Is it possible to do gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda on a weekend.

Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda on a weekend is possible but it requires careful planning and advance booking. With permits available you are advised to book at least 3 to 6 months prior to secure spots for both activities. A suggested itinerary includes gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park on Saturday followed by a 4-5 hour drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park for chimpanzee trekking on Sunday. Accommodation options are available near both parks but book early to ensure availability. While challenging, a weekend trekking adventure in Rwanda offers a unique opportunity to see these incredible creatures up close, making the effort worthwhile for wildlife enthusiasts and adventurers.

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Why combining a gorilla and a chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda on a weekend.

Combining gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda on a weekend offers a unique opportunity to explore two of the country’s most iconic and endangered species in a short period. This combination allows you to experience the wonderful mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park and the agility of the chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park, showcasing Rwanda’s incredible biodiversity. By combining both treks you will gain a special understanding of these fascinating creatures and their habitats, making the most of your weekend adventure. Additionally this combination provides a convenient and time-efficient way to experience two of Rwanda’s top wildlife attractions, making it an ideal option for travelers with limited time or seeking a packed wildlife safari experience.

Volcanoes National Park located in northwestern Rwanda, is a 160-square kilometers park that is home to five of the eight Virunga Mountains’ volcanoes including Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo. The park is renowned for its lush rainforests, bamboo forests and mountainous landscapes, providing a habitat for a diverse range of wildlife, including the endangered mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and over 200 bird species. The park offers gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, volcano hiking, with the most popular activity being gorilla trekking, which allows visitors to spend an hour with one of the park’s 10 habituated gorilla groups. The park’s headquarters, Kinigi, is located about 2 hours from Kigali, making it an accessible safari destination for tourists.

Nyungwe Forest National Park, is located in southwestern Rwanda, it is a 1020-square kilometer park that is one of the oldest and most biodiverse forests in Africa, with a history dating back over 50 million years. The park is home to the vast array of flora and fauna, including over 200 tree species, over 300 bird species and 75 mammal species such as the chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabeys. The park offers guided trekking tours, including chimpanzee tracking, canopy walks, and bird watching, as well as hiking trails and scenic views of the surrounding mountains and waterfalls. With its lush canopy and misty atmosphere, Nyungwe Forest National Park is a unique and enchanting safari destination for nature lovers and adventurers and is often referred to as the ‘’Mother of the Forest’’.

Gorilla trekking safari experience in Volcanoes National Park.

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park starts very early in the morning with a briefing by the park rangers/park guides at 7 am at Kinigi the park headquarters about the rules and regulations and the expectations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing the trekkers will be divided into groups of 8 members per group and then you will be allocated to a particular family to trek, the gorilla families are allocated depending on the fitness of the trackers and after you will start the trekking at 8 am. Porters are available for hire at the start of the trek to help you with push or pull for long when it is required and to also carry your luggage for you.

During the trekking the visitors will be led by experienced park guides that are convenient with the trekking trails, during trekking you will spot the beautiful wildlife in the park like the bush pigs, forest elephants and among others minus forgetting the large numbers of colorful bird species. The park rangers will also share with you information about the park and you will be kept informed. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park takes about a period of 30 minutes to 6 hours and even more as this depends on the location of the mountain gorillas given that they never really stay in the same place for a long.

And once you find these wonderful creatures, you will be given one hour to be in the presence of the mountain gorillas you will be amazed by their characters, these are playful species mostly the juveniles are quite curious about the humans and they even come close. You are advised to stick to the instructions from the park rangers to stay calm at all times and no sudden movements. You will watch the gorillas feed, play, female gorillas grooming the young ones, taking pictures and record videos with the flash cameras. After the experience of one hour you will go back to the starting point to receive the gorilla trekking certificates for taking part in gorilla trekking safari.

Just like any other safari activity gorilla trekking safari has rules and regulations, gorilla trekking has a number of them to ensure safety and conservation of the mountain gorillas. Some of the rules and regulations include;

• Always keep calm when a mountain gorilla charges at you and follow the ranger’s instructions at all times.
• Be 15 years and above to track gorillas.
• Do not litter in the park.
• Be in a proper healthy condition to do gorilla trekking, people with infectious diseases like Ebola, COVID-19 and illnesses are advised to kindly not track as the mountain gorillas can be affected.
• Maintain a 7-meter distance away from the mountain gorillas at all times.
• Stay in the group you are put with which will keep you safe in gorilla trekking.
• Noise is not allowed, whisper if you really need to communicate with your colleagues.
• Avoid direct eye contact with the mountain gorillas, as this threatens them.
• Eat at least 200 meters away from the mountain gorillas to avoid disturbing them.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Chimpanzee trekking starts with a briefing about the rules and regulations by the park rangers or park guides at the Uwinka Center at 5:30 am or chimpanzee trekking can be done at the Cyamudongo side of the Nyungwe forest at 5:00 am. After the briefing you will be grouped into different groups of 6 members per group. After you will be led by the park guides in the forest on the different trails to look for the chimpanzees. Along the way you will be impressed with the various animal species and bird species while looking for the chimpanzees.

