Comparing Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda Vs Uganda

Comparing Rwandan and Ugandan Chimpanzee Trekking : Following their gorilla trekking experience, most tourists choose to do chimpanzee trekking, which is another once-in-a-lifetime primate adventure. Both species are found in tropical rain forests and belong to the great ape’s animal family, and they have the same trekking regulations and requirements. We are comparing chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda to chimpanzee trekking in Uganda because gorilla trekking is typically conducted in both countries.

Rwandan vs. Ugandan Chimpanzee Trekking Destinations

The most well-known tropical rain forests of Nyungwe Forest National Park and the recently created Gishwati Mukura National Park in Rwanda’s southern province are the only two places where chimpanzee trekking tours are available in Rwanda. In contrast, chimpanzee trekking in Uganda is possible in three major chimpanzee destinations: Kibale Forest National Park, Kyambura George of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Budongo Forest National Park. The Kalinzu woodland reserve in Uganda offers chimpanzee trekking as well.

Because both Rwanda and Uganda adhere to the same chimpanzee trekking regulations and guidelines, trekking chimpanzees in Rwanda and Uganda offer the same enchanted chimp encounter in the rain forests. Nevertheless, there are some distinctions between Rwandan and Ugandan chimpanzees that we will go over below.

Chimpanzee permits in Rwanda and Uganda are expensive.

The cost of obtaining a chimp permit is one of the biggest differences between hiking chimpanzees in Rwanda and Uganda. In Rwanda, chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park requires a $150 per person chimpanzee permit; in Uganda, visitors can trek chimpanzees in Kibale National Park for $200 per person, or in the Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park or Kalinzu Forest outside the park for $50 per person.

Rwanda’s chimpanzee population compared to Uganda’s.

The chimpanzee population in Rwanda‘s Nyungwe Forest National Park, which is thought to have approximately 500 of them, is significantly smaller than the chimpanzee population in Uganda. However, there are an estimated 1500 chimpanzees living in Uganda, which is known as “the primate capitol.” Because of this, it is simple for hikers to see a lot of chimpanzees together.

Trekking chimpanzees in Uganda, especially in Kibale National Park, is much easier than trekking chimpanzees in Rwanda’s Nyungwe or Cyamudongo forests since there are many chimpanzee primates in Uganda’s several chimpanzee habitats, including the well-known Kibale National Park.

Because chimps in Rwanda are typically seen in trees, you may miss out on seeing them on a chimpanzee hike in Nyungwe Forest National Park. However, in Uganda‘s Kibale National Park, you will almost surely come across a large number of chimps strolling through the forests.

The distance to the Chimpanzee National Parks.

The distance between the chimpanzee-inhabited parks in Rwanda and Uganda is another difference between trekking chimpanzees in Rwanda and trekking chimpanzees in Uganda; it is easier to travel to Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park than it is to reach Uganda’s chimpanzee-inhabited National Parks.

The travel from Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park typically takes five to six hours, and Rwanda’s roads are good, clean, and well-maintained. However, it typically takes nine to ten hours to go there in Uganda due to poor roads and the parks’ remote location in the southwest.

Travelers who prefer not to drive long distances in Rwanda can take one of Akagera Aviation’s helicopter rides from Kigali to Nyungwe National Park, or they can take Rwandair’s 45-minute domestic flights, which land at Kamembe airport.

Although helicopter flights to Queen Elizabeth National Park that land in Mweya/Kasese can be used to do chimpanzee trekking in Queen Elizabeth National Park, which typically takes two to three hours, there are no direct flights to Kibale National Park in Uganda. However, if you are interested in chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park, you can use a ground transfer from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Kibale National Park.

The Habituation of Chimpanzees

Chimpanzee habituation is a more enchanting and fulfilling experience than chimp trekking in Uganda. In contrast to chimpanzee trekking, which only permits visitors to spend an hour with habituated chimpanzees after they are discovered in the forest, habituation allows visitors to spend more time with habituated chimpanzees, typically a full or half day.

The distinction between trekking chimpanzees in Rwanda and Uganda is that, in Uganda, you can perform chimpanzee habituation after your chimpanzee trekking experience, but as the chimpanzee habituation experience has not yet been implemented in Rwanda, this is not possible. The only place to experience chimpanzee habituation is in Kibale National Park in western Uganda. A full day with the chimps costs $250 per person.

You may now select the ideal location for your chimpanzee trekking safari using the comparisons above. A chimpanzee trekking safari can also be combined with gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, or wildlife viewing in our various savannah parks, including Lake Mburo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda, or Akagera National Park in Rwanda.