Rwandan Wildlife Safaris and Gorilla Trekking
Rwandan Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife Safaris: Trekking through rainforests and up the sides of breathtaking mountains to get a close-up look at golden monkeys and mountain gorillas? Searching for chimpanzees and colobus monkeys while hacking through damp rainforests? Taking a safari in a national park that is crowded-free and quickly restocked so you can see the Big Five? Rwanda offers exceptional opportunities for wildlife viewing in breathtaking landscapes.
Monitoring Golden Monkeys and Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.
Rwanda truly earns the nickname “Land of a Thousand Hills” because of the Virunga volcanoes, which constitute a solid natural barrier separating it from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda’s main tourist destination, protects the breathtaking Virungas. Here, among the bamboo forests that envelop the hills, are some of the last remaining mountain gorillas in the world.
Many visitors think that the highlight of their trip to Africa is getting up close and personal with these fascinating animals during gorilla tracking (US$1500 per person, which includes park admission and any necessary park guide fees).
If you’ve only ever seen massive wild animals from the luxury of your car, getting up close and personal with a silverback male gorilla can be a terrifying experience. Despite their intimidating size, gorillas are really safe to be around, entirely vegetarian, and pleasantly non-aggressive.
Before you set out to monitor the ten habituated gorilla groups in Volcanoes National Park, park rangers will provide you with a safety briefing. Over thirty people make up the largest group. While some groups are simple to find, others require three to four hours of work to approach.
You will undoubtedly hike up steep, muddy hillsides through dense forest, perhaps reaching elevations of over 10,000 feet (3000 meters). No matter whatever group you end up pursuing, you will undoubtedly have a memorable time.
There is a one-hour limit on gorilla visits. Although visitors are advised to keep a minimum of 15 feet (5 meters) from the gorillas at all times, it is not uncommon to see some gorillas making an effort to interact with visitors—a truly remarkable wildlife encounter!
Gorilla permit reservations can be made through a Rwandan tour operator or at the Rwanda Development Board tourism office in Kigali. While solo tourists can obtain permits by making reservations in advance, those who are traveling on a tour package will have everything organized for them.
Rare golden monkeys, a colony of which have adapted to human contact, may also be spotted, yet the main attraction for most visitors is undoubtedly the chance to view real gorillas in the mist. More like chimpanzees than gorillas, these beautiful and energetic monkeys run amid the branches of taller trees.
The gold body color of golden monkeys, a subtype of the more common blue monkey, stands in stark contrast to the black spots on their extremities. Only found in the Virungas, golden monkeys are an endangered species. It is simple to obtain Golden Monkey Permits (US$100) to track golden monkeys.
Trekking with chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, and birds at Nyungwe Forest National Park.
With more than 1000 plant species, 13 primates, 75 other mammals, at least 275 bird species, and an astounding 120 butterfly species, Nyungwe Forest National Park, situated in the southwest of Rwanda, is the nation’s most important hotspot for biodiversity. Recently, it received the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation.
Outside of East Africa, Nyungwe Forest National Park is not well-known, despite its enormous biodiversity. The chance to observe chimpanzees, who have grown acclimated to human visits over time, is its primary selling point.
As with tracking gorillas, you should expect long walks, sometimes lasting several hours. The journey is frequently less taxing because the vegetation on the forest floor is far less dense than in the Virunga highlands, where the gorillas live.
Chimpanzees tend to travel for higher elevations during the dry season, but there is a reasonable chance of tracking them on the colored trails—a system of paths with varying degrees of difficulty—during the wet season.
In Nyungwe Forest National Park, chimpanzees are the main attraction, but it’s nearly a given that legions of other monkeys, particularly Angolan colobus monkeys, will be spotted. The Angolan colobus is a black-furred, long-haired, arboreal monkey. Although they can be found in rainforests throughout equatorial Africa, Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to the greatest number of colobus monkeys.
Colobus monkeys are extremely gregarious primates that form large groups, even if they may not be as charismatic as chimpanzees. One of Nyungwe’s two semi-habituated battalions has at least 500 members. It could be an interesting sensation to be surrounded by hundreds of monkeys who are practically jumping over the treetops. In Nyungwe Forest National Park, colobus monkeys are inherently inquisitive animals that seem to relish their animated interactions with tourists.
Since the semi-habituated group in Nyungwe forest keeps to the colored paths, troops of Angolan colobus maintain well-organized territory, which is great news for anyone building a colobus track. Trackers can usually find the colobus monkey group in about an hour.
With more than 300 bird species, including 27 endemics, Nyungwe Forest National Park is unquestionably the best place to go birdwatching in the nation. Visitors may observe the forest at all elevations thanks to the park’s paved road; along the journey, they can spot groups of waxbills, wagtails, and sunbirds, as well as mountain buzzards and cinnamon-chested bee-eaters.
Hornbills, African crowned eagles, francolins, turacos, and even Congo bay owls are among the other often sighted birds. One of Nyungwe’s knowledgeable birding guides may arrange a trip for seasoned birdwatchers.
Visiting Akagera National Park to see the Big Five.
Safari enthusiasts are increasingly drawn to Akagera National Park, a gem of Eastern Rwanda. Despite not being able to compete with its counterparts in Uganda, Kenya, or Tanzania just yet, the breathtaking scenery, diverse ecosystems, and profusion of wildlife make the trip worthwhile.
Strong conservation laws, excellent administration, the reintroduction of lions and black rhinos, the restoration of old camps, and the building of new ones have made it a must-see on every Rwandan itinerary.
Three different environments can be found in the park: the typical savannah found throughout the region; a vast swampy area along the Tanzanian border with six lakes (perfect for boat trips) and many islands, some of which are covered in forest; and a chain of low mountains on the park’s flanks with varying vegetation, from dense forest and wooded savannah to short grasses on the summits.
Wildlife is varied. The only carnivores found in Akagera are jackals, servals, genets, hyenas, and leopards, which number about 150. How about lions? A chartered jet transported seven passengers from South Africa to Rwanda in 2015, after which they were transferred to Akagera. Currently, the park is home to over 50 lions. 18 black rhinos and 30 white rhinos were brought to Akagera in 2017 and 2021, respectively.
The park’s other massive “trophy” animals, elephants, are thought to number 90 and are regularly observed. There are also plenty of buffalo (about 3,000), as well as crocodiles and hippos in the lakes. Although there are many antelope and other plains species, the herds are small and the animals are shy.
Common safari species include impala, topi, zebra, and waterbuck, as well as the little Oribi and the elegant but rare roan antelope. Imported and thriving are Maasai giraffes, who were never indigenous to the park.
Birdwatching is also quite good along the shores of Lake Ihema. The lovely thing about Akagera is that there aren’t many other people that go there to see the wildlife, so you can take in the breathtaking surroundings of the park in relative seclusion. Priceless!
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