3 Days Chimpanzee Trekking In Nyungwe NP
Trip overview
No holiday to Nyungwe Forest National Park is complete without chimpanzee trekking- a great opportunity for you to immerse yourself into one of the oldest forests in Africa to see chimpanzees and a range of other primates, birds in a single habitat. Join us on a 3 day chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe NP and be part of the thrilling chimpanzee encounter while also stand a chance see a range of other primates including the black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, red tailed, grey cheeked mangabeys, baboons, etc. This short tour to Nyungwe NP also includes a canopy walk, the first of its kind to be introduced in East Africa.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is among the 4 National Parks in Rwanda, situated in the Southern Province and it is the biggest rain-forest Protected Area in East-Central Africa spanning on land area of about 950sq.kms. It became a National Park in Rwanda in 2004 and protects 13 primates, 310 bird species, plus other mammals, amphibians, flora and others. The 3 days chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe NP journey will begin and end in Kigali.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Nyungwe National Park Transfer- 6 Hours’ Drive
A warm welcome into Rwanda- The Land of a Thousand Hills from your driver guide after you have had the best of your breakfast. Get briefed about your chimpanzee trekking safaris in Nyungwe National Park and after, you will begin your trip with 2 hours’ guided Kigali city tour. The city tour will introduce you to important historical and cultural sites within the city including Kigali genocide site and visit the central city market and then you will connect to Butare. En-route to Nyungwe, stopover points will include National ethnographic museum at Huye, former King’s palace and others. Proceed to Nyungwe while enjoying the scenic views of extensive tea plantations and more, then check into the lodge upon arrival for relaxation, lunch (if you didn’t have it), dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Nyungwe Forest Chimpanzee Trekking, Canopy walk
An early rise, take breakfast and after, make your way to Uwinka for briefing about chimpanzee tracking rules and allocation of park guide. As early as 8:00am, your chimpanzee trekking experience will begin, immerse yourself in the tropical Nyungwe Forest for 2-5 hours searching for chimpanzees (a total of 500 chimps live here), plus other 12 primates.
Other primates in Nyungwe to expect to come across on chimp trek include the Angola colobus monkeys, playful olive baboons, l’hoest monkeys, bush babies, grey cheeked monkeys, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, silver monkeys, Dent’s Mona monkeys, etc), birds like paradise flycatchers, great blue turacos, etc. The guide on lead throughout your Nyungwe chimpanzee trek will allow you to spend 1 hour with chimpanzees, taking photos and have deep understanding on how chimps behave. Later, return to the Uwinka where you were briefed or proceed to the lodge to have a leisurely lunch. In the afternoon, embark on a 2 hours’ Nyungwe canopy walk on suspended bridge which usually begins at Igishigishigi trail with opportunity to get exposed to lots of primates, forest canopy, birds, floral species and more.
Day 3: Nyungwe- Kigali for departure
Following an early breakfast, check out then meet your driver for transfer back to Kigali, but with a stop visit to be made at Gisakura Tea Factory. Learn more about tea growing in Rwanda till the stage tea is made ready for consumption. After, drive to Kigali at the hotel or Kigali International Airport for departure- marking the end of the 3 days chimpanzee trekking NP trip.
