Chimpanzee Trekking In Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Chimpanzee trekking safari in Nyungwe forest national park is a park safari activity of adhering to trails that contribute you to a highlight where you are within and closest to the chimpanzees in their natural habitats. You have an opportunity to view their daily activities, such as when they wake up, where they sleep, how they sleep, what are their first activities after waking up and all their behaviors Chimpanzee trekking in nyungwe forest It is also possible to see which plant species they consume, how long they consume a particular plant species, and the degree of social interaction among the chimpanzees. You’ll be able to tell who is in charge of the group, how many people are in it, and how the kids are raised in the chimp world. As a researcher you will be able discover more that the eye can see by completing these chimpanzee trekking safaris in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Where chimpanzee trekking is done in Nyungwe National Park.
Two groups of Chimpanzees are habituated in Nyungwe national park and one is found around Uwinka and other big group is found at Cyamudongo a fragmented forest. Trekking the chimpanzees in Nyungwe Cyamudongo forest is contingent upon the group’s behavior and circumstances. For instance, you will have to perspire if you go chimpanzee trekking and they are moving. You will have to run after and after them. Fortunately, though, you might happen upon them when they’re eating or unwinding. This is the chance of seeing them one by one and get to know more about their behaviors and what differentiates them from each other. Fitness is required as the park’s elevation varies from 1600 to 2950 metres above sea level. There is a path available for the elderly, who take it slowly until they gain experience.
When engaging in chimpanzee trekking safari in the park, you will have the opportunity to observe a multitude of sights, including several primate species such as the vervet monkey and the black and white colobus monkeys, among other monkey species.
How to get there;
The chimpanzee group found near Uwinka reception center can be visited and one needs a park guide, whom you must pick up at Gisakura reception center around 4:30 am. Next, you head towards the Uwinka receiving centre by car. With more than 40 members, the group is more challenging to trek than the other Cyamudongo group.
Similar to the Cyamudongo group, which is a fragmented forest found in Nyungwe National Park. Because they are accustomed to trekking, this group is the most recommended one. The Gisakura receiving centre is the starting point for the Nyungwe chimpanzee trekking, which departs at 4:30 and lasts for an hour and a few minutes. It is the client’s responsibility to get the guide from this reception and return him at the conclusion of their stay. The road to Cyamudongo Forest is unpaved, thus a 4×4 safari vehicle is required. It is full of stones, and there’s a good chance you could get trapped if you drive a little car.
How to get to Nyungwe Forest National Park by Road.
Getting to Nyungwe by road is the most often utilized type of transport by most travelers visiting the park. Getting to Nyungwe Forest National Park by road is the cheapest and most curious that travelers get to see more of the countryside during the ride, admire the rolling hills of Rwanda as they drive past them, and get to visit a number of attractions en-route say the Nyanza King’s Palace and the Gikongoro genocide memorial centre, giving travelers a snippet of the historical background of Rwanda and learn one or two things along the way. When taking a Rwanda safari tour through a tour company, visitors can make as many stops as they would like en route to Nyungwe Forest National Park. The driver-guide will drive slowly past noteworthy features and stop at some photogenic locations. Nyungwe Forest National Park may be reached from Kigali in 4-6 hours.
Travellers proceed south from Kigali, passing through several cities along the way, one of which is Huye, which is only 32 kilometres away. The road leading there is quite smooth, but there are a few hairpin twists that need for utmost caution from drivers. Taking note of these directions could be beneficial for visitors visiting Nyungwe Forest National Park on their own;
From Kigali, drive south west to Muhanga, then south to Nyanza and proceed to Huye town.
Travel west from Huye town to Nyamagabe, which is close to the park’s entrance.
It is also possible to get to the park via bus, albeit some buses drive through the area; obviously, this would not allow you to enter the park. Travellers who wish to visit Nyungwe Forest National Park by bus must board at the Nyabugogo bus terminal in Kigali, go to Rusizi, and then get out at the Uwinka centre within the park. When travelling by bus, passengers can spend up to eight hours on the road. It is crucial to plan appropriately as a result. After visiting Rwanda as a native, tourists might choose to use these expensive public transport services.
Getting to Nyungwe Forest National Park by Air.
