Top places to see primates in Rwanda

Top places to see primates in Rwanda: Rwanda is known for being a home to mountain gorillas, but the country is also home to chimpanzees, golden monkeys, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, l’hoest’s monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and olive baboons, among others. These are found in national parks: Volcanoes, Akagera, Nyungwe, and Gishwati–Makura.

Thousands of tourists who visit Rwanda every year participate mostly in gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking activities. This is because these two species of primates are said to be the closest relatives to human beings, with more than 98 % DNA.  Meeting these primates in their natural habitats gives tourists an opportunity to learn about their habits and behaviors.

Rwanda has over 4 national parks spread across different parts of the country, namely Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, and Giswati Makura National Park. For primate trekking, where tourists are interested in mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, Volcanoes National Park is the park to visit, while chimpanzee trekking is done in Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Places to see primates in Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is the only place in Rwanda where tourists can meet mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in their natural habitats. Looking for mountain gorillas and golden monkeys on a Rwanda safari, Volcanoes National Park, located in the northwestern part of Rwanda, is the place to visit and see these primates in their natural habitats. It was gazetted to protect the mountain gorillas and other primate species, which were about to go extinct at the time.

The coming of Dian Fossey saved the mountain gorillas within the Volcanoes National Park and other places. She stopped poaching, taught people the importance of mountain gorillas, and started the habituation to make them get used to human presence around them. Currently, this park has several mountain gorillas, which are habituated and open for tourist visits all throughout the year.

With a gorilla trekking permit or golden monkey trekking permit from the Rwanda Development Board, tourists are able to participate in gorilla or golden monkey trekking. On the day of trekking, tourists gather at Kinigi Park headquarters, where they learn the rules and regulations of the activity. Groups not exceeding 8 people are done, and armed ranger guides are assigned to lead trekkers in the jungle.

Inside the jungle, trekkers are guided by the armed ranger guides on the shortest routes to locate these primates. While searching, the trekkers get to meet some of the forest attractions, but after 1 to 4 hours, the mountain gorillas or golden monkeys are located, and trekkers get to spend 1 hour around them. This comes with learning the habits, watching them carry out daily activities, recording videos, and taking photos for future memories.

Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe Forest National Park is the best place to see chimpanzees in Rwanda. It has the highest population of chimpanzees within the country. Gazetted in 2004 with an aim of protecting chimpanzees and other forest attractions, Nyungwe Forest National Park is the best place to see chimpanzees in Rwanda today.

Chimpanzee trekking is the most popular activity in Nyungwe Forest National Park, where some chimpanzees have been habituated in Cyamudongo and Uwinka, known as the heart of the main forest. Tourists with chimpanzee trekking permits are allowed to be part of the trekking activity, where they get an opportunity to get close to the chimpanzees.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park starts early in the morning at the Uwinka Park headquarters. This is where trekkers are briefed about the rules and regulations of the activity for the safety of the trekkers and animals in the wild. Groups not exceeding 8 people are formed, and armed ranger guides lead them in the jungle where they start searching for these species of primates.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park goes through a number of trails where trekkers and armed ranger guides search for where the chimps could be. It takes 1 to 4 hours to search and locate chimpanzees within Nyungwe forest, and while searching, there are chances of meeting forest birds, mammals, primates, and many other attractions.

When the chimpanzees of Nyungwe Forest National Park are searched and located, trekkers get an opportunity to be around the members for 1 hour. This time allows trekkers to know more about the chimpanzee habits and watch the members carry out daily activities like nesting, hunting, mating, or breastfeeding, among others. Trekkers are allowed to record videos and take pictures of the chimpanzees for future memories.

When to visit Rwanda for primate trekking

The driest months of the year, June to September and December to February, give the best primate safari experience. These months have little rainfall and plenty of sunshine, which keeps the trekking trails dry and easier to navigate through. Trekkers will find the vegetation short within these forests, and this gives a clear view of the primates and other attractions within the park.

Tourists, especially those who want discounted tour packages, can visit Rwanda for primate safaris during the rainy season. March to May and October to November are the rainy season months characterized by little sunshine and plenty of rainfall. The activities can be less enjoyable if the trekking trails are muddy and slippery from heavy rainfall. When vegetation is tall, the trekkers might not get clear views of the primates and other forest attractions.