Primate Holidays

Chimpanzee Trekking In Rwanda

Chimpanzee Trekking In Rwanda : On a safari in Rwanda, you can go for chimpanzee trekking, which is a fascinating and unique safari experience. Tourists can get their chimpanzee trekking permits and begin their safari adventure here. Rwanda’s Nyungwe forest is the site for chimpanzee trekking safaris. Located in southern Rwanda, Nyungwe Forest National Park is a highland rainforest.

Over 13 different primate species, including over 500 chimpanzees, can be found in Ngungwe Forest National Park, where chimpanzee trekking safari takes place. Other primates found in the park include Vervet monkeys, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, Grey-cheeked mangabeys, Dent’s Mona Monkeys, L’Hoest’s, and others. Because chimpanzees share 99% of our genetic make-up, going on a safari to see them is one of the most sought-after things to do on vacation. Chimpanzee trekking safari provides visitors with a unique opportunity to witness ”human behaviour,” as chimpanzees and other apes have been observed communicating with loud screams, hoots, and other sounds, making this aspect of the Rwanda  safari the most exciting part of the experience.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park. 

An orientation to the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking precedes on the first day of chimpanzee trekking safari. Kitabi, Uwinka (the primary centre), and Gisakura are the three main starting points for chimpanzee trekking. This is where guests are greeted by park rangers. This is where trekkers can be grouped up into different groups, each of which would be assigned a guide who would lead them on a search for the chimps’ habitat.

While exploring the forest in search of chimpanzees, visitors are likely to come across a number of other interesting sights, such as other primates like Vervet monkeys, a wide variety of birds, and a wide range of flora. The duration of a chimpanzee trekking safari in Nyungwe Forest National Park ranges from 30 minutes to 6 hours.

And after the chimps have been spotted, you’ll have an hour to spend with them. During this time, you can observe the chimpanzees in their natural habitat and learn what makes them so similar to us (scientific evidence suggests that chimpanzees share 99 percent of their DNA with humans). That’s when you get the best shots of the chimps playing, eating, and grooming the young, and it’s also the perfect time to film a movie for them.

After an hour, you’ll return to the safari’s original starting location to pick up your chimpanzee trekking certificates for the chimpanzee trekking safari excursion into Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Chimpanzee Trekking In Rwanda
Nyungwe Chimps

Cost of chimpanzee trekking permit in Nyungwe forest national park. 

Chimpanzee trekking permits in Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park cost US$90 for tourists who are foreign residents, whereas East African citizens pay only US$60.

Vital tips for carrying out chimpanzee trekking safari in Nyungwe forest national park. 

To go on a chimpanzee trekking safari in Nyungwe Forest National Park, you need a chimpanzee trekking permit.

You must be above 16 years of age.

Protective gear, including hiking boots, trousers, long-sleeved shirts and rain coats, is strongly recommended for chimpanzee trekking. You are advised to come along with bottled drinking water, snacks during chimpanzee trekking safari.

Where to stay in Nyungwe Forest National Park. 

Tourists who come to do chimpanzee trekking safari in Nyungwe Forest national park are provided with various accommodation facilities categorized into budget, mid-range and luxury that includes the Nyungwe Top view hill hotel, Inzozi beach hotel, Nyungwe Nziza Eco lodge, Chimpanzee lodge, Gisakura Guest House, Nyungwe forest lodge, and many others.

In addition to Rwanda, other safari destinations where chimpanzee trekking takes place include Uganda’s Kibale Forest National Park, Budongo Forest, Kalinzu Forest, and Kyambura Gorge, Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park, Mahale Mountains National Park, to name just a few.