Chimpanzee Trekking In Nyungwe Forest

Rwanda, the Land of a Thousand Hills, is a remarkable treasure nestled in East Africa’s Great Rift Valley, distinguished for its rolling mountains, shimmering lakes, and mild climate. This vibrant country offers a unique mix of natural beauty and cultural charm. Chimpanzee trekking In Nyungwe Forest, the park has the highest population of chimps with two partially habituated chimp communities, trekkers can observe these fascinating primates alongside 13 other monkey species, such as blue monkeys, silver monkeys, and the rare Rwenzori colobus. Whether in Nyungwe or Gishwati Mukura National Park, Rwanda offers an exceptional wildlife experience, perfect for those seeking adventure and connection with nature.

Is Chimpanzee Trekking In Nyungwe Forest National Park Worth The Money

Yes, is worth the money depending on various factors including your interests, budget and expectations. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest offers a unique opportunity to see and observe the fascinating primates in their natural habitats. If you have a strong interest in primates’ conservation the experience can be very rewarding. This Park is a stretch out through the expanse of lush, ancient rainforest with over 1,000 square kilometres of Spectacular landscapes, it’s a haven for biodiversity and a paradise for nature addicts. It allows you to have a close encounter with Chimps offering exceptional trekking opportunities to watch the fascinating primates in action, observe their playful interactions, complex behaviours and experience their incredible intelligence up close in their natural habitats how and when they wakeup, where they sleep, there first activity when they wake up and all their behaviours. You also get a chance to observe what plants they feed on, how much time spend eating, you will be able to identify who leads the group, how babies are cared for in the chimp world and how big the group is.

Where To Find Chimpanzee In Nyungwe Forest National Park

Two groups of Chimpanzee are habituated in Nyungwe national park and one is found around Uwinka and the other big group is found at Cyamudongo a fragmented forest. Chimpanzees trekking in Nyungwe’s Cyamudongo forest depends on how the group is behaving and the situation they are in. For example, if you go trekking Chimpanzee and they are on the move find them.

Is Chimpanzee Trekking In Rwanda Different From Gorilla Trekking

Yes, there is a lot of difference.

Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is different from gorilla trekking in many ways. Chimps are stubborn, noisy and very mobile. Because they are lighter, they spend a lot of their time on top of the trees unlike mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas are very gentle and peaceful. They will eat quietly and interact with less provocation and drama in the group. Tracking chimpanzees requires one to be fit enough in order to follow the primates for long periods as they make quick movements both on the ground and on top of trees before settling down.

The briefing takes place in either Uwinka, Gisakura or Kitabi. You need to wake up as early as 4:30am so that you take breakfast and prepare to start the activity, the forest is large. The only way to find the chimps is to try and reach them before they head out for the day. A group of trackers go ahead of the team to find the location of the chimps before communicating to the lead Ranger /Guide about where to find them. The trackers and rangers are very experienced and knowledgeable about the chimp communities and where to find them.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest can take between 2 to 6 hours or longer. After following/chasing the chimps for a while, they may settle down and allow you to observe them more closely or take photos. While with the chimps you will notice that they behave just like we humans. You will watch them groom each other, mate, breastfeed, play and start fights. Some members of the group are quiet while others are more vocal. Like humans, they have their group dynamics and internal politics. Although chimps are curious about humans, they will tend to keep their distance.

What Is The Age Limit For Chimpanzee Trekking In Rwanda

The minimum age for chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is 15 years.

Are Chimpanzee Must Seen In Nyungwe Forest

There is no guarantee that you will be able to see them especially in Nyungwe forest despite its relatively high population density of Chimps, sight seeing can be unpredictable and disappointing to visitors during their trek, the chimpanzees tend to move deep into the thick forest reducing the chances of seeing them. It is much easier to spot the chimps in Cyamudongo forest because it is smaller and easier to cover by foot in a short time.

What Is The Cost Of Chimpanzee Trekking Permit

The price of a Chimpanzee trekking permit is 150USD per person. One also has to pay 100USD as park entrance. Bookings are made directly through the Rwanda Development Board or your Tour Operator. The chimpanzee permit fee includes a ranger and guide assigned to move with you and your group. You will be required to show your chimpanzee tracking permit at the park entrance just before proceeding to the beginning point.

What Are The Requirements Of Chimp Trekking In Nyungwe

While planning for chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park think about packing enough drinks, snacks, rain jacket, good hiking shoes, a long-sleeved shirt, sun glasses and insect repellent. Do not forget to move with a good camera and binoculars for good picture resolution.

Activities In Nyungwe

Although chimpanzee tracking is the most popular activity in Nyungwe forest, visitors can also take part in tracking smaller primates, canopy walks, nature walks, bird watching, visiting the tea plantations and visiting one of the waterfalls. It may now be possible to do the chimpanzee habituation experience in Rwanda too.

