Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda

Over time, Rwanda has emerged as one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa. This is great considering that it’s a small, landlocked nation. Long-term economic growth was achieved by the new administration’s prioritization of infrastructure renewal and expansion throughout the economy.

Apart from efficient governance, other factors contributing to this expansion were the mitigation of corruption and the promotion of concord among the nation’s diverse ethnic communities. The government of Rwanda has worked very hard to promote and modernize its tourist attractions.

Modern highways and first-rate hotels have been built in both the city and the countryside. The Rwandan government has also taken action to promote the nation abroad and increase travel opportunities. Recently, the nation worked with Arsenal to sell the team’s official shirt, which generated a lot of media attention.

Along with the establishment of new animal protection sites like the Gishwati-Mukura National Park came the introduction of new activities like hiking the Congo Nile Trail and chimp trekking in Rwanda.

The primary reason most people travel to Rwanda is to see the mountain gorillas. In order to increase variety and cater to visitors who are interested in longer safaris, chimpanzee monitoring was implemented in Nyungwe National Park. This makes it possible for visitors to go on a monkey safari and view 13 different species of monkeys.

Nyamaungwe Forest Gorillas

One of Rwanda’s best-known tourist destinations is Nyungwe Forest National Park, which is mostly made up of Nyungwe forest and Cyamudongo woodland. In addition to 275 known bird species, 13 monkeys, 85 other mammals, over 1000 plant species, butterflies, moths, and reptiles can also be found in the park. One of Africa’s oldest Afro-montane forests, Nyungwe Forest stretches as far as the borders of Burundi and the Congo.

Many rivers, most notably the massive Congo and those in the Nile basin, receive their water from the Nyungwe forest.

The primary attraction of the park is still the chimpanzees, with forest canopy climbs coming in second despite the rich biodiversity. Every year, thousands of people come to the park to witness these exquisite monkeys in their natural setting. Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda

With similar DNA, chimpanzees and gorillas are the closest relatives of humans. Chimpanzees have the most advanced brains of any animal on earth, with the exception of humans. Chimpanzees are social animals who can show sympathy for one another as well as use tools to assist with daily tasks.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park

Before going on chimpanzee treks at Nyungwe National Park, training takes place at the park headquarters. All travelers are required to be at the park headquarters early in order to attend the briefing.

Information about chimpanzees and the appropriate behavior around them will be given by park workers. Visitors will be assigned to chimpanzee populations in either Nyungwe Forest Main or Cyamudongo Forest to observe after the training. After that, the Rangers will lead the guests into the jungle to find the primates.

There’s plenty to see in the bush when tracking the chimpanzees. As mentioned earlier, there are twelve more species of primates living in the Nyungwe forest. Among them are the Angolan colobus monkeys, silver monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, olive baboons, dent’s monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, mona monkeys, Ruwenzori monkeys, vervet monkeys, golden monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and halmyn’s monkeys.

In addition to the smaller primates, there are waterfalls, butterflies, and other forest dwellers to see.

Among the most ambulatory primates are chimpanzees. They hardly ever spend a long time at one location. They spend more time in treetop positions, making tracking more challenging. You have to be ready to stick with them for a while before they calm down. Binoculars, patience, and a good camera are also needed. As with gorillas, it is not possible to have up-close interactions with chimpanzees.

They prefer to stay apart even after they become used to each other. Chimpanzees can be located from kilometres away even before they are physically present, and they make far more noise. Chimpanzee groups are somewhat theatrical, in contrast to gorilla families, who are often calm and compassionate. Rwanda Trekking with Chimpanzees

How to Approach Chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest Up Close

Nyungwe Forest and Kigali are roughly 218 kilometers apart. This indicates that you would spend about six hours driving.

In Rwanda, the best time to go chimpanzee trekking is during the rainy season. Because there is an abundance of food during the rainy season, monkeys gather in one place, creating special challenges for trackers. The chimpanzees search deep into the forest for food and fruit during the dry season because there is little to eat. It could take up to four hours to track them this far into the jungle. It is possible for some unlucky travelers to completely miss them during the dry season.

As you now know, there is no guarantee that you will come across chimpanzees in the Nyungwe forest. This is due to the fact that during particular months of the year, they prefer to stray far into the vast forest in search of food. You can’t count on seeing the primates every time. But because of technology and a group of advanced trackers sent out to find them before dawn, the chances of seeing them are over 90%.

