Rwanda Gorilla Trekking, Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk 7 Days
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The Rwanda Gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking and Canopy Walk safari is done from Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe National Park.
Volcanoes National park is the only home to the endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda living in the rugged hills composing of five of the six Virunga Volcanoes that is Muhavura, Gahinga, Bisoke, Sabyinyo and Karisimbi.
Nyungwe forest National Park is a prehistoric rain forest situated close to lake Kivu in North eastern part of Rwanda close to the border with D.R.Congo. Two chimpanzee communities in Nyungwe National Park are confirmed to be residents of this forest with one living in Cyamudondo on the periphery of the park
The canopy walk in Rwanda happens in Nyungwe National Park where tourists take the adventure on a suspension bridge at a height of about 70 meters high and 120 meters length.
To plan the Rwanda gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk, one needs to secure the necessary permits for each activity in advance. The number of Rwanda gorilla trekking permits is restricted to maximum 8 per gorilla family with currently about 12 families open to the public. The chimpanzee permits are restricted too in order to avoid congestion in the park.
Highlights of Rwanda Gorilla, Chimpanzee Trekking And Canopy Walk
Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe
Day 3: Canopy Walk in Nyungwe
Day 4: Drive to Volcanoes national Park
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Day 6: Dian Fossey Hike or Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Day 7 Departure
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Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda
Get up early morning for breakfast and drive to Nyungwe National Park in North eastern Rwanda. Enjoy the stop overs you may make.
Nyungwe forest is a prehistoric forestwhich is home tothe only chimpanzees in Rwanda. Several trails help you traverse Nyungwe forest with some of the most outstanding being Igishigishigi trail, Usamo trail and others. When standing outside Nyungwe forest, the park seems to be impenetrable to traverse,
The drive time from Kigali to Nyugwe forest is about 6 hours passing through winding roads.
Check into your lodge
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe
After breakfast, head to the ranger station for briefing without forgetting to carry chimpanzee trekking gears. The ranger guide will accompany you to start searching for the chimpanzees following the trail head where they were last seen the previous day.
Time of find the chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest is hard to estimate however, focus on other interesting features and inhabitants of the forest. The ranger guide will be offering you chance to make stops to rest. eat some energy bites to keep you going.
When with the chimpanzees, enjoy their presence and watch how they go about their lives with no body directing them to do. Chimpanzees fix their time table for the day in that they have time to feed, play, nap and make nests for the night each day. Its amazing to be around chimpanzees as they mirror the life of humans.
After an hour, walk back to your lodge.
Day 3: Canopy Walk in Nyungwe
Following your breakfast, walk to Uwinka to catch up with your ranger guide and have a briefing about the canopy walk you are about to take on. The canopy walk in Nyungwe forest is on a suspension bridge about 160 kilometers long and 70 meters high. It is worth taking this adventure to curb your fears however it is not for the faint hearted.
From the suspension bridge, you get to watch the best of untamed nature, dense forest canopy, an array of birds flock in and out of the forest and more. You may mark some unforgettable special moments from this elevated spot off the ground.
Get back to your lodge to relax.
Day 4: Drive to Volcanoes national Park
After breakfast, head to Volcanoes National Park the home of the endangered mountain gorillas. Volcanoes National Park is situated in Northwestern Rwanda sharing a border with Uganda and D.R.Congo who are co-mountain gorilla habitats too.
The drive time from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park is about 3 hours moving on winding roads that were curved at the base of close-by highlands. Amazing features shielded by green forest cover stand beautifully above the forest canopy. The environment around Volcanoes National Park is conditioned by the cool breeze from the forest.
Check into your lodge
Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Gorilla Rest Camp, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Kinigi Guest House.
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
The day of gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park starts with briefing at the Ranger station in ORTPN. Each tourist for the day is randomly allocated a gorilla family to trek. Tourists follow the trails leading where the mountain gorillas were last seen as they normally do not move far from this location.
As you explore the forest, you get to spot other forest inhabitants including grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus and more. An array of bird flock the Volcanoes forest searching for a meal to take them through the day and night.
What may happen when you meet the gorillas during gorilla trekking in Rwanda
- A mix of stimulated adrenaline and excitement on meeting the mountain gorillas feel your body.
- The gorillas may seem to mind their business but don’t be duped to violet the rules of gorilla trekking.
- Stand at about 8 meters from the mountain gorillas although these primates most times bridge this gap out of curiosity but remain calm.
- Watch the gorilla family members as they interact with each other, play, groom, nap, feed, discipline and more. Take photos or film this unforgettable adventure with the few leftover mountain gorillas in the work. The life of mountain gorillas is like rebirth of human history.
- Only one hours in company of the mountain gorillas is allowed during gorilla trekking to allow these primates go about their lives so depart from the mountain gorillas without appearing suspicious.
Day 6: Dian Fossey Hike or Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
On this day you have to choose to do the hike to the Diane Fossey grave following her last steps to her grave where she was buried amongst the mountain gorillas show she defended to the last breath. Dian Fossey was an American philanthropist and primatologist who brought to limelight the plight of the mountain gorillas. She is at times referred to as the mountain gorilla hero.
Alternatively, taking the golden monkey trekking experience in Volcanoes National park takes you to find more endangered primates in this park. You need to book a golden monkey trekking permit too as there availability is limited to minimize on the possible effects of mass tourism to the forest.
Both Dian Fossey Grave hike and Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park go through the dense forest and having some level of fitness is an added advantage.
Return to your lodge to relax.
Day 7 Departure
Having visited the largest and foremost attraction of Rwanda and wider Africa, get back on the road to catch up with your flight back home.
What Is Necessary For The 7 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking, Chimpanzee Trekking And Canopy Walk
- Book your gorilla, chimpanzee or golden monkey permits for Rwanda in advance. Take note of the age limit for gorilla trekking in Rwanda which is 15 years and beyond incase you have company during this safari.
- Reserve accompanying gorilla trekking logistics including accommodation, transport, driver guide and more.
- Exercise to keep fit so that you can hike through the dense jungle to find the mountain gorillas
- Do a body check up before gorillas trekking so that you are fit to explore the forest.
- Carry necessary gorilla trekking gears including long sleeved shirt, rain proof gears, safari boots, safari shirt and trousers, safari hat and more.
Best time And When To go Gorilla trekking, chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk in Rwanda
The dry season if best for going to do gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk in Rwanda because the environment favors walking through the forests. The dry season in Rwanda which is normally June, July, August, September, December and January area characterized by less precipitation in these ever high humid forests.