The quickest, albeit priciest, method to get to the park is by plane, from Nyungwe. Numerous airlines provide chartered flights to Kamembe National Airport from Kigali. From Kigali International Airport, Rwanda Air operates at least nine weekly flights to Kamembe National Airport. Helicopter pickups are available from Nyungwe Forest Lodge to Kamembe National Airport, which is only 32km away. You may need to take a little road trip from Kamembe National Airport if you are staying at another lodge.
Flying with Akagera Aviation has travelers getting on a helicopter from Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park. This helicopter ride is a fantastic chance to take in the surrounding landscape, such as the tea plantation field.
Best time to do chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe.
Chimps are most easily seen in the early morning which means you wake up around 4:00 and 4:30AM you have to be at one of the three reception centers of Nyungwe depend on which side of park. Whether you are intending to trek Cyamudongo or not, you leave for the trailhead by 5:00 am.
June, July, and late August are fig trees’ flowering months due to their abundance of fruits. Since it’s not rainy season, it is a great time to go chimpanzee trekking safari in Nyungwe. On any given day, no more than two groups of visitors are allowed to see a specific group of monkeys, and you only have an hour to spend with them.
Other chimpanzee trekking destinations in Rwanda.
Nyungwe national park is not the sole residence of chimpanzees but also the newest fourth national park of Rwanda is also home of Chimpanzees. Chimpanzee populations are abundant in a number of places, including Rwanda’s west, at the Gishwati Mukura National Park. The majority of these can be tracked since they have formed habits. In case Nyungwe is taken, one can opt for Chimpanzee trekking safari in Gishwati Mukura National Park.
What to carry for chimps trekking.
In order to have a successful chimpanzee trekking safari experience, some essentials to pack are as follows:
Hiking shoes to ease you’re walking adventure in the park. Some of the hiking trails in the park tend to be treacherous therefore you should get good hiking shoes easy hiking.
Light clothes, during hiking in Nyungwe national park it is recommended to put on light clothes to make hiking easy because heavy clothes can slow you down during the different activities in the park.
Insect repellent should not miss out on your packing lists because, in Nyungwe national park, there are a number of insects like mosquitoes among others that can spread diseases, therefore, an insect repellent is an essential item that should not be forgotten.
Garden gloves; the garden gloves can assist you during trekking because you might touch a thorny tree without knowing. You can take off the gardening gloves during your hour-long photo shoot with the chimps to further protect yourself from germs.
Although it’s not necessary, you should bring a camera so you may record special moments in the park and have a very unforgettable tour of Rwanda.
Wearing long sleeves for protection from thorny tree limbs and safari ant bites is advised for walking through a forest. Long sleeve shirts and trousers will also shield your body from injury.
Walking stick; when going for chimpanzee trekking safari you are given a walking stick which will give you support while trekking in the jungle especially during the rainy season when the forest is muddy and slippery.
Energy snacks; visitors going for a chimpanzee trekking safari should carry energy snacks such as packed lunch and drinking water because chimpanzee trekking is erratic in that it can take a few hours or even a whole day depending on their location therefore the energy snacks will give you energy to continue trekking.
Warm sweater; the sweater will give you warmth particularly in the morning and evening hours due to the fact that the Nyungwe forest is a rainforest.
Waterproof rain jacket/poncho; the rain jacket will shield you from rain in case it rains during chimpanzee trekking and also protect all your items.
Backpack; the backpack will be utilized to keep all the items for your chimpanzee trekking safari activity for example camera, batteries, insect repellent, energy snacks among others.
In the Nyungwe Forest National Park, porters are constantly at the beginning site. If you need someone to help you with your backpack or to push you while you’re chimpanzee trekking, you can hire them.
To keep you safe from safari ants that could get inside your pants while walking, put your long socks into your long pants.
Guidelines for Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe.
To prevent spreading illnesses to the primates, you should stay far away from them.
It’s best to avoid using a flash when shooting images of the primates because it could frighten them and make them hostile.
Littering in the park during chimpanzee trekking is highly banned because it can cause accidents to the primates.
It is strictly forbidden to feed the chimpanzees your packaged food since it poses a risk to their health and well-being.
Feeding the chimpanzees your packed food is highly prohibited because it can make the primates sick which is a threat to them.
Unnecessary movements during contacts with the primates should be avoided
Unnecessary noise should be avoided because it can scare off the primates.
You should always follow the lead of the guide to avoid any accidents in the park since the primates are wild animals, they can easily attack you.