Kosten für Schimpansenwanderung in Ruanda (Nyungwe)

Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda cost depends on the permit and on everything around it. Recent operator guides list the chimpanzee permit at about US$150 for foreign adults in Nyungwe National Park, while older pages quote US$90, and we could not find the figure on the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) booking pages. Because the sources disagree, treat any permit number as a guide and confirm the price for your date with the RDB or your operator. The larger costs are usually the five- to six-hour drive from Kigali, the nights you spend near the park and the extra activities such as the canopy walk.

This guide explains each cost, a sample budget, how the tracking works and the best way to plan it. We checked the details in October 2026. For the park itself, read our Nyungwe National Park travel guide.

The permit covers the guided tracking by park rangers and trackers, and up to one hour with the chimpanzees once they are found. Some sources say it also covers park entry, while others list entry as a separate charge, so ask your operator which applies. Rwanda has two groups that can be tracked: the main Nyungwe Forest community and the smaller Cyamudongo Forest community, about an hour away by road. Sightings are not guaranteed.

We do not publish package prices on this page because they change by season, group size and lodge level. As a rule, a Nyungwe stay adds two nights and a long road day to a Rwanda trip, so the chimpanzee part usually costs far less than a gorilla permit but more than a day trip because of the distance. Ask our team for a quote that fits your dates. Two tours that include Nyungwe are the 6-day luxury gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking tour and the 6-day chimpanzee tracking and Akagera Big Five safari.

Plan to wake early. Chimpanzees leave their night nests soon after dawn, so tracking starts around 5:30 a.m. After a short briefing at the park office, trackers who have already found the group lead you into the forest. The walk can be short or take several hours on steep, slippery ground. When you find them, you stay for up to one hour, watching quietly. Chimpanzees move fast and spend a lot of time high in the trees, so binoculars and patience help.

They are different experiences. Gorilla trekking is calmer, and the animals sit and feed on the ground. Chimpanzees are active, noisy and fast, and the trekking is less predictable. If you can only do one, most travellers choose gorillas. If you have time, Nyungwe adds a very different forest, the canopy walk and over a dozen primate species. For comparison with Uganda, see our guide to chimpanzee tracking in Uganda.

Nyungwe has rain in any month, but the drier months from June to September and December to February make the trails easier. The chimpanzees can be tracked year-round. Read about the ecosystem in Nyungwe, an ancient rainforest and its primates.

• Combine Nyungwe with Akagera or the gorilla trek so transport is shared across days.
• Travel in a small group; vehicle and guide costs are split.
• Choose mid-range lodges for the night before tracking.
• Check the RDB's low-season gorilla discount, which applies from November to May with a stay in Nyungwe or Akagera; see how to book gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

Think of it as four items. First, the road: a private vehicle and driver for the five- to six-hour drive each way, or a stop at Huye on the way. Second, two nights of lodging near the forest, from simple guesthouses to high-end lodges among the tea fields. Third, the permit for chimpanzee tracking and any extras, such as the canopy walk. Fourth, meals and tips. If you add Nyungwe to a gorilla trip, the vehicle and the airport transfers are shared, which spreads the cost. If you travel just for the chimpanzees, the long drive is the largest part of the bill.

The main Nyungwe forest offers a larger community, the canopy walk, hiking trails and a better chance to combine activities. Cyamudongo is a smaller forest about an hour away by road, with a habituated community that is often easier to find, and it suits visitors who want a shorter walk. Many operators choose between them depending on the group. Ask which community you will track, what the walk is like and whether the permit price differs. Read Nyungwe, an ancient rainforest and its primates for the ecology.

Uganda has several chimpanzee sites, including Kibale, Kyambura, Kalinzu and Budongo. Permit prices there are reported at different levels, and the experience varies by forest. In Rwanda, the number of visitors is lower, the forest is high and cool, and you can add the canopy walk and a full day of birds and monkeys. Read chimpanzee tracking in Uganda to compare. If you are choosing between them, think about the route: Nyungwe suits a Rwanda trip, while Kibale suits a Uganda trip.

Pack for cool, wet weather: a waterproof jacket, long trousers, warm layers for the early start, waterproof boots with good grip, gloves and a hat. Bring binoculars, a camera with a fast lens, a headlamp for the dark start and a small daypack. A small dry bag protects your gear in the rain. Insect repellent is useful in the lower areas, and a light scarf keeps the mist off your neck. The full list is in the gorilla trekking packing list, which also suits chimpanzee days.

• Primate lovers who want more than gorillas
• Travellers who also enjoy forest walks and birds

• Travellers with only two or three days in Rwanda, because the drive is long
• Anyone who expects a guaranteed sighting

• Trying to do Nyungwe as a day trip from Kigali. The drive alone is five to six hours each way.
• Skipping the early start. The best chance is at dawn.
• Wearing the wrong clothes. Long trousers and waterproofs help.
• Quoting old permit prices. Confirm before paying.

Recent operator guides list about US$150 for foreign adults, but older pages say US$90, so confirm the current rate.

Up to one hour once you find them.

In Nyungwe National Park and Cyamudongo Forest in the south-west.

Uganda has several forests, including Kibale. Rwanda has Nyungwe, with the canopy walk and a quieter setting.

Yes. We could not confirm the figure on the RDB booking pages, and sources show different prices, so confirm it for your date with the RDB or your operator before you pay.

Age limits apply, and they can differ from gorilla trekking. Ask your operator to confirm the minimum age for your date. See gorilla trekking with kids for the gorilla rules.

We combine Nyungwe with gorillas, Lake Kivu and Akagera. Talk to Our Tour Specialist to get a quote based on your dates. See also the complete guide to gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

Quelle: Visit Rwanda.