Super User 31 July 2023

Best Travel Guide To Chimpanzee Trekking In Nyungwe Forest National Park, Rwanda

Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is one of the popular tourist activities conducted in Nyungwe Forest National Park. The park is home to over 500 chimpanzees, and two groups have been habituated for trekking.

Nyungwe Forest National Park Overview:

Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the top destinations in Rwanda is that receives several visitors and second most popular national park after the volcanoes national park. It is one of the largest and oldest national parks in Africa, which is situated in the southwestern region of Rwanda.

Nyungwe Forest National Park is the most popular and famous for the chimpanzee trekking experience in Rwanda although it is home to several wildlife animal species and birds such as huge forest hogs, golden cats, duikers, African civets, several cats, amphibians, butterflies, reptiles as well as other primates such as blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, grey checked mangabey, L’Hoest’s monkeys, white and black colobus monkeys, golden monkeys, vervet monkeys, the olive baboons, silver monkeys among others

The trekking experience takes place in the early morning, allowing visitors to witness the chimps as they begin their day, feeding and grooming one another. There are two trekking groups: one located at Uwinka, consisting of approximately 60 individuals, with tracking starting at 5:30 am, and the other at Cyamudongo with approximately 30 individuals, where tracking begins at 5:00 am from the Gisakura office.

Chimpanzee Trekking Experience:

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park is an early morning activity that starts at 5:00 am with a briefing at the park centers. Nyungwe Forest National Park has about three sections where the chimpanzee trekking starts such as the Kitabi section, the Gisakura section as well as the Uwinka which is known as the park headquarters. During the briefing session, visitors are divided into groups of 8 people and they are assigned to different park ranger guides that will guide them as they go chimpanzee trekking in the forest.

Chimpanzee Trekking Duration:

The duration of your trek depends on the location of the chimps; although trackers go out ahead to locate the troops, it can take from 30 minutes to two hours to find them. Once you encounter the chimpanzees, you’ll normally have an hour to observe them, maintaining a minimum distance of about 7m, and with any conversation kept to a whisper. If the chimps are on the move during your hour, you may be able to follow them a short way.

Each trekking group has a maximum of eight people, accompanied by a guide and an armed park ranger. Invariably you’ll have the opportunity to hire a porter to accompany you, which can be useful if you have a bag or camera kit, or if you want someone to help you along the muddy paths.

The habituated chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park are so friendly, calm, and playful and they are used to the presence of human beings they therefore come from trees when they see people and they will sometimes walk towards them thus allowing you to take clear photos and videos of them. While trekking chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest travelers will have an insight into encountering other primate animals such as red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, silver monkeys, golden monkeys, white and black colobus monkeys, and the grey checked mangabey among others. Travelers will also enjoy viewing different bird species such as the Rwenzori bats and, purple-breasted sunbirds among others due to the fact that Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the birder's paradises in Rwanda.

Chimpanzee Trekking Booking and Permits:

Tourists are advised to book chimpanzee trekking permits in advance before their arrival. This can be done either with a tour operator such as Ultimate Wild Safaris which is one of the leading tour companies that have experience in organizing safaris to different destinations such as chimpanzee trekking safaris in Rwanda, DR Congo, and Uganda, gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda, DR Congo and others types of safaris. When you book with us will help you book a chimpanzee trekking permit for Nyungwe Forest National Park, contact us with details of your original passport, dates, and month that you would like to travel.

At the same time travelers can contact directly the Rwanda Development Board to secure their booking of the chimpanzee trekking permit, the permits can also be purchased online for all travelers who would like to engage in the activity. However, we advise travelers to book with tour operators who will assist them in organizing their chimpanzee safaris in Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Best time to go Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park:

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park is open for tourism any time of the year thus the trekking experience will depend on when the traveler is willing to travel. However, the best time to enjoy the chimpanzee safari in Nyungwe Forest National Park would be in the dry season when there is little rain that is expected in that season to inconvenience the trekking experience in the jungle. The dry season is during December to February, June to mid-October and this is the time that many travelers come to enjoy their holiday safaris thus it’s a peak season in Africa.

However Nyungwe Forest National Park is dominated by tropical rain forest that receives rainfall throughout the year, therefore travelers are advised to carry a waterproof rain jacket that will help them in case it rains while trekking the chimpanzee community.

During the rainy season, the trekking trails are wet, muddy, and slippery making it difficult to hike while trekking. Therefore all travelers that travel in this season are advised to carry strong gum boots and long socks that will give them firm movement on the ground as they go trekking. The rainy season is also known as the low that is the best season for all budget travelers since lodges reduce the price of their accommodation rooms thus encouraging travelers to book with them so that they can survive in the low season. This is during March, April, May, mid-October, and November.

Book with Ultimate Wild Safaris for a chimpanzee trekking safari in Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda.

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