Flying into Burundi for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda.

Rwanda and Burundi share a border at Kayanza haut border, where you can cross to Rwanda and Nyungwe National Park for chimpanzee trekking. To do gorilla trekking in Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is the only home to the mountain gorillas in this country.

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When you fly into Bujumbura International Airport in Burundi, you can go to the Kayanza Haut border and Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda. You need a chimpanzee trekking permit from the Rwanda Development Board. Booking the Rwanda gorilla trekking permits is very important, too, as a maximum of 8 Rwanda gorilla permits are opened to the public per gorilla family per day.

If you need a visa to enter Burundi or Rwanda, applying for them in advance is best to avoid spending a long time at immigration on arrival. You can use the assistance of your travel agency to learn how to apply for the Rwanda and Burundi visas.

Nyungwe National Park is home to the only chimpanzees in Rwanda, plus the Cyamudondo forested area. You can book the morning or afternoon sessions for chimpanzee trekking.

Volcanoes National Park is the only habitat for gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Only 15 gorilla families are open for this adventure, but you must book the gorilla permits in advance. Volcanoes National Park is also home to the golden monkeys, some of the world's endangered primates.

How to Plan a fly into Burundi for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda safari

Day1: Depart for Nyungwe National Park

Early in the morning, our driver guide will pick you up from your overnight accommodation in Bujumbura to drive to Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda. You cross the border of Burundi and Rwanda via the Kayanza Haut border to get to Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda.

Nyungwe National Park is home to a chimpanzee community and several primates like the blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, and others. This park also has a canopy walk on the 160-meter-long suspension bridge, the only one in East Africa.

Dinner and overnight at your lodge

Nyungwe accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Gisaku Guest House, Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Nyungwe House

Day 2: chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park

Carrying your chimpanzee trekking gear, head to the visitor center in Uwinka for a briefing. Late, you are allocated troops to trek. Although chimpanzees live in communities, they split into smaller groups daily to enable them to feed properly. Chimpanzees are under the leadership of an alpha male who is democratically elected.

You hear the chimpanzees call out before locating them, as this is how they communicate with each other, especially when they notice intruders in their vicinity. Finding the chimpanzees may take about 2 hours or more, depending on factors prevailing in the forest.

Other than the chimpanzees, you can look out for other forest dwellers like the blue monkeys, olive baboons, Dent's monkeys, etc.

When you find the chimpanzees, stay in a tight group to avoid making them uncomfortable with your presence. Do not use flash photography when taking photos, as this may scare them off into hiding.

Only an hour is allowed with the chimpanzees during chimpanzee trekking as they are habituated to be in human presence for just that time. Get away from the chimpanzee troop without causing any suspension.

Return to your lodge to relax.

Day 3 drive to volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, your drive guide will pick you up from your lodge at Nyungwe National Park and head to Volcanoes National Park. The drive from Nyungwe National Park to Volcanoes National Park is about 4 to 5 hours.

Volcanoes National Park is a prehistoric forest in Rwanda that hosts. This park hosts other primates; over 300 bird species are residents here, including Albertine rift endemics.

Volcanoes National Park topography comprises five Virunga volcanoes: Mountain Krisimbi, Muhabura, Gahinga, Bisoke, and Sabyinyo. These mountains are responsible for the rugged terrain of Volcanoes National Park, which is why the gorilla trek in Rwanda is steeper than her counterparts in Uganda and D.R.Congo.

Look out for other primates in the forest, like the olive baboons, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, and others. 

Upon finding the mountain gorillas, only one hour is allowed with them. Take photos for memories and watch these gorgeous primates interact with each other, as this is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Get back to your lodge.

Day 4 Departure day

Enjoying the primates of Rwanda is an unforgettable Rwanda visit. While others see chimpanzees and gorillas in zoos elsewhere, you can watch them in their natural setting.

How to book gorilla and chimpanzee permits for Rwanda

Booking the gorilla and chimpanzee permits is the only guarantee of having some time with these primates in their homes in Rwanda. You can directly book your gorilla and chimpanzee permit or use the assistance of a tour operator.

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we can assist you in booking the gorilla and chimpanzee permits once you contact us with details of your date and the number of permits you wish to book. The tour consultant will check for the availability of gorilla permits as soon as possible. Encounter Africa Safaris is one of the few companies accredited to have access to the list of Rwanda gorilla and chimpanzee permits.

As soon as the tour consultant becomes available, they will get back to you, but we advise that you purchase your Rwanda gorilla and chimpanzee permits as quickly as possible. This is because they sell out fast and on a first-come, first-served basis, yet they are limited to a maximum of 8 per gorilla family.

Later, provide us with personal details for identification and record-keeping, like your nationality, date of birth, full name as presented on the passport, and passport expiration date.

What is the cost of a Rwanda gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permit?

