Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe National Park

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. This is one of East Africa’s most immersive and rewarding wildlife experiences, offering travelers a rare opportunity to encounter our closest relatives in their natural rainforest habitat. Organized by Wild Planet Safaris, this adventure takes you deep into one of Africa’s oldest montane forests, a biodiversity hotspot renowned for its rich ecosystems and primate diversity. Nyungwe is home to a large population of chimpanzees along with several other primate species, making it a premier destination for nature enthusiasts and wildlife photographers alike.

The trekking experience typically begins early in the morning with a briefing from experienced park rangers, who guide visitors on how to safely and respectfully observe chimpanzees in the wild. As you venture into the dense forest, the sounds of chirping birds, rustling leaves, and distant primate calls create an atmosphere of anticipation and excitement.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. Tracking chimpanzees can be both thrilling and challenging, as they move swiftly through the forest canopy, but the reward of witnessing their playful interactions, grooming habits, and social dynamics up close is truly unforgettable.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. With Wild Planet Safaris, every detail of your journey is carefully arranged to ensure comfort, safety, and an enriching travel experience. From seamless transportation and knowledgeable guides to well-curated itineraries, the company ensures that your chimpanzee trekking adventure is both educational and memorable. This experience not only brings you closer to nature but also deepens your appreciation for conservation efforts aimed at protecting these incredible primates and their fragile habitats.

The trekking

Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda Nyungwe National Park. Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is on done in Nyungwe Forest National Park, chimpanzee trekking refers to visiting the chimps in thei natural environment in the forest, chimps that are already used to people or habituated. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest National Park starts in the morning and the activity is conducted in groups of a maximum of eight (8) people just as it is with gorilla trekking.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. The Nyungwe forest national park receives a very large number of tourists annually who come t meet face to face and spend time with the chimpanzee’s man’s closest living relative observing them as they play, feed and move. Chimpanzee trekking is a life time experience that you will enjoy in Africa’s oldest forest in Nyungwe National Park, the Park has the highest population of chimpanzees in Rwanda, it has about 400 individuals and other chimps are found in Gishwati Mukura National Park.

Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda Nyungwe National Park. Two chimpanzee communities have been habituated in Nyungwe National Park for chimpanzee trekking. Most of them live in Nyungwe forest which are about 60 individuals while the rest are found in Cyamudongo Forest which are about 30 individuals. Chimpanzees are known as the closet cousins to human beings are very interesting to look at. The Chimpanzee trekking permit cost $100 per person per trek.

How much does it cost to trek chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. The chimpanzee permit fee includes park entrance, ranger and guide assigned to move with you and your group. The permits are issued by the Rwanda development board which is in charge of all tourism activities in Rwanda. You will be required to show your chimpanzee tracking permit at the park headquarters just before proceeding to the beginning point on the date of trekking.

How to book Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda Nyungwe National Park

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. You can book your chimpanzee trekking permits for Nyungwe Forest National Park through Wild Planet Safaris. Bookings are made directly through the Rwanda Development Board and you can only book in advance, chimp permits get sold out so quickly and you can always contact us to check availability for your desired dates and book your permits for chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda.

Other activities to do in Nyungwe Forest National Park

Birding

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. Bird watching in Nyungwe National Park. Nyungwe forest is a tropical montane rainforest that is home to 322 bird species, so far 29 are bird species have been found here. The star attraction is undoubtedly the Red-collared Babbler and Rwanda is the only safe place to see this stunning bird. Other specialities include Rwenzori Turaco, Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Nightjar, Grauer’s Warbler, Regal, Blue-headed and Purple Breasted Sunbirds, Grauer’s Swamp Warbler and Neumann’s Warbler. All of these and more can be seen easily from a well-maintained network of – trails with the help of the park’s expert bird guides.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. With more time and a bit of luck it is also possible to observe Kungwe Apalis, Kivu Ground Thrush and Willard’s Sooty Boubou. Possibly the rarest of Nyungwe’s birds would be the Congo Bay Owl, Albertine Owlet and Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Rockefeller’s Sunbird which have been reported, but are seldom seen. Contact us for a birding trip to Nyungwe forest National Park on your honeymoon

