The alarm rang at 4:30 AM. By 5:00 AM, we were already on our way, half-asleep but very excited. Chimp trekking in Nyungwe National Park starts early for a reason: this is when the chimps wake up, and the expert trackers know exactly where to find them.
As we hiked through the dense rainforest, the sounds of the jungle came to life—birds calling, leaves moving, and… some monkey business 👀 The off track path was anything but easy. Mud, steep climbs, and thick vegetation. But then, we heard them. Chimps. Close.
Suddenly, there they were, high up in the trees, swinging effortlessly from branch to branch. They were fast, almost teasing us as we tried to keep up. One moment, they sat still, observing us with deep, intelligent eyes. The next, they were off again, disappearing into the valley.
It was raw, wild, and absolutely unreal. Seeing chimps in their natural habitat, hearing them calling eachother through the forest, rangers accompanying us. Like a nature documentary!
By the time we made it back, exhausted and covered in mud, one thing was clear: this was my favorite experience in Rwanda.