Can I trek chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park twice?

Nyungwe National Park, located in the southwestern part of Rwanda, is a top tourist destination due to the many primates. It has 13 primate species, including chimpanzees, grey-checked Mangabeys, L’Hoests monkeys, Dent money monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, Rwenzori colobus monkeys, and golden monkeys. The National Park is not only home to primates. It also has over 300 bird species, 150 butterflies, 32 amphibian species, 38 reptiles, and 1050 plant species. 

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Nyungwe Forest National Park is the only remaining Montane forest on the African continent, with over 1060 tree and plant species.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe requires that you be at least 16 years and above before booking a permit, and the trek permit should be secured 3 months before the travel date. You also need to be in great shape if you wish to trek chimps within Nyungwe. To answer whether it is possible to walk with chimpanzees twice a day, the answer is no, but if you want to do it on different days, the answer is yes. While it is impossible to trek chimps in Nyungwe in a day because the permit booked is only valid for an hour and the exercise takes longer hours, not giving you a chance to trek twice, it is possible to do it twice if you book a chimpanzee permit to trek on two or more days. 

For more information about trekking chimpanzees twice in Nyungwe National Park, please get in touch with us.

Safari activities are done in Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe Forest National Park offers some of the most thrilling adventurous activities in Rwanda, and these include:

Chimpanzee trekking is the top, and most participated activity in Nyungwe Forest National Park, with 25% of Africa’s primates with over 13 primate species. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe starts at 5:00 a.m. it can take hours or a few minutes to get to the gorillas. Just like trekking gorillas, there are a few rules that you need to follow to protect yourselves from primate attacks and to also protect the chimpanzees from extinction. The rules were set up and need to be followed, and these include the following:

• You need to keep a distance of 7 meters between you and the chimpanzees.
• When taking photos, make sure that you turn off the flashlights.
• You should not eat, drink, or smoke while with the gorillas
• Dig a hole of 30 cm deep when you feel like going to the toilet while in the forest, and cover it well.
• Only groups of 8 are allowed to trek the chimpanzees per session.
• No one is allowed to trek the chimpanzees when sick, especially with flu and cough.
• Do not approach them, and if they approach you, follow the instructions given to you by the guides.
• Do not feed the chimpanzees.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe starts at the three Centres set up: Kitabi, Gisakura, and Uwinka. All tourists participating in the trek are supposed to be at the headquarters early in the morning so that each group is assigned the chimpanzees that they are going to trek. Chimp trekking is less organized than gorilla trekking because chimps are more unruly and keep moving from one place to the next. This is the same reason trackers are sent out ahead of the trek groups to try and pinpoint the exact location where the chimpanzees might be.

Chimpanzee trekking is a restricted activity, and for tourists to participate, you must purchase a trekking permit. The new rate is as follows: Foreign non-residents pay $1500 per person, foreign residents (Rwanda and East Africa) pay $75 per person, and East African citizens pay $25 per person per trek.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe is best carried out during the dry season, running from June to September and December to February, when the trek routes are easily accessible. You can still go for chimpanzee trekking during the rainy season if you are traveling on a budget because accommodation costs are usually reduced during this period.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe is sometimes a disappointment because the chimpanzees keep moving around the forest, making it hard to spot them, and sometimes they are a no-show. We recommend Kibale National Park in Uganda, where there is a 98% chance of trekking and finding the chimpanzees.

Chimpanzee habituation

The Chimpanzee habituation experience in Nyungwe is done with the Gisovu family group, and it allows you to study the chimpanzees being studied and trained to get used to human presence. 

Chimpanzee habituation experience takes longer as compared to normal chimp trekking. Although, at the moment, it is carried out on a smaller scale, there are talks about habituating more chimp families.

Canopy walk

Nyungwe Forest National Park has the longest canopy in East Africa, and the canopy walk was introduced in 2010 with a bridge of about 160 meters long and 70 meters above the tropical forest. Two sessions are carried out at the canopy walk, one in the morning from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and the second in the afternoon from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Nyungwe canopy walk is divided into three stages or categories, which are 25 meters (this being the shortest walk), 45 meters walk, which is the second, and the 3rd one is 90 meters long. The canopy walk gives you a bird's eye experience of the whole forest, and for the safety of everyone, children below the age of 6 are not allowed to take part in the canopy walk.

Cycling through the Congo Nile Trail

The Congo Nile Trail passes through the Nyungwe Forest National Park. Cyclists use bikes (these can be rented out at a cost at the start of the trail). The trail will take you through several villages and the Nyungwe forest, allowing you to view the wildlife species in the National Parks, including bird species and primates. You also get to camp within the National Park, which is a must if you are cycling through the trail. Remember to carry enough drinking water, snacks, and camping equipment when cycling the Congo Nile trail.