Canopy walk

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. Canopy walk is one of the ideal highlights to do in Nyungwe Forest National Park on your holiday in Rwanda, Nyungwe forest is a hotbed of biodiversity. You will do hour’s walk to the canopy walkway from the Uwinka Reception Centre, you will see countless butterflies, orchids and colorful birds, including many endemic to the region. Thirteen species of primate live in Nyungwe, so a chance encounter isn’t out of the question. The steep forested slopes have well-maintained footpaths, which can become muddy, especially after rain.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. Nyungwe Forest sits on a 1015sq Km making it the largest remaining area of Tropical Afro Montane rainforest in East Africa. The Canopy walk in Nyungwe forest is a 3 hour thriller on a 200 meters long trail located 50 meters above the forest cover. The view at the top of the trees gives you the eagle’s eye experience and great experience of Nyungwe forest National Park

Hiking through the Forest

Nyungwe forest has different trails for hiking through the forest this will give you an opportunity to view various plants, birds, butterflies and meet primates if lucky. Some of the hiking trails gishigishigi Trail, Karamba Trail, Umugote Trail, Umoyove Trai, Uwinka Trail, Irebero Trail, Imbaraga Trail, Bigugu Trail, Isumo Trail (This trail takes hikers through verdant tea fields, a steep rainforest ravines and to top it off, the biggest waterfall in the Nyungwe National Park) Kamiranzovu Trail, Muzimu Trail, Ngabwe Trail, Rukuzi Trail. The hikes can last from one hour to full day hikes depending on the one you choose.

Colobus Monkey tracking

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. Nyungwe forest has 13 species of primates with the monkeys the dominant specie. The Rwenzori Colubus monkey is endemic to this forest, the monkey trekking can be done any time in Nyungwe forest in southern Rwanda.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. The park has many individuals and often you can find a group of 400 individual while on this trek. Just like the other primates, it is best to track them in morning when they are active feeding and grooming before they rest. Other monkey species you will see include the Grey-Cheeked Mangabeys, Blue-Monkeys, L’Hoest Monkeys, Owl Faced Monkeys and Mona Monkeys.

Where to stay in Nyungwe Forest National Park

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. The Nyungwe forest national park is surrounded by different types of accommodation facilities offering services at different costs which imply that there will certainly be a place to stay for every visitor to Nyungwe irrespective of one’s budget. Some of the recommended accommodations include the luxury One & Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel and the Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Gisakura Guesthouse.

How to get to Nyungwe forest National Park for Chimpanzee Trekking?

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. By Air, you can fly into Kamembe international Airstrip from Kigali by Rwanda. The airline offer domestic flights and one of its domestic routes is Kigali-Kamembe. RwandAir offers a minimum of 9 flights a week from Kigali to Kamembe International airport.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. The Airport is close to Nyungwe forest and some of the Hotels/Camps. You can as well access Nyungwe forest by road transport, we do offer road trips for chimpanzee safaris. It is approximately 5-6 hours’ drive to Nyungwe from Kigali city, our safaris start at 8:00am, you will have stops on the way for scenic views and photography as there is a lot to see on the way.

Why book with us Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda Nyungwe National Park

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. Wild Planet Safaris is a local tour operator based in Uganda with its head offices in Entebbe but we also operate and sell tours to Rwanda, Kenya, Congo, and Tanzania. We have a good and long working relationship with Rwanda development Board making it easy to book your chimpanzee permits, all activities in Nyungwe and services as well as Hotels. Please contact Wild Planet Safaris to plan your Chimpanzee Trek Nyungwe forest National Park.

Conclusion

In conclusion, chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park offers an extraordinary opportunity to connect with nature and witness the fascinating behavior of chimpanzees in one of Africa’s most pristine rainforest environments. From the thrill of tracking these intelligent primates to the serenity of the forest itself, every moment spent in Nyungwe leaves a lasting impression and a deeper appreciation for wildlife conservation.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. With the expertise and personalized service of Wild Planet Safaris, your journey is thoughtfully crafted to ensure a seamless and enriching adventure. Their knowledgeable guides and well-organized itineraries allow you to fully immerse yourself in this unique experience with confidence and comfort.

For travelers seeking an unforgettable primate safari, chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe stands out as a must-do activity. To plan your trip and learn more about this incredible experience, be sure to consult Wild Planet Safaris for expert guidance and tailored safari packages that bring you closer to the wonders of Africa’s wildlife.