Rwanda offers an ultimate primate trekking experience to encounter both the chimpanzee (P.t.schweinfurthii) and the mountain gorilla (G.g.beringei) in their natural montane rainforest homes. A trek experience up-close these two man’s closest relatives in their montane rainforest homes is considered a life-time experience and “the most humbling adventure”.
Mountain gorillas are large, bulky and terrestrial occurring in small family groups of up to 15 individuals comprising of several female, young and blackbacks headed by Silverback at the helm. The chimpanzee on the other hand are smaller than the mountain gorilla, more mobile, loud and highly intelligent apes living in large complex communities of over 70 individuals led by a gang of males with a dominant male on top.
Where to Track Gorillas and Chimpanzee in Rwanda
Gorilla Tracking Experience at Volcanoes National Park
Mountain gorilla tracking in Rwanda takes place in Volcanoes National Park, a montane forest where the cerebrated Dian Fossey spent decades studying these incredible apes. Today, the park has designated 10 habituated gorilla family groups for daily trek experience. The park is well serviced with a variety of accommodations suitable for all budgets including top-notch facilities and only lies 2 and half-hour drive from Rwanda’s capital Kigali. Visitors planning for gorilla trek experience are required to book and pay for trek permits well in advance as there are often high in-demand especially during the tourist peak season. On a trek day, visitors must check in at the park’s headquarters at 7am where they will be guided by rangers to any of the habituated gorilla families ranging across the montane ranges.
The gorilla tracking experience duration varies daily depending on the home range of a designated gorilla family but anywhere between 3-6hrs is normal. This duration includes a full One hour you are allowed to stay with gorillas, observing, photography and just watching these endangered apes. Mountain gorilla range over high altitudes, visitors are encouraged to prepare well and be in average fitness levels.
Chimpanzee Tracking at Nyungwe National Park
Chimpanzee occur in large communities across the montane forests of Nyungwe National Park located with the Albertine Rift endemic area south-west of Rwanda. In these ancient and vast montane forests, the chimpanzee population now exceed 500 individuals spread in various communities where only three groups are habituated for trekking experience.
On a chimpanzee tracking experience day, an early start of 5am is required to check in at the park visitors’ reception of either Gisakula or Uwinka to meet up the ranger guides. This early start aims at locating where the chimps nested the previous night and thereafter follow them as they forage across their vast territories. On locating the chimps, visitors are only allowed an hour with the apes; to photograph, observe human-like expressions and gain insights into the complex ape society. Trekking duration varies daily, depending on where the home range of the chimpanzee group.
Obtaining a Gorilla and Chimpanzee tracking Permit in Rwanda
To trek along the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes NP and along the chimpanzee in Nyungwe Forest NP one needs to purchase and pay in advance a permit either personally through the RDB portal or through a licensed tour operator. The permit cost 1500USD pp for gorillas and 150USD pp for chimpanzee. The permits are highly in-demand especially in peak season and require advance purchase and payment in full.
Best Time to track Gorillas and Chimpanzee in Rwanda
Rwanda’s equatorial climate is locally influenced by the country’s high attitudes of over 1500m asl, and other topographic features including, montane forests, wetlands, marshes and lakes. Visitors planning for a mountain gorilla and chimpanzee trek experience should consider these local patterns. Rwanda has two rain seasons; a long spell from mid Feb-June where most rains fall especially in the highlands and a short spell from mid September-mid December.
The wet seasons coincide with a low season on the local tourism calendar with attractive and price offers from numerous accommodation facilities. To the dedicated adventurers however, it is the less or no crowds at all that make trekking expeditions during this season that offer an ultimate and personal experience with these apes.
The wet season is also a time of abundance for the vegetarian mountain gorilla families, for there is fresh foliage to munch about. Therefore, gorilla families do not need to forage far and wide but instead families stick closer within their home ranges making even tracking them more exciting!
To the local scenery, the rains bring in color and freshness while the abundance of food coincides with the breeding season for most local wildlife including birds spicing up the experience. Trekkers also need to be in above-average-fitness-levels, as trails tend to be physical demanding during this season.
The dry season kicks in from June-September with a short spell from December-Feb. This is tourism peak season that brings in a high demand on tracking permits to gorilla and chimpanzee experience.
What to pack for a Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking Experience in Rwanda
Mountain gorillas and chimpanzee in Rwanda occur on high-altitude montane forests therefore preparation must go beyond the physical. Seek guidance from your personal general practitioners (GP) concerning altitude related health challenges. That said, gadgets like a camera to capture those moments and a pair of binoculars for closer looks are important.
Then for that trek day pack;
- Long pants and a sweat long-sleeved shirt.
- Pack a raincoat or poncho.
- Comfortable waterproof walking or hiking shoes are a must.
- Gardening gloves are helpful as there will be lots of grabbing and handling.
- Bring along and use that insect repellant.
- A water-proof backpack is essential to protect your electronics on the trek
- On a trek day, remember to carry your packed lunch or a snacks and water (at least 2litres)
- From the trailhead, do take that walking stick along to give you that third hand on the steep ridges.
- From the trailhead, do hire a porter to assist in carrying that heavy backpack.
- Lastly when all is said and done, when that moment comes, take some time to capture the experience but most importantly enjoy and remember where you are!