Colobus monkey trekking in Nyungwe National Park (1,019 Km2) in southwestern Rwanda is an exhilarating adventure that leaves a lasting impression for visitors. Explore Nyungwe National Park, which is one of the few remaining montane forests in Africa to trek and spend time with these vulnerable primates in their natural habitats. The forested ecosystem lies on altitudes ranging from 1,600 to 2,950 meters above sea level to favor a variety of habitats for the colobus monkeys to thrive. The constituent habitats include primary and secondary forests, marshes, streams, herbs, lichens and shrubs. All these habitats offer a variety of fruits, leaves, flowers, insects and more for the colobus monkeys to feed on.
The colobus monkey troops in Nyungwe National Park
Nyungwe National Park has at least two habituated colobus monkey troops available for trekking tours. One is the Uwinka troop, which is remarkably composed of at least 300 individuals. The other is the Gisakura troop, composed of only 60 individuals. The guided colobus monkey trekking tour starts with registration and briefing conducted by the park authorities at the visitor center. You are led into the dense forest to locate any of the mentioned troops, and once you find them, an hour is allowed for you to observe their behaviors while taking their photos. The colobus monkeys in Gisakura can be trekked in four different schedules, 08:00, 10:00, 13:00 and 15:00. The Uwinka troop can be trekked starting at 09:00.
About the colobus monkeys in Nyungwe National Park
The colobus monkeys (also known as Angolan colobus, Colobus angolensis) in Nyungwe National Park have shiny black coats, with a long mantle of fur on their small, round faces. They have longer hind legs compared to the forelimbs, which lack thumbs. Colobus monkeys are arboreal and prefer spending much of their day navigating the canopy. The colobus monkeys live in organised troops led by a dominant male, around 6 females and their young. The troops can sometimes reach up to over 300 individuals in Nyungwe National Park. The troops are territorial and the dominant male offers defence and protection against predators. On average females weigh around 6 kilograms while males weigh around 11 kilograms.
When to go for colobus monkey trekking in Nyungwe National Park
Nyungwe National Park is open for colobus monkey trekking throughout the year, but you can choose to travel there based on your desired weather conditions, ambience, budget and others. The dry season offers favorable weather conditions for travelers desiring relatively warmer and drier situations. These occur twice a year, in the months of January, February, June, July, August, September and December. The season is marked with reduced average rainfall patterns thus causing uninterrupted trekking adventures. Another advantage of having a colobus monkey trekking in Nyungwe National Park during this time is that the forest trails are dry and less challenging to walk through.
The rainy season is the alternative time for the more adventurous travelers, who are enthralled by the challenges of navigating on slippery and muddy forest trails. The rainy season is marked by relatively higher rainfall and humidity, and falls in the months of March to May and October to November. This season also coincides with the low season thus offering visitors a chance to have a quiet and ambient colobus monkey trekking in Nyungwe National Park. There is also the advantage of a luxurious background to take photos since the undergrowth is thicker than during the dry season. This time is also appropriate for budget travelers who are most likely to stay in comfortable lodges at a discounted fee.
How to travel for a colobus monkey trekking in Nyungwe National Park
The best means of getting Nyungwe National Park is on road transportation from Kigali or other national parks of Rwanda. From Kigali, the distance to cover on road to Uwinka Visitor Center at Nyungwe National Park is 216 kilometers (134 miles). On this scenic ride, you will take around 5 to 6 hours. If you wish to travel by private means, you can hire a vehicle from a reputable tour operator such as Monteero Safaris. Besides organising the perfect tour packages, we offer car hire services for clients to enjoy their tours and travels in Rwanda. We have a wide range of cars that include 4X4 safaris cars, saloon cars and drones, that are manned by professional driver guides, who also fluent in French and English.
What to pack for colobus monkey trekking in Nyungwe
While planning to see the lively colobus monkeys in Nyungwe National Park, serious consideration should be put on packing the following essential items,
- Clothes made of dull and thin fabric, including a pair of trousers and long-sleeved shirt
- Waterproof strong hiking shoes with ankle grip and gaiters
- Warm sweater
- Light rain jacket
- Camera with extra battery
- Charger
- Binoculars
- Cap or sun hat
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Refillable water bottle and snack box containing energy snacks
- A pair of garden gloves
- First aid kit and personal medication if needed
- Backpack
- Cash
- Travel credentials
For more information about colobus monkey trekking in Nyungwe National Park and other tour activities like birding, chimpanzee trekking, canopy walking and tea estate exploration contact us at Monteero Safaris.