Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda
Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is a lifetime on-foot-walk experience you shouldn’t miss out! It provides a remarkable opportunity for tourists to get up-close to chimpanzees, interact with them, explore in-depth about their daily behaviors and also take pictures. While on Rwanda gorilla safari, chimpanzee trekking should be one of the exciting activities to incorporate into your gorilla trekking experience.
Where to go to track chimpanzees in Rwanda?
Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is Rwanda’s top chimpanzee trekking destination and it is set within the Southern Province. This spectacular primate park is about 6 hours’ drive away from Kigali capital city of Rwanda. The 1000sq.kms rain-forest protected area shelters an estimated 13 primate species and these include over 500 chimpanzees. Most of these have undergone habituation making Nyungwe Forest National Park the most favorite chimpanzee trekking destination in Rwanda.
The other most amazing species of primates that Nyungwe Forest National Park include the grey cheeked mangabeys, Rwenzori Colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, Angola colobus monkeys. The park also hosts several playful olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, owl faced monkeys, vervet monkeys.
Within Nyungwe Forest National Park, there are 3 receptions where briefing on chimpanzee trekking rules always begin from. These include Uwinka, Gisakura and Kitabi. Most of the chimps that have undergone habituation exist within Nyungwe Forest and they make up a population of 60 and Cyamudongo Forest shelters about 30 chimpanzees.
A total of 8 visitors are permitted to track every chimpanzee community and about 16 permits are always available for purchase. Note, persons above 15 years are eligible to participate in this primate experience.
Places to stay during chimp trekking tour in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Nyungwe Forest has some comfortable places for tourists to have a night stay. Tourists can book budget, mid-range or luxury accommodation options; these include One & Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge and Gisakura Guesthouse.
Gishwati-Mukura National Park
Gishwati-Mukura National Park is a newly founded protected area and also chimpanzee trekking is currently a new primate experience tourist can engage in. It was established after the merging of Gishwati and Mukura Forest Reserves.
An estimated population of 20 chimpanzees have been recorded in Gishwati-Mukura National Park. However, it also protects other species of primates including blue monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys; plus, about 232 bird species majority of which can be sighted on chimpanzee trek.
Best time to go for chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda
Rwanda is one country with the most favorable weather and climatic conditions. But chimpanzee trekking is best carried out during the 2 phases of dry season; starting from June to September and December to February.
Chimpanzee trek rules and regulations.
- If you plan to go to trek chimpanzees in Rwanda, you should be above 15 years old.
- Maintain a social distance of 7-10m from chimps at all times.
- Do not go for chimpanzee tracking when sick or ill.
- Chimpanzee permit is a must-have in Rwanda
- Keep your voices low when tracking chimpanzees in Rwanda
