanda

When planning the Rwanda gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari, consider booking the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permit first as these are the tickets that allow you entry into the National Parks. The Rwanda Development Board has the mandate to book and regulate both gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits.

Note that gorilla and chimpanzee safaris in Rwanda are regulated to minimize the effects of mass tourism, maximum 8 gorilla permits are open to the public per day per family. This is why you must book the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits in advance. Request For A Quotation

For gorilla trekking, Volcanoes National Park is the only home of the few leftover mountain gorillas in the world. Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is in Nyungwe National Park with the morning and afternoon sessions.

Accommodation booking for this Rwanda gorilla tour is important as these options are limited too especially during the peak season when demand gets high. Both Nyungwe National Park and volcanoes National Park accommodations are categorized into up-market, mid-range and budget.

Do the right packing for the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking tour as both adventures happen in forested locations  which requires you to walk in the wilderness. Having a guiding list of what to pack for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safaris.

Gorilla and chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda itinerary

Day 1 Drive to Nyungwe National Park

After breakfast, the driver guide will pick you from your overnight hotel and drive to Nyungwe National Park. The drive from Kigali to Nyungwe National Park is about 5 hours but very scenic as you drive through lush evergreen vegetation that shades the hills along the way.

Nyungwe National Park is a biosphere reserve hosting chimpanzees which are trekked twice that is morning and Afternoon, other primates, plethora of birds and others. By taking some of the tracks in Nyungwe National Park, you may also encounter several other scenic spots like the Isumo falls with there sparkling view.

Arrive ready to check into your accommodation

Day 2 Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park

Early morning, take breakfast and head to the ranger station for chimpanzee trekking briefing. All tourist present are allocated trails to follow in search for the chimpanzees. Look out for other primates that spend the day in Nyungwe National Park like olive baboons, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus and others.

Although the search for the chimpanzees is challenging at times because of the nature of the terrain of Nyungwe forest which was affected by volcanic action in this area, finding the chimpanzees is mesmerizing.

You may hear the murmuring sounds of the chimpanzees before you find them but when you finally locate them chimpanzees only one hour is allowed with them. This time is restricted for conservation reasons as human presence disrupts the daily life of the chimpanzees.

Return to the lodge to relax

 Day 3 Drive To Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, drive to Volcanoes National Park  which is about 5 to 6 hours away from Nyungwe National Park. Enjoy the stunning views along the way with undulating hills and evergreen vegetation cover on the slopes.

Get to Volcanoes National park ready to check into your accommodation

Volcanoes National Park Accommodations: Mountain Gorilla view lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Kinigi guest house, Le Bambou

Day 4 Gorilla Trekking In Volcanoes National Park

Get up early for breakfast and carry your belongings to ORTPN in Volcanoes National. The ranger guides take you through the guidelines of gorilla trekking and other necessary information you need to know about the mountain gorillas at the time. At this point, you may hire a porter to assist you carry your bags

The search for mountain gorillas may take unknown time depending on factors happening in the wilderness but you need some level of patience. Instead of focusing on finding the mountain gorillas only, look out for other features in the forest like other primates, different landforms and much more.

Although the trek to find the mountain gorillas in this forest is quite steep, the moment you finally get to see mountain gorillas is unforgettable. The characteristics of the family members are amazing and the similarities in the life of the mountain gorillas to humans is unbelievable.

Only one hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas so that they can carry on with there daily chores. Ensure you strictly follow the rules of gorilla trekking so that you are donot fallout with them.

Return to your lodge to relax

Day 5: Kigali city tour and departure

Take breakfast and head to Kigali for a tour. You may visit sites like the genocide memorial, market places, museums, craft centers and much more. Kigali city is where the business heart of Rwanda beats. Drive to Kigali Airport to catch up with your flight back home.

Which Is The Best Time To Book Gorilla And Chimpanzee Trekking Safari In Rwanda?

The best time to book gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda is when you are ready to engage in this adventure. Both gorilla and chimpanzee tours happen all year around although most tourists prefer the dry season.

The dry season is normally June to October and December to February when the environment in the forest has less moisture. Volcanoes forest is known for receiving untimely rains and yet the forest has a dense canopy that allows less sunlight to the ground.

During the walk in search for the mountain gorillas, the ground is soft and slippery from decomposing matter too. Sometimes the mountain gorillas spend there day at the slopes of the mountains so you are required to trace them which gets challenging especially of you are unfit.

The dry season being the peak tourism season of Rwanda attracts high competition for gorilla  and chimpanzee permits worldwide. To be on the safe side, it is best to book the gorilla and chimpanzee permits in advance so that even the supporting logistics can be arranged in advance. Chances of finding gorilla and chimpanzee permits at the last minute are lower.

