Category: Chimpanzee Trekking

Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda and Rwanda.

Best Chimpanzee Trekking destinations in Rwanda.

NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK                         

Nyungwe Forest National Park is Rwanda’s largest forest with flushing biodiversity located in the southwestern part of Rwanda bordering Burundi. The national park was opened in the year 2004 covering an area of about 1,019 kilometers squared whose nearest town is Cyangugu.

This is the most reserved rainforest in Africa located in the watershed of Congo Basin in the west and River Nile Basin in the east. Nyungwe Forest National Park has about 1068 different plant species, 322 stunning bird species, 75 mammals, and 13 primates which make it one of the places that give astonishing adventures to tourists creating lifetime memories. The forest also acts as Rwanda’s largest water drainage area.

CHIMPANZEE TREKKING IN NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK.

Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is done in Nyungwe forest which is part of Nyungwe National Park that now has Cyamudongo forest. Besides chimpanzees, Nyungwe forest is also a great bird’s haven with 322 bird species residing over there like the Ruwenzori turaco, purple-breasted sunbirds, and flycatchers among others.

The trekking process starts in the morning with a short briefing at either Uwinka, Gisakura, or Kitabi reception centers.

Chimpanzee trekking is usually done by a maximum of 8 persons per trip and involves following the trails of the forest till you get to encounter these primates and this takes about 2 to 4 hours. Once you get in touch, you are given some time to spend with them as you observe how they carry out their daily activities like breastfeeding, eating, and playing among others.

Chimpanzee trekking is determined by where these primates spent a night because if they slept at the extreme end of the forest then the trekking process has to be long but if they slept nearer, then you will not have difficulties trekking. The tour or park guides know where to find the primates, so they will be of much help to you.  Chimpanzees can be spotted at two spots, Cyamudongo and Uwinka in the Nyungwe forest. The park is raised between 1600m to 2950m above sea level hence one needs to be fit and flexible enough to be able to carry out the trekking.

WHAT YOU WILL ENCOUNTER DURING THE TREK?

While on the search for these chimpanzees, you are able to see stunning bird species like the great blue turaco, eastern nicator, yellow spotted nicator, crowned eagle, yellow-rumped tinkerbird, collared apalis, dusky crimsonwing, blue-headed crimsonwing among others.

One is able to spot primates like the vervet monkey, black and white colobus monkeys, and olive baboons among others. Different animal species that can be spotted include duikers, klipspringer, bushbucks, buffaloes, elephants, bush pigs, western tree hyrax, and the Congo clawless.

There are a lot more tree species to see such as entandrophragma in the mahogany tree species and the herbaceous ferns.

HOW TO GET TO NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

Nyungwe forest can be accessed by road since it is the most common and cheapest means of transport that tourists use. The route takes about 4 to 6 hours from Kigali the capital city of Rwanda to the southwest of Muhanga then south to Nyanza leading you to Huye town, then from Huye driving west to Nyamagabe a place near the park headquarters.

One can also use domestic flights that cover the distance in the shortest time though costly. Domestic flights can be obtained from Kamembe Airport or Akagera Aviation.

BEST TIME TO DO CHIMPANZEE TREKKING IN THE NYUNGWE FOREST

The best times to do trekking are during the sunny seasons that occur during the months of January, February, March, June, July, August, and December. These are regarded as the dry seasons because this is when the country receives little or no rainfall and the trails are dry hence you will not face any difficulty while trekking.

The wet seasons range from the months of April, May, September, October and November. These are also the low peak seasons because it is when the country receives fewer tourists numbers due to the heavy rainfall that makes the trails slippery and muddy hence one finds it difficult to carry out the trekking.

HOW MUCH IS A CHIMPANZEE PERMIT?

A chimpanzee permit costs USD 90 per person for foreign nonresidents and USD 60 for foreign residents in Rwanda. Rwandans pay 5,000 Rwf.

BOOKING A CHIMPANZEE PERMIT IN RWANDA.

Booking is done through the Rwanda Development Board and it requires you to book in advance because the chimpanzee permits are sold out quickly but if you book in advance, you are regarded as first priority.

Trusted tour operators in Rwanda can also help you obtain a chimpanzee trekking permit to Nyungwe forest in Rwanda.

Best Chimpanzee Trekking destinations in Uganda.

CHIMPANZEE TREKKING IN KIBALE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

Chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is best done in Kibale Forest National Park located in western Uganda covering the districts of Kasese, Kamwenge and Kyenjojo. The park is approximately 308 kilometers from Kampala, the capital city. Having over 1,500 chimpanzees, it makes it the best place to do chimpanzee trekking and the only place where chimpanzee habituation is done in Uganda.

Kibale National Park not only offers chimpanzee safaris, but it also has other different primates, mammals, birds, butterflies and different tree species which all spice up the safari adventure.

Chimpanzee trekking is done in the morning beginning with a short briefing of the tourists at the park headquarters where they are instructed on how to behave once they get in touch with the chimpanzees. Once the tourists get to encounter the primates, they are given 1 hour to be with them as they observe the ways in which these chimpanzees do their feeding, play and breastfeed their young ones.

If one wants enough time to spend with these primates, they are advised to opt for chimpanzee habituation where they are given up to the whole day.

Chimpanzee Habituation experience takes up to 2 years in order to get these primates used to people.

This adventure needs one to be fit and flexible since the forests are between 1600m -2950m above sea level.

You are allowed to take photos of these chimpanzees at a close range.

MORE THAN JUST CHIMPANZEE TREKKING.

Kibale forest national park not only offers you chimpanzee experiences, you are also able to spot different primates like the olive baboons, bush babies, pottos, L’hoest monkeys, red-tailored monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys and other bird species like green breasted pitta, African pitta, afep pigeon, lowland masked apalis, tropical boubou, papyrus gonolek, red faced barbet, Cassin’s spinetail, bronzy sunbird and the red chested owlet. Different mammals can also be spotted like elephants, leopards, giant forest hogs, duikers, sitatunga, several cats and forest buffaloes.

HOW TO BOOK A CHIMPANZEE PERMIT IN UGANDA?

Chimpanzee permits are booked through the Uganda Wildlife Authority Offices located at Kitante near the Uganda Museum but you can as well book through any licensed tour operator.

Booking a chimpanzee permit can be stressful at the last minute so we advise one to book in advance to save time. Previously one could also obtain a permit at the park entrance but that option was later removed as permits are highly demanded.

BEST TIME TO DO CHIMPANZEE TREKKING IN KIBALE NATIONAL PARK

Since this activity involves walking through the trails of tropical rainforests, it is best done during the dry season. This means the trails are dry and one is able to walk smoothly without encountering mud and slippery trails. In Uganda, the dry seasons range from June, July and August to December.

CHIMPANZEE PERMIT PRICES IN UGANDA.

Chimpanzee permits differ in price according to where one is going to carry out the activity. Trekking chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park is without a doubt one of the best experiences in Uganda. Here chimpanzee permits will go for USD 200 per person for Foreign non-residents, foreign residents pay USD 150 and East African citizens pay Ugx 150,000.

HOW TO GET TO KIBALE NATIONAL PARK?

Kibale Forest National Park can be accessed by road from Kampala to Fort Portal through Mubende town. The distance from Kampala directly to Kibale National Park is approximately 308 km and about 31.1 km from Fort Portal. However, one can as well book a domestic flight from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Kasese or Semliki Airstrip.

Chimpanzee trekking both in Uganda and Rwanda is regarded as a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will build unforgettable memories.