Cost Of Chimpanzee Trekking In Nyungwe National Park In Rwanda

The cost of the chimpanzee trekking safari to Nyungwe National Park varies with categories that is luxury, midrange or basic but the price of the permit cuts across all packages. The chimpanzee permits for Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda are currently $ 150 for international nonresidents, $75 for Foreign residents and $25 for East Africans. Nyungwe National Park is the home of chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda situated in the southwestern part of the country.

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Nyungwe National Park has its headquarters in Uwinka where most activities in the park take place. Two communities of chimpanzees are found open for chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda with one in Nyungwe National Park and another in Cyamudondo on the periphery of this park.

In Nyungwe National Park, one can choose to do a morning or afternoon chimpanzee trekking adventure. but you must have a chimpanzee trekking permit from The Rwanda Development Board.

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we package the chimpanzee trekking safari of Nyungwe National Park according to luxury, mid range or basic. Other than the cost of the chimpanzee trekking permit of Nyungwe National Park, we consider the price of other logistics that support this Rwanda safari when making the tour quotation.

What Is Included And Excluded In The Cost Of Chimpanzee Trekking Permits For Nyungwe National Park

The cost of the chimpanzees' trekking permits for Rwanda is

$150 for foreign nonresidents

$75 for foreign residents

$25 for East Africans

The cost of the Rwanda chimpanzee trekking permit includes ranger guide fees, security, one hour with the chimpanzees, chimpanzee conservation support and others

The chimpanzee trekking permit cost excludes entrance fees, tips, accommodations and other personal expenses

How To Book A Chimpanzee Trekking Permit For Nyungwe National Park

To book the chimpanzee trekking permit for Nyungwe National Park, you need to have a date when to do this adventure so as to find availability of the permits.

When you send us an enquiry requesting for the chimpanzee trekking safari, our safari consultant checks availability from the chimpanzee permit list of Rwanda Development Board. As soon as the chimpanzee permit availability is found, it is best to make the reservation as soon as possible because of the overwhelming demand for them. The chimpanzee permit availability status changes anytime without warning.

Note that no gorilla permit is booked without payment and first come first served basis is the criteria used when reserving the chimpanzee trekking permits in Rwanda. During the high Rwanda tourism season which is June to October and December to January, most chimpanzee trekking permits sell out prior to the beginning of the season leaving no option for late comers. It is better to book these permits up front.

Can I Purchase The Chimpanzee Trekking Permit For Nyungwe National Park In Instalments

Rwanda Development Board accepts installment chimpanzee permit purchases of 30% and 70% as long as the permit is purchased before 90 days prior to the date of the chimpanzee trek and topped up before 90 days to the trekking date.

Note that failure to abide by the top update may end in re-opening the chimpanzee permit to the public based on the policy of Rwanda Development Board.

Brief Details about Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe National Park is situated in the southwestern part of Nyungwe National Park close to Lake Kivu area on the border on Rwanda and D.R.Congo. This pristine rain forest host chimpanzees and a number of other primates including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons and others

To get around Nyungwe National Park, tourists use the network of trails within the forest including Igishigishigi trail, Usamo trail and on the way spot other interesting feature such as the sparkling Usamo trail. More than 300 bird species have been recorded as residents of Nyungwe forest including Albertine rift endemics.

In Nyungwe National Park, there are two chimpanzee trekking communities open to public viewing one in Nyungwe forest and another in Cyamudondo on the outskirts of this park.

Accommodation to Book in Nyungwe National Park

The accommodations in and around Nyungwe National Park still have limited options but some of those available include Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Gisaku Guest House, Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Nyungwe House, Gisaku Family Hostel

How To Get To Nyungwe National Park For Chimpanzee Trekking Safari In Rwanda

From Kigali the drive time to Nyungwe National Park is about 5 to 6 hours. Sometimes the roads get messy so you need a 4x4-wheel drive vehicle in good condition. On the way, you may stop to enjoy the Nyinza place in Nyabusindu one of the former royal palaces of the Rwanda king.

Charter flight services from Kigali International Airport are also available to Nyungwe National Park but advance booking is required so that all necessary clearances can be made. Contact us for assistance.

How Easy Or Difficult Is Chimpanzee Trekking In Rwanda

Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is quite challenging because of the nature of the topography of Nyungwe forested area. In general, Nyungwe National Park topography is composed of several highlands resulting from serious volcanic actions that affected this area forming several ridges and plateaus.

During the dry seasons in Rwanda there is food scarcity in the forest so the chimpanzees normally move into the deeper areas of the forest in search for new feedings grounds to support their community. Tourists are requested to bear some level of patience and open their minds to spotting other forest dwellers who enjoy the free supplies in the forest. During the wet season, the chimpanzees love spending time up in the canopy so carry a pair of binoculars to catch a better view of these primates.

