Rwanda Chimpanzee Trekking Guide for First-Time Travelers

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the most popular activities in Rwanda, particularly in Cyamudongo, which is part of Nyungwe.

Nyungwe National Park is a high-altitude highland rainforest in the southern portion of Rwanda that was protected in 2005. Nyungwe was named a national park by the Rwandan government that year, and it is today the largest protected mountain forest in Africa, covering an area of around 1600 to 2000 square kilometres. In terms of ecology and animals, this forest contains a lot of species that are not found in any other national park.

Nyungwe National Park Chimp Tracking | Rwanda Chimpanzee trekking

Chimpanzees can be found in large numbers in Nyungwe National Park. There are roughly 500 chimpanzees in the forest. Two troops have been trained to go chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. One troop is in the Nyungwe main forest, while the other is in Cyamudongo, a small piece of forest on the eastern side of Nyungwe National Park.

Trekking in Rwanda, Part 1 | Chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park (& The Epic Suspension Bridge!)

The entire fantastic experience of chimp trekking begins with three receiving centres, which include Kitabi, Uwinka (the main centre), and Gisakura, where all travellers can meet the park ranger guides. All tourists participating in this excursion are expected to arrive at their designated locations as early as 4:30 a.m., so that by 5:00 a.m., we may all travel to the trek’s starting place. There are chimp trackers who travel ahead of you to find the chimps’ exact location in the forest.

Tourists spend only one hour with the chimps and get another opportunity to see them carefully as they get closer to nature in Nyungwe National Park. You will also learn about and discover how the chimps live their lives. You will also notice their wonderful human-like characteristics and the actions that make them our closest cousins.

According to research, chimps have around 99% of the original DNA of humans.
The habituated chimpanzee colony in Nyungwe’s main centre is large, with roughly 60 members, although visibility is limited due to the rocky terrain. The group in Cyamudongo has a smaller population of roughly 30 chimps and provides the most successful observations due to its small size.
The chimp trekking permit costs USD 90 for non-residents, and foreign citizens of Rwanda and East Africa are expected to pay only USD 60 to engage in this activity.