Gorillas and chimpanzees are both great apes, both share most of our DNA, and both live in Rwanda — mountain gorillas in the Virunga volcanoes and chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest. But spend an hour with each and you'll find they could hardly be more different. Here's how they compare, and how chimp tracking compares with gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
Side by side
| Mountain gorilla | Chimpanzee | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult male weight | Around 160–200 kg | Around 40–60 kg |
| Diet | Almost entirely plants | Fruit-heavy omnivore; sometimes hunts |
| Social group | Stable family led by a silverback | Large community that splits and merges |
| Where they spend time | Mostly on the ground | Much more in trees |
| Temperament | Calm, quiet | Noisy, excitable, fast |
| DNA shared with humans | About 98% | About 98–99% (our closest relatives, with bonobos) |
| Tool use | Rare | Frequent (sticks, stones, leaves) |
| Where in Rwanda | Volcanoes National Park | Nyungwe National Park |
Behaviour
Gorillas live a slow, steady life: long feeding sessions, a midday rest, play among the youngsters, and the silverback keeping order. The famous chest-beat is mostly display. Chimpanzees are political and intensely social, with shifting alliances, loud pant-hoot calls, buttress-drumming, hunting and sophisticated tool use. Visiting them feels like stepping into a busy, noisy town.
Gorilla trekking vs chimp tracking
Gorilla trekking
- Permit $1,500
- Sightings almost guaranteed
- Usually at eye level, close and clear
- One hour with the family
- Volcano slopes, bamboo and woodland
Chimp tracking
- Cheaper permit
- Sightings likely, not guaranteed
- Often high in the canopy
- Up to an hour once found
- Steep rainforest, very early starts
See both in one trip
Our 5-day gorillas & chimpanzees safari ($4,250) tracks chimps and walks the canopy in Nyungwe, then follows Lake Kivu north to the gorillas. The 10-day complete Rwanda safari adds the Big Five and culture.
Gorilla vs chimp questions
What is the difference between a gorilla and a chimpanzee?
Gorillas are much larger (adult males around 160–200 kg vs about 40–60 kg for chimps), almost entirely vegetarian, live in stable family groups led by a silverback and spend most time on the ground. Chimps are smaller, more omnivorous, live in large fluid communities and spend much more time in trees.
Which is more closely related to humans, gorillas or chimps?
Chimpanzees (and bonobos) are our closest living relatives, sharing roughly 98–99% of our DNA. Gorillas are the next closest.
Where can I see gorillas and chimpanzees in Rwanda?
Mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park and chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park. Our 5-day gorillas & chimpanzees safari includes both.
Is chimp tracking harder than gorilla trekking?
Often, yes. Chimpanzees move quickly and range widely through tall forest, starts are earlier, and sightings are less certain than with gorillas.
