Chimpanzee trekking is one of the most popular and unmissable tourist activities in Rwanda. Primate lovers have an opportunity to experience the magic of meeting face-to-face with the Great Apes that are our closest relatives in the animal Kingdom.
For your chimpanzee trekking safari, you will be visiting already habituated chimpanzee communities and a typical day starts with registration and briefing at the Park Headquarters/visitor Center to go through the rules and protocols of the activity before venturing into the jungles to search for these Great Apes.
Where can you trek Chimpanzees in Rwanda?
Rwanda has two remarkable chimpanzee trekking spots and these include Nyungwe Forest National Park (main Nyungwe Forest or adjacent Cyamudongo) and Gishwati-Mukura National Park. These two places have significant chimpanzee numbers and tourists have the chance to visit already habituated communities.
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe
Nyungwe Forest National Park is the most popular chimpanzee trekking destination in Rwanda and sits within the Southern province of Rwanda. This Park has two remarkable 2 locations to meet face-to-face with these Great Apes in their natural habitat- Uwinka and Cyamudongo. Regardless of there you choose, your day begins with early morning briefing starting at 5:00 am. Later you will embark in the actual search for these Great apes starts while following the lead of your experienced guide and afterwards, spend strictly one hour watching and photographing them.
The 1000-square-kilometer Nyungwe Forest National Park has over 13 species of primates that occupy different areas of the Protected Area and these include more than 500 chimpanzees. Other unmissable primate species here are the black and white colobus monkeys, silver monkeys, Rwenzori colobus monkeys, L’Hoests monkeys, Olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, the grey cheeked mangabey and vervet monkeys among others.
The community of 60 chimpanzees live in the Uwinka area of Nyungwe Forest while the community of 30 chimpanzees is found in the adjacent Cyamudongo Forest.
Chimpanzee trekking permits for Nyungwe Forest cost $100 and these don’t include Park entry fees (that have to be paid for. The entry fee depends on category of traveler and length of stay. For instance, foreign non-residents are charged $150 per person for a 2-day visit. Permits have to be booked several months before the actual trekking date to avoid last-minute disappointment
For accommodation options, visitors planning to trek chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park can stay at One & Only Nyungwe House, Gisakura Guesthouse, Nyungwe Top View Hotel, Uwinka Guesthouse, Inzozi Beach Hotel or Gisovu Guesthouse among others.
Chimpanzee trekking in Gishwati-Mukura
Although there are fewer chimpanzee trekking tours in Gishwati-Mukura National Park, these Great Apes can also be trekked within Rwanda’s newest National Park. This Protected Area was formed by merging Gishwati and Mukura Forests and opened in 2015. It now extends for 34 square kilometers that include the buffer zones.
Besides Chimpanzees, this Protected Area also supports other primate species that include golden monkeys, L’Hoests monkeys, Olive baboons, and blue monkeys. Gishwati Lodge is so far the only accommodation facility in this Park and chimpanzee trekking is offered in a less thronged environment compared to Nyungwe Forest.
What time of the year is the best for chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda?
The dry season, from June to September and December to February, is the perfect time to go chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda. During the dry months, there are reduced rainfall levels hence expect drier and less slippery forest trails. However, the reduction in rainfall also leads to reduction of vegetation/or food for the Great Apes hence they will move further and deeper into the forest to search for food. For this reason, you should expect longer treks.
In the wet months (March to May and October to November) is when rainfall levels increase and this means forest trails are slippery, muddy and therefore more challenging to walk through. The good news, however, is that there is more food for the chimpanzees thus treks become shorter. Let’s bust your bubble by saying chimpanzee homes are rainforests hence rains can be expected all- year round.
What to you need to carry for your chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda?
Essentials for your chimpanzee trekking tours in Rwanda include sturdy and waterproof hiking boots/shoes, a first aid kit (with antiseptic, band aid, bandages, liniment and others), a good camera with extra memory space and batteries, sunscreen, insect repellant, energy-giving snacks, a re-usable water bottle, Gardening gloves, safari pants, a pair of binoculars, a rain jacket, gaiters, flashlight and toiletries.