Rwanda Chimpanzee Trekking Tours – Explore Nyungwe Forest’s Primates

Rwanda chimpanzee trekking tours in Nyungwe Forest National Park is an amazing activity. Chimpanzee trekking trips in Rwanda is very affordable.

To track chimpanzees in Rwanda, foreign visitors and foreign non-residents need to pay USD 150 and USD 100 respectively for chimpanzee tracking permits, plus a USD 100 per day entry fee before being allowed to start the hike.

During your chimpanzee trekking adventure, you will see many other primates, like colobus monkeys. Rwanda has the common species of chimpanzees that have adapted to Nyungwe Forest in different ways.

Chimpanzees are humans’ closest relatives, sharing over 98% of human DNA. They are large, very energetic, and live together until a certain age when they separate.

Females give birth every five years and care for their young until they are about 12 years old before the young start living independently.

Interestingly, these close relatives use simple tools, like sticks to collect termites and rocks to crack nuts. Let us take you chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda today at the best prices!

Chimpanzee Tours in Rwanda

Tracking chimpanzees in Rwanda is one of the most rewarding activities and is ranked second-best after Gorilla Trekking.

It takes place in the mountain forest of Nyungwe National Park, which is home to many primates living together.

The park is home to 13 recorded primate species, with chimpanzees being the most common.

Two groups of chimpanzees are habituated for trekking: one group lives in the larger Nyungwe Forest, and the other is in Cyamudongo Forest, a small forest patch to the east of Nyungwe.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe starts early in the morning. Trackers gather at the Gisakura ranger station for a briefing by expert guides before heading into the forest to find the chimpanzees.

The trekking time varies and can take 1–6 hours, depending on where the chimpanzees are. Sometimes, guides search ahead of time to locate them, helping ensure the activity doesn’t take too long.

The guides communicate with Rwanda safari leaders to decide on the best route to follow.

There are important rules to follow during chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda. Only four visitors per group are allowed on each guided walk.

Visitors can spend one hour with the chimpanzees, must keep an 8-meter distance from the animals, remain silent during the trek, respect the chimpanzees’ space, avoid eating near them, and only people aged 14 and above are allowed to track chimpanzees.

Prepare with good hiking boots for a smooth walk, an HD camera for clear photos, a rain jacket in case of rain in the forest, insect repellents to protect from bites, comfortable hiking clothes like trousers, binoculars to see distant animals, and enough water to stay hydrated.

This magical park has luxurious and cozy accommodations that ensure a safe and peaceful stay for visitors from all over the world.

The park also offers convenient access and trekking permits affordable for all types of travelers.

Popular Rwanda Chimp Trekking Questions & Answers

Below are some of the most popular Rwanda chimpanzee trekking tour questions and answers.

1. What is Rwanda chimpanzee trekking? It is an exciting activity to see chimpanzees in their natural habitat in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
2. Is chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda affordable? Yes, it is very affordable compared to other wildlife tours.
3. How much is the permit for foreign visitors to track chimpanzees? Foreign visitors pay USD 150 for a chimpanzee tracking permit.
4. What is the permit fee for foreign non-residents? Foreign non-residents pay USD 100 for the permit.
5. Is there an additional fee for chimpanzee trekking? Yes, there is a USD 100 daily park entry fee.
6. What other animals can I see during chimpanzee trekking? You may see other primates like colobus monkeys.
7. What kind of chimpanzees are found in Rwanda? Rwanda has common chimpanzees that have adapted to Nyungwe Forest.
8. Are chimpanzees related to humans? Yes, chimpanzees share over 98% of human DNA.
9. What are some traits of chimpanzees? They are large, energetic, and live together until a certain age.
10. How often do female chimpanzees give birth? Females give birth every five years.
11. How long do chimpanzee mothers care for their young? They care for their young until they are about 12 years old.
12. What tools do chimpanzees use? Chimpanzees use sticks to collect termites and rocks to crack nuts.
13. Is chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda popular? Yes, it is the second-best activity after Gorilla Trekking.
14. Where does chimpanzee trekking take place? It takes place in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
15. How many primate species live in Nyungwe National Park? The park has 13 recorded primate species.
16. Are the chimpanzees in groups for trekking? Yes, two groups of chimpanzees are habituated for trekking.
17. Where do these chimpanzee groups live? One group lives in Nyungwe Forest, and the other in Cyamudongo Forest.
18. When does chimpanzee trekking start? It starts early in the morning.
19. Where do trackers meet before the trek? Trackers meet at Gisakura ranger station.
20. How long does chimpanzee trekking take? It can take 1–6 hours, depending on the location of the chimpanzees.
21. Do guides prepare before the trek? Yes, guides sometimes search for the chimpanzees ahead of time.
22. How many people are allowed in a trekking group? Only four visitors are allowed per guided group.
23. How close can visitors get to the chimpanzees? Visitors must keep an 8-meter distance from the chimpanzees.
24. How much time can visitors spend with the chimpanzees? Visitors can spend one hour with the chimpanzees.
25. Can children join chimpanzee trekking? Only children aged 14 and above are allowed.
26. What should I wear for chimpanzee trekking? Wear good hiking boots, a rain jacket, and comfortable hiking clothes like trousers.
27. What other items should I bring? Bring a camera, binoculars, insect repellent, and enough water.
28. Does Nyungwe Park have accommodation? Yes, it has luxurious and cozy accommodations for visitors.
29. Is Nyungwe Park easy to access? Yes, the park is conveniently accessible for all visitors.
30. Are the trekking permits affordable for all travelers? Yes, the permits are affordable for different types of travelers.