Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda : Chimp trekking in Rwanda is done in Nyungwe forest national park which is located in the southern part of the country. Nyungwe forest national park is among the destinations to visit in Rwanda for primate safaris and it is home to over 500 chimpanzees and about 12 different primate species which live in the forest including l’hoest monkeys, baboons, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys among others.
The national park covers about 1019 square kilometers and Nyungwe forest national park also consists of dense Afromontane forests, grasslands and wetlands and also bamboo covered slopes.
A chimpanzee permit in Nyungwe national park costs 90 USD for foreign nonresidents and 60 USD for foreign residents. Travelers below the age of 15 years are not permitted to engage in chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda.
Chimp trekking in Rwanda starts at Uwinka, Gisakura or Katabi when visiting Nyungwe forest national park. The national park has a steep landscape which favors the different activities at the destination including hiking.
Another place in Rwanda where chimpanzee trekking is carried out is Cyamudongo forest which is also located in the south western part of Rwanda. This forest used to be part of Nyungwe forest national park and it covers about 19 square kilometers.
Cyamudongo forest in Rwanda was disconnected from Nyungwe forest national park as a result of deforestation practices. It consists of thick vegetation and is home to about 30 chimpanzees and various bird species.
The forest in Cyamudongo is also home to other primates such as l’hoest monkeys and others.
Chimp trekking in Nyungwe forest national park
When visiting Nyungwe forest national park for chimp trekking, the activity starts as early as 5:00 am from the park headquarters where a briefing is also done by the park officials on what to expect while in the forest.
To be able to find the location of chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest national park, a group of trackers go ahead of the tourists and when the chimpanzees are found, the trackers communicate with the rangers the location of the chimpanzees. Only 8 people are allowed to visit the chimpanzees at a time.
The tourists then head into the Nyungwe forest to find the chimpanzees. During the chimpanzee trek in Nyungwe forest national park, the chimpanzees can be spotted as they swing in the tree branches while others can be seen in their nests, playing, grooming each other and also feeding. Other primates will also be seen among the trees during the chimp trek as well as different bird species.
A limited amount of time is spent with the chimpanzees and it is about 1 hour of recording the chimpanzees, observing their behavior. After this experience, the tourists trek back to the park headquarters.
Apart from the steep landscape, Nyungwe national park also has one of the old rainforests in Africa, has about 322 bird species, 120 butterfly species and so much more. As you get to the park, you can also see tea plantations.
Other activities to do around Nyungwe national park include canopy walks, guided nature walks, hiking, cultural tours, visiting Gisakura tea estate and many more. The Isumo waterfall is among the attractions which can be seen during a visit to Nyungwe national park.
The canopy walk in Nyungwe forest national park is another popular activity carried out during safaris to Rwanda and it costs 60 USD. This activity involves walking along a suspended bridge which is about 60 meters off the ground and the canopy walk starts at Uwinka. There are viewing points along the way providing views of the rest of the park and the beautiful rainforest.
Hiking trails around Nyungwe national park include Igishigishigi trail, Karamba trail, Umugote trail, Umoyove trail, Uwinka trail, Irebero trail, Imbaraga trail, Bigugu trail, Isumo trail, Kamiranzovu trail, Muzimu trail, Ngabwe trail, Rukuzi trail among others.
Gisakura tea estate visits are very exciting and involve getting to learn how tea is planted and all the processed it goes through before consumption. Among the activities done when visiting the tea plantations include tea picking and putting it in a basket.
Best time to visit Nyungwe forest national park
Chimp trekking in Rwanda can be done at any time of the year however the best time to see these chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest national park is during the months which include June, July, August, September and October which are part of the dry season.
Booking of chimpanzee permits is recommended due to the dry season also being a peak season when many tourists visit the national park. Although the dry season is considered the best time for visiting Nyungwe national park, some tourists also travel during the low season around March to May and in November when rains are also received in Rwanda.
Before deciding to travel for chimp trekking in Rwanda, some of the things to pack for the tour include hiking shoes, long sleeved shirts, rain jacket, long trousers, long socks, gloves, camera and extra batteries, enough drinking water and snacks. Trekking poles are also recommended due to the steep nature of the home of chimpanzees in Rwanda.
Other relevant information for travel to Rwanda include a valid passport, a visa which can also be got on arrival and also a vaccination certificate for COVID 19 for those who are vaccinated. The Rwanda visa costs 50 USD and is valid for single entry into the country. Countries which are visa exempt include the East African countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi, the United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Hong Kong, Mauritius, South Africa and Democratic Republic of Congo.
How to get to Nyungwe forest national park
Nyungwe forest national park can be accessed by driving from Kigali which takes about 5 hours. Public transport is also available to the town closest to the national park.
Accommodations around Nyungwe national park range from midrange luxury and budget hotels and they include Nyungwe top view hotel, Gisakura guest house, Nyungwe forest lodge, One and only Nyungwe house and many others.