Colobus Monkey Tracking in Nyungwe Forest

Colobus Monkey Tracking in Nyungwe Forest is one of the greatest ways to see primates in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Hiking, canopy hikes, and trekking with chimpanzees in Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park are excellent matches for this sport. Colobus monkey trekking takes place in the Nyungwe forest in southern Rwanda, around six hours’ drive from Kigali. Owing to the park’s high population density, it is not unusual to encounter a group of over 500 people while traversing it. If possible, track them early in the morning when, similar to other primates, they are busy eating and grooming themselves before going to bed. A semi-habituated group in the Nyungwe forest actively moves across the forest to improve the experience.

Tracking colobus monkeys is a popular primate pastime in Nyungwe Forest National Park, located in southwest Rwanda, along with chimpanzees. More than a dozen different primate species can be found at Nyungwe Forest National Park, but black and white colobus monkeys are the most common. The park also has baboons, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and Rwenzori colobus monkeys, among other types of monkeys. About 550 colobus monkeys and about two groups of habituated colobus monkeys for tracking can be found in the Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Colobus Monkey Groups

Gisakura Group

Due to its better accessibility without requiring much hiking and the fact that monkeys frequently congregate near the forest’s edge, the Gisakura Group is the most popular destination for trekking excursions. The majority of the lodgings utilised for visits to Nyungwe National Park are located in Gisakura (outside the park). These accommodations include Gisakura Guesthouse, One&Only Nyungwe House, and Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge. It is therefore in a very handy location. There are four daily trekking itineraries offered by the Gisakura Group: 8am, 10am, 1pm, and 3pm. Therefore, if you would like to add a quick extra activity to your chimp tour in Nyungwe National Park, this group is the best option.

Uwinka Group

The Uwinka Group usually travels far in order to find enough food to feed the large group. It occasionally comes across the Mayebe chimpanzee troop, which is located near Uwinka, and is forced to escape. Colobus monkeys are a staple of the diet of chimpanzees, who aggressively pursue them for their meat. The Uwinka colobus frequently runs away from the chimps to safer territory. The Uwinka Colobus group has a single timetable that starts at 9 a.m., as the duration of the trip varies based on the monkeys’ intended destination. The Uwinka group requires a designated day, in contrast to the Gisakura group, which can complete it as an additional activity on the same day as another activity in Nyungwe.

You have a good chance of encountering other monkey species when spending time with the colobus monkeys, as they use this area as a home when they join large groups of them. The Blue, Mona, and Mangabey monkeys are the monkeys that are most frequently seen alongside the Colobus monkeys.

They often live in smaller groups of no more than a few people, and it’s likely that they join the larger colobus monkeys for increased defence against chimpanzees and other predators.

You will like watching the Colobus monkeys since they are more active than the chimpanzees, and you will have many more opportunities to take pictures of them due of their large number. Your driving guide will pick you up for a briefing at the park office in Uwinka before the walk starts. Ranger guides will take you into the forest to start your experience after explaining what to expect during your stay there.

Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of Africa’s oldest and most protected tropical rain forests, boasts a rich biodiversity and has endured for a very long time. The stunning montane forest that is the National Park is well-known for its amazing tourist attractions, but it is most well-known for being home to a number of primate species, some of which are exclusive to the Albertine Rift. One of the 13 kinds of primates known to exist in Nyungwe National Park is the big chimpanzee population, which coexists with other primates.

Best Time for Colobus Monkey Tracking in Nyungwe Forest.

While it is possible to track colobus monkeys year-round, the best time to go on a walk with these primates is still in the dry season of the month. The trail is more challenging during the rainy season due to the slippery roads, thick vegetation, and dense trees that block the colobus monkeys’ easy access and clear views. The hiking trails are less muddy and more manageable in the dry months of December through February and June through September. This is because the foliage is shorter and less dense, making it easier to spot black and white colobus monkeys.