Trekking with Chimpanzees in Nyungwe
One of the most popular game activities that tourists from all over the world do in in Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park is chimpanzee trekking. In all of Rwanda, Nyungwe is the greatest place to trek and get to know chimpanzees. The “saving grace” for chimpanzee trekking safaris in Rwanda is really Nyungwe Forest National Park. With up to 500 individuals, chimpanzees are the most well-known primate species in Nyungwe National Park, which is home to around 13 different species. The l’hoest’s monkeys, black-faced vervet monkeys, and other primates can be heard whooping in the jungle in Nyungwe National Park. In addition to chimpanzee trekking, it’s a great place for rich nature treks, birding safaris, and many other exciting activities.
Chimpanzee trekking has never been considered a major attraction for many of the visitors that travel to Rwanda each year; instead, they come primarily to hike mountain gorillas in the country’s volcanoes national park. However, many more tourists are now more interested in chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park due to the increased cost of gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
Although there may be some similarities, there are also some fascinating similarities between trekking chimpanzees and mountain gorillas. For instance, because chimpanzees move more quickly than mountain gorillas, trekking can be done at a certain pace. There are also other intriguing differences between trekking chimpanzees in Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park. Although there are many other animal and primate species in Nyungwe National Park, the chimpanzees are the main attraction for safari visitors.
There are quite a few chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park, and the largest group of chimpanzees has more than 60 habituated chimps that are available for visitors. Another group of chimpanzees can be seen at Cyamudongo in Nyungwe National Park, however they are quite nomadic. Cyamudongo, which is only a four-hour drive from Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, is where chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park begins. The oldest montane forest in Africa is reportedly found in Nyungwe National Park.
The varied habitats of Nyungwe National Park, including the rain forest, montane forests, marshes, bamboo forest, and grassland perches, are largely responsible for the park’s biodiversity. In Nyungwe National Park, chimpanzees reside in the tall trees of the tropical rainforest, whereas other park inhabitants, including antelopes, duikers, and birds, prefer to live on the savannah perches.
Trekking chimpanzees
For nearly all visitors to Rwanda, chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National is a must-do experience that leaves a lasting impression. Chimpanzee trekking is led by knowledgeable and experienced rangers who are well-versed in all the specifics of the chimps, as well as other animals and birds, in Nyungwe National Park.
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park begins early in the morning and is organized from three starting points: Gisakura, Kitabi, and Uwinika. The trekkers meet the guides at the chimpanzee trekking starting sites in Nyungwe National Park at approximately five in the morning. From there, they head into the forest in search of the chimpanzees. The rangers locate the location where the chimpanzees may have constructed their nests for the night before the other hikers do.
An intimate encounter with chimpanzees in their natural environment is provided to hikers for one hour. You learn a lot about chimpanzees, including their communication abilities, reproduction, copulation, and many other fascinating behaviors of these closest human relatives, which makes spending an hour with them a really fulfilling experience. During the hour, you can also capture pictures to add to your collection about Rwanda and the African primate safari.
The price of trekking chimpanzees in Nyungwe
The Rwanda Development Board prepares the licenses for hiking chimpanzees. The permits, which are available for USD 100 and far less than the USD 1500 required for mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda, are your guarantee for trekking chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park. Since only eight persons are permitted to view the chimpanzees during a shift, 64 permits are given out daily to visitors to Nyungwe National Park.
As a result, you may rely on your travel advisor or tour operator to promptly arrange for your chimpanzee trekking permits. Any time of year is a good time to go on a chimpanzee hiking safari in Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills. However, the greatest time of year to take nature hikes in Nyungwe Forest National Park is during the dry season.
