Can I trek chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park twice?
Can I trek chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park twice?
Yes, one can trek chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park twice? Nyungwe National Park, located in the southwestern part of Rwanda, is a top tourist destination due to the many primates. It has 13 primate species, including chimpanzees, grey-checked Mangabeys, L’Hoests monkeys, Dent money monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, Rwenzori colobus monkeys, and golden monkeys. The National Park is not only home to primates. It also has over 300 bird species, 150 butterflies, 32 amphibian species, 38 reptiles, and 1050 plant species.
Most Popular Safaris
8-day Uganda safari via Kigali
5 days gorillas and chimp safari
16-day primate game and culture
11 days gorilla tracking safari
5 days gorilla and Nile River source
10-day Uganda birding and wildlife
Nyungwe Forest National Park is the only remaining Montane forest on the African continent, with over 1060 tree and plant species.
You also need to be in great shape if you wish to trek chimps within Nyungwe. To answer whether it is possible to walk with chimpanzees twice a day, the answer is no, but if you want to do it on different days, the answer is yes. While it is impossible to trek chimps in Nyungwe in a day because the permit booked is only valid for an hour and the exercise takes longer hours, not giving you a chance to trek twice, it is possible to do it twice if you book a chimpanzee permit to trek on two or more days.
For more information about trekking chimpanzees twice in Nyungwe National Park, please get in touch with us.
Nyungwe Forest National Park offers some of the most thrilling adventurous activities in Rwanda, and these include:
Chimpanzee trekking is the top, and most participated activity in Nyungwe Forest National Park, with 25% of Africa’s primates with over 13 primate species. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe starts at 5:00 a.m. It can take hours or a few minutes to get to the gorillas. Just like trekking gorillas, there are a few rules that you need to follow to protect yourselves from primate attacks and to also protect the chimpanzees from extinction. The rules were set up and need to be followed, and these include the following:
The rules to follow during Chimpanzee trekking
- You need to keep a distance of 7 meters between you and the chimpanzees.
- When taking photos, make sure that you turn off the flashlights.
- You should not eat, drink, or smoke while with the gorillas
- Dig a hole of 30 cm deep when you feel like going to the toilet while in the forest, and cover it well.
- Do not approach them, and if they approach you, follow the instructions given to you by the guides.
- Do not feed the chimpanzees.
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe starts at the three Centers set up: Kitabi, Gisakura, and Uwinka. All tourists participating in the trek are supposed to be at the headquarters early in the morning so that each group is assigned the chimpanzees that they are going to trek. Chimp trekking is less organized than gorilla trekking because chimps are more unruly and keep moving from one place to the next.
Chimpanzee trekking is a restricted activity, and for tourists to participate, you must purchase a trekking permit. The new rate is as follows: Foreign non-residents pay $1500 per person, foreign residents (Rwanda and East Africa) pay $75 per person, and East African citizens pay $25 per person per trek.
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe is sometimes a disappointment because the chimpanzees keep moving around the forest, making it hard to spot them, and sometimes they are a no-show. We recommend Kibale National Park in Uganda, where there is a 98% chance of trekking and finding the chimpanzees.
Chimpanzee habituation
The Chimpanzee habituation experience in Nyungwe is done with the Gisovu family group, and it allows you to study the chimpanzees being studied and trained to get used to human presence.
Chimpanzee habituation experience takes longer as compared to normal chimp trekking. Although, at the moment, it is carried out on a smaller scale, there are talks about habituating more chimp families.
What Else To Do In Nyungwe Forest National Park
Cycling through the Congo Nile Trail
The Congo Nile Trail passes through the Nyungwe Forest National Park. Cyclists use bikes (these can be rented out at a cost at the start of the trail). The trail will take you through several villages and the Nyungwe forest, allowing you to view the wildlife species in the National Parks, including bird species and primates. You also get to camp within the National Park, which is a must if you are cycling through the trail. Remember to carry enough drinking water, snacks, and camping equipment when cycling the Congo Nile trail.
Forest walks
The best time to go for forest walks through Nyungwe is during the dry season, but note that even though it is the dry season, this is a tropical rainforest, and rains are common throughout the year.
Bird watching
The National Park is home to over 310 recorded bird species, including migratory and Albertine endemic bird species. Birding in Nyungwe can be carried out all year round, but the best time is during the rainy season when the migratory birds are available. During the wet season, October to November and March to May, you should expect to see different bird species, including the Red-throated Alethe, the Great Blue Turaco, the regal sunbird, the Albertine owlet, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Kivu Ground Thrush, Congo Baby owl, Kungwe Apalis, Chapin’s flycatcher, Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori nightjar, Rwenzori Double-collared warbler, Barred long-tailed Cuckoo and many more other species.. Using your binoculars, you see the many colorful birds and other wildlife in the forest, like the owl-faced monkey, red-tailed monkeys, chimpanzees, L’Hoests monkeys, Rwenzori colobus monkeys, and bush babies.
Professional birding guides will always help you identify the different bird species, and they usually do this using the different bird calls. You can still bring recognition books and binoculars to help you see hidden birds.
Primate trekking
Besides chimpanzee trekking, Nyungwe forest is the best place to go primate trekking in Rwanda. Some of the primates you should expect to see the monkey species include Angola colobus monkeys, Olive baboons, white and black colobus monkeys, Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, Angola colobus monkeys, silver monkeys, Vervet monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, Ruwenzori colobus and Hamlyn’s monkeys among others.
Canopy walk
Nyungwe Forest National Park has the longest canopy in East Africa, and the canopy walk was introduced in 2010 with a bridge of about 160 meters long and 70 meters above the tropical forest. Two sessions are carried out at the canopy walk, one in the morning from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and the second in the afternoon from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Accommodation in Nyungwe National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park Has accommodation categorized into three categories: luxury, mid-range, and budget/basic accommodation facilities.
Accommodation is always hard to get if you do not book in advance because they are always in high demand during the peak season with large crowds of tourists. Some of the facilities that are around Nyungwe Park include the following:
Café Restro Bar Keza:
Located in Gisakura, Café Restro Bar Keza is a tourist hub because of its strategic location. Keza has 10 affordable but clean self-contained rooms with en-suite bathrooms that have clean hot running water.
Gisakura Family Hostel:
The hostel is a budget-friendly accommodation facility near the main road in Gisakura. The facility is good for tourists traveling in groups, those who don’t mind sharing rooms, and traveling on a budget. The meals are also affordable and include both local and international cuisines.
One & Only Nyungwe House:
If you are looking for a luxury stay, then the One & Only House is the place to be. It is the only luxury facility in the area with 32 well-maintained, luxurious, comfortable rooms, and it is considered to be the best facility for tourists tracking chimpanzees in Nyungwe.
Kitabi Eco-Center:
The lodge is a well-known facility located in Kitabi, offering services like international dishes, self-contained rooms, parking spaces, playgrounds for tourists traveling with children, and a beautiful terrace with great views of Mount Kitabi.
