Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda.
The second most popular activity in Rwanda, after gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, is chimpanzee trekking. at Rwanda, chimpanzee trekking takes place at Nyungwe Forest National Park. It entails walking through the tropical rainforest to find habituated chimpanzees and spending an hour with them in their natural environment.
13 primate species, including more than 500 chimpanzees, L’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, mammals like bush pigs, duikers, impalas, and bushbucks, and various bird species can be found in the southwestern region of Rwanda, which is home to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Chimpanzee trekking is also conducted in Uganda at Kibale Forest National Park, Kyambura Gorge, Budongo Forest, and Kalinzu Forest, in addition to Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda.
Experience hiking with chimpanzees in Rwanda
In Nyungwe Forest National Park, chimpanzee trekking begins very early in the morning after a training on the guide’s laws and restrictions. Following the briefing, you will be split up into groups of eight, and each group will be paired with an experienced park guide who is familiar with the hiking routes for chimpanzees and a habituated chimpanzee family.
Because chimpanzees like to roam about in search of food, hiking with them in Nyungwe Forest National Park might take anywhere from two to six hours, depending on their location. You will be able to see many plant and tree species, birds, and other primate species while walking.
After the chimpanzees are located, you will have the opportunity to spend an hour with them in their natural environment, where you can observe how they feed, nurse, hunt, fight, mate, play up in trees, take pictures, and record videos to show people back home after the safari.
The ideal time of year to hike chimpanzees in Rwanda
The best time to go chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park is during the dry season, also known as the peak season, which is June, July, August, September, December, January, and February. This is because the park receives less or no rainfall during this time, making the chimpanzee trekking trails dry and passable, making trekking easier than during the rainy season, when they become muddy and slippery.
The price of a Rwandan chimpanzee hiking permit
In Nyungwe Forest National Park, chimpanzee trekking permits cost $150 USD per person for non-resident foreigners, $75 USD for locals, and $25 USD for East African nationals. The chimpanzee trekking permit in Nyungwe Forest National Park does not include park entrance fees, which must be paid separately.
It costs $100 per person for non-resident foreigners, $60 per person for residents, and $10 per person for East Africans spending one day and one night in the park, $150 per person for non-resident foreigners, 90 per person for residents, and 15 per person for East Africans spending two nights in the park, and $200 per person for residents, 120 per person, and 20 per person for East Africans spending three nights in the park.
How to reserve permits for chimpanzee hiking in Rwanda
In Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park, chimpanzee trekking permits may be reserved directly via the Rwanda Development Authority (RDB), which you can do by calling or emailing the main office in Kigali. With a tour operator like Maseke Adveture Co.Ltd, you may also reserve chimpanzee trekking permits in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Simply email us with the day, month, and year you would want to see the chimpanzees. After getting in touch with us, we will verify if permits are available for your dates. If they are, you will be required to pay a deposit. We will be able to get the permissions on your behalf as soon as we receive the cash.
What to bring on a Rwandan chimpanzee hiking expedition
Long-sleeved shirts and pants to protect you from thorny plants, hiking shoes to keep your feet dry, insect repellent to keep you safe from biting insects, a warm seater to keep you warm in the morning, a camera and extra batteries to take pictures during your hour-long encounter with the chimpanzees, energy snacks and bottled water to stay hydrated, a walking stick to support you while trekking, binoculars, garden gloves, and a backpack are some of the things you should bring on a chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda.