Forest walks

If you are interested in forest walks but are scared of taking on the canopy walk, there is an alternative to taking a ground walk around the forest. Several routes can be used for hiking around the Park, and during the walks, you get to see the different bird species, monkeys, and chimpanzees and also get to know the different medicinal trees in the Park. The trails that are used take a different amount of time, and these include the Bigugu trail, which takes about 5 hours to complete and is the most difficult hike route, the waterfalls trail, and the Igishigishi trail, which is the shortest. The best time to go for forest walks through Nyungwe is during the dry season, but note that even though it is the dry season, this is a tropical rainforest, and rains are common throughout the year.

Bird watching

The National Park is home to over 310 recorded bird species, including migratory and Albertine endemic bird species. Birding in Nyungwe can be carried out all year round, but the best time is during the rainy season when the migratory birds are available. During the wet season, October to November and March to May, you should expect to see different bird species, including the Red-throated Alethe, the Great Blue Turaco, the regal sunbird, the Albertine owlet, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Kivu Ground Thrush, Congo Baby owl, Kungwe Apalis, Chapin’s flycatcher, Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori nightjar, Rwenzori Double-collared warbler, Barred long-tailed Cuckoo and many more other species. Several bird trails are used while bird watching in Nyungwe, and you do not need to worry about getting lost because you will always have a professional. Using your binoculars, you see the many colorful birds and other wildlife in the forest, like the owl-faced monkey, red-tailed monkeys, chimpanzees, L’Hoests monkeys, Rwenzori colobus monkeys, and bush babies.

Most bird species in Nyungwe are found in specific sections, which is why it is mandatory for every tourist planning on going for bird watching to first book with the Rwanda Development Board at a fee of $50 per person. Professional birding guides will always help you identify the different bird species, and they usually do this using the different bird calls. You can still bring recognition books and binoculars to help you see hidden birds.      

Primate trekking

Besides chimpanzee trekking, Nyungwe forest is the best place to go primate trekking in Rwanda. Some of the primates you should expect to see the monkey species include Angola colobus monkeys, Olive baboons, white and black colobus monkeys, Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, Angola colobus monkeys, silver monkeys, Vervet monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, Ruwenzori colobus and Hamlyn’s monkeys among others.

Accommodation in Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe Forest National Park Has accommodation categorized into three categories: luxury, mid-range, and budget/basic accommodation facilities. Some campsites have been set up near the headquarters for tourists interested in camping. Accommodation is always hard to get if you do not book in advance because they are always in high demand during the peak season with large crowds of tourists. Some of the facilities that are around Nyungwe Park include the following:

• Café Restro Bar Keza: Located in Gisakura, Café Restro Bar Keza is a tourist hub because of its strategic location. Keza has 10 affordable but clean self-contained rooms with en-suite bathrooms that have clean hot running water. The bar is also well-stocked and frequented by locals during soccer match weekends.
• Gisakura Family Hostel: The hostel is a budget-friendly accommodation facility near the main road in Gisakura. The facility is good for tourists traveling in groups, those who don’t mind sharing rooms, and traveling on a budget. The meals are also affordable and include both local and international cuisines.
• One & Only Nyungwe House: If you are looking for a luxury stay, then the One & Only House is the place to be. It is the only luxury facility in the area with 32 well-maintained, luxurious, comfortable rooms, and it is considered to be the best facility for tourists tracking chimpanzees in Nyungwe.
• Uwinka Campsite: The Uwinka campsite was constructed at the headquarters reception center, the only campsite within Nyungwe. The campsite offers great views around the National Park; sometimes, during the wet season, water for showering is harvested using a bucket.
• Kitabi Eco-Center: The lodge is a well-known facility located in Kitabi, offering services like international dishes, self-contained rooms, parking space, playgrounds for tourists traveling with children, and a beautiful terrace with great views of Mount Kitabi.
• Other accommodation facilities that are worth checking out include the KCCEM Guesthouse, EAR Gisakura Visitor Centre, Nyungwe Top View Hill Top, which was opened in 2011, Hotel Ibis Butare, Rustic Rest House, Golden Monkey Hotel, Hotel Ibis Butare and Hotel Faucon Butare among others.

Getting to Nyungwe Forest National Park

Situated in the southwest part of the country, Nyungwe is located near the border of Rwanda and Burundi and can easily be accessed by either road or air. 

By air: Flying to Nyungwe is a bit expensive compared to driving, but it is a faster way to get to the primate park for tourists with limited time while on a safari. Daily charter flights can be arranged from Kigali International Airport using Rwanda Air to Kamembe Airport, where a safari vehicle will be availed to take you on an hour’s drive to Nyungwe National Park.

By road: You can use private or public means to reach Nyungwe National Park, 217 kilometers from Kigali. You can use several routes, but if this is your first time in the country, we advise that you book through an agent so that transportation is catered for.

Contact us for more information.