Nyungwe Forest National Park: Nyungwe forest national park was established as a national park in 2004 and the forest is a home to over 1000 animal, bird and natural species. Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to an array of unique and captivating primates, famous for chimpanzee trekking & canopy walk in Rwanda. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park is a park activity which requires following the trails that lead you to a point where you are near and close to the chimpanzees within their natural habitats. One has the chance to spot their daily activities such as when they take up, where they sleep, how they sleep, what are their first activities after waking up and all their behaviors. You can also get a chance to observe what plant species they feed on, how long they feed on a given single of plant species and also get a chance to observe how socially the chimpanzees are. You will be able to identify who leads a group, how babies are cared for in the chimpanzee world and how big the group is. As a researcher you will be able to view more that the eye can see by undertaking these chimpanzee trekking safaris within Nyungwe Forest National park.
WHERE CHIMPANZEE TREKKING IS ONE IN NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK
There are only two groups of chimpanzees that are habituated and one is found around Uwinka and the other big group is found at Cyamudongo which is a fragmented forest. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe’s Cyamudongo forest depends on how the group is behaving and the situation they are in. for example if one is trekking the chimpanzees and they are on a move, you will sweat running behind them and following them. But lucky enough, you might find them when they are relaxing or eating. This is the best chance of seeing them one by one and get to know more about their behaviors and what differentiates them from each other. The park elevation varies between 1600m to 2950m above sea level and the fitness is required. For the elderly people there is a way for them and they can trek slowly until they finally get the experience.
BEST TIME FOR CHIMPANZEE TREKKING IN NYUNGWE
Chimpanzees are mostly seen in the early mornings which means one wakes up around 4:00AM and 4:30AM you have to be at one of the three reception centers of Nyungwe depending on which side of the park you are. By 5:00am you will head to the starting point of the trek and no matter if you are to trek in Cyamudongo.
The chimpanzee group found next to Uwinka reception center can be visited and one requires to be with a park guide, whom is to be picked at Gisakura reception center around 4:30am. You then drive towards Uwinka reception center. The group is quite difficult to trek than the other group in Cyamudongo and they are over 40 individuals in the group.
Therefore in June, July to late august, the fig trees are rich in fruits thus making this a blooming period. This is the best time for the trekking of chimpanzees within Nyungwe national park and it’s also not a rainy season. The national park only allows one group to see a particular group of primates on a given day and when you meet them you only be with the species for only one hour.
OTHER CHIMPANZEE TREKKING DESTINATIONS IN RWANDA
Nyungwe national park is not the only home of the chimpanzees but also the Gishwati Mukura national park which is the newest national park in Rwanda. The national park is found in the west of Rwanda and it’s among the areas with a high population of chimpanzees. Most of the chimpanzees have been habituated and are ready for tracking. Therefore incase Nyungwe is taken, one can opt for chimpanzee trekking in Gishwati Mukura national park.
