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Getting to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest national park is one of the best safari destinations where you can go chimpanzee trekking, colobus monkeys, hiking and birding.
The Nyungwe Forest National Park is located in southwestern Rwanda, between Lake Kivu and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the border with Burundi to the south. It is located near Cyangugu town, around 225km and approximately a 6 hours’ drive from Kigali.
You may either drive to the park from Kigali, or fly there. You can’t walk there, though; it would take an enormous amount of effort and time. Getting to the national park is one thing that every traveler intending to undertake a Rwanda wildlife safari visiting Nyungwe forest national park, in particular should know.
Getting to Nyungwe Forest National Park.
The Nyungwe Forest National Park may be reached by road, air, or sea. All of these have well-developed transportation systems that are safe, economical, and available all year.
Getting to Nyungwe National Park by Road.
Traveling to Nyungwe National Park by road is the most popular mode of transportation utilized by most visitors to the area. Getting to the national park by road is the cheapest and most adventurous option because travelers get to see more of the countryside during the ride, admire the rolling hills of Rwanda as they drive past them, and visit a number of attractions en route such as the King’s palace in Nyanza, the national museum in Butare, and the Gikongoro genocide memorial center, giving travelers a snippet of Rwanda’s historical background and learning one or two things along the way.
Travelers arriving by road in the presence of a tour guide for a Rwanda chimp tour organized by a tour operator can make as many stops as they choose, with the driver-guide driving slowly through worth-noting features and stopping at select attractive places. The national park is around six hours’ driving from Kigali.
Travelers driving south from Kigali pass through a variety of towns, including Huye, which is only 32 kilometers away on a very smooth road with occasional hairpin twists that demand drivers to be particularly cautious. These directions may be useful for self-drive visitors to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Drive south-west from Kigali to Muhanga, then south to Nyanza and finally to Huye town. Drive west from Huye town to Nyamagabe, which is close the park’s entrance.
Traveling to the park via bus is another option, albeit it will not bring you inside the park properly, though there are some that will drive through it. To get to Nyungwe Forest National Park by bus, take a bus from Kigali’s Nyabugogo bus station to Rusizi, then get out at the Uwinka visitor’s center in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Traveling by bus requires passengers to spend a significant amount of time on the road, often up to 8 hours. As a result, it is critical to plan ahead of time. It is recommended that travelers arrive at the bus station extremely early in the morning and take the first bus leaving. Among some of the public transportation companies that go from Kigali to Rusizi are Ritco Express, which runs from Kigali to Karongi and then to Rusizi, Alpha Express, which runs from Kigali to Nyungwe and then to Rusizi, and Omega Express, which runs from Kigali to Nyungwe and then to Rusizi. These public transportation firms require a significant fee, therefore those who have already experienced Rwanda as a native can take advantage of this option.
Getting to Nyungwe Forest National Park by Air
Flying to Nyungwe is the quickest and most expensive method to get to the park. Many airlines provide chartered flights from Kigali to Kamembe International Airport. RwandAir operates at least nine domestic flights each week from Kigali International Airport to Rusizi’s Kamembe Airport. The One & Only Nyungwe Forest Lodge, which provides helicopter pickups, is approximately 32 kilometers from Kamembe International Airport. If you stay at another resort, you’ll be a short drive from Kamembe International Airport.
When flying with Akagera Aviation, passengers aboard a helicopter from Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park. This helicopter journey is a terrific way to take in the beauty along the route, such as the Gisakura tea plantation fields.
Getting to Nyungwe Forest National Park by Water
Arriving in Nyungwe forest national park in Rwanda by boat is a fantastic and exhilarating way to visit the park. Travelers take a boat journey on Lake Kivu from Rubavu or Karongi -Kamembe to Nyungwe. This boat excursion on Lake Kivu is a terrific chance to meet the folks you may meet. This might take anywhere between 6 and 8 hours.
Traveling to Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park is not difficult, and you should not create or believe it to be. Arranging your trip to Nyungwe Forest National Park in advance will save you a lot of trouble. The best and easiest approach, though, is to have a tour operator make all of the required preparations for you. If you hire a trip package with a tour company, they will usually provide transportation during the safari. Contact a trustworthy tour operator to begin organizing your Nyungwe forest national park visit.
What to do during your visit to Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
The chimpanzee population in Nyungwe Forest National Park is the second highest in Africa after Kibale Forest National Park. The park has various trails to walk through to search for these great apes. During your trek, you will have the opportunity to see chimps swinging in trees and mothers cuddling their babies.
The trekking begins at 5 a.m., which means you must be at the trekking spot early in the morning to receive training on what to do and what not to do while in the jungle with the chimps. To hike chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park, you must first get a Chimpanzee permit, which may be obtained via your trusted tour operator or directly from the Rwanda Development Board.
Bird Watching in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
The Great Blue Turaco, Red-Breasted Sparrow Hawk, White Headed Wood Hoopoe, Re-Throated Alethe, Paradise Flycatcher and the Gigantic Forest Hornbill, Green Pigeons, Ross’s Turaco, Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Red-Faced Woodland Warbler, the purple breasted and blue-headed sunbird, and the Rockefeller are among the 29 Albertine Rift Valley bird species that can be found in Nyungwe forest national park. Given that this is a forest, finding birds may be difficult when you are alone, therefore you will be escorted by an expert guide during your walk through the forest to look for various bird species.
Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Nyungwe Forest is the biggest surviving tract of Tropical Afro-Montane rainforest in East Africa, covering 1015 square kilometers. One of the great activities not to miss out on during your visit to this park is the Canopy walk in Nyungwe forest, a three-hour thriller on a 200-meter-long track perched 50 meters above the forest canopy. The view from the top of the trees provides an eagle’s eye view and a magnificent experience of the Nyungwe forest. You will also get the opportunity to witness several monkeys as they swing in the trees and various birds.
Colobus Monkey Trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
There are 13 kinds of primates in the Nyungwe forest national park, with monkeys being the most numerous. This woodland is home to the Rwenzori Colobus monkey. You will also witness Grey-Cheeked Mangabeys, Blue-Monkeys, L’hoest Monkeys, Owl-Faced Monkeys, and Mona Monkeys.
When is the best time to go Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park?
Every year, the best time for chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park is between June, July, and August, when the fig trees contain fruits that chimpanzees feed on often, making it simple to discover them. There are only two groups accessible for chimpanzee trekking, with each group housing 8 people; thus, you must schedule at least 3 to 4 months in advance to be able to perform chimpanzee trekking in this park.
Where to Stay in Nyungwe Forest National Park?
Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Gisakura Visitor Centre, and Nziza Eco Lodge are among the lodges in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Please contact us here to make a reservation.
What to pack for your chimpanzee Trekking Tour to Nyungwe Forest National Park?
Given that the journey takes place in the forest, where you may meet insects and stinging trees, it is also recommended that you wear a long-sleeved cotton shirt and lightweight long pants to protect yourself from the undergrowth, stinging nettles, and biting ants. Packing List for Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe National Park;
- Torch/Flashlight
- Insect Repellent Cream
- Long-sleeved shirts and trousers (wear neutral or dark colors and avoid bright colors)
- Camera and some Spare Batteries
- Wet wipes,
- water bottle,
- good camera lenses.
- Comfy waterproof hiking boots and socks.
