What To Expect During Gorilla And Chimpanzee Trekking Safari In The Wet Season

During the wet season, expect to find the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in the wilderness even though they spend most of the time in sheltered spaces. The wet season which is normally March, April, May and November is normally characterized by heavy down pours especially around the tropical rain forests. Book Now

Expect the ground to remain soft including the trails during the gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking safaris. This is because the rain falls almost daily and almost the entire day yet the forests have a dense canopy that doesn’t allow sunray penetration. The forests where the chimpanzees and mountain gorillas live have a dense network of rivers that tend to flood leaving the ground soggy. The vegetation along the trails in the forest also falls over then matter decomposes creating a slippery ground by it is passable.

Gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking safaris happen in Uganda and Rwanda. In Uganda gorilla trekking happens in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. In Uganda Kibale National Park is the hot spot for chimpanzee trekking adventure in the country although there are other chimpanzee safari destinations in the country.

Rwanda gorilla trekking happens in Volcanoes National Park and chimpanzee trekking tours happen in Nyungwe National Park.

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What May Happen On Gorilla And Chimpanzee Trekking Tour In The Wet Season

At the briefing point before gorilla trekking, tourists gather to listen to details about the dos and don’ts of this adventure. Even though rules of gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking are out there, these are general but each family of mountain gorillas or chimpanzee community may have its own traits.

Donot forget to pack rainproof gears before going on a gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking safari as rain is expected to fall anytime during the wet season.

After briefing, tourists are allocated the gorilla families to trek but the criteria used is hard to determine but roughly some use age brackets, physical capability and others. No matter which gorilla family or chimpanzee community you are allocated too.

As the search for the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees starts, ranger guides follow the trails leading where these primates may have been seen the previous day. When you carry on you may get the chance to find other primates including black and white colobus, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabey, blue monkeys and others.

The ground where mountain gorillas or chimpanzee survive gets soggy, boggy and slippery in the wet season and undergrowth may obstruct the way as it protrudes through. Time of getting to mountain gorillas or chimpanzees may be hard to determine but on the average, getting to find them by be two hour or more depending on factors prevailing in the forest.

Finally, when you get to locate the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees you may get some clues as you listen carefully and follow the clues they leave behind. For gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking, only one hour is allowed with to spend with these primates.

What To Expect During Gorilla trekking And Chimpanzee Trekking Safaris In The Wet Season

Expect to find the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees in sheltered places during gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking in the wet season as they protect themselves from getting extremely wet.

Note that no matter the season, during the gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking be sure to find these primates.

The ground in these tropical rainforest where the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees live is wet most of the time since less sunlight is let in to till the ground. The Rivers and streams in the tropical rain forest also tend to flood the plains in close by leaving it soggy and boggy. This is why you need to wear above the ankle waterproof boots.

Expect rain to fall anytime without warning during the wet season as the environment remains moist most of the time.  

The vegetation along the trails in the forest tends to over grow and fall over obstructing the way but the ranger guide accompanying you use the machete to trim the creepers and create a path.

Even though the primates spend most of the time deep in the forest, or up in the trees or on the slopes of the highlands, some level of patience is required. During gorilla trekking or chimpanzee safaris, you need to be ready to endure longer hours of searching for the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees because they are wild animals that freely leave in the wilderness.

When you find the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees only one hour is allowed to find them. This is a conservation measure as the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees are habituated to be in the presence of humans for one hour. Even the maximum number of people allowed to visit these primates is restricted as a conservation measure.

How Much is Gorilla Trekking and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari

The cost of the gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking tours in Rwanda and Uganda vary with category, amount of time to spend on safari and others. As you plan to do the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari, the cost of the permits cuts across all categories of safari packages that is luxury, mid-range and basic. In addition, there are other costs that are included in preparation of this safari package.

In Rwanda, the current cost of gorilla trekking permit is $1500 for international nonresidents, $500 for international residents, $200 for East Africans. The Current cost of Rwanda chimpanzee trekking is $ 150 for international nonresidents, $75 for international residents and $25 for East Africans.

The current cost of Uganda gorilla trekking permits is $800 for international nonresidents, $700 for international residents and 300,000 shs for East Africans. Currently, the cost of Kibale chimpanzee trekking permits is $250 for international nonresidents, $180000shs for East Africans.

In addition to the cost of the safari permits, you have to incur additional costs including accommodation, transport costs and others. Carry some hard cash too which you may change into local currencies and use for on ground purchases because credit cards are not commonly used in Africa.

