When Is The Best Time To Do Rwanda Gorilla And Chimpanzee Trekking Safari?
When Is The Best Time To Do Rwanda Gorilla And Chimpanzee Trekking Safari? Though the dry season is most appreciated, any time of year is the ideal time for Rwanda gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari. Usually spanning June to September and December to January, the dry season brings more visitors seeking safaris to Rwanda. Given that the wilderness is known for year-round excessive precipitation, the surroundings in the forest encourage speedier mobility. More sunshine is reaching the ground from the thick canopy to maintain drier and navigable conditions. Usually, the thick network of rivers found in volcanoes and Nyungwe forests runs in a normal and regulated path during the dry season.
Most of the forest dwellers in Volcanoes and Nyungwe forests are full of life and may be seen meandering around in search of food since there is scarcity of food sources in this season. Note that the permits sell out in advance because to the great demand for both gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda during this period.
The latecomers may not get the chance to secure a gorilla or chimpanzee permit for themselves in this peak season.
Usually spanning March to May and November, the wet season shouldn’t impede you from enjoying gorilla and chimpanzee safari. You will be sure to find chimpanzees and mountain gorillas. During the low season, chances of finding availability of both gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits are more open. Last-minute availability is more likely. In the low season, even rivalry for other resources supporting tourist like lodging, transportation is more open.
No matter the season you are traveling for this safari, make sure you pack some rainproof clothes to use for both gorilla and chimpanzee trekking activities in Rwanda.
How Easy Or Difficult Is Gorilla And Chimpanzee Trekking Safari In Rwanda.
As is the typical topography of Rwanda, both gorilla and chimpanzee trekking safaris there are in rather mountainous terrain. Rwanda is sometimes known as the country of a thousand hills. Once you begin your hunt for the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees following ranger guide briefing, make use of the paths built by frequent visitors to these sites.
Sometimes overgrown, the trails in the forest could block the path that needs someone to cut and clear. Moving quickly is difficult during the very wet season as the rivers flood the woodlands.
Nothing gets you ready for the moment you come upon the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees, even if you are probably going to run across difficulties along the route. Many visitors describe it as a period of conflicting emotions including exhilaration and nervousness.
Sometimes the mountain gorillas spend much of their time on the slopes of these highlands whereas the chimpanzees may keep up in the canopy especially during the wet season. Hiking and reaching the mountain gorillas calls for someone with some degree of fitness. This is the reason Rwandan gorilla and chimpanzee safaris are considered as the most difficult encounters.
All this may vanish and be replaced with excitement, regardless of the difficulties you come into on the road to locate the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees at last.
What are the guidelines of gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda?
Wearing a clean mask before meeting the eastern mountain gorillas is compulsory after the outbreak of Corona Virus. This is one of the preventive measures to reduce on the chances of passing this infection to their endangered primate species.
In case you wish to cough or sneeze, do it away from the gorillas or in a handkerchief to prevent spreading of germs.
Spitting on vegetation or soil is forbidden because it may contaminate the food on which the eastern mountain gorillas depend on.
Flash photography is not allowed since it could scare the gorillas. They have great sensitivity to fresh events close by.
Ask the ranger guide to dig a hole for you at least 30 cm deep and bury everything well beyond recognition should you want to make a long call. This is meant to stop those living in the forest from exhuming what you might have covered.
Provoking the gorillas is forbidden because they have moods too. They may get agitated and move into hiding.in nature they are shy and serene creatures but do not test their patience.
Eating or smoking 200 meters from the gorillas may cause them to move and grab it from you. The mountain gorillas are wild animals that must search for their own food and not depend on human provision.
On tourists ages 15 and above are allowed to do gorilla trekking. This is because of the hardships that come with searching for the gorillas like the time of locating the gorillas is unknown, the way to the gorillas is sloppy at times, the provocative nature of the gorillas and much more. A child below this age may not withstand such so in case they make noise they may cause a stampede in the forest.
Once you find the gorillas, keep roughly eight meters away. This helps to lower the likelihood of an infection transmitting to the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees. They are highly susceptible to human infectious diseases.
Even when they approach, try to stealthily move back.
Littering the forest or dumping garbage in the forest is forbidden because this alters the nature of the forest where the mountain gorillas feed. They are vegetarian in nature so when you dump indecomposable garbage, it may prevent the growth of plants on which the gorillas and other forest dwellers feed.
