Trekking with Chimpanzees in Rwanda in 2025
Rwandan Chimpanzee Trekking in 2025: For the past few years, the Land of A Thousand Hills has been one of the most popular tourist destinations in Africa. Rwanda has worked hard to make sure that this country is at the top of the list of travel destinations, which has been accomplished through their marketing skills. Rwanda is unquestionably worth visiting because it offers a variety of activities and attractions in a very clean and safe environment. Every minute spent here is a reflection of Africa’s rich biodiversity, beauty, and natural wonders.
Let’s talk about chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda. Yes, the country is home to these stunning primates, and chimpanzees are the country’s second-biggest tourist destination after mountain gorillas. You can see them in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Chimpanzees can be encountered and hiked in three locations in Rwanda: Cyamudongo Forest, Gishwati Mukura National Park, and Nyungwe National Park. With more than 400 chimpanzees living there, Nyungwe National Park has the largest chimpanzee population in Rwanda. Nyungwe National Park is home to two partially habituated chimpanzees. The majority of them—60—live in Nyungwe Forest, with the remaining 30 being located in Cyamudongo Forest. Chimpanzees and gorillas share a significant amount of DNA, making them closest cousins. They are considered to be the most intelligent animals after humans, and they have many characteristics in common with us.
But while chimpanzees are the main primate in Nyungwe, you can also see other valuable animals like owl-faced, blue, mona, silver, and Dent’s monkeys, as well as black-faced vervet monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, baboons, grey-cheeked Mangabeys, Rwenzori colobus, and black and white colobus monkeys.
Unlike mountain gorillas Chimpanzees are highly mobile, boisterous, and stubborn. Unlike mountain gorillas, they spend a lot of time on top of the trees because they are lighter. Mountain gorillas are incredibly calm and friendly. They will eat in silence and engage in group interactions with less drama and agitation. Chimpanzees wander quickly on the ground and atop trees before settling down, so visitors who want to track them must be physically active enough to follow the primates for extended periods of time.
In Nyungwe Forest, monitoring chimpanzees takes two to six hours, or longer if guests so choose. The chimps may calm down and let you snap pictures or examine them more closely after you chase them for these long hours. You’ll see that the chimps act exactly like people when you’re around them. They will groom one another, mate, play, nurse, and get into fights. While some group members are more talkative, others are more reserved. They have internal politics and group dynamics just like people. Chimpanzees are interested in people, yet they will usually avoid close contact.
Rwandan Chimpanzee Trekking in 2025 Nyungwe Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda
Chimpanzee hiking usually starts at 6 a.m. After eating breakfast, visitors will proceed to the briefing, which will be held in either Kitabi, Gisakura, or Uwinka.It is recommended that guests get up early in order to be ready for this activity. The Nyungwe forest is enormous, as was previously indicated. Reaching the chimps before they leave for the day is the only way to locate them. With knowledgeable guides who will assist guests in trekking down and locating the chimpanzees before informing the main ranger or guide of their whereabouts. Depending on the time of your walk, the trackers and rangers are highly skilled and informed on the chimpanzee communities and where to locate them.
If you are planning a safari in Rwanda, let us organize the best safari for you. If you have any questions or would like more information about your safari to any part of East Africa, don’t hesitate to direct message us. Chimpanzee trekking is a very rewarding activity that offers visitors an amazing experience in the forest while they trek these magnificent primates. Explore Rwanda Tours operators are your trusted local tour operators that ensure that visitors explore and have a unique experience on their Rwanda safari tour. They arrange the best packages for tourists with various activities to do in Rwanda.
