Kibale National Park Vs Nyungwe National Park is one of the aspects to consider between which to choose for your primate safari experience, especially for chimpanzee trekking. Both Kibale National Park and Nyungwe National Park are top chimpanzee trekking destinations in Africa that travelers can get to come up close with the chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Kibale National Park is located in the western part of Uganda, and Nyungwe National Park is found in Rwanda.
Both Kibale National Park Vs Nyungwe National Park are close enough to gorilla trekking destinations in each country. Kibale National Park is close enough to both Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, whilst Nyungwe National Park is close to Volcanoes National Park, all famous for gorilla trekking experiences.
Both Kibale National Park and Nyungwe National Park are famous for chimpanzee trekking. Choosing which of the parks to best visit for your chimpanzee trekking experience is a choice left to solely the traveler. Below however are the pros and cons of chimpanzee trekking in either Kibale National Park or Nyungwe National Park.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National Park Pros and Cons
Pros;
Kibale National Park is the best chimpanzee trekking safari destination, in comparison to not only Nyungwe National Park Rwanda or any other chimpanzee trekking destination. Kibale National Park is the best for chimpanzee trekking because of the navigable flat terrain and high population of chimpanzees and habituated chimpanzee groups or families that travelers can encounter whilst on a chimpanzee trekking experience in Kibale National Park.
Apart from chimpanzees, Kibale National Park hosts a number of other primates that travelers can look out for whilst on a chimpanzee trekking safari experience in Kibale National Park, any time of the year. There are up to 13 primates in Kibale National Park and they include among others chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkeys, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys and red colobus monkeys.
Chimpanzee sightings in Kibale National Park are guaranteed every single time one heads out on a chimpanzee trekking experience adventure in the park, which is not the case in Nyungwe National Park. Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park starts at 7am with a briefing at the park headquarters.
Kibale National Park also offers chimpanzee habituation experiences to travelers, allowing them more time in the park and with the chimpanzees. Nyungwe National Park only offers half day chimpanzee trekking experiences.
Also, Kibale National Park has a wide variety of accommodation in the park and around the park, catering for all ranges of accommodation and thus considering all types of travelers; this is not the case with Nyungwe National Park.
Cons
The con for chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park happens when one has to combine chimpanzee trekking in Kibale with gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable, which is a common occurrence but the drive distance is quite long. Adding a buffer stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park is highly recommended, or opt to fly between Kibale National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park Pros and Cons
Pros
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park is the second most sought after Rwanda safari tour after gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. Volcanoes National Park is only about 250km north of Nyungwe National Park, and thus close enough to combine both chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe with gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
Chimpanzees in Nyungwe are usually spotted up on trees high, and there are a number of other primates in the park that travelers can encounter. Apart from primates, other wildlife in Nyungwe National Park that travelers can look out for include 75 mammal species, over 300 bird species, as well as a number of hiking trails.
Apart from chimpanzee trekking, the canopy walk and hiking trails are famous and sought after by travelers who visit Rwanda on Nyungwe National Park safaris.
Cons
The trails in Nyungwe National Park are quite strenuous and require a bit of stamina as compared to Kibale National Park.
There is not much variety and diversity in accommodation in Nyungwe National Park, with most travelers having to spend their nights away from the park, and are quite pricy too irrespective of the budget category.
Chimpanzee sighting in Nyungwe National Park is much lower, as compared to Kibale National Park. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park starts as early as 5:00am.
Between Kibale National Park and Nyungwe National Park, chimpanzee trekking is by far best done in Kibale National Park. Nyungwe National Park however provides a number of other activities including a canopy walk worth exploring. Irrespective of which park you choose for your chimpanzee trekking experience, you shall enjoy your primate safari, with a chance to see much more beyond the chimpanzees. Get in touch with your trusted tour operator to help you pitch an amazing primate safari in Kibale National Park or Nyungwe National Park.
