Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest national park
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest national park; chimpanzee trekking is the second major activity in Rwanda after gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park that attracts a number of visitors. Nyungwe forest national park is a home of more than 500 chimpanzees and trekking involves moving on foot deep into the forest in search of the habituated chimpanzee families and once found spend one hour with them in their natural habitat. Nyungwe national park is known for its rich biodiversity which is comprised of 1050 tree species, 200 orchids, 120 butterfly species, 310 bird species and about 85 mammals including 13 primates namely chimpanzees, l’hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, owl faced monkeys, crowned monkeys, red tailed monkeys, Dents mona monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey among others.
Chimpanzee trekking experience
Chimpanzee trekking is one of the top activities in Nyungwe forest national park and it starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during trekking. After the briefing you will start trekking in the forest with the company of an armed park ranger and an experienced park guide who is well conversant with different trails. Trekking of chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest national park takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to spot other primate species like red tailed monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, vervet monkey, view different bird species, colorful butterflies, plants among others. once the chimpanzees are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural environment which gives you a chance to observe their habits, lifestyle, take photos, watch them play, feed, breastfeed, hunt, fight, rest and record the moments with a flash less camera.
Cost of a chimpanzee trekking permit in Nyungwe forest national park
A chimpanzee trekking permit is a legal document that is issued by Rwanda development Board to any visitor allowing him or her to visit the habituated chimpanzee family in Nyungwe forest national park. A chimpanzee trekking permit in Nyungwe forest national park costs USD 90 per person for foreign non residents, USD 60 per person for foreign residents and 5000 Rwanda francs. The chimpanzee trekking permit included one hour in the presence of the chimpanzees, park entrance fees, services of a park guide and ranger.
Chimpanzee trekking permits in Nyungwe forest national park can be booked directly through Rwanda development board by contacting the offices through email or telephone calls. Chimpanzee trekking permits can as well be booked through a tour operator like Achieve Global Safaris whereby you will contact us with your names, date and month when you wish to visit the chimpanzees. After contacting us we will check for permit availability and once there are permits available you will be asked to make a deposit for the permit and we will purchase it on your behalf.
Best time to go for chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest national park
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest national park can be done anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the dry season also known as the peak season in the months of June to September and December to February. During the dry season there is less rainfall in the park therefore vegetation will be thin which makes viewing of chimpanzees and other wildlife species easy. During the dry season access roads to the park and chimpanzee trekking trails will be passable compared to the wet season when the trekking trails are muddy and slippery hence making chimpanzee trekking difficult.
What to pack during your chimpanzee trekking safari in Nyungwe
- Hiking shoes to keep your feet dry and protect you from getting painful injuries.
- Long sleeved shirt and trouser to keep you warm and protect your body from branch scratches, thorns.
- Drinking water to keep you hydrated
- Garden gloves to protect you from germs and thorny plants
- insect repellent to protect your body from insect bites like
- A camera and extra batteries to take photos and record videos.
- A pair of binoculars which will help you to spot chimpanzees and other wildlife species such as birds from a distance.
- Waterproof rain jacket to protect you from rainfall because Nyungwe national park is a tropical rain forest and can rain anytime of the day.
- Backpack to carry your chimpanzee trekking equipments such as drinking water, insect repellent, camera, a pair of binoculars among others.
For fascinating and unforgettable chimpanzee trekking experiences, Nyungwe forest national park is the best destination to visit.