• Spotting other primates, Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the best places to spot primates in Africa. With 13 species, this can be compared to Kibale National Park in Uganda. The most sought out species after the chimpanzees is the Rwenzori and Angola Colobus. The Angola Colobus Monkey is now extinct in Angola itself. About 400 Angola Colobus are semi-habituated in the park. Golden Monkeys are also present in the through not habituated.
• Canopy Walks, the best way to explore this thick and ancient forest is to by using the Canopy Walkway. It is the only one in East Africa as I write this article The 60-meter-high strong steel bridge is built on the tree tops to give tourists an aerial view of the birds, primates and endless forest. There are viewing points/decks along the walk way which offers one opportunity to rest as they marvel at the amazing scenery and wildlife. The activity starts from the visitor center in Uwinka and takes about 2 hours. A tour through the Canopy walkway costs 60 US Dollars per person.
• Bird watching, Nyungwe National Park is one of the best places for birdwatching in Rwanda. Nyungwe Forest is home to over 300 species of birds of which about 26 are endemic to the Albertine rift. Apart from the species already mentioned earlier, one can also spot the Apalis argentea, Archer’s Robin-chat, Dusky Crimson Wing, Grauer’s Warbler, Handsome Francolin, Kungwe Apalis, Large blue Turaco, Ruwenzori Apalis, Ruwenzori Batis, Ruwenzori Nightjar, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Neumann’s Warbler and Sunbirds. Bird watching begins right from the window of your hotel room and while tracking the primates or going for the canopy walk.
• Nature walks and Hikes, there are different trails for forest hikes in Nyungwe national park. If one is to complete all the trails, they would have walked for about 130 kilometers. To complete all the trails, one would need about a week. The main trails are the Bigugu Trial, Ngabwe Trail, Canopy trail, Kamiranzovu Marsh Trail, Congo Nile Trail, Bigugu Trail, Igishigishigi Trail, Karamba Birding Trail, Irebero Trail, Isumo waterfall Trail, Imbaraga Trail, Umugote Trail, Muzimu Trail, Rukuzi Trail and Umuyove Trail. The most popular trails are Bigugu and Igishigishigi. You need to be fit enough to enjoy your nature walk because the terrain is unpredictable. One thing for sure it that by the time you complete these trails, you would have seen most of the primates, birds, butterflies, rivers, insects and much more.
• Visiting one of the waterfalls, the most popular waterfall is the Isumo waterfall located close to the luxury Nyungwe House. To reach this waterfall, you will go through the Isumo Waterfall Trail. This trail is not very long but involves passing through slippery and steep areas of the park after which you descend to a very dense part of the forest before seeing the waterfall. The Isumo waterfall squeezes through a narrow section of rock before plunging down and continuing deep into the forest as a stream.
• Visiting the Gisakura Tea Plantation, this activity can be done in the evening or after completing your other activities in the park. It is suitable for tea enthusiasts and those who appreciate the beauty of nature.  One can visit the processing plants or go directly to the plantation and learn how tea is grown, harvested and processed. You may even be offered an opportunity to join in picking tea and putting it into a basket. The area around the estates has amazing scenery of the forest and mount Bigugu in the horizon.
• Climbing Mount Bigugu, Mount Bigugu is found within Nyungwe forest. It is 2950 meters above sea level. The peak offers stunning views of the vast forest and distant Virunga mountains/volcanoes such as Karisimbi, Bisoke and Muhabura.
• Cultural and Community Visit, the people of Rwanda have a unique culture and there are countless opportunities to experience it while on a tour of the Nyungwe forest. The best place to start is to visit places like the Kitabi cultural village or Banda Community Village. You can also attend performances by the Cyamudongo cultural troupe or friends of Nyungwe. All these groups showcase the rich culture of the people if Rwanda through dance, drama and storytelling. There are always opportunities to buy souvenir (local crafts and art pieces).

What Is The Best Time To See Chimpanzee In Rwanda

Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is organized throughout the year. However, the best time for chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is during the rainy/wet season. During this time, there is plenty of food in the forest which limits the movement of the chimps. During the dry season, the chimps go deep in the vast forest in search of fruits hence making it more difficult to track them. The dry season is ideal for those who are interested in the canopy and nature walks.

How Long Does It Take To Reach Nyungwe Forest

It takes four hours of driving by road to reach Nyungwe forest from the capital Kigali. One can also take a domestic flight from Kigali to an airstrip close to the park office.

Accommodations

Travelers to Nyungwe National Park have several accommodation facilities to choose from. The facilities come in form of budget, mid-range, luxury and super-luxury hotels. The Luxury hotels offer very high-quality services that are comparable to any in East Africa. Some of the hotels include Gisakura guest house, Inzozi beach hotel, Nyungwe forest lodge, Nyungwe top hill hotel the super luxury Nyungwe House.

Conclusion

For those seeking a meaningful and impactful travel experience, chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park stands out as an exceptional choice, combining adventure with a vital contribution to environmental preservation hence just get ready for Nyungwe experience.