When is the best time to trek chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest?

The best time to trek chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest is, without any doubt, the dry season. This is because trekking chimpanzees take place deep in the heart of the misty, dense Nyungwe Forest. Therefore, the dry season presents ideal conditions for chimpanzee trekking as the weather is clear and dry. These conditions of humid temperatures and dry weather are facilitated by the low rainfall patterns experienced during this dry season. At the peak of the dry season, the sun becomes harsh, drying up the trekking trails in Nyungwe Forest, thus ensuring that you move through the forest easily. As it shines, the weather is clearer, thus presenting the visitors with a chimpanzee trekking experience, a perfect time to spot the chimpanzee primates deep in the forest. With low rainfall patterns, Nyungwe Forest because sparse, with most of the vegetation drying up, and visitors find it easy to encounter and spot the chimpanzees.

Tracking the chimpanzees is also made very easy during this time of year. This is because there are limited water sources in the forest, and these water sources are known by the chimpanzees and also the rangers since the chimpanzees spend most of their time close to these water sources. As it is with the water, so is with the fruits. In the dry season, most fruit-bearing trees are ready and the fruit ripe for consumption, and the chimpanzees know this very well. Therefore, they visit these trees for fruits regularly, especially in the evening hours, and thus can easily be located while on a chimpanzee trekking adventure.

However, the wet season also has its advantages for chimpanzee trekking, especially for adventure enthusiasts. The wet season presents a challenge to the chimpanzee trekking experience, with slippery trails and venturing through the dense forest canopies. Although the weather can be wet with rainfall expected daily, the vegetation is brightly green with lots of life, especially the wild flowers and the shade of the overgrown canopies. This type of environment offers the best scenic views of the forest, with butterflies and birds singing out loud.

Rwanda’s location in East Africa and its proximity to the equator grant it a seat in the equatorial climatic countries in Africa. What does this mean for Rwanda or any country with an equatorial climate? An equatorial or tropical climate is the type of climate that is experienced in regions or areas close to the equator. This type of climate is characterized by two dry seasons and two wet seasons every year. The dry season runs from June to August and December to February, while the wet season runs from March to May and September to November. With the dry season, the weather conditions are dry and humid with little or no rainfall.

How to get to Nyungwe Forest for chimpanzee trekking?

Nyungwe Forest is located in the southern region of Rwanda, about 177.2 kilometers from Kigali City. In just about 4 hours, visitors can access Nyungwe Forest for chimpanzee trekking from Kigali by road. Traveling by road to Nyungwe Forest for chimpanzee trekking is the cheapest and most commonly used means of transport. Visitors can also get to Nyungwe Forest by helicopter from Kigali for their chimpanzee trekking experiences. Flying to Nyungwe Forest is only possible by helicopter because there are no airstrips or airports in or around Nyungwe Forest to accommodate direct domestic chartered flights. However, some lodges have helipads that can accommodate one helicopter at a time, thus easing transport for visitors who desire to fly. Traveling by helicopter to Nyungwe Forest for chimpanzee trekking helps quicken the time spent on the road by more than half, thus increasing your time for exploring the forest.

How much does it cost to trek chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest?

The cost for trekking chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest ranges from one nationality to the region where the visitor is based. Trekking chimpanzees in this forest requires visitors to have a chimpanzee trekking permit, as it is the document that grants them access to the forest to embark on this epic adventure. A chimpanzee trekking permit costs USD 150 for foreign non-residents, USD 75 for foreign residents, and USD 25 for Rwandan citizens. A chimpanzee trekking permit is only issued by the Rwanda Development Board through a tour company like Standard Safaris. This chimpanzee permit is booked at least 3 months before the trekking date. This is because chimpanzee trekking is a very highly anticipated activity, and there are limited permits available daily. This is done to relieve the chimpanzee primates of the stress of entertaining many tourists in their natural environment. This is also done to protect the natural environment, which doubles as the primates’ habitat, from many people who can destroy the natural state of the forest.

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.

When is the best time to trek chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest?

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