What To Do During 6 Day Gorilla and chimpanzee Trekking Safari in Rwanda

The 6 day gorilla and chimpanzee trekking tour in Rwanda gives you chance to see some of the big primates in Africa. Mountain gorillas are some of the endangered primates of Africa and covered by the United Nations convention on migratory species of wild animals.

Chimpanzees in Rwanda live in Nyungwe National Park and others in Cyamudondo on the periphery of this park.

Mountain gorillas are residents of Volcanoes National Park but currently about 12 gorilla families are open to public booking. Some of the gorilla families in this park include Susa, Hirwa, Kwintonda, Umubano, Sabyinyo, Amahoro and others. Maximum 8 tourists are allowed to visit each gorilla family per day so that the forest and mountain gorillas are not overwhelmed by mass tourism as a conservation measure.

A Visit to Rwanda for the 6 day gorilla and chimpanzee trekking tour is an opportunity  to explore the hidden secrets of there prehistoric forest home to some of the only leftover mountain gorillas in the world.

You must book the gorilla and chimpanzee permits for Rwanda as these are the entry tickets to see these primates but advance booking is need. During the peak tourism season in Rwanda that us June, July, August, September, December and January demand for Rwanda gorilla and chimpanzee permits is high creating scarcity at the last minute.

Any person expecting to get gorilla or chimpanzee trekking permits for Rwanda at the last minute may get disappointed as they sell out in advance of the season.

6 Day Rwanda Gorilla And Chimpanzee Trekking Safari

Day 1: Drive to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, your ranger guide will pick you from your overnight accommodation to drive to Volcanoes National Park. From Kigali, the drive time to Volcanoes National Park is about 3 hours. The roads leading to Volcanoes National Park are winding because of the rolling hills covered with lush green vegetation along the way.

It is best to have a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle in good mechanical condition that can drive on the rough roads in the countryside.

Dinner and overnight accommodations: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Kiningi Guest House.

Day2: Gorilla Trekking Safari Day In Volcanoes National Park

Rise up for breakfast and head to the ranger station for briefing at the ORTPN. Ensure you arrive in time to hand in your gorilla trekking permit and other necessary verification documents.

After briefing, tourists present are allocated to different gorilla families but the criteria used to allocate these families is hard to determine. Sometimes gorilla family allocation on gorilla Rwanda is done based on interests, relationship with each other, physical capability and others.

The ranger guides allocated to each group of tourists lead the way starting from a point leading where the gorilla family was last seen the previous day. The rangers also use the clues given by the early risers who monitors where the mountain gorillas nested and determine the possible direction they may be taking.

Because of the nature of the topography of Volcanoes National Park with steep slopes resulting from volcanic action in this area, you need to bear some level of fitness. Sometimes the mountain gorillas spend time on the slopes of the ridges and plateaus in this park so you need to follow them.

Even though time of finding the mountain gorillas is uncertain, look out for other interesting forest dwellers like the blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons and others. Keen birders in gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda have a long list of birds to spot including Albertine rift endemics.

When you finally find the mountain gorillas, only one hour is allowed with them. Take a minute to let the ranger guides establish the mood of the gorilla family before taking photos. Watch the gorilla family as they carry on with there day activities and take as many photos as you can for memories.

Slowly get away from the gorilla family without causing any alarm and looking suspicious.

Return to your lodge carrying nothing from the wilderness apart from photographs and memories and leaving nothing but footprints.

Day3: Golden Monkey Trekking In Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

Golden monkey trekking is another fantastic Rwanda primate adventure worth adding to your to do list. The golden monkeys are unique primates that are among the world endangered species. They are charming primates with a larger body structure compared to there counter parts. Golden monkeys live in communities with an alpha male as there leader.

Each day, the community of golden monkeys separate in smaller groups to feed. Although golden monkeys are habituated to human presence, they still bear there natural behaviors that is go into hiding, hoot, pull grass around them, hope from tree to tree and much more.

You can never stand in one position while with the golden monkeys because of there charming and restless nature.

Look out for other primates in the forest, birds, natural fully-grown trees and others that makes up this pristine forest.

Return to the lodge to relax.

Day 4 Drive to Nyungwe National Park.

From Volcanoes National park, the drive to Nyungwe National Park is about 5 to 6 hours. Enjoy the spectacular views of the lush green vegetation along the way. Nyungwe National park is one of the prehistoric forests hosting a wide range of wild animals including several primates.

Chimpanzees are the foremost attractions in this park but other primates also find safe haven here like the golden monkeys, blue monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons and others. Look out for a number of birds that live in the forest as over 200 bird species are recorded as residents of Nyungwe National Park including Albertine rift endemics.

Overnight at your accommodation

Nyungwe National Park accommodations: Gisaku Guest House, Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Nyungwe House, Gisaku Family Hostel

Day 5 Chimpanzee Trekking In Nyungwe National Park

Wake up early for breakfast and head to the Uwinka Visitor Center for briefing about chimpanzee trekking. The ranger guides take you through the guidelines of chimpanzee trekking as these primates are very sensitive with intruders in there vicinity.

