The Nyungwe forest chimpanzee habituation experience is an experiential primate tracking adventure. It is a new experience in Gisovu, the northern sector of Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Nyungwe Forest is a renowned chimpanzee trekking safari destination in Rwanda with over 400 chimpanzees. It has Four chimpanzee communities with three fully habituated and open to tourism while one is still undergoing the habituation process.
In the Nyungwe Forest Chimpanzee habituation, you track the chimps following their daily routine. With this, you get an opportunity to closely study their diet, behavior, and overall daily routine. Such an experience enables you get to accurate information you might not be able to get on normal chimpanzee trekking.
Important to note is that the Nyungwe Forest Chimpanzee habituation is limited to Gisovu. It gives one more than one hour with the chimpanzees and is more exclusive.
About Nyungwe Forest
Nyungwe Forest is one of Africa’s oldest rainforests. It is situated in southwestern Rwanda and is home to 13 primates including chimpanzees. Even though most famous for chimpanzee trekking, other primate trekking safari adventures are amazing as well.
There are over 400 colobus monkeys that can be tracked. Other notable primates include the blue monkeys, l’hoest’s monkeys, colobus monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys among others.
Nyungwe forest is home to over 345 bird species and is Rwanda’s most important birding Area. Some of the bird species here are endemic to the Albertine Rift and Central African forests. Notable birds in Nyungwe Forest include the Great Blue Turaco, Rwenzori Turaco, Regal Sunbird, Rwenzori Batis, and Kivu Ground Thrush among others.
There are over 85 mammal species including large mammals like forest elephants. It is because of this diversity that Nyungwe Forest National Park was inscribed as a World Heritage Site. The Nyungwe Forest Chimpanzee habituation experience is therefore among the many Discovery Journeys you can be part of in Nyungwe.
Where to Stay
Nyungwe forest is extensive covering a land area of 1,019 square Kilometers. It has different sectors each with accommodation facilities where you can stay. When going for the Nyungwe Forest chimpanzee habituation experience in Gisovu it is recommended to stay there. This sector currently has a guesthouse that is decent and affordable.
The forested park also has other accommodation options at Uwinka, Gisakura, and along the Lake Kivu shore. One&Only Nyungwe House is the most luxurious property in Nyungwe located near Uwinka. Other notable properties include Nyungwe Top View Hotel, Mantis Marina Bay, and Emeraude Kivu Resort.
Mantis Marina Bay and Emeraude are most convenient when tracking chimpanzees in Cyamudongo. These are about an hour’s drive from Uwinka but still convenient if you are to track chimpanzees there.
Best Time for Chimpanzee Habituation
The Nyungwe Forest chimpanzee habituation experience can be done any time of the year. Nyungwe Forest has cool weather and chimpanzee trekking and overall safari adventures there are not limited by weather. Being forested and hilly, rainfall can be unpredictable, especially during the wet season. You can however still manage any of the excursions irrespective of the rain.
Birding adventures in Nyungwe are best enjoyed from November to March. This is because being a forested park, birding there mainly depends on calls and it is from November to March when birds are more vocal. The migratory birds also set in during these months and you therefore stand a chance to see a variety of birds.
Other Nyungwe Safari Adventures
Chimpanzee trekking and habituation top the Nyungwe Safari adventures however there are many other expeditions you can be part of. These include guided nature walks following the different trails in the park. Nature walks here take 1 to 3 hours or more depending on one’s interest.
The guided walk to the Kamiranzovu waterfalls is the most famous one. On it, you get an opportunity to closely study plant and small wildlife species including insects.
The canopy walk is another amazing adventure you can be part of when visiting Nyungwe. The forest canopy walk is East Africa’s highest and enables you to see wildlife species in the top canopy layers. All these safari adventures are doable throughout the year.
Rwanda Discovery Tours Options to Nyungwe
Nyungwe forest can be visited exclusively or in addition to other Rwanda tour destinations. To fully explore the park, especially on a Nyungwe Forest Chimpanzee habituation safari, we recommend at least 5 days. There you can check out at least two sectors for tracking and habituation plus birding and nature walks.
A 3-day Nyungwe National Park tour is also doable but short with limited adventure options. If you are into primates you can always add a visit to Volcanoes National Park. This is located in the Northwestern part of Rwanda and is home to mountain gorillas. The park has 12 fully habituated gorilla families that are open to tourism and offer the best gorilla trekking experience.
Beyond Rwanda, you can be part of journeys of Discovery to Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Uganda also offers great opportunities for chimpanzees and mountain gorilla trekking. It has both tracking and habituation experiences for both chimpanzees and mountain gorillas. Kenya and Tanzania savanna wildlife safari giants offering classic savanna wildlife experiences.
For exclusive Kenya safari adventures, you can visit the different wildlife conservancies the country has. These are diverse and less crowded when compared to national parks and reserves. Contact Us now to start planning your Rwanda safari to Nyungwe.
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