Best Places to See Chimpanzees in Rwanda
Best Places to See Chimpanzees in Rwanda : The most well-liked location for chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda is the montane rain forest of Nyungwe, which is located near the magnificent Gishwati-Mukura, Rwanda’s fourth national park, in the northeast of the nation. Not to mention, primates are still the main draw in the land of a thousand hills.
Nyungwe Forest National Park.
One of Africa’s largest forests, Nyungwe Forest National Park is dominated by massive montane rain forests. In addition, it is the most well-liked location in Rwanda for chimpanzee trekking safari and is home to many different primate species, the main ones being chimpanzees, monkeys, and baboons. Many scientists, researchers, and conservationists interested in primate research have been drawn to Nyungwe Forest because it is a great environment for them to conduct their studies. In addition to the primates, birds are another well-liked attraction in the expansive forest. In Nyungwe Forest National Park, approximately 310 distinct bird species can be observed. Some of these species include purple-breasted sunbirds, paradise flycatchers, red-collared mountain babblers, and Ruwenzori Turaco.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to the majority of Rwanda’s chimpanzee population roughly 400 individuals of this primate species. Within the vast forests, one can also spot a number of other primate species, numbering about 13, which include silver monkeys, baboons, vervet monkeys, Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, Mona monkeys, blue monkeys, Rwenzori colobus, black and white colobus monkeys, and Grey-cheeked Mangabeys. Chimpanzees are much lighter than other primate species, such as mountain gorillas, and as a result, they spend most of their time perched on trees. Because chimpanzees move quickly, those who wish to engage in chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park should be in good health as the entire process entails hiking and walking longer distances.
Early in the morning, at approximately 5:00 am, park rangers and tour guides lead a briefing before the start of chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park. In Nyungwe, there are roughly three locations for briefings: Gisakura, Kitabi, and Uwinka. Gorilla trekking safari is very different from chimpanzee trekking safari in that the former requires a team of trackers to locate and confirm the location of chimpanzees before the tracking team does. Once their location has been verified, they will coordinate with the entire tracking team to send signals to the park ranger or tour guide. Chimpanzee tracking can take anywhere from thirty minutes to four hours, or even longer depending on the location.
The most obvious feature that becomes apparent once the chimpanzees are located is how identically these primates behave to humans. Despite their constant distance, they are obstinate, jittery, nimble, and extremely curious about people. In addition, they mate, fight, play family politics, feed, and breastfeed their children. Though they are swift and nimble and like to hide out in lush, dense forests, it should be noted that there is no guarantee that one will be able to fully encounter chimpanzees in Nyungwe. Because of this, visitors may occasionally choose Chamudongo due to its smaller size and remote location. Visitors can spend as much time as they like with the chimpanzees, unlike with mountain gorillas, who only allow visitors to spend an entire hour with them.
In addition to chimpanzee trekking safari, exciting tourism activities offered by Nyungwe Forest National Park include canopy walks, seeing other primates, bird watching, and nature walks, to name a few. Chimpanzees in the Nyungwe and Chamudongo forests can only be accessed and tracked by children who are at least 16 years old. Most travelers and tourists in Rwanda consider tracking the chimpanzee species to be one of their once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Because there is no specific season to go chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe, this thrilling activity can be done all year round. However, because the chimps tend to travel farther in search of sufficient food during the dry season, tracking them can be extremely difficult. The entire chimpanzee experience is difficult because of the rapid movements that are characteristic of the primate species known as chimpanzees. Spending time with the chimpanzees is one of the most thrilling and exciting things to do in Nyungwe, once you’ve found them.
One of Rwanda’s most well-liked tourist safari destinations, Gishwati Mukura National Park, is home to additional chimpanzee populations. Although there is no specific season for chimpanzee trekking, the wet season of the year is the best time to go chimpanzee tracking in Gishwati Mukura because it offers less of a challenge. Enough food is available during the wet season, which runs from October to May, which helps to keep the chimps around and facilitates their tracking.