The wet season attracts less demand for gorilla and chimpanzee permits at there regular rains falling and the ground is quite soft and slippery. The wet season is too the low tourism season when less tourists travel.

In case you wish for exclusive time on both gorilla and chimpanzee trekking tour, the low season may be an opportunity to enjoy this experience. This allows you less disturbance from other tourists who may obstruct your moment with the mountain gorillas. Even those with a limited budget but questing for gorilla trekking experience, the low season may provide that opportunity. Some service providers at times discount their costs to breakeven.

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

The cost of gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda starts with the permits cost. At the moment, the cost of Rwanda gorilla trekking permit is $1500 for foreign nonresidents, $500 for foreign residents and $200 for East Africans. Currently the cost of Rwanda chimpanzee trekking permits is $150 for foreign nonresidents $75 for foreign residents and $25 for East Africans.

All these costs are compulsory and are to be incurred by all tourists booked in all budgets that is luxury, mid-range and basic. Other factors considered when costing gorilla safari in Rwanda include number of people travelling with, number of days on safari, activities to engage in and much more.

What is included in the cost of Rwanda gorilla Trekking Permit?

The Rwanda gorilla trekking permit cost includes park entrance fees, ranger guide fees, security, mountain gorilla conservation, local community support and other costs.

Booking the gorilla permit is the only guarantee to attending gorilla trekking tour in Rwanda. The number of Rwanda gorilla families open to the public at the moment is 12 gorilla families. Some of the Rwanda gorilla trekking families include Kwitonda, Amahoro, Umubano and others.

What Is The Age Limit For Gorilla And Chimpanzee Trekking Experience In Rwanda?

The age limit for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking tour in Rwanda is 15 years and 12 years respectively. These age limits were set depending on the nature of the terrain if these areas, chances of withstanding conditions of the forest and much more.

Rwanda topography is generally mountainous so get ready to hike in case it is necessary but children below these ages may not be in position to withstand the conditions in the forest.

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

There are 99% chances of seeing mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in Rwanda. these primates are first habituated for unknown time until ready to be opened to the public. These mountain gorillas and chimpanzees go through a process called habituation where they are helped to get accustomed to human presence without altering there nature.

The process of gorilla or chimpanzee habituation experience may take about 2 years to more depending on how fast they cope. This helps them with stand that hour allowed before the human beings. Mountain gorillas and chimpanzees have bulky bodies that cannot move very fast so this gives chance to spotting them.

A team of ranger guides wakes up earlier to follow the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees to establish where they may have nested and possible hangout points. These clues are what ranger guides leading the tourists on either the gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking experience.

As you start the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari, you follow the track leading where these primates were last seen the previous day. They donot normally feed far from where they spent the day prior.

Are Mountain Gorillas Or Chimpanzees Dangerous?

Mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are not dangerous but donot provoke there patience. These primates are calm since they are first habituated up to the time they are ready for public viewing. The gorilla or chimpanzee habituation process helps them to withstand human presence atleast for an hour as long as humans follow the rules of these primate safaris.

In nature mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are calm primates but try not to provoked there patience because they can charge too. The mountain gorillas and chimpanzees normally run into hiding in case they sense something not proper with there visitors. When provoked, the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees hoot, pull grass around them, and much more drama.

Surrounding these primates makes them feel ambushed and so they run into hiding.

What are the rules of gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda?

No making noise while trekking to find either the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees because this makes them feel attacked.

Volunteer top stay behind in case you have a communicable infection like flu, cough, covid-19 and others.

While walking in the forest, try not to dump garbage in the forest because this alters the nature of the forest where these primates thrive.

When with the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees keep a distance of about 7 meters from them to prevent chances of spreading any infection to these highly susceptible primates.

Never enter the forest without an escorting ranger guide as you may encounter animals that may hurt you or get lost in the wilderness.

In case you wish to have along call, request from the ranger guide to dig a hole for you atleast 30 centimeters deep.

Donot the torch the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees although they may try to reach out to touch your hair or belongings out of curiosity.

Feeding the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees is forbidden because they are wild animals that must search for there own food.

Spitting on vegetation is forbidden as this may pass germs to the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees

The Rwanda gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking age limit is 15 years and 12 years respectively. This is because people of these ages may be in position to withstand tough conditions in the jungle unlike those below.

Only one hour is allowed with the fully habituated mountain gorillas and chimpanzees for conservation reasons.

When taking photos, flash photography is not accepted because this may scare the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees.

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