Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda
Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda
The chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda takes place at Nyungwe Forest National Park. This is an early morning activity so you should keep time. You will arrive at Uwinka Visitor Center which is the park’s headquarters.
After a simple briefing, you leave the headquarters with several rangers and trackers. These will help you allocate the chimpanzees and after finding them you will spend some time with them and then head back to your starting point.
Nyungwe Forest National Park
The park is in the southwestern part of Rwanda towards the Burundi border in the Rusizi district. Nyungwe National Park has only two groups of chimpanzees with the large one having 60 members at Uwinka. Then, the small one has 30 members and you find it at Cyamudongo.
Leaving aside the chimpanzees, Nyungwe National Park is home to 1,068 tree species, 85 mammal species, and 300 bird species.
Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is the second most popular activity in Rwanda after the top done that is gorilla trekking.
It can take you an hour of hiking or walking around the Nyugwe forest and three hours of being entertained by the different birds and primates in the trees.
The time and distance to take you during the process are surely based on how far you will locate these men closest.
What to carry for chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda.
As you are preparing and packing for your safari or vacation to Rwanda? Do you feel like not missing out on the chimpanzees at Nyungwe National Park? Hence, to enjoy the chimpanzees with less or no hardships there are, certain things that you have to put first in your cargo, and these include;
Binoculars to enjoy the distant birds and primates
Rain gears
Hiking boots
Water
Hats
Snacks
Insect repellants
Long-sleeved clothes
How to get to Nyungwe National Park for chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda.
Getting to Nyungwe National Park by air is very fast and easy as Rwanda has different domestic flights.
By road, it only takes you 4 hours to drive from Kigali to Nyungwe National Park. Meanwhile, you pass through different towns enjoying the beautiful sceneries along the way. Thus, the journey is rewarding if you partake in it.
The best time to visit Rwanda for chimpanzees
The months of June, July, and August are the appropriate ones for chimpanzee trekking at Nyungwe National Park
By this time the fig tree is well-packed with fruits that the chimpanzees feed on.
The chimpanzees can be easily seen early morning.
Other activities to do at Nyungwe National Park.
Besides chimpanzee trekking, there are many more activities that you can engage in while at Nyungwe National Park and these are;
The canopy walk
This is a unique and fancy activity. It gives you the best aerial view of the forest enjoying the several primates and birds as they play around the trees.
Around East and Central Africa, you can only go for a canopy walk in Rwanda. It’s only and it’s only 60 USD taking you through the 130 km of constructed trails. The canopy walk allows you to see primates and many bird species.
Tea plantations
Several tea plantations surround the park including Gisakura and Gisovu tea plantations. Here, you get a chance to test the local tea and also interact with the workers. Hence, you get to know the process of how to plant, harvest, and process the tea.
Nature trails
Nature trails/walk/hiking at Nyungwe National Park takes 4 hours. The park has well-constructed hiking trails and these include the Congo Nile, Imbaraga, Igishigishigi, and many more.
Colobus monkeys in Gisakura
After enjoying the chimpanzees, you can add on a visit to the Gisakura tea plantation. However, mainly focus on the forest in the middle of this tea plantation which is home to the colobus monkeys.
The forest is less than a square kilometer.
Bird watching
Nyungwe National Park holds over 300 bird species. This thus makes it a potential birding site with 29 Albertine endemic species. At only 50 USD you will enjoy several birds including the Shelley crimson wing, the Grauer’s warbler, and the Kungwe apalis.
