Primate Tracking

Rwanda is famous for its gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park, but the country also boasts chimpanzees and a variety of monkeys – including colobus, golden, L’Hoest’s, owl-faced, Dent’s, blue, and vervet – along with olive baboons and the nocturnal potto and bushbabies.

Chimpanzees inhabit the lush landscapes of Nyungwe National Park and can also be spotted in smaller numbers within the Gishwati Forest. Chimpanzees are lively beings that thrive in large groups, embarking on daily journeys to search for food or sometimes pursue smaller animals. Each night, they craft new nests high in the trees.

The sounds of chimpanzees often reach your ears long before their figures come into view, their calls echoing through the forest as they engage in a unique bonding ritual.

Tracking begins at the crack of dawn, around 5:30 am, and can extend from an hour to several hours based on the chimps’ location – once located, visitors have a maximum of one hour to spend with these incredible creatures.

The landscape is rugged and challenging, with steep inclines, slick surfaces, and rich, dense foliage all around. Having the right footwear is crucial, along with maintaining a good level of fitness. Permits can be secured online, at an RDB office, or through a tour operator.

Golden monkeys inhabit the breathtaking landscapes of Volcanoes National Park and the enchanting Gishwati Forest. In the first location, two groups can be followed, one traversing the slopes of Mount Karisimbi and the other exploring the bamboo forest on Mount Sabyinyo. This is an exciting journey, setting off from the Kinigi headquarters once each day.

Other primates are often spotted on diverse nature trails.

Colobus monkeys create a fascinating supergroup in Nyungwe, easily identifiable by their striking black and white fur and flowing hair – a true delight for wildlife photographers. In Nyungwe, you can encounter owl-faced monkeys with their unique beak-like noses, along with Dent’s monkeys, blue monkeys, and vervets.

L’Hoest’s monkeys are unique to the Albertine Rift and inhabit the enchanting landscapes of Nyungwe and Gishwati Forest. They sport a dark coat complemented by a striking white beard and thrive in small, dynamic groups led by females, accompanied by a solitary male.

Akagera National Park boasts olive baboons and vervet monkeys, waiting to be discovered on thrilling safari drives. Some creatures come alive under the cover of darkness – the small potto, a relative of Madagascar’s lemurs, and bushbabies, known for their strikingly large eyes that enhance their night vision, along with bat-like ears that help them hunt insects in the shadows.