Compare Nyungwe & Kibale Chimpanzee Tracking
Compare Nyungwe & Kibale Chimpanzee Tracking
Compare Nyungwe & Kibale Chimpanzee Tracking. Kibale Forest in Uganda and Nyungwe Forest in Rwanda are the top chimp trekking destinations in Africa. These destinations promise the best primate experiences than anywhere in the world. Furthermore, the two destinations are pretty close to the gorilla trekking destinations in both countries. This makes watching both chimpanzees and mountain gorillas on the same trip very possible.
Both parks are very easy to access with about a 5-6-hour drive from the International Airport in Kigali or Entebbe. There are also local airstrips with short driving times. It’s very easy to put together a trip to either country and spend a day with our closest cousins in their natural habitat.
Chimpanzee trekking is an unforgettable adventure that connects you to our natural history. It also leaves you forever bonded with human’s closest relatives. Looking into the eyes of a wild chimpanzee in the middle of an age-old jungle and seeing the similarities they share with us is a priceless experience.
Guided chimp trekking adventures occur daily in Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest and Uganda’s Kibale Forest. This brings you a few feet closer to these impressive wild primates. Make it a must-do adventure if such experiences are something that strikes a note in your travels.
However, chimpanzee trekking involves some physical expenses. Keeping up with wild chimps is an active experience that may drain your breath. The wild bands rarely stay in one place unless they’ve just ended a foraging expedition. The experience will keep you on your toes, so do some simple exercises before you head down here.
Besides that, there are a few more things you should know to compare your choice between trekking in Nyungwe with Kibale. Let’s take a look at some of them;
Chimp Trekking in Nyungwe Forest; Pros & Cons
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest is one of the two main adventure attractions in Rwanda. The experience combines well with gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, 300 km north of Nyungwe. This primate park sits on Rwanda’s southern border on a rugged Rift Valley landscape that is a significant freshwater source to Rwanda and two massive rivers, the Congo and Nile Rivers.
If Nyungwe’s puckish chimpanzees do not impress you, 11 other primate species and 75 mammal species will fascinate you. There are also over 300 bird species, and forest hiking trails will catch your attention.
In addition to chimpanzee trekking, nature hikes are a big attraction in Nyungwe Forest, especially the forest canopy walk. After the experience with the hyperactive chimpanzees, visitors usually walk 70 meters high above the canopy. This is an exhilarating experience of the rainforest jungle—a feature you won’t find in Uganda.
The edge Nyungwe has over Kibale is the impressive list of activities you can add to your chimpanzee trekking experience, especially the scenic hiking trails. You could spend a week in Nyungwe and be amazed the whole time. Also, there is a habituated troop of colobus monkeys that may steal your day’s attention at the Gisakura visitor center.
Cons
However, Nyungwe Forest’s trails require more stamina to navigate compared to Kibale. This is because of the rugged steep terrain, whose tracking trails often become muddy, especially after rain.
The other drawback to Nyungwe is the lack of a variety of tourist accommodation choices near the visitor center. You could end up lodging far away from the chimpanzee trekking starting point. You thus may end up spending on transport to the park, yet the lodges are also costly.
Additionally, because of Rwanda’s aim of attracting high-cost low-volume tourism, Nyungwe makes few concessions to independent or budget travelers, which is the far opposite of Kibale.
Lastly, Nyungwe promises a lower sighting percentage compared to Kibale. The assurance of seeing the chimpanzees even after hours of trekking the challenging slopes is less than that of Kibale. Treks start at 5:00 am, three hours earlier than in Kibale. Also, the chimpanzee troops could be anywhere within the 340 square mile radius. This means that you could spend a longer undetermined duration trying to find the chimps.
Chimp Trekking in Kibale Forest; Pros & Cons
Pros
Kibale Forest promises a much better chimp trekking experience than Nyungwe Forest in Rwanda. This is mostly because of the navigable flat terrain and abundance of habituated chimps. Kibale Forest has the highest concentration of chimpanzees and other primates in Africa.
Chimps are the most entertaining hosts in Kibale, but the park has an impressive list of Central African primate species. These include the red colobus mangabey, L’Hoest’s monkey, olive baboon, black-and-white colobus, vervet, and blue monkey.
Chimp sightings are guaranteed with every visit, with the chances of seeing them being 99%. This makes Kibale Forest a more outstanding choice for chimp trekking compared to Nyungwe Forest. In addition, Kibale offers a full-day habituation experience. Through this experience, visitors get to spend the whole day with the chimps. Nyungwe offers only the regular half-day experience, of which sightings are not a guarantee.
In addition, there is a wide selection of lodging within trekking distance. These offer both budget, standard, and high-cost choices to all kinds of travelers. Chimp trekking in Kibale begins at 7:30 am. This is a much more reasonable time to make it to the visitor center for the briefing before the experience.
The chimp trekking permit in Kibale costs $250, which is the same as that of Nyungwe. Chimpanzee habituation, which is a full-day experience costs $300. Yet, this price comes with more satisfying experiences (both trekking and habituation) more satisfying than Nyungwe’s.
Cons
Combining chimp trekking in Kibale with gorilla trekking in Bwindi is a common occurrence on most Uganda safari itineraries. Yet, Kibale is quite a distance from Bwindi and the roads are not as smooth as Rwanda’s. Drive time between the two destinations could mean adding a buffer like a night in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Best time to go for chimps trekking in Nyungwe & Kibale
The best time to plan a chimp trekking safari in either Nyungwe or Kibale is during the region’s annual dry seasons of June to September. The dry trekking trails promise a much better experience than when it’s raining. You also have a much more relaxed time with the primates in the jungle after finding them.
However, the rainy seasons in March to May and November are equally good. During the rainy months, it’s easier to find the chimps. This is so because trees are bearing fruits that keep the chimps in one place. However, the rain can be a disruption to most travelers. So, few travelers will choose to brave the rains and will come in the dry seasons.
Although chimp trekking permits in Nyungwe and Kibale may be readily available any time of the year, we recommend booking your permits earlier if you intend to travel during the dry season. The state of permit availability suddenly changes, which requires earlier booking to be sure of undertaking the experience. Accommodation becomes scarce during the dry seasons, which is the peak travel season in the region. Meanwhile, it is cheaper in the low season, and service is better because of the smaller visitor numbers. Booking early ensures that you secure your lodging for the chimp trekking experience.
Book your chimp trekking safari
Compare Nyungwe & Kibale Chimpanzee Tracking- booking a chimpanzee tour. Book your chimp trekking safari in either Rwanda or Uganda with Safari Vacations and Travel Services. With the experience we have in operating primate safaris, we’ll book your permits. We’ll also book your accommodation, meals, and transport with a professional touch.
It is also easier to plan a chimp and gorilla trekking combo with us, taking care of all the ground handling so that you can concentrate on the experience within Africa’s riches forest jungles. Send us an email at info@ugandarwanda-safaris.com for a free quote in the shortest possible time.
