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Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda shelters one of Africa’s bio-diverse tropical forests, home to many primate species and other wildlife, including endemic bird species. This park lies in Southwestern Rwanda, near Burundi, D.R. Congo and Lake Kivu. This is Rwanda’s second largest National Park after Akagera National Park, covering a land area of 970 sq. km.
Nyungwe lies at an altitude of 160 and 2950 meters. The park’s landscape includes swamps, bamboo, montane forest, and grassland. The main rain catchment area receives rainfall amounts of about 2000 mm per annum.
Nyungwe Forest National Park supports a total of 75 species of mammals, and these include 13 species of primates. The famous primates that survive within this protected area include 500 chimpanzees, olive baboons, Dent’s Mona monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, silver monkeys, blue monkeys, Angolan colobus monkeys, bush babies, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, and others.
Other mammal species that live in Nyungwe Forest include the side-stripped jackals, giant forest hogs, civets, golden cats, duikers, and serval cats. The park also features distinct vegetation types, including sub-alpine, shrubs and bamboo.
About 310 species of birds survive in the different habitats of Nyungwe Forest National Park, including 29 Albertine rift endemic species and 16 species endemic to Nyungwe. The different birds to find in this park include the Rwenzori turacos, chestnut owlet, collared apalis, red-throated alethe, Archer’s robin chat, olive & Elliot’s woodpeckers, stripe-breasted tit, purple-breasted sunbird, handsome francolins, black-faced flycatchers, dusky crimson wings, red-throated alethe, Doherty’s bush shrikes, Chapin’s flycatchers, Neumann’s short-tailed warblers, and more.
Chimpanzee trekking: Nyungwe is home to an estimated chimpanzee population of about 500 individuals, and these can be trekked while in Uwinka and Cyamudongo Forest sectors. In any sector, treks to see chimpanzees begin with a briefing about chimpanzee tracking guidelines. The park guides are allocated to lead you through the forest in search of chimpanzee communities.
The chimpanzee trekking experience in Nyungwe Forest National Park involves walking through the tropical forest, taking about 2-4 hours, which includes one hour for a close encounter. You will have the opportunity to explore the chimpanzee's unique behaviours and take pictures in depth. On a search for chimpanzees, there is also a chance to see other species of primates, including the grey-cheeked mangabeys, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, honest monkeys, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, and blue monkeys.
Birding: At Nyungwe Forest National Park, tourists can also see various bird species, including the forest and endemic species. The likely birds to come to your sight on a birding tour in this park include the handsome francolins, Shelley's crimson wing, Rwenzori batis, Grauer's warblers, red-throated alethe, mountain sooty boubou, great blue turacos, Chapin's flycatchers, dusky crimson wings, yellow-eyed flycatchers, Kivu ground thrush, white-tailed crested flycatchers, dwarf honey guide, Rwenzori nightjars, montane double collared sunbird, black and white casqued hornbills.
Nature/hiking walks: Nyungwe is renowned for its memorable guided footwalk experiences and the opportunity to immerse yourself in the hidden habitats of the park. The park has different trails, each providing exciting hiking/nature walking safaris, including;
Canopy walk: The canopy walk is a must-do experience on the Nyungwe Forest National Park safari tour. It is the only park in East Africa where a canopy walk is conducted, and visitors are led by experienced guides along the suspended walkway rising 60 meters above the forest floor. It is set between giant trees and towers, thus offering unmatched views of the forest canopy and some primates in the park.
Cultural walks/community visits: Have a complete experience on tour in Nyungwe Forest National Park by adding a cultural/community walk/visit to your package. Rwanda has a rich culture and unique traditions worth exploring on a cultural tour. You will also have insight into the tea farming experience and explore how it is grown until it is ready for consumption.
Nyungwe National Park enjoys favourable weather conditions, making it a round destination. But the ideal time to travel for your trip is during the dry season, also the peak months of the year: June, July, August, to September, and December, January to February. The park turns greenish, especially during the wet/rainy season, which is March, April to May, and October to November- also called nesting season for birds.
Accommodations in Nyungwe National Park
All three categories of accommodation facilities are available in and around Nyungwe National Park. They include Nyungwe Top View Lodge, One & Only Nyungwe House, Gisakura Guesthouse, EAR Guesthouse, and Kivu Resort.
By road: Begin the trip from Kigali through Butare to Southwestern Rwanda, 6-7 hours’ drive.
By air, you will set off using a domestic flight starting from Kigali airport to Kamembe airport.
Location: Plot 124, Kikumbi
P.O Box 100667, Kampala
+256759033541
+447 572778124
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