Chimpanzee Trekking in Cyamudongo Forest
Chimpanzee Trekking in Cyamudongo Forest in Nyungwe Forest National Park: Cyamudongo forest is situated in Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda and it is the best place for chimpanzee trekking tours in Rwanda. Cyamudongo forest covers 19 square kilometers of Nyungwe national park in Rwanda. The forest hosts the largest population of chimpanzees with a total of approximately 100 individuals and about 43 members are habituated and can be tracked by tourists.
Cyamudongo was part of the Nyungwe Forest National Park until victims of the 1994 Rwanda genocide migrated there to dwell. The majority of the land was cleared for habitation, and another for agriculture, but when the Rwandan government interfered, the region had to be gazetted in order to safeguard the wild creatures that lived in the park, and it is the chimpanzees that have made this park renowned today.
Apart from trekking chimpanzees; monkeys such as blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, and crowned monkeys live in Cyamudongo forest, as do mammals such as elephants, buffaloes, duikers, and giant forest hogs, and birds such as eastern mountain greenbul, dwarf honey guide, blue-headed sunbird, handsome francolin, and regal sunbird, to name a few.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Cyamudongo Forest in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
This is one of the activities available in Rwanda’s Cyamudongo forest. One of the two completely habituated chimp groups in Nyungwe forest national park is situated in Cyamudongo woodland. There are about 100 chimpanzees in Cyamudongo forest, but only approximately 30 are completely habituated and available for tourists at all times of the year.
Chimpanzee trekking in Cyamudongo forest in Nyungwe Forest national park begins with a briefing where park wardens teach visitors about the dos and don’ts of chimp trekking. Following the briefing, the tourists are escorted by ranger guides into the forest, where they use several walking pathways to seek for endangered apes. Tourists can observe several forest creatures, birds, and tree species while looking for chimps.
After 2-4 hours or more of looking for chimps in this park, trekkers are allowed an hour to be among these primates who share 98% human DNA, during which they may learn about their routines, see them conduct everyday tasks like as hunting, patrolling, nesting, playing, and taking photographs.
How much does it cost to trek chimpanzees in Cyamudongo Forest in Nyungwe?
Those with appropriate trekking permits can hike these chimpanzees, which cost $90 per person from Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Other Activities Offered in Cyamudongo Forest in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Birding
The Cyamudongo forest may be modest in size, but it is home to a large number of bird species. To get the most out of your birding experience at Cyamudongo, bring your birding book, a camera, and a pair of binoculars to observe distant species. Kungwe Apalis, Roos’ Turaco, Congo forest biome, strange weaver, dusky crimson wing, Rwenzori batis, Rockefeller’s sunbird, handsome francolin, archer robin’s chat, Chapin’s flycatcher, red collared mountain babbler, strip breasted tit, and blue-throated apalis are among the birds found in Cyamudongo forest.
Guided Nature Walks and Hiking Tours
Nature walks may be done in the Cyamudongo forest, but only with the assistance of a guide. The guides lead the nature treks to safeguard tourists from potentially harmful forest creatures. The nature walks are done on several pathways inside the forest, and travelers may view various birds, animals, primates, and plant species during the activity.
Canopy Walk.
Tourists on a chimpanzee trekking safari to Cyamudongo forest in Nyungwe forest national park can add the canopy walk to their itinerary and begin their journey from Nyungwe forest. Participants must first proceed to the Uwinka park headquarters for a briefing, after which rangers will escort you through the Igishigishigi trial to the canopy’s starting point. The canopy walk is performed on a 90-meter-long bridge built 50 meters above the ground, providing travelers with an overhead perspective of the park’s animals, birds, water sources, flora, and neighboring landscapes.
Community Cultural Tour
Tourists can visit any of the adjacent settlements while on a safari to Cyamudongo forest for trekking or bird watching. This will allow students to connect with locals, observe them going about their daily lives, participate in rituals, visit art and craft businesses, listen to old people tell stories, and be entertained by traditional dancers.
Best Time for Chimpanzee Trekking in Cyamudongo Forest in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
The Cyamudongo forest in Nyungwe forest national park may be visited at any time of year; however certain months are better than others. The drier months, which occur from June to September and December to February, are ideal for visiting this woodland. These months have little to no rainfall, leaving the trails in the forest dry, the foliage short, allowing clear views of the park animals, and the roads connecting to this forest navigable.
Tourists may still visit Cyamudongo forest during the rainy season, which runs from March to May and October to November, but they should be aware that the trekking routes are muddy and slippery, the foliage is dense, and the roads leading to the park are impassable.
Where to stay when trekking chimpanzees in Cyamudongo Forest in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Tourists who want to spend a night or two in Cyamudongo forest can stay in the area around Nyungwe forest national park. One & Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Top View Hotel, Gisakura Guest House, Gisakura Family Hostel, Gisakura Visitor Guesthouse, Emeraude Kivu Resort, Peace Guesthouse, Hotel du Lac, Rusizi Progress Hotel, Golden Monkey Hotels, Comoran Lodge, and Delta Resort Hotel are among the accommodations available.
