Is it possible to trek chimpanzees in the Nyungwe forest without a ranger guide?

All Rwanda chimpanzee trekking adventures must be conducted by a Rwanda Development Board ranger guide, and only tourists are allowed to go into the forest with an escorting ranger guide. Nyungwe National Park is a pristine tropical rainforest with huge, thick trees that may be hard to identify alone.

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Other than the chimpanzees, other forest inhabitants like duikers, forest elephants, wild forest hogs, and others may not be habituated to human presence. As a tourist walking in Nyungwe forest without a ranger guide, these animals may be dangerous to you. 

Nyungwe forest is thick and may have a poor network, so if you are lost, communicating with those on the ground to trace you may be a challenge.

Ranger guides depend on accompanying tourists on the chimpanzee trekking safari as their job. You deny them that opportunity to give the best of their knowledge and experience when you walk alone in the forest. The ranger guides also get tips as a token of appreciation after the chimpanzee trekking adventure, which boosts their income, but when you do not use their service, they do not get that booster. 

Other than doing chimpanzee trekking, there are other exciting features in Nyungwe forest that the ranger guides may point out to you because of their experience. This adds to what you learn and enjoy from being in Nyungwe National Park on a chimpanzee trekking safari.

Why Use A Ranger Guide During Chimpanzee Trekking In Nyungwe National Park

Ranger guides have better knowledge and experience about the chimpanzees and their possible ways about them. Boundaries or restrictions do not restrict chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park, so sometimes you must trace them by sounds, clues left behind, and much more. Visitors to this natural forest may find some of these hard to determine.

Ranger guides protect tourists during chimpanzee trekking as one carries a machete and another a rifle in case of an emergency. The ranger guides constantly communicate with security on the ground in case backup is needed.

The work of ranger guides is to protect the chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park and other forest dwellers from external attacks. The ranger guides understand when situations escalate and know how to deal with them without hurting the chimpanzees. As an individual not well trained to be with chimpanzees in the wild, you may misinterpret the situation and hurt the chimpanzees.

After chimpanzee trekking, ranger guides may receive some tips as a token of appreciation for work well done and encourage them to continue supporting the sustainable existence of the chimpanzees. When you do not hire the ranger guides, they miss out on this extra support to boost their livelihood.

When Is The Best Time To Book Chimpanzee Trekking In Nyungwe National Park?

Although chimpanzee trekking is open all year round, the dry season is most sought after June to September and December to January. The precipitation in this forest is drier, and trails are more accessible to navigate as you search for the chimpanzees.

Chimpanzees feed closer to the ground, and the rest of the forest dwellers are full of life, like the several bird species, other primates, and so much more. During the dry season, you can enjoy more activity while on a chimpanzee safari in Nyungwe National Park.

Since more sunlight penetrates the ground, photographers on chimpanzee trekking tours have the best time to take photos of these primates in the wilderness.

The demand for chimpanzee trekking permits is highest in the dry season as Rwanda experiences a high tourist influx. It is best to secure the chimpanzee permit at least three months upfront just to be sure of this adventure. Accompanying logistics like accommodation during chimpanzee trekking must also be reserved in advance.

How much is the Price of chimpanzee Trekking permit for Nyungwe National Park

Currently, a Rwanda chimpanzee trekking permit costs $150 per person per trek for international nonresidents, $75 for international residents, and $25 for East Africans.

A chimpanzee trekking permit covers ranger guide fees, one hour with the chimpanzees, security, and other expenses.

Exclusions in the cost of chimpanzee permits are park entrance fees, treats, accommodation, and other expenses of a personal nature.

Is The Cost Of Rwanda Chimpanzee Permit Worth The Money?

Spending on a chimpanzee trekking permit in Rwanda allows you to be just meters away from the closest human cousins in the animal kingdom. Chimpanzees have about 98% human DNA, and although most of them can be seen in zoos in different parts of the world, those in the wild are authentic.

During chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park, you understand these primates' behaviors without human interference. There are few destinations in the world where chimpanzee trekking happens in the natural environment.

When you hire a porter while on a chimpanzee trekking safari, you contribute to the livelihood of the local people around this forest, to conserve the chimpanzees, the local community must be included in this campaign to preserve their habitat from human encroachment. 

Other than the chimpanzees, you get to see other primates like the olive baboons, black and white colobus, blue monkeys, Vervet monkeys, and several bird species, including Albertine rift endemics; botanists have plenty to see,

Are Rwanda chimpanzees belligerent? 