The Rwanda gorilla trekking permit costs $1500 for international nonresidents, $500 for international residents in Rwanda, and $250 for East Africans.

Currently, chimpanzee trekking permits for Rwanda are $150 for international nonresidents, $75 for foreign residents in Rwanda, and $25 for East Africans.

What is included in the cost of the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permit?

Ranger guide fees, security, one hour with the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees, mountain gorilla or chimpanzee conservation.

The cost of a chimpanzee trekking permit for Rwanda excludes Park entrance fees.

When can you Book a flight to Burundi for the Rwanda gorilla and chimpanzee safari?

Any time of the year is okay for booking a flight into Burundi for gorilla and chimpanzee safari in Rwanda time, but there are peak and low seasons.

During the peak season, gorilla and chimpanzee safari in Rwanda are in high demand, so the permit supply is overpowered. The peak tourism season in Rwanda is June, July, August, September, December, and January. As the number of gorilla permits is limited, booking is necessary, especially if you plan this safari in the high season.

Also, amenities that support your stay while on gorilla and chimpanzee safari in Rwanda are unavailable during peak season due to high demand.

There usually is less demand for this primate adventure safari in Rwanda for the low season of March, April, May, and November. Chances of getting discounts on gorilla permits are more open than the Rwanda gorilla permits for the low season are currently discounted to $1050 per person. This is as long as you have at least two nights in the low season in Nyungwe or Akagera National Park.

Is gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda safe?

Yes, gorilla and chimpanzee trekking is safe in Rwanda. These parks are under the guidance of well-trained ranger guides with experience In protecting the mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, their habitats, and visitors.

The mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are first habituated to withstand human presence for at least an hour before being exposed to the public.

Before tourists are let into the Volcanoes or Nyungwe forest, they must attend a briefing where information about what they can or cannot do or what to expect while searching for their primates is given. Failure to attend a briefing before gorilla or chimpanzee trekking may end in a penalty.

Before entering the forest, tourists should see a ranger guide so that other forest dwellers do not hurt them.

The bitter border relationship between Burundi and Rwanda was solved in 2021, and now you can cross into each other's boundary as long as you have the necessary documents.

What guarantees seeing the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees in Rwanda?

Seeing the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in Rwanda is guaranteed a 99% chance since these primates are first habituated to human presence for some time until proven ready.

Mountain gorillas and chimpanzees feed in a particular location for some time and can only eat more when provoked or when food is exhausted. This makes it easier to monitor these primates, especially by the early morning risers.

The early risers follow the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees to where they might have nested and establish their possible hangout point for the day. These are some of the clues that ranger guides use to locate these primates.

The ranger guide follows the trail to where the mountain gorilla or chimpanzee community was last seen the previous day, so chances of finding them in the same or close spot are open.

Tourists are also asked to participate in locating the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees by following signs like the freshly done dung and freshly chewed-on vegetation, listening to their sounds, and much more. These are some of the exciting things that keep you glued on the goal of finding the primates.

Are mountain gorillas or chimpanzees dangerous?

Mountain gorillas are serene primates, although their outlook is intimidating because of their dark-furred bodies. The mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are first habituated before being allowed to meet the public. This keeps them calm for at least an hour, and as tourists, you must follow the gorilla and chimpanzee trekking guidelines.

What are the guidelines for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking?

• No flash photography is allowed when taking photos for the gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking adventure. This scares the mountain gorillas.
• Never eat or smoke before the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees because it may harm their health.
• Littering in the forest is forbidden because it alters the natural setting where mountain gorillas feed. The mountain gorillas are vegetarian, and this may slowly reduce their food.
• When you locate the mountain gorillas, do not surround them. This makes them feel ambushed.
• Ask the ranger guide to dig a hole deep in case you wish to do a long call. You need to ever everything beyond recognition.
• Anyone below 15 years is not allowed to gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking because the time of locating the mountain gorillas is unknown, and some patience is needed to complete this trek.
• Volunteer to stay behind if you catch any communicable infection like coronavirus, flu, cough, or cholera. This is because the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees can catch human infections easily. They have a DNA that is about 96% similar to that of humans.
• When you locate the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees, keep a distance of about 8 meters from them. To reduce the chances of passing a communicable infection to them.
• Never spit on the vegetation because it's food for the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees. It is unhealthy and disgusting too.
• Wear a mask and hand sanitize as an after-coronavirus period precaution. You must change into a clean mask as you approach the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees.
• When with mountain gorillas or chimpanzees, do not make noise or sudden movement because it may scare them. The gorillas are often afraid of unfamiliar noises in their presence.
• When you locate them, only one hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees. This is because they are habituated to be in the presence of human beings for just that hour.

Contact us to plan your fly in safari to Rwanda for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking.