Planning to do Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda? Well read more. In the past 10 years, the government of Rwanda has positioned her as a tourism hot spot in the region. A sizeable chunk of the government’s budget has been set aside to turn the country as a leading tourism destination through extensive marketing and promotion to the outside world. President Paul Kagame has been at the forefront of all these efforts and encouraged diversity were attractions like the Congo Nile Trail are now emerging favorites.
Despite the diversification, the key attraction in Rwanda still remains the primates. Gorilla trekking is
arguably the most attractive activity in Rwanda . Gorilla permits in Rwanda now cost $1500 per person but this hasn’t stopped tourists from flocking into the country to see the primates. But it has caused some to seek for alternatives like chimpanzee trekking.
Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is organized in Nyungwe forest. This long stretch of montane rain-forest is the largest in Africa at the moment and a great conservation sight attracting researchers and scientists who are interested in primate research. The forest is part of the wide Nyungwe National Park which now includes the Cyamudongo forest. Nyungwe forest is a key water catchment area in the country producing rains that feed rivers like the Nile in Uganda and others in Congo. Nyungwe forest is a great bird sanctuary with over 310 species. Birders will be able to spot paradise flycatchers, Chapin’s flycatcher, purple-breasted sunbirds, Rockefellers’ sunbird, red-collared mountain babblers and Ruwenzori turacos among many others.
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest
Chimpanzees are man’s closest relatives.
They share many of our traits and are arguably the most intelligent Apes after we humans. They are known to live up to 60 years in captivity. In Rwanda, chimps can be found in three main places – Nyungwe National Park (Nyungwe and Cyamudongo forests) and Gishwati Mukura National Park Nyungwe National Park has the highest population of Chimps(over 400 individuals) and other primates – 13 species in total. Two chimpanzee communities have been partially habituated in Nyungwe National Park. Most live in Nyungwe forest (60 individuals) while the rest are found in Cyamudongo Forest (30 individuals).
Other species include blue monkeys, mona monkeys, silver monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, the Dent’s monkey, black faced ververt monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, baboons, grey-cheeked Mangabeys, Rwenzori colobus, black and white colobus monkeys.
The Difference...
Chimpanzee trekking is different from Gorilla trekking in many ways. Chimps are stubborn, noisy and very mobile. Because they are lighter, they spend a lot of their time on top of the trees unlike mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas are very gentle and peaceful. They will eat quietly and interact with less provocation and drama in the group. Tracking chimpanzees requires one to be fit enough in order to follow the primates for long periods as they make quick movements both on the ground and on top of trees before settling down.
According to our package, Chimpanzee trekking begins with briefing at 5:00am. The briefing takes place in either Uwinka, Gisakura or Kitabi. You need to wake up as early as 4:30am so that you take breakfasts and prepare to start the activity. As already mentioned above, the forest is large. The only way to find the chimps is to try and reach them before they head out for the day. A group of trackers go ahead of the team to find the location of the chimps before communicating to the lead Ranger /Guide about where to find them. The trackers and rangers are very experienced and knowledgeable about the chimp communities and where to find them.
- Tips and packing list for Chimpanzee tracking in Rwanda
- Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest is organized throughout the year. However, the best time for chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park is during the rainy/wet season. During this time, there is plenty of food in the forest which limits the movement of the chimps. During the dry season, the chimps go deep in the vast forest in search of fruits hence making it more difficult to track them. The dry season is ideal for those who are interested in the canopy and nature walks.
- There is no guarantee that you will be able to see them especially in Nyungwe forest.
- Tracking the chimpanzees in Cyamudongo offers a greater chance of finding them because the forest is smaller and isolated.
- The price of a chimpanzee trekking is $150 per person. One also has to pay $100 as park entrance. Bookings are made directly through the Rwanda Development Board or your Tour Operator. The chimpanzee permit fee includes a ranger and guide assigned to move with you and your group. You will be required to show your chimpanzee tracking permit at the park entrance just before proceeding to the beginning point.
- Visitors can spend more time observing the chimpanzees unlike with mountain gorillas where the viewing time is strictly one hour.
- Children under the age of 16 years will not be allowed to track chimpanzees.
- It takes four hours of driving by road to reach Nyungwe forest from the capital Kigali. One can also take a domestic flight from Kigali to an airstrip close to the park office.
- Unlike mountain gorillas, the chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest are not fully habituated. They are not as organized as mountain gorillas. Chimpanzees don’t settle in one place and this makes for a demanding but also thrilling task of following them wherever they go. It is for this reason that sighting them is not guaranteed. However, most people who track the chimps see them eventually because of the advanced methods of tracking and the ability of the experienced Rangers to know their previous place of rest.
- While planning for chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe National Park think about packing enough drinks, snacks, rain jacket, good hiking shoes, a longs sleeved shirt, sun glasses and insect repellent. Do not forget to move with a good camera and binoculars.
Although chimpanzee tracking is the most popular activity in Nyungwe forest, visitors can also take part in tracking smaller primates, canopy walks, nature walks, bird watching, visiting the tea plantations and visiting one of the waterfalls. It may now be possible to do the chimpanzee habituation in Rwanda too.
Spotting other primates: Nyungwe National Park is one of the best places to spot primates in Africa. With 13 species, this can be compared to Kibale National Park in Uganda. The most sought out species after the chimpanzees is the Rwenzori and Angola Colobus. The Angola Colobus Monkey is now extinct in Angola itself. About 400 Angola Colobus are semi-habituated in the park. Golden Monkeys are also present in the through not habituated.
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