Donot provoke or mimic the chimpanzees because you may not know what you may be communicating. The trails leading to the chimpanzees may have some protruding undergrowth but the ranger guide with a Machete uses it to trim and create a path.

Finally, when you locate the chimpanzees, you have just one hour with them. Chimpanzees have a DNA that is about 98% close to that of humans. Expect some characters that are similar to the human behaviors.

Get back to your lodge to relax.

Day 6 Departure Day

After seeing the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees on a visit to Rwanda, you may drive to Kigali airport to catchup with your return home flight. You may engage in the optional canopy walk over Nyungwe forest or  Kigali city tour.

When is the best time to book 6 day gorilla and chimpanzee safari in Rwanda?

Rwanda safaris are open any time of the year but the dry season attracts more attention. The dry season is normally June to September and December to January. The mountain gorillas, other primates and birds may be seen more easily in the forest during the dry season. More sunlight is let in to the ground during the dry season.

Although the Volcanoes forest is known for having soggy and boggy conditions from the regular rains that fall and yet less sunlight protrudes through to the ground, this season is better. Because more sunlight is let in to the ground, the trails are drier and quicker to navigate.

The dry season also gives a better environment to do gorilla, chimpanzee trekking as a combo with other Rwanda safaris activities.

The dry season however has high completion for both gorilla and chimpanzee permits as these sell out in advance. Most people purchase there permits as early as 6 month to a year to avoid last minute disappointment as they prepare for a safari visit to Rwanda.

During the wet season, there is less demand for gorilla and chimpanzee permits in Rwanda. In case you wish to have less people or no person in safari without paying extra then you can try the wet season. Remember seeing the mountain gorilla and chimpanzees is guaranteed no matter the season.

No matter the season you choose for your gorilla and chimpanzee trekking tour, ensure you reserve your gorilla permits in advance.

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

The cost of gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda is preceded by the cost of the gorilla permit. At the moment the cost of Rwanda gorilla trekking permit is $ 1500 for international nonresidents, $500 for foreign residents and $200 for East African residents.

The cost of Rwanda safaris packages is categorized into luxury, mid-range and basic depending on the inclusions in the package.

To get the cost of the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari package of Rwanda, some of the factors considered include the number of days on safari, people travelling with, additional Rwanda safari activities to combine with and much more.

What assures me to see the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in Rwanda?

Rwanda has 12 gorilla trekking families living in Volcanoes National Park. These are first habituated to human presence and under go mock trials to ensure they are ready for visitors. The fully habituated mountain gorillas families can only be in front of humans for one hour.

Each day a team of ranger guides wakes up earlier than anyone to monitor where the gorilla families may have nested and determine the direction they may be heading for the day. Some of these clues are what ranger guides with tourists use to reduce on the time you spend in the wilderness.

Mountain gorillas live in tight families and in case they are to move, they do it jointly and for reasons like inadequate food supply to support the entire family, death of a family member and much more. This is why the way about of the mountain gorillas may be easier to determine.

While searching for the mountain gorillas, tourists are asked to help with finding these primates as part of the activities to so. You follow clues like the fresh leftover foliage, footprints, fresh dung and much more. listen to the murmurs of the mountain gorillas too.

It is hard for the mountain gorillas to walk so far from the location where they spent the prior day. The mountain gorillas weight bout 200 kilograms for a fully grown male and the female is about half this weight. This bulky body doesn’t favor fast movement especially in a rugged environment with so many highlands.

There forest be sure atleast 99% chances of seeing mountain gorillas in Rwanda even though they live in a vast jungle.

What Is The Safari Packing list For Gorilla Trekking and chimpanzee Tour in Rwanda?

What to Pack for Gorilla safari

Safari boots comfortable enough to protect your feet from the harsh ground and soggy trails created from flooding dense network of rivers.

A sweater or poncho warm enough to keep you warm the early morning and late afternoons

Garden gloves to help you catch a tight grip on creepers as you hike to get to the mountain gorillas.

Safari hat with a large brim to protect you from water that drips off the trees.

Camera for taking memories of your adventure with the mountain gorillas as this is a dream come true experience.

Long sleeved shirt and trousers in colors that are wilderness friendly like Khaki, tan. Carrying camouflage  seems more military in Uganda and Rwanda so do not pack them.

A torch to use for lighting in the night because lights run out in accommodation in the safari areas because solar energy is the main source of power.

First aid kit with emergency medication that ca used for quick treatment where necessary.

Some hard cash to exchange into local currency in case you are to purchase something on ground.

Rainproof gears as it falls in this area any time without warning.

A waterproof backpack to carry with your gorilla safari gears.

Toiletries in case your lodge doesn’t provide.

Travel adopter to use when charging

A pair of binoculars to get a clear picture of interesting features in the wilderness.

Insect repellant to keep away stinging insects in the wilderness.

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