Nyungwe Forest National Park is Rwanda’s second-largest National Park and home to one of Africa’s oldest tropical rainforests. Located in the Southern Province of Rwanda, Nyungwe is a stunning National Park, most popular for its exceptional biodiversity. This Park lies near Lake Kivu, in Burundi and Congo. It was declared a National Park in 2004 and is spectacularly situated on an area of 970 sq. km. Nyungwe is extensively composed of a lush rainforest with other diverse habitats that offer refuge to its abundant faunal & floral species.
Nyungwe lies at an altitude of 1600 to 2950m, with its landscape consisting of grasslands, bamboo, and swamps. Overall, its diverse habitats protect over 40 amphibians, 13 primates with a total of over 500 chimpanzees; 180 species of plants, 310 bird species, and 40 reptiles.
The Different Wild Animals/Wildlife
Approximately 85 mammal species, including 13 primate’s species, are found in Nyungwe’s lush green tropical forest. They include more than 500 chimpanzees, 400 colobus monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, silver monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, golden monkeys, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, Hamlyn monkeys, olive baboons, and red-tailed monkeys.
Nyungwe’s Birds
Nyungwe supports a record of about 310 birds, consisting mainly of 29 Albertine Rift species. The diverse Nyungwe birds include the Kungwe apalis, bar-tailed trogon, Congo-bay owlets, barred long-tailed cuckoos, Shelley’s crimson-wings, white-tailed blue flycatchers, blue-headed coucals, Elliot’s woodpeckers, regal sunbirds, Archer’s robin chat, and Doherty’s bush shrikes. Additional birds to identify in this Park include Handsome francolins, white-wood-hoopoe, red-collared babblers, Great blue turacos, Kivu ground thrush, stripe-breasted tit, Rwenzori turacos, and others.
Nyungwe’s floral species
A record of about 200 species of trees is in the Nyungwe Forest and includes the Miliantus holstii and Mahogany trees. It also has a record of 248 orchids, plus sub-alpine, montane forest, and bamboo thickets.
The Different Activities to do on a Nyungwe Forest National Park Safari
The Nyungwe Forest tour comes with diverse activities worth engaging in on a Rwanda safari. They include chimpanzee tracking, colobus monkey tracking, forest hiking, bird-watching, and community/tea estate visits.
Chimpanzee tracking
Nyungwe is most popular for its amazing chimpanzee trekking expeditions. The guided chimp treks involve exploring already habituated communities of chimpanzees, and this can be done from the Cyamudongo, Uwinka, or Kitabi sectors. Nyungwe’s chimpanzee treks take slightly longer hours than usual, considering the altitude of the Park. Visitors often begin their adventures a bit earlier, about 5:00 am, and this starts with a briefing on chimpanzee trekking regulations from the respective receptionists.
To visit Nyungwe for chimpanzee tracking, you should obtain a valid permit, which costs USD 100 per person. Booking Nyungwe’s chimpanzee permits is hassle-free with Bujuku Eco Tours and Travel.
Birding & Nature walking.
Nyungwe never disappoints when it comes to bird-watching and nature walking expeditions. Diverse birdlife in the varying habitats awaits you to identify in the lush Nyungwe Forest. The distinct birds to find on a birding tour in Nyungwe include the red-backed shrikes, Archer’s robin chats, Rwenzori turacos, Kivu ground thrush, less gray shrikes, red-collared mountain babblers, regal sunbird, Lagden’s shrikes, African crested flycatchers, and others.
The major bird-watching trails to explore in Nyungwe include the Karamba trail, Isumo, Kamiranzovu, and Bigugu trail.
Nyungwe’s Canopy walks.
Nyungwe offers the best canopy walk experience and the first of its kind in the East African region. Expect to embark on a guided walk along the 200m walkway, built 60m above the ground. The canopy walk often comes with amazing primate and bird sightings. The 2 hours to be spent on a canopy walk won’t leave you with regrets. The Nyungwe canopy walks begin from Uwinka Reception, and visitors are allocated experienced guides.
Colobus Monkey Treks
Colobus monkey tracking offers a unique opportunity for you to witness more of Nyungwe’s diverse primates. The Park holds a record of 400 colobus monkeys with a good population that has undergone the habituation process. Visitors get a chance to explore in detail these unique primates and their behaviors, and take pictures.
Guided Hiking Adventures
Different hiking trails are present in the Nyungwe and can be explored by nature enthusiasts. The checklist of hiking trails to consider exploring in Nyungwe includes Rukuzi trail, Irebero walking trail, Bigugu, Umoyove trail, Imbaraga hiking trail, Isumo Waterfall, Ngabwe, Congo-Nile divide trail, Kamiranzovu hiking trail, and Igishigishigi walking trail.
The most popular walking trails to explore in Nyungwe include Ngabwe trail, which is 4.7 km, and visitors can spend up to 3 hours as they unearth its wonders. This trail is famous for its primate encounters, especially L’hoest monkeys, mangabey monkeys, chimpanzees, silver monkeys, and several birds.
Uwinka walking trail –This extensive trail is 17.8km and takes 8 hours to enjoy a round walk through it. It is a special walking trail for nature enthusiasts with a desire for moderate hiking excursions. Visitors begin their hikes from Irebero and later connect to the Kamiranzovu marsh walking trail.
The Congo-Nile Divide walking trail. This is the most popular of the Nyungwe Forest’s hiking trails. It is the longest trail, perfect for hikers with plans to spend longer hours as they unearth the park’s diverse attractions. Visitors can embark on guided walks or cycling excursions to experience the Congo-Nile Divide trail.
Besides the normal day walks, there is a chance to engage in the guided night walks. The night walks allow you to explore a variety of nocturnal primates and other species, including galagos, tree hyraxes, pottos, and scaly-tailed squirrels. Night walks can be experienced around Uwinka Campsites and Guesthouse or Gisakura Campsites.
When is the best time to go to Nyungwe?
Planning to explore Nyungwe, but you are not certain of the best time to be there? First, Nyungwe enjoys favorable weather conditions, which is why it is regarded as an all-year-round destination. This means tourists can travel anytime around the wet or dry season and explore this Park.
But the dry season offers excellent conditions for exploring Nyungwe compared to the wet season. The forest floor tends to be drier and more accessible during the rainy season. The dry seasons fall in the months of June, July, August, and September. The short dry months often start from December, January, to February. You can opt for drier months for your Nyungwe safaris, especially chimpanzee tracking, hiking, and colobus monkey treks.
Accommodation Choices Present in Nyungwe national park
The different accommodation choices you should expect to book in and around Nyungwe mainly consist of budget, midrange, and luxury. Key lodging options include Kitabi Eco-Center, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Nyungwe Nziza Eco Lodge, Gisakura Guesthouse, One and Only Nyungwe House.
Getting to Nyungwe National Park (Accessibility by Road/Air)
Nyungwe Forest National Park, Rwanda, is accessible in just 6-7 hours’ drive from Kigali through Butare. En route to Nyungwe can include a stopover at Huye or Butare, with key sites to be explored, including the Nyanza King’s palace. Guests around Volcanoes National Park also have the option of connecting to Nyungwe, and they can take approximately 4 to 5 hours’ drive. By air –Depart from Kigali Airport, and in just 45 minutes, you will be at Kamembe Airport, which is 40km away.
Conclusively, Nyungwe Forest National Park is an exceptional destination of its own and is worth exploring on a Rwanda tour. The ultimate guide above offers details for you to start planning your holiday to explore Nyungwe and its diverse attractions.