Book & Track Uwinka Chimpanzee Community
Track Uwinka Chimpanzee Community is the largest community of Great Apes in Nyungwe Forest National Park and is found in Uwinka sector of the main Nyungwe Forest. There are over 60 individuals in this community but due to the magnificence of this verdant forest as well as the rugged terrains (very hilly), there are lesser chances of sighting these Great Apes during trekking adventures. This is contrary to the Cyamudongo chimpanzee community (of 30 members) which ranges in a smaller area of only 4 square kilometers. It is for this reason that visitors and Rangers alike consider Uwinka Chimpanzee community in Nyungwe most difficult to track. Book Now
Tracking Uwinka Chimpanzee community in Nyungwe
Tracking Chimpanzees of the Uwinka community begins from Uwinka Park offices and starts at 5:30 am with registration and briefing. However, we recommend booking/making payment be made in advance before the actual trek to be guaranteed your trekking permit.
There is only one session of tracking the Uwinka Chimpanzee community in Nyungwe, which is the early morning session.
The process of searching and spending time with the chimpanzees in Uwinka Community lasts anywhere between two and six hours, including the one hour you will take to observe and take photos of them as they go about their day-to-day routines. Chimpanzees are wild animals that keep moving freely in their natural habitats with no particular permanent address hence we recommend moderate physical fitness and emotional preparation for both long and short treks. Nonetheless, Park trackers normally move ahead of visitors to find the chimpanzee community before/or shortly after they leave their nests. Your group Rangers/guides will therefore be in constant communication with the trackers to work out easier routes of getting to the Great Apes. The effort and difficulty of finding these creatures are compensated by the incredible face-to-face encounter with these primates, which are mankind’s closest relatives in the animal Kingdom as they go about their daily routines.
A maximum of 8 visitors can visit each habituated Chimpanzee community in Nyungwe (only morning session) and for this reason, a total of 24 permits
How much does a chimpanzee tracking permit cost?
International visitors are required to pay $250 per person to track chimpanzees in Uwinka or any other community in Nyungwe Forest, and this price includes the cost of the permit and Park entry fees which are mandatory.
What to carry/wear while tracking Uwinka Chimpanzee community in Nyungwe?
For any unforgettable chimpanzee tracking adventure, we recommend wearing long-sleeved shirts, long safari pants in neutral colors, gardening gloves, common socks of knee length, sturdy hiking boots with enough grip, gaiters, sunglasses, and an insect repellant. Also carry binoculars, a camera with enough memory space and lens, a backpack (for storing the items needed during the chimpanzee trek), a first aid kit (because falls, scratches, and blisters are common during chimp treks), enough drinking water, snacks, and a rain jacket. Don’t forget to carry a walking stick.
Best time to visit the Uwinka Chimpanzee community in Nyungwe
Uwinka Chimpanzee community is open to visitors all year round but the dry months- January, February, June, July, August, September, and December are generally better for walking through Nyungwe Forest. These months are marked by lower rainfall levels which make it less difficult to maneuver through the forest and the rugged terrains. The months of March, April, May, October, and November are marked by heavy rains which make it difficult to track chimpanzees, and are marked by falls. However, note that you are exploring a higher elevation area thus there will be little difference.
Where to stay when tracking Uwinka Chimpanzee community
While it is difficult to know which chimpanzee community you will be tracking at the time of booking, the best accommodation options are One & Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge, Gisakura Guest Family Hostel, EAR Ken Barham Guesthouse, Kitabi Eco-Center, and many others.