When you finally find the chimpanzees, only one hour is allowed with them because they are habituated to be before humans for just one hour. Ensure to exhaust all that you need to know about the chimpanzees in that one hour and take the necessary photos and videos to keep as memories of your time with these primates.

What Is The Age Limit For Chimpanzee Trekking Safari In Rwanda

The age limit for the Rwanda chimpanzee trekking safari is 12 years and over. This age was set by the Rwanda Development Board because the way to the chimpanzees may be quite challenging for a child below 12 years. Even the first sight of the chimpanzees is quite scary which may cause the children under this age to act in a manner that may seem suspicious to the chimpanzees.

When agitated, the chimpanzees may charge a character that may be had to overlook and react according to the guidelines of the chimpanzee trekking tour. When the chimpanzees get agitated by human presence, they may react by retreating into the deeper end of the forest yet only one hour is allowed with them.

Time of locating the chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park is hard to determine yet children below this age may not be in position to withstand the long hours of searching. They get tired so fast and refuse to carry on .

How Safe Is Chimpanzee Trekking In Nyungwe National Park

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park is safe because these primates are first habituated for an unknown time unit proven ready for public viewing. Chimpanzee habituation is a process where a team of researchers help a community of wild chimpanzees to get used to human presence without altering there nature. The process of chimpanzee habituation may take two year or more depending on how fast the chimpanzees cope.

The Rwanda Development Board has well trained ranger guides who coordinate security matters with other Rwanda security bodies to keep law and order.

Before going for chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda, tourists must attend briefing where details of the rules and regulations of chimpanzee safaris are communicated and everyone is expected to abide by them.

Security starts with you so try to protect your belongings from public access. Ensure that your valuables are protected well because the thieves may try to pick them just as such characters are expected in any other safari destination.

In case you wish to taste the Rwandese cuisines, do not eat street food because you may get food poisoning. Ask your driver guide to take you to a safe local restaurant where you can enjoy this.

How Long Is Chimpanzee Trekking In Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda

The time taken to do the chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda varies with the conditions prevailing in the forest. Time of finding the chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park depends on the weather conditions of the day, the location of the food source, mood of the chimpanzee community and others.

The joy of being in the copy of the chimpanzees in there natural setting for many has been a reunion with the lost relatives.  Chimpanzees in most parts of the world are kept in confinements where they adopt some human behavior which is not the case with those in the forest. When with the chimpanzees, you cannot fail to notice the close resemblance they have with humans in their activities and character.

When you find the chimpanzees, only one hour is allowed with them as a conservation measure to allow them carry on with there daily activities.

Can Chimpanzees Get Violent During Chimpanzee Trekking In Nyungwe National Park

Just like any mammal, chimpanzees also have mood swings but they are first habituated so humans are able to stand at a distance from them. Even though the chimpanzees may seem not to care about your presence when you finally locate them, they have a spy network that observes your actions while you are with them.

In case you do any suspicious actions before the chimpanzees, the alpha male may instruct them to retrieve into hiding. Some chimpanzees may charge and of you notice such odd behavior, do not panic but wait for the ranger guide to establish the route cause of the matter. Follow the example he or she gives even when it means demonstrating that you are chewing foliage.

When angry, the chimpanzees may react by hooting, beating tree trunks, pull foliage, throw fruits around or moving into the deeper ends of the park but stay calm in order to prevent escalating the situation.

What Chimpanzee Trekking Rules To Follow On Safari In Nyungwe National Park

• Do not move in the jungle without a ranger guide because there are other forest dwellers that may not be habituated to human presence.
• No using Flash photography during chimpanzee trekking. It stresses them and this may cause the chimpanzee to go into hiding.
• Avoid eating near the chimpanzees because they may be tempted to grab and share it too.
• No feeding the chimpanzees because they are wild animals that need to search for their own food. The animals need to find their own food and not depend on human provision.
• Follow the instructions from your ranger guide because chimpanzees are very keen with people in their vicinity.
• Never enter the forest without arranger guide even if you are familiar with it. The forest also has other forest inhabitants that may view you as another prey.
• Ask your ranger guide to ding about 30 meters deep hole in case you wish to do a long call and cover up beyond recognition.
•  Never surround the chimpanzees but stay in a tight group as these primates are keen with intruders in the wilderness.
• Never provoke the chimpanzees because this may irritate them causing them to rage. Do not mimic the chimpanzees as you may not know what you may be communicating.
• Volunteer stay behind in case you catch or have signs of a communicable infection like flu, covid 19 and more.
• Spitting on vegetation is forbidden as this is food for most primates in the jungle. Chimpanzees are highly susceptible to human infections so when you spit on vegetation.
• Dumping garbage and littering the forest is forbidden as this alters the nature of the forest where these chimpanzees live. Try not to dispose any indecomposable garbage in the wilderness.

For more information about chimpanzee trekking costs in Rwanda, Kindly contact our team.