Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda – Guaranteed Chimp trekking adventures and Permits in Rwanda – 2023 – 2024

Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda – Chimpanzee tracking in Rwanda is done in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Chimp trekking is one of the most popular safari activity on Rwanda Safari activity list and a shouldn’t miss for any primate lover. Nyungwe Forest National park is rainforest that seats in high altitude and is found in the southern part of Rwanda. Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park involves following trails that will bring you close to chimps in their natural habitats.

While trekking chimps, you have plenty of chances to witness them do their daily routines for example you will grab a chance to see them wake up, see where they sleep, how they sleep among others. Tracking these creatures in the forests is interesting with exceptional views of all other resident animal species such as velvet Monkeys, Black and White colobus, and several bird species.

Rwanda chimpanzee trekking tour

Trekking Chimpanzee in Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest

Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda with Acacia Safaris Limited will take you to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Chimpanzee tracking usually starts with a briefing at the park headquarters. Very early in the morning, the visitors gather at the park headquarters, the Park officials offer all the information for the upcoming Chimpanzee trekking adventure. The briefing will offer basic information about the park, creatures in the forest, and how to act around the chimps.

There are two chimpanzee habituated groups in Nyungwe, one is found around Uwinka and the other big group is found at Cyamundongo, a fragmented forest. Once the briefing is complete, travelers will be assigned chimpanzee communities to follow in either Nyungwe forest main or Cyamudongo forest. The Rangers will then lead travelers into the forest in search of the primates. There is a lot to see in the forest while tracking the chimps. The chimpanzee trekking experience may depend on the moods or the way the chimps are behaving at the time of the encounter.

On top of the chimps, Nyungwe forest has 12 other species of primates. They include silver monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, dent’s monkey, L’hoest monkeys, Angolan colobus, mona monkeys, Ruwenzori monkey, vervet monkey, golden monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and halmyn’s monkeys. Apart from the smaller primates, there is unique vegetation, butterflies, forest mammals, and waterfalls to see.

Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda – All you need to know about chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park

Chimpanzee trekking is a complete ball game from gorilla trekking, unlike the gorillas, chimps are stubborn, noisy, and very mobile, and thus tracking them is much more interesting though tiresome. Because they are lighter, they spend a lot of their time on top of the trees and can move a little faster than Mountain Gorillas. 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.

One also needs to have a good camera, binoculars, and patience. Very close interaction with chimps is not possible like it is with gorillas. They tend to keep a distance even when habituated. Chimps are also more vocal and it is easy to identify their location from kilometers away even before meeting them physically. Chimpanzee groups are very dramatic, unlike gorilla families which are generally peaceful and gentle.

Best time for trekking chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park

Chimps are easy to trek in the morning hours which means you will have to wake up at around 4:00 AM and head to one of the three reception centers in Nyungwe for your briefing. You are most likely to start your trek at around 5:00 AM, at this time you will head to your starting point of the trek.

In terms of seasons, the rainy season is the only time when the primates settle in one place since there is plenty to eat. This is therefore regarded as the best season for going for chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest. The rainy season in Nyungwe extends between June and Late August, and during this season, the fig trees are rich in fruits. During the dry season, the chimps wander deep into the forest in search of food/fruits because there is less to eat. This will require following them deep into the forest and it can take up to 4 hours to find them. It is also during the dry season that a few unlucky travelers fail to see them all together.

Getting to Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe forest National Park is most accessed by road. Besides being cheap, a drive in the countryside with clear views of the rolling hills of Rwanda and options to stop over in some top spots like the Nyanza King’s Palace and the Gikongoro genocide memorial centre will give you the snippet historic background of Rwanda. By road, the National Park is a 4 – 6 hours drive from Kigali, Rwanda’s Capital.

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