Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the remaining preserved largest tropical montane rainforest parks in Eastern and Central Africa located in southwestern Rwanda on the border with Burundi, south of Lake Kivu, and west of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The government established the park in 2004, and it occupies an area of about 1,000 square kilometers. It harbors a variety of tourist attractions and activities that visitors can enjoy in the forest, including chimpanzee trekking, canopy walks, nature walks, and hiking, among others.

With rich bio-diversity, the park is home to a wide variety of rare endangered species with a recorded number of 13 primate species, 275 bird species, 1068 plant species, 85 mammal species, 32 amphibians, and 38 reptile species. Moreover, the forest park is a source of other several river outlets where rivers Congo and the Nile also originate from this area due to its annual rainfall ranges which are recorded to receive over 2000mm annually. Visitors to this park therefore can enjoy several activities on their safari which include the following.

Chimpanzee trekking

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park complements the primate world of endangered species, such as mountain gorillas, which trekkers explore in Volcanoes National Park. Therefore, the park also serves as an excellent destination for primate safaris, hosting 13 primate species. Recognized as one of our closest relatives with 95% human DNA, chimpanzees in the park undergo habituation, meaning they become accustomed to human presence.

The activity begins early in the morning, where park headquarters staff brief participants on the dos and don’ts while in the forest and during encounters with the chimps in their natural habitat. These apes typically feed high in the trees or move swiftly along the ground, allowing trekkers to enjoy an hour-long experience filled with opportunities to take pictures and ask guides questions. Along the trail, trekkers may also encounter other primates and mammals, including:

• Colobus monkeys
• Baboons
• Various bird species

This immersive experience provides a unique chance to observe chimpanzees in their natural environment while learning about their behaviors and social structures.

L’Hoest’s Monkey, Owl-faced Monkey, Mona Monkey, Blue Monkey, Golden Monkey, Red-tailed Monkey, Vervet Monkey, Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Black and White Colobus, Eastern Needle-Clawed Galago, Greater Bushbaby, Dwarf Galago, and Olive Baboon. Other mammals include the giant Forest Squirrel, Mountain Sun Squirrel, Boem’s Squirrel, Lord Darby’s Flying Squirrel, Giant Forest Hog, Bush Pig, Tree Hyrax, Lestrade’s Duiker, Black-fronted Duiker, Yellow-backed Duiker, Leopard, Golden Cat, Serval Cat, Wild Cat, Side-striped Jackal among others.

Nyungwe Forest Canopy walk

The forest canopy walk highlights one of the unique experiences that travelers enjoy at this park, The highlight is a 200m-long, 40m-high suspended metallic canopy walkway that offers superb bird’s-eye over a steep wooded valley run through a small stream with an aerial view of the park, adjacent communities, birds, butterflies and also other primates within the forest.

The two-hour walk starts and ends at the national park headquarters at Uwinka Information Center It is a thrilling walk that you should not miss to include on your itinerary where you can enjoy some amazing views from way up above the ground.

Hiking

The park has over thirteen hiking trails, and over 130km of these trails run through the forest, a chance to see and experience the rainforest and all it has to offer. The trails take you through some steep ravines interspersed with slippery stretches and these include; the Bigugu Trail, Ngambwe Trail, Karamba Trail, Muzimu Trail, Isumo Trail, Kamiranzozu Trail, Irebero Trail, Umugote Trail, The Rukuzi Trail, Igishigishigi Trail, Imbaraga Trail, Umuyove Trail, and the Congo Nile Divide Trail.

Therefore travelers are required to exhibit some level of fitness for some of the trails are hectic and strenuous but as well for the love of the activity and provision of services to best serve the visitors, short trails are as well allocated to visitors who would love to be less strained by the hike.

Bird watching experience

Nyungwe forest is one of the best birders destinations whereby the park hosts about 300 bird species with both endemic and migratory birds, 16 endemics, 27 Albertine rift endemics, and 121 forest species. Some of these bird species include; the large blue turaco-breasted and blue-breasted sunbirds, White Hornbill, Regal Sunbird, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Ruwenzori Turaco, Batis diops, Ruwenzori Batis, Handsome Francolin, Regal Sunbird and so many more. Generally, Nyungwe is undoubtedly the most important forest for the conservation of montane birds in the region

Accessing the park

Nyungwe National Park is 217km from Kigali which is approximately a 3-4 hour drive and along the route, you can make a stopover at the National Museum to see locally made arts and crafts, and cultural entertainment if you have time. The park can also be accessed by air by booking domestic flights from Kigali to Kamembe International Airport. Kamembe is 49km to the park which is equivalent to a 1-hour drive to Nyungwe forest.