Which National Park has Chimpanzees in Rwanda?

Which National Park has Chimpanzees in Rwanda?

Which National Park has chimpanzees in Rwanda? This is one of the most frequently asked questions among tourists who have a love for chimpanzees and are traveling to Rwanda. In East Africa, there are only four countries that have chimpanzees, and these countries include Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi. Amongst all the four countries, Uganda happens to hold or have the highest number of tourist destinations with chimpanzees, and also has the highest number of chimpanzees and half the population I the whole world. This is why it is referred to as the Primate Capital in the whole world, but enough of Uganda, let us talk about Rwanda, since it is the main reason for writing this article. Knowing that you have a lot of questions about chimpanzees in Rwanda, let us start by answering this burning question that many of you have.

Which National Park has Chimpanzees in Rwanda?

Chimpanzees are an endangered species that are on the list of the IUCN list, being under threat of extinction. In Rwanda, chimpanzees can be found or trekked in Nyungwe National Park and a few populations in Gishwati Forest. Tourists who visit Rwanda and are interested in spotting or trekking chimpanzees tend to visit Nyungwe National Park for this activity.

Where is Nyungwe National Park Located?

Nyungwe National Park is located in the southwestern part of Rwanda in a town called Cyangungu near Lake Kivu, approximately 226 kilometers from Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, making it about a 4- 5 hour drive away from the capital city.

Other attractions in Nyungwe National Park

Apart from chimpanzees, there happen to be other tourist attractions that are found in Nyungwe National Park. Some of these attractions include,

Canopy in Nyungwe National Park

The canopy found in Nyungwe National Park is one of the highlights of this park since many tourists love taking walks in it, mostly the adventurous ones. The canopy in Nyungwe National Park is approximately 160 kilometers long and suspended about 70 meters above the ground.

Other primates in Nyungwe National Park

Apart from chimpanzees, Nyungwe National Park also happens to have several monkeys that you can spot around the forest, eating fruits or playing. Some of these monkeys include colobus monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, silver monkey, Blue monkey, to mention but a few.

Walking trails in Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe National Park also has walking trails, which tourists use to connect with nature through nature walks.

Isumo waterfalls in Nyungwe National Park

 Isumo Waterfalls is also one of the attractions found in Nyungwe National Park that tourists love visiting. To reach these waterfalls in Nyungwe National Park, it requires tourists to move for approximately 4-5 hours to reach them. 

Trees and plants in Nyungwe National Park

Being the oldest rainforest in Africa, Nyungwe National Park is filled with amazing and old trees, plus plants that are just breathtaking when you see them during your visit.

Birds in Nyungwe National Park

Being a forest having many trees that bear fruits and fruits are food for birds, Nyungwe National Park is home to different birds that can be easily seen flying around the park at all times. Some of the bird species found in Nyungwe National Park include Black Saw-wing, Purple-breasted sunbird, Regal sunbird, Albertine owlet, strange weaver, blue-headed sunbird, to mention but a few. 

Other tourist activities that are done in Nyungwe National Park apart from chimpanzee trekking include,

Guided nature walks

Tourists who visit Nyungwe National Park have a chance to do guided nature walks if they are interested. During guided nature walks in Nyungwe National Park, tourists are guided by tour guides and protected by game rangers. Just as the name suggests, this activity involves tourists walking on foot for a long distance while connecting with nature and spotting different attractions along the way.

Birding in Nyungwe National Park

Since there are a lot of different bird species found in Nyungwe National Park, this makes it the perfect place for bird lovers to tick off different birds from their birding list.

Canopy walks

The most outstanding tourist activity in Nyungwe National Park. That involves tourists walking along the canopy while watching the beautiful breath breathtaking views that are offered by the park and the canopy formed by the old forest trees. While doing the canopy walk, you are also able to see birds flying around and primates playing around in the tree branches.

Ziplining in Nyungwe National Park

Ziplining is a tourist activity for tourists who love adventure, and it has recently been added among the activities done by tourists in Nyungwe National Park.

What is the cost of a chimpanzee trekking permit in Rwanda?

A chimpanzee trekking permit in Rwanda goes for approximately 250 USD for foreign non-residents, 75 USD for foreign residents, and 25 USD for East African citizens.

What is the best time for visiting Nyungwe National Park?

Nyungwe National Park is always open to visitors or tourists throughout the whole year, but since there is always a best time for everything, the best time for visiting Nyungwe National Park is during the dry season of the year. The dry season is the best time for visiting because during this time of the year, many outdoor tourist activities can be done since the weather is favorable. During the dry season, the vegetation cover is thin and easily accessible in case of chimpanzee trekking, nature walks, and birding.

Where to stay when you visit Nyungwe National Parkhttps://bujosafaris.com/travel-blog/article/best-lodges-in-nyungwe-national-park

When you visit Nyungwe National Park, there are various accommodation facilities that you can stay at, ranging from luxury to budget, depending on what you want and how your wallet stands. Some of these accommodation facilities include Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge, Uwinka campsite, One and Only Nyungwe, Kitabi Eco center, Nyungwe Nziza Ecolodge, to mention but a few.

Nyungwe National Park is an amazing tourist destination that you must not miss out on visiting during your East African safari, tour, or trip, mostly for nature lovers and researchers. As the oldest rainforest park in Africa, it has a lot to offer. In case you happen to have any questions or inquiries, do not hesitate to contact our experienced team of consultants; they will be glad to help out in any way possible.