Primates are still Rwanda’s top attraction, with gorilla trekking being the most popular activity despite the high cost of gorilla permits, which is currently at $1500 per person. Tourists still flock to the country to witness other primates such as chimpanzees and golden monkeys and as a result, some visitors opt for other alternatives like chimpanzee trekking.
Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is an exciting activity organized in Nyungwe Forest. The largest Afro montane forest in Africa. The forest is a conservation site, attracting researchers and scientists who are interested in primate research. Nyungwe forest is part of Nyungwe National Park, which now includes Cyamudongo forest occupying about 19 sq km of Nyungwe. The forest is also a vital water catchment area in the country, producing rains that feed rivers like the Nile in Uganda and others in Congo. The forest is also a bird sanctuary, home to over 310 species. If you’re a bird enthusiast, you’ll be able to spot paradise flycatchers, Chapin’s flycatcher, purple-breasted sunbirds, Rockefellers’ sunbird, red-collared mountain babblers, and Ruwenzori turacos, among many others
Besides Nyungwe forest, you are to find chimpanzees in Cyamudongo forest and Gishwati-Makura forest. Nyungwe has three habituated communities of chimpanzees hence available for chimpanzee trekking. Chimpanzees are also man’s closest relatives beside gorillas, hence have some similar traits with humans such as using hand signals and showing emotions like joy and sorrow. There are over 1000 chimpanzees in Rwanda and approximately 500 of these are found in Nyungwe forest.
Chimpanzee trekking is another activity that can be done besides gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Chimpanzee are different from gorillas such as they are lighter and therefore spend a lot of their time on top of the trees in low altitude areas unlike mountain gorillas which are much heavier hence living on the ground though in very high altitude areas.
The chimpanzee treking adventure begins with a briefing at 5:00 am, which is held at either Uwinka, Gisakura or Kitabi. To ensure you have enough time to prepare, it’s recommended that you wake up at 4:30 am to have breakfast and get ready for the activity. Why so early? Well, once the day starts, the chimps spread throughout the vast forest in search of food. The best way to locate them is by finding them before their busy day begins.
A team of skilled trackers goes ahead of the group to locate the chimps, then communicate their location to the lead guide. These trackers and rangers are highly experienced and knowledgeable about chimp communities and where to find them.
As you embark on the exciting adventure of tracking chimpanzees through Nyungwe forest, be prepared for a journey that could last anywhere between 2 to 6 hours, or maybe even longer. Once you finally catch up with these elusive primates, you can spend some time observing them, taking photographs, and getting up close and personal with these incredibly intelligent creatures.
One needs to be physically fit to track chimpanzees as they move quickly both on the ground and in trees before settling.
The cost of chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is less costly compared to gorilla trekking and goes for about 150 USD for foreign non-residents, 75 USD for foreign residents and 25 USD for East African nationals. Participants in chimpanzee trekking activities will also be required to pay another 100 USD for foreign non residents as a park entrance fee 60 USD for foreign residents and African citizens.
