Chimpanzee Trekking And Tracking in Rwanda

Chimpanzee tracking in Rwanda, specially takes place in Nyungwe National Park and Gishwati Mukura national Park, each located in Western Rwanda. This bucket list primate activity, has become the second most sought after primate activity, after gorilla trekking in Rwanda, and is done in Giswati Forest, Mukura Forest & Nyungwe Forest.

Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda offers a unique experience of traversing through the thick trails to find the assigned chimpanzee community, to have an intimate interaction with them in their natural habitat. Within a period of 60 minutes, travelers usually enjoy opportunity of watching them feed, play, build their nests among other daily activities.

Like the mountain gorillas, chimpanzees are an endangered species,  belonging to the great Ape, who share up to 99.8% of their DNA with humans, thus making them human cousins.

The cost of a chimpanzee trekking experience permit in Rwanda is $90 USD per person for Foreign Non Residents, $60 USD for the foreign residents, and 5000 Rwandan francs for the Rwandan Citizens.

Chimpanzee Tracking In Nyungwe national Park

Located in Southwestern Rwanda bout 5 to 6 hours by road from Kigali City, Nyungwe Forest National Park is celebrated for being a home to about 500 chimpanzee populations, among other 13 primate species noted here.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest  National Park begins from any of the 3 sections including:  Uwinka reception, the Kitabi reception center and Gisakura reception centers.

Nyungwe National Park has 2 troops of habituated chimpanzees which are set for tourism purposes, with one at Uwinka, and the other at Cyamudongo forest, which is situated in the Eastern Park of the Park.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest national Park  entirely relies on the behavior of the group, and the condition in which they are in. Chimpanzee trekking starts with briefing in the morning, and on finding them, you will be with them for only 1 hours so as to get familiar with their daily schedules. Not only will guests trek chimpanzees, but also have the chance  to encounter other primate species like: Vervet monkeys, white & black colobus monkeys among other species.

When To visit Nyungwe For Chimpanzee Trekking?

The best time of the year to visit the park is during the dry months of December, January, February, June, August and September, because the trails are dry or less slippery, light vegetation growth, less/no rains which offers favorable conditions to follow through different trails, searching for chimpanzees. This is the best time to go chimpanzee trekking, although it is also important to note that, it is during this season that chimpanzees wander furthest into the thick forest to look for food, hence leading to longer day treks to locate them.

Rules & Regulations for chimpanzee trekking?

• he age limit for tracking chimpanzees begins from 15 years of age, below which are not allowed to track, neither can they go for habituation.
• Trackers and equally Researchers are not allowed to eat, drink or smoke in the presence of the chimpanzees.
• No visitor is allowed to go against the rules of the ranger guides but instead follow their commands
• Travelers who are suffering from Cold, flu, Diarrhea, fever are not allowed to  track chimpanzees,
• All travelers are advised to stand at least 7 to 8 meters further a part from the chimpanzee.
• All visitors are not allowed to provoke chimpanzees since they always need their freedom.