Nyungwe

Highlights

• Chimpanzee tracking, harder work and less certain than gorilla trekking but a real forest experience
• The canopy walkway, suspended high above a ravine with the forest below
• Colobus monkey troops, which here can number in the hundreds
• Exceptional birding, with a long list of Albertine Rift endemics
• Waterfall and forest trails at a range of difficulties, walkable without special permits

Getting around

• Four to five hours by road from Kigali, or closer if coming from Lake Kivu's southern end.
• A vehicle is necessary; the park is large and trailheads are spread along the road through it.
• Chimp tracking starts very early - stay inside or close to the park.

Good to know

• Two to four nights. Chimp tracking, the canopy walk and at least one longer trail each need their own slot.
• Chimps move fast and high. Sightings are less reliable than gorillas and often brief - go for the forest as much as the animals.
• It rains. Waterproofs and boots with grip are not optional.
• Nights are cold at this altitude; check your lodge has heating or good bedding.

Trails are steep, wet and slippery - proper footwear matters. Tracking starts before dawn and the forest is cold; dress for it. Follow guide instructions around all primates.