Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of Africa’s biodiverse and stunning protected areas, a complete primate destination worth visiting for chimpanzee tracking. Nyungwe is a natural tropical rainforest-dominated park and it shelters one of the oldest tropical forests on the African continent. It is lying in the mountainous areas, a region that teams with wildlife, and these include over 13 species of primates.
Nyungwe Forest National Park lies in extreme Southwestern Rwanda/the Southern Province. The biodiverse forest protected spans on a land area of about 974sq.km and it was created in 2004 consisting of bogs, rainforest, bamboo, and grassland. From the heart of Kigali, Nyungwe Forest N. Park is reachable within 6-7 hours and en route, guests make stopovers at Butare/Huye to also explore other amazing attractions both cultural and historical centers.
Wildlife of Nyungwe Forest Park.
Nyungwe Forest National Park supports a diversity of wildlife including over 75 species of mammals, 1068 species of plants, 310 species of birds, 140 orchids, and 120 butterfly species. The park’s primates include more than 500 chimpanzees, reptiles, 400 colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, grey-cheeked monkeys, Rwenzori colobus monkeys, olive baboons, silver monkeys, Dent’s Mona monkeys, and others.
Other animal species to encounter while visiting Nyungwe Forest include mongoose, impalas, golden cats, buffaloes, bushbucks, giant forest hogs, genets, blotched serval, black-fronted duikers, otters, elephants, klipspringers, western tree hyrax, Congo clawless, and more.
Birdlife
Nyungwe is a birder’s paradise, supporting over 310 bird species and they include over 29 Albertine rift species. The park’s special birds to look out include the dusky crimson wing, bar-tailed trogon, African hill babblers, archer’s robin-chat, Albertine owlet, dwarf honeyguide, Kivu ground thrush, grauer’s swamp warblers, blue-headed sunbird, handsome francolin, great blue turacos, Rwenzori apalis, red-throated alethe, purple-breasted sunbird, mountain masked apalis, Kungwe apalis, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, strange weaver, shelley’s crimson wing, Rockefeller’s sunbird, regal sunbirds, Rwenzori nightjar, and others.
The most popular birding trails to consider exploring on Rwanda safaris in Nyungwe include Gisakura trail. Along this trail, birders can come across interesting birds like the short-tailed warblers, regal sunbird, mountain masked apalis, Kivu ground thrush, and more. Karamba trail is ideal for spotting the yellow-eyed black flycatchers, and Bigugu trail takes you through a little challenging altitude challenge of 2950m but rewards you with incredible sights of the red-collared mountain warblers.
Activities to do in Nyungwe forest National Park.
Chimpanzee tracking adventure.
Chimpanzee tracking is a rewarding primate adventure that tourists can enjoy on Rwanda tour in Nyungwe. The park supports 500 chimps, and these can be trekked starting from Uwinka and Kitabi reception centers.
They are among 13 primates that live here and during your 4 hours chimp trek, you will come across more than the eastern chimpanzees. Other primates such as Mona monkeys, Rwenzori colobus, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys and birds can also be spotted.
Canopy walk.
The canopy walk is a special experience for nature lovers visiting Nyungwe Forest National Park. This park is the only place in East Africa where a canopy walk can be done, and you walk along a suspended forest canopy walkway 50 meters from the ground taking 2 hours. The forest canopy walking experience comes with remarkable sightings of primates, birds, and forest canopy.
Birding.
Birding in Nyungwe offers visitors an opportunity to look out for the park’s forest and a variety of Albertine rift species. These include the blue turacos, Rwenzori turacos, blue-headed sunbird, purple sunbirds, grauer’s warblers, mountain masked apalis, Kungwe apalis, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, strange weaver, shelley’s crimson wing, Rockefeller’s sunbird, regal sunbirds, and more.
Hiking adventures.
More than 13 hiking trails are available for visitor exploration, and each trail allows you to encounter a variety of species from primates to birds. The hiking trails in Nyungwe Forest include Bigugu, Ngabwe, Congo Nile divide trail, Muzimu trail, Igishigishigi, Rukuzi, Imbaraga, Buhoro, Irebero, Umugote, Kamiranzovu marsh and Umoyove, Isumo waterfall trail, Uwinka and Karamba trails.
When to travel for a safari to Nyungwe national park?
Nyungwe Forest N/Park is an all-year-round primate destination, lying between an altitude of 1600 and 2950m. This park is best visited during the dry season -from June to early September or December to February when trails are drier. Heavy rainfall is recorded during the wet season and the ground becomes muddy, this is especially from March to May and October to November. Considering unpredictable weather conditions, we recommend all our guests to carry a rain jacket, sweater, trousers, waterproof hiking boots, daypack, and other essentials.
Where to stay when visiting Nyungwe?
Nyungwe forest has a range of accommodation options including budget, midrange, and luxury for guests to retire before/after exploring the park. They include Nyungwe Forest Lodge, One & Only Nyungwe House, Gisakura Guesthouse, and Nyungwe Top View Hotel and so much more.
Getting to Nyungwe Forest for a Rwanda safari holiday.
Accessing Nyungwe from the heart of Kigali takes about 6-7 hours for you to drive and you may also consider making stopovers at King’s palace in Nyanza/Nyabisindi, Bisesero genocide memorial site and other historical/cultural sites.
