Tips for planning a perfect gorilla and chimp trekking safari in Rwanda

Tips for planning a perfect gorilla and chimp trekking safari in Rwanda. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is carried out in Volcanoes National Park located in Northwestern Rwanda in the Virunga region. Volcanoes Park is the only home to the endangered Mountain gorilla species in Rwanda and is under the management of the Rwanda Development Board. The National Park is 2 to 3 hours from Kigali, driving through the hilly winding roads. It is home to 12 habituated gorilla families, which include the Susa family, Karisimbi gorilla family, Umubano gorilla family, Amahoro gorilla family, Sabinyo family, and Agashya gorilla family, among others.

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Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is mainly done in the Nyungwe Forest National Park. There are two central chimpanzee communities in the national park: one in Cyamudongo, which is the easiest to track, and the other in Nyungwe.

The different things that you need to know/tips when planning a perfect gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda include the following:

Purchase of the gorilla and chimp trek permit

No matter which tour operator you are using, the first step in planning a chimp and gorilla safari in Rwanda is to purchase the trekking permits that the Rwanda Development Board issues. The gorilla and chimp trek permit can be purchased directly through the Rwanda Development Board or a trusted tour operator, and all you have to do is get in touch with the operator with the dates you wish to trek the primates so that they can check for the availability of the permits. Once the permits are available on the desired dates, you will be asked to provide details, including the number of permits you intend to purchase, your full name, and your passport number. A copy of the passport will be needed to prove that you are legally allowed to trek the chimps and gorillas. You will then be required to make payment so that the permits are purchased, and you will receive a soft copy once the permit has been purchased.

Note that only eight permits are printed daily, and you need to book in advance to get the permits on your desired dates. 

The cost of a gorilla and chimp permit in Rwanda

The gorilla permit cost in Rwanda as of 2024 is $1500 for foreign non-residents, $500 for visitors from other African countries, and $200 for East African citizens. During the low season, the RDB offers a 30% discount on the permits, and this brings the total amount paid to $1050 per person. The discount only applies to tourists who have pre-booked to stay at least two nights in Nyungwe Forest National Park and the Akagera National Park.

The cost of the chimp permit in Nyungwe is much lower than the gorilla permits. The cost is $90 for foreign non-residents, $60 for foreign residents, $10 for East African citizens, and RWF5000 for Rwandan citizens.

The gorilla and chimpanzee trek permits cover park entrance fees, armed rangers, an hour with the chimps and gorillas, and an English-speaking guide. The exclusions include insurance, international flights, personal purchases, tips porters, accommodation, transport, and meals, among others.

Accommodation

After purchasing the chimp and gorilla permit, the next step is arranging other services like accommodation. Safari accommodation in Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe Forest National Park is categorized into basic, mid-range, and luxury accommodation facilities, and note that whichever choice you make needs to be booked early enough, especially during the dry season with the large crowds of tourists. 

We suggest you go with mid-range or luxury facilities for the comfort and security they offer tourists. You also need to ensure that the lodges chosen are not so far away from the National Parks to ease transportation and get to the trailheads early. In case you need help with choosing the right accommodation, we are to help you find one that matches the services you need and your budget.

Choose the best time to go

The best time to go for a gorilla and chimp trek in Rwanda is during the dry season (June to September and December to February), and this is considered to be the best time because the forest routes used for trekking are mud-free and not slippery. The vegetation is not thick, which gives you a better glimpse of the National Park and its occupants. However, you need to know that gorilla trekking is available throughout the year, even during the wet season: March to May and October to November are the best to go for chimpanzee and gorilla trekking in Rwanda because there is an offer of permit discounts, there are fewer crowds, and it is relatively cheaper as compared to the dry season. The downside of the wet season is the rain, soaking, and slippery trek routes.

The gorilla and chimpanzee experience

Chimpanzee and gorilla trekking in Rwanda starts early morning with a briefing at the park headquarters, followed by a briefing from the guides about the trekking experience and the rules that need to be followed. When it comes to gorilla trekking, immediately after the briefing, you will be assigned a gorilla family to trek and set off with your trusted guide and armed ranger. Make sure you have breakfast before coming for the briefing, and once the trek starts, it can take about 2 to 3 hours, depending on where the gorillas or chimpanzees have migrated to on the day of the trek. 

You will be divided into groups of 8 for both chimpanzee and gorilla trekking. After locating the gorillas and chimpanzees, you will have an hour with the primates, and afterward, you will head back to the headquarters for other activities, as your itinerary details them.

