Booking Chimpanzee Trekking Permit 2023-2025

Nyungwe Forest National Park is located in Southwestern Rwanda on the Rwanda Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lake Kivu to the west, and Kibira National Park to the south. It was established in 2004 and also covers an area of 1,019 square kilometres of rainforest, bamboo, swamps, and grassland.

Chimpanzee Trekking Permit in Nyungwe

Chimpanzee trekking is one of the most popular activities carried out in Nyungwe Forest National Park. A trip to Nyungwe National Park is considered incomplete when you don’t include chimpanzee trekking on your bucket list. Nyungwe being the oldest tropical mountain rain forest in Rwanda, its conditions are found to be so favourable for these primates. Chimpanzees in Nyungwe are trekked at Cyamudongo Forest, and this always starts with a briefing from the ranger guide about rules and regulations governing trekking.

This is always done so early so that tourists get the opportunity to see these primates right from the time they start their day. Briefing is always done at the Uwinka visitor centre, Kitabi, and Gisakura. Later, tourists are led into the forest in search of these primates. Over 400 individuals live in Nyungwe Forest, and the best way to enjoy seeing them is as they jump from one tree to another, grooming young ones as well as looking out for food.

Booking chimpanzee trekking permit for Nyungwe

These permits are issued to tourists starting from age 15 and above. These permits can be purchased directly from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) with the help of your reliable tour operator. These permits cost USD 100 each for foreign nonresidents and should be valid, and tourists are allowed strictly one hour with the chimpanzees in the wild. Tour operators should book accordingly by checking the availability on time so as to avoid last-minute inconveniences. During chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park, tourists can also be able to spot other primates like the vervet monkey, L’hoest monkey, blue monkey, golden monkey, olive baboon, grey-cheeked mangabey, Dent’s Mona monkey, and red-tailed monkey, among others.

Best time to trek

The most recommended season for chimpanzee trekking is the dry season, when the park is less slippery and accessible. This is from May to early September and from December to March.