Rwanda the land of a thousand hills is one of the countries in the world where one can be able to see primates in the wild. Most known for hosting the mountain gorillas, Rwanda is a great place to see primates including chimpanzees, golden monkeys, monkeys etc. Did you know that both the gorillas and chimpanzees are close to human beings with 94.5% and 98% DNA respectively.
Why not take a safari in Rwanda and see these human like wild animals that have many human like characteristics especially of feeding and taking care of their babies.
Mountain gorilla tracking experience
The mountain gorillas (the largest mammals of the apes family) live in the jungles of the Virunga volcanoes in volcanoes national park that can be accessed within a 2 hours drive from Kigali international airport.Mountain gorillas are the major tourist attractions in volcanoes national park which has 10 habituated gorilla groups each group being visited by 8 tourists a day.
The gorilla trekking process begins early in the morning after allocations of the preferred gorilla group. Details of gorilla group preferences should be given in time especially the elderly and those who feel weak so that they can be allocated to gorilla groups that can be got after shorter times of trekking.For the gorilla groups that can be accessed after long hours of trekking, tourists trek through the jungles with thick vegetation and various plant species while viewing other wildlife species like birds and other primates.
Even though the trekking takes long, just be assured of viewing the gorillas in volcanoes national parkOn reaching the gorillas, you are told to keep at least a 10 meters distance a way as you closely look and take photographs. The gorillas are free to come close to you and can even grab and kick you because it’s their way of interaction and having fun. After an hour of viewing and taking photographs, you then head back to the park headquarters at Kinigi for your certificates of participation.
Chimpanzee tracking experience
Most of Rwanda’s chimpanzees inhabit the jungles of Nyungwe forest national park and therefore for better remarkable chimpanzee tracking experiences, a visit to Nyungwe forest national park is highly recommended. Nyungwe forest is one of the oldest rainforests in Africa with different types of tree species.
The park is located in the southwestern part of the country that is about a 4 hours drive from Kigali. Nyungwe forest has a number of primates including the baboons, L’Hoest monkeys, vervet monkeys and over 500 chimpanzees.The trekking process also starts at the headquarters then through the thick forests. Chimpanzee groups can be easily identified from the noise they make as they jump over the tree branches and canopies.
Nyungwe forest has a canopy walk that can enable tourists to view the chimpanzees in the higher canopy layers of the rainforests.While in the forest, its advisable to strictly follow the guides’ instructions because some chimpanzees are not fully habituated and easily becomes wild.A reasonable distance is also required to avoid attacks.Just like gorilla permits, chimpanzee tracking permits can be got at the Rwanda Development Board offices in Kigali at $90 per person. They can also be got from trusted tour operators.
Nyungwe forest has good and standard accommodation facilities for example Nyungwe forest lodge and Nyungwe top view hill hotel offering local and international cuisines to cater for all kinds of tourists.Tracking of these two unique mammals (chimpanzees and mountain gorillas) can be done at any time f the year however it can be best experienced during the dry season with little disturbances from rainfall.
All those interested in trekking these animals are advised to put on clothes that cover their bodies especially long pants and long sleeved shirts because the jungles of Nyungwe forest and volcanoes national park have thick itchy and rough vegetation plants that cause skin irritation on contact. Raincoats and waterproof pants are also highly recommended because sometimes rainfall occurs unpredictably at any time of the day.