Additional Activities when on a gorilla and chimp trek safari

You can carry out several activities in Rwanda during the chimp and gorilla trekking safari. These come in handy, especially if you want to go not only for the primate tracking safari but also explore Rwanda simultaneously. The different activities you can engage in include Golden monkey trekking, participating in the Kwita Izina ceremony, Mountain climbing, guided nature walks, cultural visits, food safaris, joining the Umuganda, primate walks, bird watching, and wildlife viewing in Akagera National Park.

The age limit for chimpanzee and gorilla trekking in Rwanda

The minimum trek age for chimpanzees and gorillas in Rwanda is 15 years. The Rwanda Development Board sets the age limit, and anyone below 15 years old cannot track the primates. However, you should note that there is no maximum age limit for as long as you are still physically fit to participate in the trek exercise. Some of the reasons the minimum age limit is 15 years is because of the topography of the national parks, which might make it hard for anyone younger to participate in the exercise; it’s harder to control children, especially with the longer hours spent trekking through the forests.

The rules and regulations for chimp and gorilla trekking in Rwanda

The rules and regulations are to protect the chimpanzees and Mountain gorillas and are enforced by the Rwanda Development Board. All tourists need to follow the laws and regulations throughout the trek and when with the primates, and some of these rules include the following:

• Do not make noise with the chimps and gorillas because this disrupts their natural behaviors.
• Trekkers aged 15 years and above are the only ones allowed to trek gorillas and chimps in Rwanda.
• Follow all the instructions and guidelines given to you by the guides.
• A maximum of 8 trekkers are allowed to trek chimps and gorilla families daily.
• All sick tourists will not be allowed to trek the primates at all costs.
• Turn off your camera flash when taking photos of the gorillas and chimpanzees.
• Always respect the gorillas and chimpanzees by leaving a distance of 7 to 10 meters from the primates, not touching and feeding them.
• You have an hour with the chimps and gorillas when you locate them after tracking.

What to pack for the gorilla and chimp safari trek in Rwanda

Packing right is essential to planning a perfect chimp and safari trek in Rwanda. Some of the important things that you will need on your safari include long-sleeved shirts, trousers but not jeans, strong hike boots, thick socks, waterproof rain jacket, warm sweater, toiletries, gardening gloves, adjustable gaiters, a day backpack, a camera with no flash because taking photos with a flash is prohibited, binoculars, first aid kit, sunscreen, insect repellent, a sunhat, snacks, and bottled drinking water.

Physical fitness and health

You will be trekking through the forest and unfamiliar territory, so you need to prepare for the trek. Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe have different terrains that involve steep slopes and hilly terrains, which will be hard for you to trek if you are not physically fit. 

Before you come for the trekking safari, you need to first talk to your physician to ensure that you are in good health before trekking the chimps and gorillas. You also need to be patient with the gorillas and chimpanzees because even though they are habituated, they are still wild animals, and you are in their natural habitat, so you need to be patient since they don’t follow a schedule and respect them as well.

Transport to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla and Nyungwe National Park for chimp safaris

By air: Charter flights can easily be arranged, but this needs to be done in advance. Domestic flights can be arranged through a tour operator to the airstrips near Volcanoes and Nyungwe, and you can easily connect the rest of the way to the park headquarters by road. This is a faster way to get to the national parks for trekking but is more expensive.

By road: 4x4 safari vehicles transport tourists from Kigali International Airport. The cars are well maintained to offer comfort to tourists, and although the roads are in good condition, the windy roads need someone who is used to driving on them. We are here to help you organize your transport and advise what to use depending on your budget. The drive from Kigali to Volcanoes is 2 to 3 hours, and it takes 5 hours to get to Nyungwe Forest National Park.

The cost of the chimp and gorilla trek safari in Rwanda

This is one of the things that you need to know when planning a chimp and gorilla trek safari in Rwanda because it will determine whether you are ready to start your safari. Several factors affect the cost of a gorilla and chimp safari in Rwanda, and these include:

• The number of days spent on the safari: The more days spent on a safari, the higher the cost, and a few days are equal to a budget-friendly trek safari even though Rwanda is referred to as a luxury destination.
• The accommodation type chosen also affects the cost of the safari. For example, there are three accommodation facilities, which include budget, mid-range, and luxury facilities.
• Traveling in a smaller group is more costly than traveling in large groups because, with large groups, you can easily share the costs like transport.
• The season of travel during the dry/peak season is expensive, and you end up spending more. Traveling during the wet/low season is cheaper due to the reduced prices on some accommodation facilities and permit discounts.
• Personal purchases also affect the cost of the safari since they come from your pocket and are not included in the safari package. These include travel insurance, tips, and the purchase of souvenirs, among others.

The above tips for planning a perfect gorilla and chimpanzee trek safari in Rwanda are to help you get ready in advance, but for more information about planning your safari, get in touch with us to have a memorable one.