There is a 90% chance of coming across them in Cyamudongo woods. This is because the Cyamudongo woods is surrounded by farms and communities and is isolated from the larger Nyungwe forest. This forest island is where the chimpanzees usually gather.

Chimpanzee permits in Rwanda are $90. Included in this amount are park ranger and entry fees. You can get permission straight from your trip operator or from the tourism department of the Rwanda Development Board.

The minimum age to track chimpanzees in Rwanda is thirteen years old. Trackers need to pack appropriately for the dense alpine forest. For chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest, you’ll need sturdy hiking boots, long-sleeved shirts, a helmet or cap, bug repellents, a professional camera, drinks, dry food, a raincoat, and binoculars. Make sure you hire a porter to assist you if you need to move heavy luggage or a camera.

Additional Activities at National Park Nyungwe

encounters with other primates

Rwanda’s greatest population of small primates can be found in the Nyungwe forest. Twelve other primates live in the woodland in addition to chimpanzees. Among them are Angola Colobus monkeys, olive baboons, silver monkeys, mona monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and vervet monkeys. On a nature walk or when tracking the chimpanzees, you may observe a few of the smaller monkeys.

Canopy Walk

The only national park in East Africa with canopy walks is Nyungwe National Park. Through the thick woodland, participants ride a rope track. As a reward, they get to see the jungle from above, where they may spot all kinds of birds, monkeys, and plants.

The canopy route is 50 meters above the ground; therefore, you need to be psychologically ready if you’re afraid of heights. The two-hour canopy forest experience starts in Uwinka.

Rwanda Chimpanzee Hiking and Observation

The Nyungwe forest is a suitable habitat for birds since it has rivers, streams, and highland trees. The Rwandan woods is home to a greater variety of bird species than any other area. There are currently about 275 recognized species.

The most prevalent bird species are the Rwenzori nightjar, Congo bay owlet, regal sunbird, Rwenzori ground thrush, Olive, and Elliot woodpecker. It’s possible that the birds were seen while chimp tracking, canopy hiking, or nature walks. Remember to bring binoculars when you visit Nyungwe National Park.

Visitation of a Waterfall

Being a water catchment area for the Congo and Nile basins, Nyungwe National Park has a variety of streams and waterfalls that might be of interest to you. The most famous is the Isumo waterfall, which is close to the opulent Nyungwe House resort. It’s a long journey to this waterfall for visitors. The waterfall is gorgeous and perfect for taking a bath. Rwanda Trekking with Chimpanzees

walks in the natural world

Nature walks in the Nyungwe forest offer visitors a unique chance to study every kind of plant and animal. Any of the park’s main routes might serve as the starting point for the hikes. The well-known paths are the Canopy Trail, the Congo Nile Route, the Isumo Waterfall Trail, the Bigugu Trail, the Karamba Birding Path, the Ngabwe Trail, the Rukuzi Trail, and the Kamiranzovu Marsh Trail. Park rangers lead these two- to four-hour environmental hike sessions. Park Rangers will help identify different plant, bird, and animal species, ensuring that the entire exercise is instructive.

After Rwanda, go on nature walks with chimpanzees. Trekking with Chimpanzees

In addition to producing tea for the nation, this tea plantation was constructed to keep wild animals away from populated areas. Over time, they have developed into a stand-alone tourist destination.

The tea was planted on a mountainside overlooking beautiful scenery. Touring the tea plantation teaches visitors a lot about the production and handling of tea. The entire process is explained to visitors, starting with setting up the nursery beds, continuing with planting, weeding, and harvesting, and concluding with turning the leaves into tea that may be consumed.

Interactions between cultures and communities

While visiting Nyungwe National Park, you can schedule a tour of one of the rural communities outside the park. You can visit the Banda Community Village or the Kitabi Cultural Village.

Any of the two settlements can introduce you to the typical Rwandan peasant’s way of life. In addition to getting to know their social life, you may take the initiative and assist them with tasks like building bricks, brewing beer, cooking traditional foods, or taking care of domestic animals

Additionally, you might go to a lot of schools and community/women’s initiatives. Following these narrated excursions across the village, there will be cultural performances, including theater, dance, and music.