Researchers first habituate chimpanzees to get them used to human presence without altering their nature. The process of chimpanzee habituation may take an unknown amount of time until they are proven ready for public viewing.

During the chimpanzee trekking adventure, tourists have to attend a briefing at the ranger station first so that some advice about the dos and don'ts of this adventure is given. Other than the known rules of chimpanzee trekking, sometimes new events happen in the forest that you must be warned about and how to navigate. This is why briefing before the chimpanzee trek is essential.

While with the chimpanzees, try not to stare at them, provoke, or mimic them because you may not know what you may be communicating. 

This doesn't mean chimpanzees do not get agitated, but when angry, chimpanzees hoot, grab grass around them, walk on one foot, or walk into the deeper ends of the forest. Upon seeing some odd behavior, try not to shout or make random movements because you may look suspicious. 

Please wait for the ranger guide to establish the root cause, as sometimes it's a way of teasing their visitors, having hereditary fights, wrangles, and much more. The ranger guides will give you tactics to apply to show you are harmless. Do as instructed to exhaust the one hour with the chimpanzees.

How Much Time Do You Spend On Chimpanzee Trekking Adventure In Nyungwe National Park?

From the starting point, you may take about 30 minutes to more time to locate the chimpanzees. Finding the chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park depends on factors like the proximity of their food, weather conditions of the day, the death of a member, and much more.

You need to bear some patience before finding the chimpanzees but to avoid getting bored; you can look out for other exciting forest occupants like other primates, birds, plants, and much more.

When you locate the chimpanzees, only one hour is allowed with them during the chimpanzee trekking. Chimpanzee trekking is an adventure where tourists spend only one hour with a fully habituated chimpanzee troop.

Can I Do Chimpanzee Trekking In Nyungwe National Park More Than Once?

You can go chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park more than once, as there are two sessions conducted each day, morning and afternoon. You need a chimpanzee permit for each session. In case you need an additional day for chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda, you may be allowed as long as the chimpanzee permits are available.

When you spend more than two nights in Nyungwe National Park during the low season, that is, March to May and November, and have gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, the Rwanda Development Board sometimes discounts your gorilla trekking permit. You need to enquire about the terms and conditions of discounted gorilla trekking permits for Rwanda first.

Is Nyungwe National Park Chimpanzee Trekking Easy Or Difficult?

Nyungwe National Park chimpanzee trekking is quite tiresome because of the steep slopes. You may have to hike to find these primates. In general, the topography of Rwanda is rugged, resulting from volcanic action in this country. 

This is why Rwanda is called the land of a thousand hills. Although searching for chimpanzees may be less steep than gorilla trekking, you need some fitness level. Sometimes, the chimpanzees migrate into the deeper ends of the park, so you have to follow them.

Can I Do Chimpanzees Trekking with Children in Nyungwe National Park?

The age limit for chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, is 12 years and over. The walk to find the chimpanzees in the jungle is quite tiring because volcanic action generally affects Rwanda.

This led to highlands like plateaus, ridges, and much more where the trees thrive, but the chimpanzees may spend time deep in the valley or on the slopes, so you need to walk to where they are. If you are in the company of children, parents or guardians must be with them during the chimpanzee trekking adventure and brief them before taking it.

Walking through the jungle to find the chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park is incredible, allowing you to see several animals moving in the jungle. In the forest, some animals you may see include black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, and much more.

The walk in the jungle is captivating and has vines that can only be trimmed to create a way, but you need to wear the right chimpanzee safari gear. Chimpanzee trekking is a memorable experience.

What Are The Chimpanzee Trekking Rules?

• The age limit for chimpanzee trekking is 12 years and over, as the walk into the forest includes walking in the jungle. 
• Do not move in the jungle without a ranger guide because other forest dwellers 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. 
• No feeding the chimpanzees because they are wild animals that need to search for their food. The animals must find their food and not depend on human provision.
• Follow the instructions from your ranger guide because chimpanzees are very keen on people in their vicinity.
• Never enter the forest without a ranger guide, even if you are familiar. The forest also has other forest inhabitants that may view you as another prey.
• Ask your ranger guide to dig about a 30-meter-deep hole if 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 on 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 and stay behind if you catch or have signs of a contagious infection like flu, COVID-19, etc.
• 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 of any indecomposable garbage in the wilderness. 

Contact us to organize your safari to the chimps in Nyungwe in advance.