The Best Time to Track Chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest, Rwanda

What is the best time to track chimpanzees in Nyungwe?

Chimpanzees are one of the most captivating creatures of the wilderness. They have been scientifically proven to share up to 98% of human DNA, characterized by their social behavior, intelligence, and are omnivorous, they feed on plants, leaves, dead tree bark, fruits, and occasionally small monkeys for a change of diet, in Rwanda, Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the best places to spot chimpanzee, it offers guests the perfect experience of seeing primates in their natural habitats. The timing is important for a successful chimpanzee tracking experience. Most travelers wonder what the best time to track chimpanzees in Nyungwe is.

Rwanda is surrounded by an evergreen environment, enjoying generally warm and pleasant temperatures all year round due to its altitude, these are temperate tropical kind of climate, averagely ranging between 26-28 degrees Celsius it experiences different weather seasons, the long rains happen in March to May, June to September are regarded long dry season while the shorter dry season happens in January to February.

Chimpanzees tracking in Nyungwe can be done throughout the year; however, it is during the dry season in the months June, July, August, September, December, January, and February that the dry season provides comfortable trekking conditions, the trails of the forest are less slippery and less muddy, which makes tracking easy. During the dry season, the forest is dry, hence mammals gather around water sources, which makes it simple for guides to track the primates. Despite the dry season being the best for tracking chimpanzees, it also comes with its own disadvantages; there are more travelers during this time, and prices tend to be higher compared to the rainy season.

While the dry season is the best time for tracking, the rainy season can be good for tracking as well. This happens in March, April, May, October, and November, when fewer travelers are enjoying a quiet experience, the forest is more vibrant and fruitful with beautiful echoes from birds, and there are lower prices on accommodation and safari generally. When guests choose this time, it is important to note that the trails are mostly muddy and have unpredictable weather conditions.

A chimpanzee tracking permit in Rwanda costs $150 per person for foreign non-residents, $75 foreign residents, and $25 for East African citizens. Guests are required to pay an extra of $100 for park entrance fees. Chimpanzee tracking takes place starting in the early morning at 5:30 am with a briefing from the park rangers. There are 2 habituated chimpanzee groups, with one group near the Uwinka visitor center. It takes 2-4 hours tracking the primates, and 1 hour is allowed while with the primates.

What to pack during chimpanzee tracking includes long-sleeved shirts and trousers, waterproof covers for phones and cameras, t-shirts, proper hiking boots, sunscreen, hand gloves, insect repellent, a warm sweater, a backpack, walking sticks, water bottles, warm jackets, sandals for relaxation at the lodge, and any other important items of personal nature.

Besides Nyungwe Forest National Park, the Gishwati Mukura National Park, Rwanda’s newest conservation area, is in the northwestern part of the country; it has smaller groups of chimpanzees offering a quieter experience; these are charged the same as the experience in Nyungwe.

In conclusion, chimpanzee experience in Nyungwe can be combined with other things to do in the park, including the famous canopy walk, a long suspended 50 meter bridge in the park, this offers the perfect view of the tree canopies, encountering birds and primate species for example, the black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, L’hoest monkeys to mention a few.