Activities to Combine with Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Activities to Combine with Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park: Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park is the country’s most significant biodiversity hotspot and has been designated as Africa’s top priority for forest conservation. It is located in southwest Rwanda, partially bordering Burundi. It’s a big expanse of highland rainforest teeming with chimps and owl-faced and colobus monkeys. The Igishigishigi Trail’s Canopy Walkway is a high suspension bridge offering views of the valley and surrounding trees. A route leads to the Kamiranzovu Marsh, which is home to a variety of birds, orchids, and a waterfall.
Activities to Combine with Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Nyungwe forest national park is a wonderful location for primatologists, since it is home to 13 distinct species, and most tourists will participate in at least one tracking event, the most popular of which is chimpanzee tracking. Chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest national park are followed in groups of eight beginning very early in the morning, and you will only have one hour in their company once they have been discovered, like with mountain gorillas. Sightings of gorillas aren’t as consistent or as clear since they frequently linger in the forest, but their engaging playfulness and human-like qualities make the long day worthwhile.
There are a number of activities that visitors can combine with chimpanzee trekking tours in Nyungwe forest national park including;
Forest Hiking
Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda has about 130 kilometers of hiking trails, allowing tourists to explore its interior and interesting ecosystems. Walking routes in Nyungwe range in length from one to eight hours. The Igishigishigi Trail is one of the shortest walks but features East Africa’s tallest canopy walk with amazing views of Nyungwe Forest, while the 6-hour Bigugu Trail climbs to the Park’s highest peak at 2950m.
The Isumo waterfall route is a 10.6-kilometer-long path that runs through tea plantations, Nyungwe forest, and tree ferns, among other things. The Isumo waterfall walk takes around 4 hours to complete and offers views of monkeys, tree species, and other bird species.
Ngabwe trail, Ngabwe is a 4.7-kilometer-long short route. This walk takes you through the forest’s vegetation zones, where you may see primates such as colobus monkeys, chimps, and l’hoest monkeys, among others.
Karamba trail in Nyungwe forest national park is a four-kilometer-long route that is one of the simplest in the park. Hiking the Karamba trek will take you through flat and open woodland regions. Karamba trail was previously a gold mine location, but it was subsequently converted into a quarry for road building materials and is now an army base. This track is ideal for birding since you will be able to see a variety of bird species, tree ferns, orchids, and monkeys, among other things, providing you the ultimate safari experience in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Birding
The birds are stunning at Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park. There are about 310 species here, but like with most tropical woods, you’ll have to hunt hard for them. Among the specialties are giant hornbills, great blue turacos, and red-breasted sparrow hawks, 27 of which are exclusive to this portion of the Albertine Rift Valley.
Primate Tracking
Because Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to approximately 300 monkey species, monkey trekking is the biggest attraction in the park after chimpanzee trekking. Monkey trekking is an outstanding activity since the monkeys are energetic and vibrant animals that will fascinate you as you watch them jump from one tree to another. Blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, and vervet monkeys are among the monkey species found in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Extended Tours to combine with Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park can be combined with chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest national park. This safari combination is one of the best ways for you to see Great Apes during your Rwanda safari. A gorilla permit in Rwanda costs $1,500 per person and a chimpanzee permit in Nyungwe forest national park costs $150 per person.
Wildlife Viewing in Akagera National Park.
Wildlife viewing in Akagera national park is also another great activity to combine with Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest national park. Awesome activities in Akagera national park include; game drives, a boat cruise on Lake Ihema, behind the scenes tour, walk the line, community tours, birding and guided nature walks among others.
Best Time to Visit Rwanda.
Going gorilla tracking and Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is possible all year. The ideal time to visit Rwanda is during the dry season, which runs from December to early March and June to September. Rwanda has a long dry season from December to March, with temperatures reaching 29 degrees Celsius on certain days, however the months of March – Mid May, and July to September are considered wet in the nation.
Nyungwe Forest National Park, located in the southwest corner of Rwanda, is a huge unspoilt tropical rainforest with a high, dense canopy. Nyungwe became a National Park in 2004 as Rwanda tried to expand tourism beyond the country’s mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, and it is unquestionably deserving of its designation due to its outstanding biodiversity. In Africa, intact mid-elevation forests (1600-2000M) like Nyungwe are rare, yet they provide critical habitat for many species. Nyungwe is one of Africa’s few remaining areas of this critical forest.
Nyungwe forest national park is the headwaters of Africa’s major rivers. Rain that falls on the east side feeds the Nile, whereas rain that falls on the west side flows to the Congo. The Congo-Nile Divide is a mountain range that stretches through Rwanda from north to south.
The centre of Nyungwe Forest seems like something out of a fairy tale. Tall ancient mahoganies, ebonies, and massive tree ferns loom above you, with orchids and other epiphytes clinging to every branch. Brightly colored birds fly around, butterflies abound, and if you stroll silently, you may even come across bigger forest dwellers, such as the primates for whom the national park is famous.
Try East Africa’s tallest canopy walk, with a metal bridge stretched 50 meters above the forest, to gain a feel of the immensity of Nyungwe forest national park. The vistas of Nyungwe national park stretched out below are breathtaking, but it’s not for the faint of heart.