Combining gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda with Masai Mara

A gorilla and chimpanzee tracking experience in Rwanda combined with Masai Mara is an incredible experience every tourist should take on as they plan for an African safari. When you combine primate trekking with a wildlife viewing safari, the trip will take you to Volcanoes National Park, where you will meet the famous wide-eyed giant endangered Mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park to the chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park that share 98% of human DNA before flying out to meet the big five and witness the wildebeest migration in Masai Mara located along the Kenyan border with Tanzania.

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Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is an exciting and one of the top tourist activities carried out in Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park is Rwanda's gorilla trek safari destination with 15 habituated gorilla families. Located in northwestern Rwanda in the Virunga region, Volcanoes Park has 15 habituated gorilla families that include the Muhonza family, Sabinyo family, Umubano gorilla family, Agashya gorilla family, Kwitonda family, Susa family, Titus, Karisimbi, Pablo, Hirwa gorilla family, and the Uganda gorilla family.

Gorillas were officially discovered by Dian Fossey, who, until she died in 1985, advocated for the conservation of the Mountain gorillas that were almost extinct from poaching, and the grave can be visited in Volcanoes. When visiting the gorillas, get ready to have a unique experience and one-on-one meeting with the large primates that the male Silverback heads.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda starts in the morning with a brief meeting with the lead guides on what to expect when it comes to tracking gorillas. Subsequently, you will be divided into groups of 8, and the track will start after assigning gorilla families. The trek can take between one hour and 6, and after finding the gorillas, you get an hour with the primates before being awarded a certificate for participating in the trek at the headquarters.

Gorilla permits are essential if you plan on tracking gorillas, and purchasing them is the first step in organizing a gorilla safari in Rwanda. The permits are printed by the Rwanda Development Board' RDB,' and with the help of a reputable tour operator, the purchase can be made easily. Gorilla permits in Rwanda cost $1500 for foreign non-residents, $500 for African citizens, and $250 for Rwanda and East African citizens. However, the gorilla permits should be booked in advance to ensure flawless planning and avoid last-minute inconveniences.

Gorilla trekking has rules and regulations to be followed by all tourists trekking the primates in Volcanoes National Park. Some of these include: If you feel sick and there is proof, you will not be allowed to trek the gorillas, a maximum of 8 trekkers are allowed per gorilla group per day, 7 meters are to be kept at all times when with the gorillas, You only get to spend an hour with the Mountain gorillas, Flash photography will not be allowed, you need to follow all the instructions given to you by the guides during the trek, avoid making unnecessary noise, eating has been prohibited, smoking is not allowed since it affects the health of the gorillas, and tourists who are 15 years and above are allowed to trek the gorillas.

The chimpanzee trekking destination in Rwanda is the Nyungwe Forest National Park. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe involves walking through the forest in search of the habituated chimpanzees with the help of a tour guide. Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to over 500 chimpanzees, but only two groups of chimpanzees are open for trekking, one in Cyamudongo and the other in Nyungwe. It is also home to 13 different primate species, including golden monkeys, L'Hoest monkeys, Dent's Mona monkeys, Angolan colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, Vervet monkeys, olive baboons, grey-cheeked Mangabeys, and red-tailed monkeys.

The main habituated chimpanzee family is in Nyungwe, with almost 60 family members. The Nyungwe family is more challenging to track and see, so many tourists opt for the Cyamudongo family, which is a bit smaller and more accessible to track.

Chimp tracking in Nyungwe starts early morning at one of the three starting points within the national park with a briefing from the lead guide about the dos and don'ts of trekking before you venture into the wild. There are instances where finding them might take longer, but after locating the chimps, you will have an hour studying their behavior and taking photos.

Tracking chimpanzees in Nyungwe starts with purchasing a trekking permit, which is best purchased through a tour operator. Still, you can also buy it directly from the Rwanda Development Board. The chimpanzee trek permit costs $90 for foreign non-residents and $60 for foreign residents.

Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda has rules and regulations that must be followed. These include keeping a reasonable distance of 7 meters from the chimpanzees, only trekkers 15 years and above are allowed to trek with the chimps, communicating in low tones, and getting an hour with the chimps. You will be placed in groups of 8 before the trek; the camera flash is to be turned off when taking photos of the chimpanzees, and eating when with the chimpanzees is prohibited.

Accommodations you can use while chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe include Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Inzozi Beach Hotel, Gisakura Guest House, and Nyungwe Forest Lodge. Apart from chimpanzee trekking, there are other activities that you can do in Nyungwe, and these include the canopy walk, primate tracking, bird watching, and cycling, among others.

Safari with Masai Mara

You can enjoy the activities listed below when visiting Masai Mara during a combined safari with gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda.

