Best places to see primates in Rwanda

The opportunity to spot primates in their natural habitat in Rwanda is an opportunity that every tourist considers when planning a safari to Rwanda. Primates range from Mountain gorillas, Golden monkeys and chimpanzees not forgetting the different monkey species that are found in the national parks in the country. Rwanda is a captivating destination that has attracted thousands of tourists to the country to track the primates in their natural habitat. The Rwandese people are also hospitable, the remarkable wildlife and landscapes add to the great experience when it comes to primate tracking in Rwanda.  In this article, we are going to look at the different primate species that are tracked in Rwanda and the best places to track and see them.

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Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is home to a wide range of primate species, which include Mountain gorillas, Golden Monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons and blue monkeys, among others. These primates can be spotted on a guided trek through Volcanoes and below is a list of the primates that can be spotted in Volcanoes National Park.

Mountain Gorillas: Mountain gorillas are the top tourist attractions in Rwanda and are tracked all year round. Gorillas in Rwanda are tracked in Volcanoes National Park which is home to over 600 Mountain gorillas. Established in 1929 as Albert National Park, it is found in the northwestern part of Rwanda and is one of the three national parks in the world where gorilla trekking takes place.

Volcanoes National Park is home to 12 habituated gorillas that you can visit and track but you need to first purchase a gorilla tracking permit to be able to track gorillas in Rwanda. Note that all the gorillas in Volcanoes cannot be tracked since they are still undergoing habituation and not safe for tracking. The gorilla habituated families found in Volcanoes National Park include the Hirwa gorilla family, Umubano gorilla family, Titus family, Amahoro gorilla family, Karisimbi family, Agashya gorilla family, Kwitonda, Susa and Uganda gorilla family. More families will be introduced when the habituation process is fully complete.

To be able to participate in gorilla trekking, tourists 15 years and above have to purchase a gorilla trekking permit 3 to 4 months in advance to be guaranteed to get one. The cost of the gorilla permit depends on the category of tourists you belong to and although they are expensive, part of the money got from the permits is used to conserve the gorillas and their natural habitat, support the local community and treat the sick gorillas. The cost of the gorilla permit as of 2024 in Rwanda is as stated below.

Foreign non-residents           $1500 per person

East African citizens               $200 per person

For other African citizens             $500 per person

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park starts as early as 7:00 am at Kinigi after a briefing from the guides about what to expect on your safari. During the briefing, you will be divided into groups of 8, and after this, the teaching group will be assigned a gorilla family, and tracking starts at around 8:00 am. After tracking and finding the gorillas, you have an hour with them before tracking back to the park headquarters for other activities and awarding certificates to all participants.

Golden monkeys:  Golden monkey trekking is the second most participated activity after gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park found in the Virunga region. Golden monkeys are a subspecies of the Sykes Monkeys, also known as the blue monkeys, and they can easily be recognized by the golden color around their eyes, back and other parts of the body. The golden monkeys live in groups of 60 individuals and they feed on mainly bamboo shoots, leaves, small insects and fruits.

They are easier to track as compared to the gorillas since golden monkeys prefer the lower grounds and since they leave bamboo shoots in their wake, tourists can easily track them following the shoots left on the ground. While Golden Monkey trekking, you are advised to enjoy the moment and not only focus on taking photos and recording videos.

Golden monkeys are on the list of endangered species of the IUCN (International Union of Conservation of Nature), and there are estimated to be about only 10,000 left in the world, 5,000 of which are living in the Virunga region/ranges.  Golden monkey trekking can take the whole day in Volcanoes National Park starting as early as 7:30 am with a briefing from the experienced guides. You will, however, need to purchase a Golden Monkey trekking permit from the Rwanda Development Board through a trusted tour operator, and below is the cost of the permit as of 2024.

                                                           Adults                 Children

Foreign non-residents                  $100          

Foreign residents                           $65                        $45

Rwanda Citizens                             RWF 4000             RWF 2000

EAC residents                                  $80                         $45

The golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park are habituated and this means that they are used to human presence and will not be frightened at the sight of tourists. They are, however, playful creatures, and you need to follow all the rules and guidelines given to you by the experienced guides. Note that you should also book the permits in advance to avoid last-minute planning.

Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to chimpanzees and 13 different primate species, including L’hoest monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys and blue monkeys, among others.

Nyungwe Forest National Park is the best place to go for chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda with over 500 recorded chimpanzees. Chimpanzee tracking involves tracking chimpanzees in their natural habitat and you get a chance to witness their day-to-day activities, sleeping and grooming patterns. During a chimpanzee trek exercise, you will be able to spot who the leader of the chimpanzees is, how the babies are taken care of and how big the chimp group is.

