Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, Chimpanzee tracking tours and safaris

Chimpanzee tracking at Nyungwe National park, is one amongst the top ranking activities in Rwanda.  Just like Gorilla trekking, Chimpanzee tracking is in fact the most breath taking activity carried out by many travelers to Rwanda, most especially those who love primates.

Chimpanzee tracking has for along time been the driving force behind  Rwanda tourism just like  gorilla trekking, but since the gorilla permits hiked to $1500, the chimps have been an option for visitors to the land of a thousand hills, whose permits goes for an affordable cost of $100.

Besides Chimpanzee trekking, primate lovers who have visited Nyungwe have also great encounters with other primates including 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. among others.

Why track chimpanzees in Nyungwe national Park in Rwanda?

As man’s closest relatives, sharing many traits, and known have a life span of up to 60 years in captivity. These chimpanzees can only be found in two places in Nyungwe National park, including Nyungwe forest and Cyamudongo forest, although some chimpanzees are also found in Gishwati Mukura National park in Rwanda.

Nyungwe National park in Rwanda is known to having the highest number of chimpanzees, and only two chimpanzee families are habituated for tracking in the country, that is to say, 60 chimpanzee individuals in cyamudongo whereas Nyungwe forest has only 30.

During Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest national Park, trackers have the whole forest at their disposal, encountering other species like mammals, birds butterflies, birds and different species of birds

Chimpanzee trekking experience

Chimpanzee tracking requires enough physical strength to follow the intelligent primates,  for longer periods, since the chimps are stubborn, noisy and very mobil. This is because they are lighter, they spend a lot of their time on top of the trees.

Chimpanzee tracking begins with an early morning briefing at 5:00am, which may take place either in Uwinka, Gisakuru or in Kitabi. All trackers are urged to arrive early so as to catch up with the chimps before they head out for the days. A group of renowned trackers leave for the forest to find the exact location of the chimpanzees before they communicate to the lead ranger/guide about where to find them.

Both rangers and guides are English/french speaking who are not only knowledgeable and skillfully but also experienced and know when, how and when to handle the chimpanzees in Nyungwe National park.

Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest national Park takes about 2 to 6 hours or longer, including an hour in the presence of the primates and observe them closely and take photos, while you will also watch them groom each other, mate, breastfeed, play and start fights. Some members of the group are quiet while others are more vocal. Like humans, they have their group dynamics and internal politics. Although chimps are curious about humans, they will tend to keep their distance.

Best time to visit chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest national Park

Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe forest national Park is an all year round activity, but most preferably the wet months of October, November, December, January, February, March, April and May are the best for chimp tracking whereas the drier seasons are comfortable for spotting other primates , say from June to September.