Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda is done in the remote famous Nyungwe Forest National Park. Rwanda is one of the three countries in the world gifted with the endangered mountain gorillas, the country is in central Africa its landlocked and famously known as land of a thousand hills. Chimpanzees are human closest relatives with 98.7 DNA.
Chimpanzee trekking is not as easy as gorilla trekking as chimpanzees are always on the move so it might sometimes require running to catch up, they always communicate by thunderous slapping of tree barks, loud screams, and signals.
When it comes to primates in Rwanda, Nyungwe forest has got the highest concentration of primates in the country, it boasts 13 primate species and about 300 species of birds, butterflies, and orchids can also be seen here not forgetting the great chimpanzees for Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda.
In Rwanda there are three places where you can trek chimpanzees from that is Nyungwe Forest National Park, Gishwati Mukura National Park, and Cyamudongo Forest. Chimpanzees can live for 40-45 years and are known to be intelligent.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda in Nyungwe Forest National Park tourists will have great opportunities to see other primates like the Rwenzori colobus, black-faced vervet monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, they can go hiking and the most interesting activity here is the Nyungwe canopy walks that will give you one of your best lifetime experiences.
Chimpanzees trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park can be combined with an experience of gorilla trekking at Volcanoes National Park, chimpanzees in Cyamudongo forest can easily be found while trekking than chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest because Cyamudongo forest is smaller in size making chimpanzees easily accessible.
When trekking chimpanzees in the Nyungwe forest, tourists have three reception centers to set off for chimpanzee trekking. These centers are; Uwinka which is the main, Kitabi, and Gisakura. There are trackers who go ahead to track chimpanzees earlier on and then communicate with ranger guides on where to find them this is because chimpanzees nest in different places every night.
There are various accommodation units where tourists can stay while on a chimpanzee trekking tour, some of which are Inzozi Beach Hotel, Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Gisharuka Guest House, and Nyungwe Top Hill Hotel among the rest.
The price for Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda at Nyungwe Forest National Park is $90 per person and tourists are not limited to any time to observe and study chimpanzees unlike gorillas where observation time is strictly one hour from the time, they find them.
Children under the age of 16 years will not be allowed to trek chimpanzees, tourists will be advised to carry rain jackets, hiking shoes, insect repellents, drinking water, and some energizing snacks.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda is more of an advantage than trekking mountain gorillas because gorilla permits are more expensive than chimpanzee permits. The estimated number of chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park is 500 there are chances that you will trek chimpanzees and not even see them but once you get the memories are unforgettable.
Nyungwe forest can be accessed within an hour’s drive from Kigali city of Rwanda while Cyamudongo is a four-and-a-half drive from the city of Kigali.