Chimpanzee Sectors of Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe National Park is Rwanda’s largest natural forest spanning about 1,019 square kilometers in the southern province. The park is contingent on Kibira National Park and situated at the border with Burundi. Nyungwe National Park is also quite close to Lake Kivu. Nyungwe National Park has a population of at least 400 chimpanzees, with the only habituated chimpanzee groups available for trekking in the Cyamudongo, Uwinka, and soon Gosovu sectors.

Uwinka Sector

Uwinka sector in the eastern part of Nyungwe National Park has the largest number of chimpanzees in a habituated community, with at least 60 individuals. Visitors can locate the community from Uwinka starting from Uwinka Visitor Center at the park offices starting with a briefing at around 5:30 am. You will have to present your valid chimpanzee permit before you are considered to participate in this exciting adventure. A maximum of 8 visitors can track the habituated chimpanzee group in this community. The trek lasts 2 to 6 hours, including the hour you spend with the chimpanzees. While with the chimps, take photographs while observing their unique ways of interacting with each other and their environment.

Cyamudongo Sector

The Cyamudongo sector is in the western part of Nyungwe National Park. It is much smaller than the Uwinka sector, with at least 30 individual chimpanzees in the community. Trekking the chimpanzee community in this sector is less challenging than the Uwinka sector due to its less rugged terrain, thus making it more navigable by visitors. Its small size makes encountering these nice primates much easier than in the Uwinka sector. Chimpanzee trekking follows the same procedure as in the Uwinka sector.

Gisovu Sector

Gisovu sector, also in the northern region of Nyungwe National Park is a chimpanzee habituation site, where the community is still acclimatized to human presence. Here, a visitor joins expert researchers and trackers while they study the chimpanzees in their natural homes. This involves observing their diet, waste, and other behaviors and documenting their findings. The experience takes at least 4 hours allowing visitors to have a more intimate encounter with the chimpanzees in their natural homes.

Best time to explore Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe National Park can be explored throughout the year, but the dry season is generally the best time. In Nyungwe National Park, the dry season is experienced twice a year, from December to February and June to August. This period provides weather conditions for outdoor activities like chimpanzee trekking, nature walks, birdwatching, and canopy walks. The weather is generally dry and warm, marked by low rainfall patterns. This makes for favorable hiking conditions where forest trails are drier and less muddy. The forest undergrowth is also less dense thus making the trekking much more comfortable for visitors.

Cost of Chimpanzee tour in Nyungwe National Park

A chimpanzee trekking tour costs USD 250 including the chimp trek and the entrance fee into Nyungwe National Park. You should be at least 15 years old to acquire a chimpanzee permit from the Rwanda Development Board. Getting a chimpanzee permit is better if done through Standard Safaris, the best tour operator to do it on your behalf. The best time to get the permit is some months before trekking day, preferably 3 months. This is important to ensure that you avoid a lot of inconveniences on this tour.

Reaching Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe National Park in the southern province of Rwanda is approximately 180 kilometers from Kigali city and takes about 4 to 5 hours using road transportation. A reputable tour company like Standard Safaris can arrange your transfer since we have many vehicles like 4×4 safari cars, saloon cars, minibusses, and others. We also offer knowledgeable driver guides to accompany you throughout the journey to and from Nyungwe National Park.

Air transport is the fastest means of transfer to Nyungwe National Park. This allows you to take a 30 to 40-minute flight on a helicopter from Kigali to Kamembe Airport near Nyungwe National Park. A representative from Standard Safaris will drive you from Kamembe Airport to Nyungwe National Park for an hour. You can book a flight with Standard Safaris to ensure a more convenient journey that promises aerial views of Rwanda’s unique physical features.

Packing for a Chimpanzee trek in Rwanda

A chimpanzee trekking tour will be a success if you ensure to pack a variety of items, which include,

A pair of hiking shoes/boots, plus gaiters
Dull colored clothes (trousers and long-sleeved shirt)
Raincoat and warm sweater
A pair of waterproof socks
Head socks and a pair of garden gloves
A basic first aid kit, including prescribed personal drugs if necessary
Insect repellent to apply on skin and protect against mosquitoes
Daypack
Refillable water bottles and snacks
Camera and extra batteries or charger
Binoculars
Sunglasses and broadbrimmed hat to provide shade against sunshine
Sunscreen
Chimpanzee permit
Travel documents

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.

I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.

If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.

The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.

The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.

The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.

The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.

I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.

We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.

Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.
The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.
Game drive security is assured.
Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.
Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.
The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.
It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.
I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.
My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.
I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.

Chimpanzee Sectors of Nyungwe National Park

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