Is a mountain gorilla trekking permit the same as a chimpanzee trekking permit? No! They are two different permits. The mountain gorilla trekking permit allows you to trek the mountainous forest for mountain gorillas and the chimpanzee trekking permit allows you to trek the rain forest for the chimpanzees. Though they are all permits issued for trekking the trekking activities for each primate species are different and happen in two separate locations. Mountain gorilla trekking happens in mountainous forests, and you usually trek to high altitudes to find the mountain gorillas. Well as chimpanzee trekking happens is fairly mid altitudes and you usually just trek deep into the forest to find them. The time you spend on each trek is also different; because mountain gorilla stay in high altitudes deep in the time you take to get to them is longer than the time you take to get to the chimpanzees in the rain forests. As stated the chimpanzees stay in fairly moderate altitudes. Also on trekking experiences its quite easy to find chimpanzees because they stay in larger groups compared to the mountain gorillas. A group of chimpanzees has about 60 or more individuals, so they occupy a larger area and you can easily see the individuals. A mountain gorilla group on the other has about 15 to 30 members, so you have to really be close to the family to observe them and enjoy their company. The mountain gorillas like to move deeper and higher into the forest so on a mountain gorilla trek, you will have to go on for a while before you reach the gorilla family; yet for chimpanzees they stay longer in places, for as long as the ranger knows where they are, you can almost always find them there, its in rare cases that you find the chimpanzees have moved. Because the mountain gorillas as the name state stay in mountainous forests, trekking their trails is harder than the trails of the chimpanzees in the rain forests. In fact in some cases persons who wish to do mountain gorilla trekking, are required to physically fit because of the strenuous climb. Especially the Uganda gorilla trails are rough compared to the other gorilla trekking trails. That said the rules that govern both the chimpanzee and mountain gorilla trekking experiences are the same and they include but not limited to:- - A person should not trek the primates when they have any communicable disease of any kind. This because you can easily spread the disease to the primate - One trekking permit is valid for one individual and for one trekking experience only. - Trekking is done in a group so always stay in your group, when you are trekking don’t wonder off - Do not litter the primate’s habitat; make sure you leave it as clean as you found it. - Do not engage in any activity or behaviour that can cause harm to the primates - Do not use flash photography with the primates - Do not feed the primates - Do not touch the primates - Do not stare in the eyes of the primates - Keep a 2 meter distance or more from the primates Primates that are the mountain gorillas and the chimpanzees in East Africa are found in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic republic of Congo. Mountain gorillas are found in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic republic of Congo. Chimpanzees are found in Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda, Virunga National Park in the DRC and mainly in Kibale National Park in Uganda.

Wildlife in Volcanoes National Park

Wildlife in Volcanoes National Park : The first think that comes to the mind of travellers when they visit volcanoes national park, the first thing that comes to mind is the mountain gorillas that are the most famous tourist attractions in the park. However, once you make your way to the park premises, you will get to realize that there’s more to the park than just the mountain gorillas as you get to explore the wildlife of volcanoes national park which will give you the opportunity to watch a number of rewarding attractions in the park to make your Rwanda safari experience quite memorable. The wildlife of volcanoes national park is characterized in many forms from the wild animals that can be seen, the bird species and the habitats where the different animals and bird species can be seen

Primates

The primates in volcanoes national park are among the most famous wildlife in volcanoes national park where travellers interested in the primate safaris in Rwanda which will give you the opportunity to track and spend time with the different primate species in the wild. among the different prima that can be seen in the park include the mountain gorilla in Rwanda where you will get the opportunity to observe a number of rewarding features of the primates. In volcanoes national park you will get to participate in volcanoes national park which involves hiking the Virunga mountains in Rwanda to access the habituated gorilla families in the Rwanda. The activity will also give you the opportunity to observe a number of interesting features of the species like how they co-exist with one another that is the dominant silverback who has all the mating rights with the females of the gorilla family, you will get the chance to watch the females in the group that are responsible to entice the dominant silverback to mate with them, the females in the group are also responsible to take care of the females in the gorilla families in Rwanda for an amazing gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda.

You can also take part in the gorilla naming ceremony in Rwanda also known as the Kwita Izina which will give you the chance to take part in the activity which has been participated in by a number of celebrities like Naomi Campbell, a number of arsenal players, Paris saint Germain FC players have also participated in the gorilla naming ceremony however due to covid-19 global pandemic live crowds have not been able to take part in the ceremony which involved in the people coming in the park but with the decrease of the number of positive covid-19 cases in Rwanda, the event might happen any time soon which you should not miss out on for a memorable gorilla safari.

You can also participate in golden monkey trekking where you will get to watch the golden monkeys in volcanoes national park and these are also accessed as you hike along the Virunga mountains in Rwanda that is mount gahinga, mount sabyinyo, mount muhabura, mount karisimbi and mount bisoke which will give you access to the habituated troops to understand more about the Albertine endemic species. other primates that you will get to watch in the park as you participate in monkey trekking include; the black and white colobus monkey, dent’s monkey, the Hamlyn’s monkey, red tailed monkey, blue monkey among other monkey species.

Animal species

Although the park is predominantly a primate inhabited national park, there are a number of animal species that can be seen when you participate in the different activities in volcanoes national park. it should be noted that the park is home to the bush pigs, buffaloes, forest elephants, forest hogs, spotted hyenas, bush bucks and many others that can be seen making it one of the best destinations

Bird species

For the travellers interested in birding in Rwanda, volcanoes national park is one of the best spots to visit in order to watch the different bird species in the wild from the Albertine endemic species, the migratory species from Europe and many other bird species that can be seen in the wild the long-crested eagle handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Batis Dusky turtle love, paradise flycatcher, archer’s ground robin, African Rwenzori, double collared sunbird, marsh harrier, Ruwenzori turaco, common moorhen Ruwenzori night jar, grey throated tit, the dusky crimson wing, red-faced woodland warbler, Chapin’s flycatcher, Rwenzori Batis, strange weaver, red throated alethe for an amazing birding experience in rwanda

Mountains

While discovering the wildlife in volcanoes national park, it is important to note that the park is home to five of the eight Virunga mountains in Africa where you can access the different attractions in the park from the primates, dian Fossey’s grave which you can watch when you participate in dian Fossey hike which will give you the opportunity to9 understand more about the history of dian Fossey and her legacy in ensuring gorilla trekking in Africa, her research is still being used by a number of destinations like Bwindi impenetrable national park where gorilla habituation in Uganda, gorilla trekking in Uganda, gorilla trekking in Congo. Interesting about the hike along the mountains is the fact that you will get to watch a number of rewarding views like rewarding views of the twin lakes in Rwanda that is lake Burera and lake Ruhondo, you will also get the chance to watch the karisoke research station where Dian Fossey carried out her research on the gorillas and many other rewarding attractions.