Enjoying the wildebeest migration:

When we talk about Masai Mara, the first thing that comes to the minds of tourists is the wildebeest migration that is seen annually with millions of wildebeests and other herbivores crossing from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, crossing the Grumeti River and finally, Mara River into Masai Mara in Kenya in search of pasture and water. The Mara crossings can be seen from July to October before they cross back to Tanzania, and this happens every year. No one knows why the pattern is the same and is sometimes delayed by weather changes, but you cannot miss witnessing the wildebeest migration on your safari to Masai Mara. There are a lot of visitors during this period so everything has to be booked in advance. Some of the animals you see during the migration include wildebeests, zebras, African buffaloes, antelopes, gazelles, crocodiles, and zebras, among others. The migration also attracts several predators you see in action as they hunt.

Game drives:

The Masai Mara Reserve offers two game drive sessions, the morning and afternoon sessions. Morning drives start early in the morning and give you a chance to watch the various wildlife as it goes on about hunting for food. This is also the best time for bird watching and enjoying the sunrise. The afternoon drive starts after lunch, and it is to catch the animals you might have missed during the morning drive. A night drive upon request and extra payment can be organized, and this takes two and a half hours using a spotlight to watch out for the nocturnal animals. The wildlife that you get to see on your game drive includes lions, elephants, zebras, Oribis, hippos, hyenas, Impalas, leopards, wildebeests, gazelles, spotted hyenas, leopards, crocodiles, antelopes, hartebeests and buffaloes among others.

Horseback riding safaris:

Masai Mara is one of the few wildlife-viewing destinations where horseback riding occurs. This is an exciting way of wildlife viewing where tourists get to ride their horses alongside the wildlife, and an armed ranger and our guide oversee this. During the horseback rides, you can view the different wildlife close up on the horseback and enjoy the breeze. Horseback riding in Masai Mara comes at an extra cost and is not part of the entrance fees paid at the gate, and you need to follow all the instructions given to you by the tour guide.

Bird watching:

Usually carried out during the wet months of March to May and October to November, bird watching is one of the activities you can carry out while on a combined safari with Masai Mara. The bird species to look out for include Swallows, warders, Kori bustard, Marabou stork, Egyptian vulture, secretary birds, Usambiro barbet, Great Egret, Hamerkop, Little Bittern, Rufous-billed Heron, Grey Hero, African fish eagle, Sooty Chat, Tawny Eagle, Sacred Ibis, Long-tailed Cormorant, Rosy-throated shrike and yellow-billed stork among others.

Guides nature walks:

Masai Mara is gifted by nature with its vast landscape, and one way you can tour the Reserve is by taking a guided nature walk. Led by an armed ranger with experienced guides, you will start your guided nature walk on the designated paths, and some of the wildlife you see while on the walk include antelopes, giraffes, elephants, and gazelles, among others. It is a better way of getting closer to the animals. Still, you need to follow all the rules and regulations set by the guide, for example, no littering, switching off the phones so as not to attract attention to yourself, communicating in low tones, not deviating from the group, and keeping in a straight line when taking the nature walks.

What to pack for the gorilla and chimpanzee trek safari with Masai Mara

• A rain jacket in case it rains.
• Gardening gloves to protect your hands from sharp branches, thorns, and blisters.
• A digital camera with extra batteries, lenses, a portable adapter and charger, and a waterproof camera bag.
• Binoculars are a necessity when it comes to wildlife viewing
• Long-sleeved neutral-colored shirts
• Trousers, but avoid jeans, especially when trekking gorillas and chimpanzees.
• A day backpack
• Insect repellent to prevent the bug bites.
• A sunhat and sunscreen
• Comfortable hike shoes
• Flip-flops and sandals
• First aid kit
• Warm sweater or poncho
• Water bottle and snacks
• Gaiters, preferably adjustable ones.

Getting to Rwanda for the chimpanzee and gorilla trek and Masai Mara

You can decide to start with a gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda for your combined safari. After trekking the primates, you can then proceed to go to Masai Mara for the last part of the combined safari or vice versa. Traveling to Rwanda first, you fly to Kigali International Airport, and depending on the time of arrival, you will either be picked up directly from the airport or hotel in Kigali and drive for 2 to 3 hours to Volcanoes National Park for the gorilla trek safari. After trekking gorillas, connect to Nyungwe for chimpanzee trekking before going back to Kigali for your flight to Nairobi in preparation for the Masai Mara safari.

Volcanoes National Park and Masai Mara Nature Reserve are both UNESCO conservation Areas accessible by road or air transport. Don't hesitate to book with us to help you organize the best transportation between the two countries.

When to go for the combined gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda with Masai Mara safari

The combined gorilla and chimp trek in Rwanda with the Masai Mara safari needs to be planned, and this is because it helps with easy planning to avoid inconveniences when securing the different services. The best time for this combined safari is during the dry season in the dry months of June to September and December to February. This is the best time to watch the wildebeest migration in Masai Mara and the Big Five and the best time to go for a primate trek safari in Rwanda. You can still visit during the wet months, like March to May and October to November, when the rains are more, and this is the best time to go bird watching.

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