Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda, Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda remained only at the famous Nyungwe forest national park. These unique species comes next to gorilla trekking of Volcanos National Park. And tracker have a chance to identify how best the park is located in the southern side from Kigali capital.
Chimpanzee tracking is very amazing where trackers have a chance to view their daily activities. Like where they slept, wake up, what are their first activities after waking up and all their behaviors. While on a track you also have a chance to observe what plants 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 group, how babies are cared for in the chimp 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 in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Two groups of Chimpanzees are habituated in Nyungwe national park. One is found around Uwinka and other big group is found at Cyamudongo a fragmented forest. Chimpanzees trekking in Nyungwe’s Cyamudongo forest depends on how the group is behaving and the situation they are in. For example, if you go trekking chimpanzees and they are on the move. You will have to sweat running behind them and following them. But luckily enough you might find them when they are relaxing or eating. 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.
The park elevation varies between 1600m-2950m above the sea level and fitness is needed. For the elderly people there is a way for them and they trek slowly until they finally get experience.
While in the park, you will have a variety of attractions to look at while carrying out chimpanzee trekking. Including other primate species like the vervet monkey, black and white colobus monkeys among other monkey’s species.
From Kigali, travelers drive southwards via number of towns including Huye, which is only 32 km from Kigali on a very smooth road with some sharp turns that require drivers to be extremely careful. For travelers on a self-drive to Nyungwe Forest National, noting these directions could
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. By 5:00 am you head to the starting point of trek and no matter if you are going to trek Cyamudongo.
June, July to late August, fig trees are rich in fruits making this a blooming period. This is a particularly good time for Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe and it is also not a rainy season. No more than two groups of visitors are permitted to view a particular group of primates on a given day. And then when you meet them you are allowed only one hour.
Some of the essentials to carry when going chimpanzee trekking for one to have a successful trek; all the mentioned things you need on a track are for various use to ensure the safety and health of any tracker. Remember, chimpanzees tracking is about rolling into untamed forest and start a search for the giants into a deep, thick and impenetrable forests of hilly, thorny, and muddy roads.
Among these things you need include; Hiking shoes, Light clothes, Insect repellent, Garden gloves, a camera, long sleeved shirt and trouser; energy snacks, warm sweater, Waterproof rain jacket/poncho, and long socks.
Backpack; the backpack will be used to keep all the items for your chimpanzee trekking activity for example camera, batteries, insect repellent, energy snacks among others.
Porter; porters in Nyungwe forest national park are always at the starting point and in case you need someone to carry your backpack or give you a pull and a push during chimpanzee trekking the porters will be available to hire.
Maintaining a distance of 7m away from the primates to avoid contraction of diseases to the primates
Advised to avoid using a flash camera that can scare the primates which can lead them to be aggressive.
Littering in the park during chimpanzee trekking is highly prohibited because it can cause accidents to the primates
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.
Besides Nyungwe national park, there other forests that accommodate forests and are available for tracking. The Gishwati Mukura National Park in the west of Rwanda is among the areas with a highest population of chimpanzees. Most of these have been habituated and are available for tracking. In case Nyungwe is taken, one can opt for Chimpanzee trekking in Gishwati Mukura National Park.