Chimpanzee trekking takes a period of about 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on the location of the chimpanzees. Once the chimpanzees are located you will be given one hour in the presence of the chimpanzees while watching their behaviors, watching them feed, play, making the nests of their nights, that’s when you will take pictures, record videos using the less flash cameras. After the one hour experience you will transferred to the starting point to get the chimpanzee trekking permits for taking part in chimpanzee trekking.

Best time to do a gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda on a weekend.

The best time to do a gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda on a weekend is during the dry seasons, from mid-December to early February and from June to September when the weather is favorable and the trekking trails are less slippery. These periods provide the best conditions for trekking, with clear skies, mild temperatures, and minimal rainfall making it easier to navigate the forests and spot these wonderful creatures. Additionally, the weakened trekking schedule can be optimized during this period, allowing for a more comfortable and successful safari experience, with Saturday morning gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and Sunday morning chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park followed by the afternoon drives back to Kigali.

What to pack for a gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda on a weekend.

What to pack for a gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda on a weekend, refers to the essential items and clothing you should bring along for a comfortable and successful gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari experience in Rwanda on a weekend.

When packing for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda on a weekend, it’s very essential to include comfortable and practical clothing and gear. Pack sturdy hiking boots and shoes, thick socks, and waterproof pants and jackets to move in muddy areas and rainy forests. Bring layers for changing weather conditions, including a warm fleece and waterproof gloves. Do not forget essential items like a backpack, water bottle, snacks and the first-aid kit. Additionally include binoculars, a camera, and a charger to capture memories. Personal documents like passports, visas and trekking permits should also be packed. Lastly consider packing insect repellent, sunscreen, and a hat to protect against the sun and insects. Remember to check with Encounter Africa Safaris for the specific packing requirements and recommendations.

How to book permits for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda on a weekend.

To book permits for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda on a weekend, its two different ways that’s is either contact the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) or a reputable tour operator like Encounter Africa Safaris at least 3 to 6 months in advance. Gorilla trekking safari permits costs 1500 USD per person, while chimpanzee trekking costs 150 USD per person. Provide the required details, including the passport information and the trekking dates, monthyear. Pay the permit fees through a secure online platform or the bank transfer. And once confirmed, you will receive your permit and trekking schedule. Keep in mind that there is no refund for the permits and a daily limit of 8 people for trekking groups. Ensure your tour operator is reputable and a member of the Rwanda Tours and Travel Association (RTTA) to avoid any issues with the permit booking and the trekking arrangements.

In Rwanda the minimum age limit for gorilla trekking is 15 years old, while for chimpanzee trekking its 12 years old. This is to ensure the safety and well-being of both the trekkers and the beautiful creatures. Children under these ages are not permitted to participate in the trekking safari activities, as they may not be able to withstand the physical demands of the treks or follow the guidelines and rules in place to protect the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees an their habitats. Additionally the children below those ages may also be a disturbance to the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, so it’s essential to respect these age limits and plan accordingly for a successful and enjoyable safari experience on a weekend.

Where to stay for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda on a weekend.

For a weekend gorilla and chimpanzee in Rwanda, convenient accommodation options are available near both Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe Forest National Park. For gorilla trekking there are different accommodation options ranging from budget, mid-range and luxury accommodations like Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, One and Only Gorilla’s Nest, Wilderness Bisate Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Volcanoes Virunga Lodge, The Bishop’s House, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Amakora Songa Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Davinci Gorilla Lodge, Lebambou Gorilla Lodge, Tiloreza Eco Lodge, Villa Gorilla, Kinigi Guesthouse, Gorilla Solution Lodge and among many others.

For chimpanzee trekking stays in or around Gisakura, Uwinka or Cyangugu with options like Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Gisakura Guesthouse, Regina Pacis Kibeho Hotel, Norte Dame Kibeho Rest House, Golden Monkey Hotel, Kitabi Eco-center, Nyungwe Nziza Eco-Lodge, Kitabi, Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, and among many others. These accommodations offer easy access to the parks, stunning views and the immersive safari experience, allowing you to relax and prepare for your treks. Be sure to book in advance, especially during the peak season to ensure availability.

Contact us for more information and let our team of experts plan your safari.