What is gorilla trekking?

Gorilla trekking refers to a tour activity where tourists are guided into the rain forests by a tracker and a ranger. Upon finding them, spend a restricted amount of time in the gorilla company. Having memorable moments of foraging, grooming, playing, and showcasing awesome tool use techniques. Debates are going on among tourists and those willing to travel on if gorilla trekking is similar to chimpanzee trekking.

What is chimpanzee trekking?

Chimpanzee trekking is much similar with the key differences spotted in the agility and flexibility of our closest cousins. Chimpanzees often put up action-packed moments for whoever is in close watch.

What is better to do chimpanzee trekking or gorilla trekking?

Both chimpanzee and gorilla trekking tick as some of the most sought-after adventures on the African continent. Thanks to their human connection, intelligence, and how they figure out their day-to-day life.

Fast forward and imagine a face-to-face moment with a giant silverback or a middle-aged female chimpanzee breastfeeding her baby. Amazing, isn’t it?

Their close similarity is likely to spark some confusion in your head. Deciding on which to include in your next summer holiday activity and from our clients` experience, maybe both.

 The fact that chimpanzees and gorillas lie in the same hominoid family as humans, orangutans, and bonobos has been a major pulling factor for thousands of tourists every year who relish the opportunity of spending an hour or four in the company of our closest cousins.

That said, read through so you have a personal view about which is better for your next summer vacation.

Taxonomy: how chimpanzees and Gorillas are organised in Taxa

Chimpanzees and gorillas belong to the same hominoid family and are both tailless and great apes just like humans, bonobos, and orangutans. Both have larger brains, stronger arms, and grasping fingers and toes.

In contrast, chimpanzees belong to the community hominine and genus Pan while gorillas belong to the community Gorillini and genus gorilla.

How big is chimpanzee compared to a mountain gorilla?

Gorillas are relatively large animals the largest great apes. Their enormous sizes can mean visitors are likely to spot them easily. 

On the other hand, chimpanzees are relatively smaller than gorillas so spotting them in the dense tropical rain forests will most likely prove harder though with an experienced ranger, they will make it easier for you.

how do gorillas and chimpanzee behavior influence trekking?

Chimpanzees are agile flexible and lighter so they are always on the move and a such unpredictable apes. One second you notice a nice shot moment and the next second it’s no more. It is for this reason that we recommend you have your gadgets well assembled. With the right settings on your next chimpanzee trekking safari.

However, their cousins are heavy, gentle, and majestic so you will likely have more time after that tiresome hike. Sit down, hold your breath, assemble your gadgets, and commence taking those precious moments. Even on the move, they use a slower speed, and tracking their movement will be less hectic.

how gorilla and chimpanzee group organisation affects their trekking?

Gorilla groups are usually intact because the individuals are protective of each other. This implies that on your gorilla trekking adventure. You will easily track down most of the group members with minimum movement hence Less a tiring encounter.

However chimpanzees are agile and individuals are more sparsely situated. They are always on the move for food, a mate or the next night’s shelter. Trekking chimpanzees will prove a bit hectic as you follow them while they swing from tree to tree.

How many tourists trek chimpanzees and gorillas?

Both our cousin apes can catch diseases from humans so human numbers around chimpanzees so there is a limit on gorillas. The selection criteria are random and anyone can be in any group except in special language incidences.

Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rwanda Development Board restrict a maximum of 8 people to trek each gorilla group. While a maximum of 10 to 12 visitors are allowed to be in the company of a chimpanzee group daily. Whereas 4 visitors can participate in habituation of a particular group every single day.

Where do gorillas and chimpanzees live?

Gorillas prefer a nap in the colder and higher altitudes of the montane rain forests. While chimpanzees find comfort in the lowland forests near the savannah. The implication is that trekking our larger cousins will be on the steep terrains of the rain forests. So probably one will need sturdy hiking shoes, a walking stick, and more energy-giving snacks.  

Trekking chimpanzees in the lowland warmer forests will be much easier since you will take on a much flatter surface requiring less energy. One can spot Chimpanzees in their groups or individuals roaming the forest floors can see in the tree canopies just seconds after.

How much does gorilla trekking and chimpanzee trekking cost?

With all similarities, trekking costs for nonresident foreigners slightly differ between these primates as a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda can go for $800 bucks compared to Rwanda’s $1500, chimpanzee trekking in Uganda costs $200 per head while the same permit is at $90 per trekker.

For a full-day habituation experience, a gorilla habituation permit costs $1500 while a chimpanzee habituation permit is $250 per head.

What are gorilla and chimpanzee trekking rules?

Gorilla trekking rules are quite similar to chimpanzee trekking rules as these great apes almost share the same traits. Prior to your departure from the office, a UWA official will brief you, and read and explain trekking guidelines so all parties involved in the experience stay on the same page.

1          Don’t eat near gorillas or chimpanzees

2          Don’t mimic their sounds or actions.

3    Avoid direct eye contact with the alpha males

4       Keep as much distance as possible 

5      Maintain low tones of conversations 

6         And listen to your guide all along.

The trekking can take between 30 minutes to 4 hours to find chimpanzees or gorillas however this can be longer, especially during the dry season when these primates have to forage deeper in the forest for food when it is less than enough.

Where to see mountain gorillas and chimpanzees?

Mountain gorillas can be spotted in the highlands of virunga ranges and in the Rift valley ridge of Bwindi and Mgahinga. One can trek chimpanzees in the flat forests of Kalinzu, Kibale, and Budongo forests. Ngamba island is home to protected chimpanzees floating on Lake Victoria.

In conclusion

 Rwanda’s nyungwe forest also harbors these precious primates.

From the flat surfaces of kibale and Budongo forests to the highland areas of virunga, bwindi and Mgahinga, chimpanzee and gorilla trekking compare better when you get to experience each. 

Go ahead and take a step further and email us at discovergorillas.com so we design a tailor made quote for your extreme primate experience in Uganda or Rwanda. which-ever your interests are, a team of experts is on your disposal for that memorable primate safari.