There are two groups of chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park that have been habituated and can be tracked, and these are found in Uwinka and Cyamudongo, respectively. The small groups of chimpanzees that are found in Cyamudongo sometimes make it hard for tourists to track them, especially if they are restless and on the move; you will have to chase behind the chimpanzees as they move from one place to the next. The Cyamudongo chimpanzee group has about 30 chimpanzees and offers the most successful sightings in Nyungwe Forest National Park.

The second group of habituated chimpanzees is the Uwinka group which is mainly found in the main Nyungwe Forest near the park headquarters with 60 chimpanzees. This group is harder to track, given the expanse of the forest, and sightings are minimal as compared to the Cyamudongo chimpanzees.

Nyungwe Forest National Park recently introduced a new habituated chimpanzee family found in the main Nyungwe Forest and this is known as the Gisovu group. The Gisovu group is not yet used to humans like the other two groups and they sometimes flee when they spot humans tracking them.

As you plan on tracking chimpanzees in Nyungwe, you will need to purchase a trekking permit 3 to 6 months in advance for proper planning. These can be purchased through a trusted tour operator at a small fee and the cost of the chimpanzee trekking permit in Nyungwe is as below.

Foreign non-residents              $250 per person

Foreign residents                       $75 per person

East African Residents              $25per person

Purchase of permits is essential because no one is allowed to trek chimpanzees, golden monkeys and Mountain gorillas if they do not have permits purchased through trusted sources.

How to prepare for primate tracking in Rwanda

To best prepare for primate tracking in Rwanda, you must at least do the following:

• You need to prepare both mentally and physically for the treks in advance. Do bits of workouts like jogging because you are going to be tracking primates for hours through the jungle and need to be prepared
• Follow all the trekking rules and regulations because failure to do so will lead to tourists being banned from trekking primates in the future.
• The weather in Rwanda keeps on changing, so expect rain at given times of the year, sometimes coming in heavy.
• Pack right for primate trekking as this will help you enjoy your gorilla, chimpanzee and golden monkey trekking in Rwanda.

Rules and regulations to follow when tracking primates in Rwanda

Primates are part of the wildlife species that are protected by the government of Rwanda and private organizations. One of how these primates are protected is to bring out a set of rules and regulations to protect both the trekkers and the primates. Below is a list of rules and regulations that are to be followed when trekking the primates and these include:

• The age limit for trekking primates in Rwanda is 15 years and above
• A maximum of 8 people in a group will be allowed to trek the primates per session.
• After locating the primates, all groups have an hour studying the primates and taking photos.
• Always follow the rules and guidelines provided by the experienced guides
• Maintain a distance of 7 meters away from the primates at all times
• You have to be healthy to trek the primates in Rwanda. All persons who have illnesses and infections are advised to avoid tracking because the primates might catch the infections and this affects them terribly.
• Do not wander away from the group during primate tracking
• Eating near the primates is not allowed and if you are to eat or drink, you have to be at least 200 meters away from the primates.
• Avoid littering the natural habitat of the primates. Other wild animals live within the national parks and these have to be avoided at all times.
• Avoid touching the primates
• Do not have direct eye contact with the primates because this will be seen as a challenge by the different primate species.
• When taking photos of the primates, turn off the camera flash. Primates are not used to flashlights, and this can trick them into hiding further into the forest, making it hard to spot the primates.
• Communicate in low tones when near the primates. Although primates are habituated, they are still wild animals and you need to respect their privacy by turning off your phone and not making loud noises.
• In case a primate approaches you, do not turn your back to them just walk backward slowly and crouch down in a submissive nature as you wait for instructions from the guides.
• There are no toilets so you need to dig a hole of about 30cm deep and cover it up well after finishing your business.

Packing right for primate safaris in Rwanda

Pack the right essentials for safaris in Rwanda to have the perfect primate trekking experience. Below is a list of essentials you should pack for your safari.

• Waterproof knee knee-length boots
• Long-sleeved shirts and lightweight trousers
• All clothes should be of neutral colour to easily blend in with the jungle
• Waterproof rain jackets
• Warm sweaters and ponchos
• First aid kit
• A camera
• Binoculars
• Waterproof backpack to keep all your essentials
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen
• Socks
• Gardening gloves
• Gaiters although sometimes they are not necessary.

When to see primates in Rwanda

Primates in Rwanda can be spotted all year round, both in the dry and wet seasons,s, but the best time is during the dry season. The dry season is the best time because the track routes are dry, making it easy for tourists to track the primates, and the foliage is not that dense, making it easy to spot the primates through the vegetation. The rainy season, on the other hand, is a hard time to trek because of the slippery and muddy routes, and sometimes the rain is heavy, which hinders trekking.

Primates in Rwanda are the number one tourist attraction in the country and for more information about primates, where to go and when to go, get in touch with us to help you organize your safari for you.