Mayebe Chimpanzee Community in Nyungwe Forest
Mayebe Chimpanzee Community in Nyungwe Forest is one of the three habituated chimpanzee groups, comprising about 26 individuals, the group can be visited by primate enthusiasts under the guidance of expert trackers who lead trekkers through the verdant Afro-montane rainforest to gain the best sightings possible. This interesting Chimpanzee group is visited by a maximum of eight people each day and the total duration of finding them ranges between one and six hours, depending on how far they have moved into the Forest. Book Now
Other habituated Chimpanzee Groups in Nyungwe are Cyamudongo (in the adjacent Cyamudongo Forest) and Gisovu.
Set in the far southwestern side of Rwanda and within the Albertine Rift, Nyungwe Forest National Park is Rwanda’s ultimate primate World with over 13 primate species to look out for. However, chimpanzee tracking is the most popular primate tour, where visitors get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with mankind’s closest relatives in the animal Kingdom. This almost 1000-square-kilometer Protected Area was gazetted in 2004 and is one of the Continent’s only Afro-montane rainforests that survived during the last Ice Ages. There are over 1000 plant species, 200 Orchid species, over 80 mammal species, about 320 bird species, 38 Reptile species, and 32 Amphibian species.
The best time to visit the Mayebe Chimpanzee Group in Nyungwe
There is no clear best time to visit the Mayebe Chimpanzee Community in Nyungwe because there are pros and cons to both seasons. The wet months, which typically run from March to May, and October through early December are marked by heavier rains which make forest trails muddy and slippery. In so doing, treks become more challenging but the advantage is that vegetation is greener hence creating a wonderful backdrop for photography. Also, this is the best time for birding in Nyungwe Forest.
The dry months- June to September and late December to February are the peak season for visiting Mayebe (or any other) Chimpanzee group. The advantages of visiting this Chimpanzee Group in Nyungwe during the dry months include lesser rains and better trekking experiences since the forest trails are less muddy and slippery. However, remember that Nyungwe Forest Weather is quite wet, being a rainforest.
Where to stay in Nyungwe before/after your chimpanzee tracking adventure
When you book a chimpanzee tracking trip to Nyungwe Forest National Park, you are directly contributing to the long-term sustainability of the Protected Area, community support, and the general conservation of wildlife. However, your chimpanzee trekking experience with the Mayebe Chimpanzee Group in Nyungwe isn’t complete without a comfortable place. The National Park features a wide range of accommodation options that range from budget to luxury. These include Gisovu Guesthouse (a self-catering facility in the North of Nyungwe), Uwinka Campsites (two serene Campsites at Uwinka Visitor Center), Uwinka Guesthouse (two-roomed self-catering Guesthouse that can accommodate four guests per night), Gisakura Campsite (a shaded Campsite in the western corridor), Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Nyungwe Eco Village, Kitabi Eco Center, Nyungwe Nziza Ecolodge, and One & Only Nyungwe House.