How long Is the gorilla trekking And Chimpanzee Trekking

From the starting point of the gorilla or chimpanzee trekking tour ranger guide use the trails leading where the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees were last seen the previous day. On the way, you may encounter some obstacles that may delay you or the chimpanzees or mountain gorillas may spend time deep in the forest. 

Sometimes finding these primates may take two hours or more depending on there locations and conditions in the forest. The ranger guide follows the pace of the slowest trekker however you must not delay the rest of the group since you are not sure of return time.

To keep the vibe of the gorilla trekking or chimpanzee safari experience high, donot focus only on finding these but open your mind to viewing other primates including golden monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys and others. A number of birds are residents of these tropical rain forests including Albertine rift endemics.

As you get closer to the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, you hear them murmur at each other before facing them. Finally when you find these primates, the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees may pretend to mind there business but donot be fooled by this gesture because they operate a steady spy network. Keep focused on maintaining the gorilla or chimpanzee trekking rules.

Can Mountain Gorillas Or Chimpanzees Get Violent During Safari

Mountain gorillas or chimpanzees are not violent but they can charge when provoked. Before opening the gorilla family or chimpanzee community, it is first habituated for sometime before opening them to the public. The habituation process helps the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees get used to the presence of humans without changing there nature.

Before finding the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees, tourists are advised to keep voices low because these primates are scared by unfamiliar occurrences in there presence. Even flashlights from the camera scare the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees so you donot need to use a camera with a flash.

At times the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees may show some odd behavior but donot run as you may escalate the situation. Stay calm and wait for the ranger guide to find the route cause of this odd behavior. 

Get ready to abide by the new directions given by the ranger guide during gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking as these are aimed at creating harmony and to show these primates that you are not dangerous. Sometimes you have to show submission or try to chew foliage in demonstration of being at ease with these mountain gorillas or chimpanzees.

How Easy Or Hard Are The Gorilla Trekking And Chimpanzee Trekking Safaris

The gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking safaris are quite challenging because these primates live in untamed wilderness. Sometimes the ground is flooded by water from the dense network of rivers and streams that over flow.

The trails you walk on while search for the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees are sometimes overgrown by creepers along the trails that obstruct the way. The ranger guide with a machete uses it to trim and create a trail where you can get access to these primates.

Pay attention to other interesting features within the forest and other existing mammals in the wilderness too. Have some patience while searching for the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees because they tend to spend more time deep in the forest while the seek to find shelter where to hide from the rain.

Finally, when you get access to the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees, you have to maximize that previous one hour allowed with these primates. Donot forget the rules of gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking.

Which is the best gorilla trekking and Chimpanzee trekking destination of Uganda and Rwanda

To determine the best gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari destinations of Uganda or Rwanda varies with your motive for choosing this African primate safari.

In Uganda, there are about 20 gorilla trekking families and multiple chimpanzee trekking destinations open to the public. Rwanda has currently about 12 gorilla trekking families and one chimpanzee trekking destination open to the public.

The drive time from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park is about 3 hours and to Nyungwe National Park is about 5 hours and very scenic enroute too. The drive time from Entebbe or Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park is about 8 to 9 hours. The drive time to Kibale National Park is about 6 hours from Kampala.

The cost of the Uganda gorilla trekking permit is about $800 for international nonresidents, $700 for international residents and 300,000shs for East Africans. The current cost of chimpanzee trekking permits for Kibale National Park is $250 for international nonresidents, $200 for international residents, 180000 shs for East Africans. The cost of Rwanda gorilla trekking permit is $1500 for foreign nonresidents, $500 for international residents or other African and $200 for East Africans. The Rwanda chimpanzee trekking permit is currently $150 for foreign nonresidents, $75 for foreign resident and $25 for East Africans       

The least time to be on gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking safari in Uganda is 3 days gorilla trekking and 3 days chimpanzee trekking while the least time to be on gorilla or chimpanzee trekking Rwanda safari is 2 days gorilla trekking.

Uganda has more additional Uganda safari destination options to combine with the gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking tour. Rwanda has limited choices of destinations to combine with gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking experience.

Why Choose To Do Gorilla trekking and Chimpanzee trekking Tour

To do the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari, you get the chance to be with some of the most endangered primates in the world. By purchasing the gorilla and chimpanzee permits, you contribute to the conservation of these primates as a portion of it is used in the management of the destinations where these primates are residents.

The chimpanzees and mountain gorillas have a similar resemblance to humans which you get to see while in company of these primates. These mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are untamed but are helped to get used to humans presence through a process called habituation. Other than the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees the destinations where these primates live have other inhabitants which are lovely to watch.

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