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Nyungwe Forest is home to one of Africa's largest black-and-white colobus monkey troops, sometimes numbering 300-400 individuals travelling together through the canopy. Tracking is a guided half-day activity, less physically demanding than gorilla trekking, and a superb photography opportunity given the troop's size and constant motion.
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A Large Troop
Most primate troops number in the dozens; Nyungwe's colobus troop is exceptional, regularly counted at several hundred individuals moving together, a sight rarely matched elsewhere on the continent for the exact current troop size, since counts can shift over time. The scale of the group is really the headline feature here: rather than tracking a family of six or eight primates as with gorillas, you're watching a moving mass of monkeys spread across dozens of trees at once.
Their striking black fur and flowing white mantle and tail make them one of the more visually dramatic primates to photograph, especially backlit in the forest canopy. Young colobus have a completely different coloring at birth, starting almost pure white before darkening over their first few months, worth watching for if the troop includes recent infants during your visit.
What the Experience Involves
Rangers track the troop's general area each morning, and treks typically last 2-4 hours through Nyungwe's trail network. Terrain is forested and can be muddy but is generally less strenuous than gorilla trekking. Because the troop ranges over a wide area of forest rather than staying in one fixed spot, the walking distance to reach them varies more from day to day than it does with, say, the chimpanzee trekking groups.
A typical morning starts with a briefing at the park headquarters, similar in format to a gorilla trekking briefing but noticeably more relaxed given the lower physical demands. Groups then set out along one of Nyungwe's forest trails, with rangers listening for the troop's movement through the canopy (a mix of rustling branches and, at times, the group's own vocalisations) well before you actually see them.
Once located, the troop is rarely stationary for long, so trekking involves following at a comfortable pace as the group forages and moves through adjacent trees. This gives the activity a different rhythm from gorilla trekking's single fixed viewing spot: instead of settling in one place for an hour, you're walking gently alongside the troop's own movement, which many visitors find makes for a more dynamic and less rushed encounter overall.
Because the colobus travel in the high canopy, patience and a telephoto lens (or binoculars) improve the experience considerably. Unlike gorilla trekking's tightly managed one-hour viewing window, time with the colobus troop tends to be more flexible, since the group is large and spread out enough that rangers can usually keep you within sight of at least part of it for longer.
"A sight rarely matched anywhere else on the continent."
Best Time to Go
Nyungwe's drier windows, roughly June to September and December to February, offer firmer trails and generally better visibility into the canopy, since the forest is slightly less dense with rain-heavy cloud cover. That said, colobus trekking is offered year-round and the troop doesn't disappear in the wetter months: it simply means muddier trails and a higher chance the trek pauses briefly for a passing shower.
Mornings are also generally the better time of day regardless of season, both because the troop tends to be more active feeding early on and because afternoon cloud and mist are more likely to settle over the canopy, making photography and general visibility harder later in the day.
What to Bring
- Binoculars or a telephoto lens: the troop spends most of its time high in the canopy.
- Sturdy, closed-toe walking shoes suited to muddy forest trails.
- A light rain jacket, even in the drier months.
- Gardening-style gloves if you're inclined to use trekking poles or steady yourself on vegetation, since some plants along the trail can sting.
Colobus vs Nyungwe's Other Primates
Nyungwe is one of Africa's richest forests for primate diversity, and the colobus troop is only one of several species worth tracking down. Chimpanzee trekking is the park's headline primate activity and a different experience: smaller groups, more physically demanding terrain, and an entirely different kind of encounter with Rwanda's closest living relative; see our chimpanzee trekking guide for how it compares. For the fuller picture of what else shares the forest with the colobus troop, from L'Hoest's monkeys to owl-faced monkeys, our Nyungwe primates species guide covers the park's other resident species in depth.
Travellers with limited time in Nyungwe sometimes have to choose between chimpanzee trekking and colobus trekking rather than doing both. As a rough guide, choose chimpanzees if a close, direct encounter with a small great-ape family is the priority, and choose colobus if the sheer visual spectacle of a very large troop moving together through the canopy (and a gentler morning overall) appeals more. Travellers with two or more full days in the park rarely need to choose, since both activities comfortably fit into a single stay.
Conservation Significance
Nyungwe's protected status has allowed this colobus population to persist and thrive at a scale rarely seen elsewhere, since large contiguous forest cover is exactly what troops of this size need to sustain themselves for specifics on population trends and conservation status. Tourism revenue from tracking permits contributes to the park's ongoing protection, which is part of why responsible operators encourage visitors to add this activity rather than treating it as an afterthought to chimpanzee trekking.
Habitat fragmentation is the general threat facing large-troop primates across the region, since a group of this size needs enough uninterrupted forest to forage and move without splitting apart for Nyungwe-specific detail. Supporting tracking permits and choosing operators who follow the park's guidelines on group size and distance from the animals are both small ways visitors contribute to keeping the forest intact for the troop's future.
Booking and Combining Activities
Colobus tracking permits are more affordable than gorilla permits and typically available with shorter advance notice for current pricing, since park fees are reviewed periodically. Many visitors combine it with the Nyungwe canopy walk or chimpanzee trekking on a multi-day forest stay, and a 2-3 night stay in Nyungwe is usually enough to fit in two of the park's headline activities without rushing either one.
Because permit numbers are more flexible than for gorilla trekking, colobus tracking is generally easier to add to an itinerary at short notice, even for travellers who decide mid-trip that they'd like to include it. Your operator can usually confirm same-week availability, which makes it a good option to keep in mind as a flexible addition if weather or scheduling forces a change elsewhere in your Nyungwe plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is colobus trekking harder or easier than gorilla trekking?
Generally easier. The terrain is comparable but treks tend to be shorter, and there's no altitude factor like Volcanoes National Park.
Can I combine colobus trekking with chimpanzee trekking on the same trip?
Yes, though typically not the same morning: most visitors do one activity per day over a 2-3 day Nyungwe stay.
How long does a colobus trek take?
Typically 2-4 hours, though this varies day to day since the troop ranges over a wide area of forest rather than staying in one fixed spot.
Do I need special equipment to see the colobus troop well?
Binoculars or a telephoto lens make a significant difference, since the troop spends most of its time high in the forest canopy.
Is colobus trekking suitable for children?
It's generally gentler than gorilla or chimpanzee trekking, though muddy, uneven forest trails still call for reasonable mobility and stamina.
What's the best time of year for colobus trekking?
The drier windows, roughly June to September and December to February, offer firmer trails and clearer canopy visibility, though the activity runs year-round.
How does colobus trekking differ from chimpanzee trekking?
Colobus trekking involves a much larger group spread across the canopy and a more relaxed viewing pace, while chimpanzee trekking involves a smaller, more mobile group and generally more demanding terrain.
Are there other primates to see in Nyungwe besides colobus?
Yes, Nyungwe is home to several other primate species including L'Hoest's monkeys and owl-faced monkeys, alongside chimpanzees.