People mostly think of Rwanda when they think of luxury gorilla trekking tour and its famous hills. But if you want to see more, it has another side of the country that you should see. This Rwanda Chimpanzee Tracking Tour will go off the typical safari route. It will include wildlife from the rainforest, the savanna, village life, conservation efforts, and active exploration all in one well-balanced itinerary.

You will start in the open lands of Akagera and then move on to the darker, wetter world of Nyungwe. In Nyungwe, chimpanzee calls can be heard through the trees before you see them. Tracking chimpanzees in Rwanda starts early, around 5:30 a.m., and sightings depend on where the community has been that morning.

Rwanda's advantage is that these experiences naturally connect in a country that isn't too big. Here, you can start your morning in the shade of a forest, work with a local community to keep bees in a healthy way in the afternoon, and the next day riding a bike above the clear waters of Lake Kivu. The Congo Nile Trail is about 227 to 250 km long, and you can ride parts of it without committing to the whole trail.

The main idea of this tour is to experience how adventure and conservation can work together. At Eco Hive Guardians Initiative near Nyungwe, you won't only hear that tourism should help communities; you will also see how beekeeping, making honey, teaching about the environment, and protecting forests can all work together. Swift Africa Safaris started initiatives for community development and consrvation includes this one in Nyamasheke to help people there make better living conditions and protect the Nyungwe ecosystem.

Comfort will always be a part of the story. When you get back from a day of activities, you'll enjoy well-chosen hotel, private road transfers, professional guidance, tasty meals, and some free time. Once you make a reservation, you'll be given information about the hotel. This way, you can match your accommodation choices to availability, travel dates, and the level of comfort you want.

Difficulty Level

People who are moderately fit and don't mind doing a mix of walking, wildlife drives, cycling, and water activities will enjoy this trip. To track chimpanzees, you will have to get up early and walk for several hours on forest trails. After rain, the ground may become muddy or uneven. Chimpanzees are free to move around in the forest, so the actual time it takes to find them will vary. Once they are found, though, visitors can watch them for up to an hour.

Canoeing on Lake Kivu, on the other hand, will be easier on your body. The Nyungwe zipline is currently made up of three sections that add up to about 1,935 meters of length. The canopy walkway offers views of the forest from above.

The day when you ride your bike along the Congo Nile Trail from Karongi to Rubavu will be the hardest on your body. People usually treat the part of the trail between Karongi and Rubavu as active and hilly, so the support vehicle will still be there when you need to stop riding.

Guests who have trouble moving around should talk about the itinerary before they book so that the best parts and activity options can be arranged.