Can I see Chimpanzees In Nyungwe Forest National Park?

Can I see Chimpanzees In Nyungwe Forest National Park? : Nyungwe Forest National Park is best known for chimp trekking, but this 394-square-mile (1,020-square-kilometer) area of southern Rwanda is home to more than a dozen primate species, a spectacular diversity of flora and animals, and an amazing network of hiking routes. You’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into the set of Jurassic Park if you stroll around. To the soundtrack of a symphony of bird sounds, you’ll see 100-year-old trees, fern-fringed waterfalls, and enormous driving ants.

Nyungwe Forest National Park, located in East Africa’s biodiversity-rich Albertine Rift region, preserves over 1,000 plant species, approximately 300 bird species, over 75 distinct animals, the iconic chimp, and a dozen other primate species. It is the largest protected alpine rainforest in Africa.

Can I see Chimpanzees In Nyungwe Forest national park: Trails go through the park’s densely forested areas, bamboo thickets, and orchid-filled marshes. It is a jungle, after all, and the weather may be damp. The park gets around 2,000 mm (79 inches) of precipitation each year and supplies water to over 70% of the county. near 2006, an exploration team claimed to have discovered the Nile River’s furthest source near Nyungwe Forest.

Chimpanzee trekkers journey through its magnificent woods in order to spend one precious hour with a human-habituated chimp tribe. Over 500 chimpanzees and 350 black-and-white colobus monkeys native to the Albertine Rift are protected at Nyungwe Forest national park, and their smart antics and aerial gymnastics keep tourists staring into the canopy.

Can I see Chimpanzees In Nyungwe Forest national park: The park is home to some of the world’s most diverse primate populations, including chimps, golden monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, crowned monkeys, Dent’s Mona monkeys, velvet monkeys, olive baboons, and Angolan Colobus monkeys. If you’re lucky, you could see L’Hoest’s monkeys and the elusive owl-faced monkey playing about the roads on a slow Rwanda safari in Nyungwe Forest National Park.

If seeing primates isn’t your thing, the park boasts a network of 13 hiking trails ranging from the 1.2-mile (2-kilometer) Karamba Trail, which is ideal for birders, to the strenuous Mount Bigugu Trail, which climbs to the park’s highest point. Hardy hikers may also see a magnificent waterfall on the four-hour Isumo Trail or camp for three days on the Congo Nile Trail.

What to expect during chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park?

Small groups of visitors embark on guided chimp trekking trips in Nyungwe forest national park early in the morning from the Uwinka Reception Center. You’ll be led by a local expert guide and accompanied by armed rangers for your safety as you journey across hilly terrain with inevitably muddy forest floors in search of one of two human-habituated chimps. It’s impossible to say how long it will take to discover the chimps, but the entire chimp experience in Nyungwe forest national park might take close to half a day.

Once you’ve located the chimpanzee colony, your guide and rangers will assist you in finding a suitable place to see the chimps while informing you on their behavior and social lives. To protect the animals from respiratory infections, they will urge you to keep a minimum distance of 32 feet and prevent contact at all times while wearing a facemask. The chimps may not always remain in the same position, and you may need to keep up with their moves.

How much is a chimpanzee trekking permit in Nyungwe Forest National Park?

A permit for guided chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park costs USD 150 per person per trek (for foreigners). You may get your chimp permit from the RDB or from a reputable local safari operator.

Although permits for monitoring chimpanzees in Nyungwe or Cyamudongo forests are not as restricted as those for gorilla tracking, we strongly urge you to get yours ahead of your Rwanda safari trip. Alternatively, for USD 40, travelers can choose for a moderately priced guided nature walk or hike in the park.

When is the best time to go chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park?

Late June to early September is dry season and high season in Nyungwe forest for a reason: the rain forest is spared regular downpours, allowing you to explore all day. Even during the rainy season, which lasts from March to May, rains usually occur in the afternoon, giving you plenty of time for a morning hike and an outdoor meal. You’ll also have less competition for excursions and better hotel costs.

How to get to Nyungwe Forest National Park?

Nyungwe Forest National Park is about 225 kilometers (140 miles) from Kigali, or four to five hours by car. Many guests prefer to rent a car and driver. Travelers on a budget can take a bus from Kigali’s primary bus station.

You may also fly into Kamembe Airport, which is about a half-hour drive from the park’s western side, and arrange for pickup with your lodge. To track chimpanzees from the Uwinka Reception Center, you’ll need a four-by-four vehicle.