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Tourist Attractions in Nyungwe Forest National Park
The tropical forest of Nyungwe Forest is one of the major destinations in Rwanda. Go chimpanzee trekking, hikin, canopy walks and more.
Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda is an ideal vacation destination for nature lovers and explorers. When you visit this park, you will never run out of things to do. This park, located in southwestern Rwanda and only approximately a 6-hour drive from Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, is simply the ideal tourist destination.
The biggest wildlife attractions in Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park are the 13 primate species. There will be chimpanzees, Angola colobus monkeys, and various other monkey species. Additional types of fauna include golden cats and duikers. The national park is also home to 322 bird species including the Red-collared Babbler and 29 other Albertine Rift Endemic bird species, 120 species of butterflies, 75 known mammals, and about 1,068 plant species and 140 orchids.
Tours to Nyungwe Forest
Tourist Attractions in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Chimpanzees
Chimpanzees may be seen in huge numbers in Nyungwe and Cyamudongo forests in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Several visitors to the park also embark on monkey-tracking excursions. There is no specific season for chimp tracking. It is possible to do it all year. The Nyungwe forest is now the greatest area in Rwanda to follow chimps. Over 400 chimpanzees reside in the Nyungwe forest, divided into tribes. Just two groups have become accustomed.
Chimpanzee tracking is an all-year activity in Nyungwe Forest. Every morning, groups of tourists head out at 5:00 a.m., led by expert guides, in search of one of the two habituated chimpanzee groups located in the Uwinka and Cyamudongo sectors of the park.
One must be prepared for the strenuous effort of chasing very mobile monkeys that do not always follow the main pathways but sometimes stray off into the deep virgin jungle. But, as they calm down, visitors can see the primates feeding and grooming on the tops of the trees. After observing the group dynamics for a time, you will be astonished at how similar they are to us.
Trackers should bring long-sleeved shirts and jeans, hiking boots, a hat, a rain jacket, a walking stick, and binoculars to see the chimps on top of trees for the greatest experience. Remember to bring enough of drinking water bottles and a portion of light food or snack to replenish your energy. To make monitoring the chimps more pleasant, we recommend hiring the services of a porter to help carry any additional heavy gear and equipment.
A chimpanzee trekking permit in Nyungwe forest national park is $150 and may be obtained directly from the Rwanda Development Board or through a competent tour operator.
Monkeys
The Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda is one of the greatest sites in Africa to see tiny primates. Although chimp tracking is the most popular primate activity, some visitors come to observe the Angola Colobus Monkeys, Dent’s Mona Monkeys, Grey Cheeked Mangabeys, Hamlyn’s Monkeys, L’Hoest’s Monkeys, Olive Baboon, Red-tailed Monkeys, Silver Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, White, and Black and Colobus monkeys. Golden monkey groups have been sighted in the park, but due to their tiny numbers, discovering them is challenging.
The arboreal Ruwenzori Colobus, which eats on leaves and is distinguished by its contrasting black and white (tail and whiskers) coloring, is the most popular species among travelers. All of the monkey species move in groups of up to 100 people.
The Kamiranzovu Trail, which entails going through orchids and marshes to spot some of the primates, is one of four paths that may be used to follow Nyungwe’s tiny monkeys. The Bigugu Trail ascends to the pinnacle of Mount Bigugu to view more of the monkeys found on other paths as well as those only seen at higher altitudes.
If you want to see Colobus Monkeys, the Waterfall Path that runs from the Gisakura Guest House up to the Tea Estate is ideal. The last path is the Uwinka Campsite trail in Nyungwe Forest National Park, which is separated into two sections: red (10 km) and grey (1 Km). This route allows you to see a variety of primate species as well as over 400 Colobus Monkeys.
Canopy Walkway Bridge and Hiking Trails.
Visitors who want to go for a stroll in the Nyungwe forest national park have two options: a canopy walk or a low-ground forest hiking tour. Nyungwe Forest National Park is unique in that it is the only national park where visitors may do a full canopy walk. The Nyungwe forest canopy walk is the greatest in East Africa. The canopy walk begins at the Uwinka Visitors Center and leads to a suspended bridge 70 meters above the ground and 160 meters long. Visitors may see the rainforest, animals, and birds from various vantage points. The canopy walkway bridge in Nyungwe national park is without a doubt magnificent and exciting, yet it might be frightening for individuals who are afraid of heights. Those who are afraid of heights should opt for the Forest treks. There are various hiking paths that lead up into the forest.
The routes are colorfully painted, helping visitors to see woodland critters and birds in the interior. Some of the treks take up to eight hours to complete. The shortest trail is the Igishigishigi Trail, while the most challenging is the Bigugu Trail, which takes at least 5 hours to complete.
The waterfall trail in Nyungwe national park is intended to take tourists to the forest’s stunning waterfalls. Nature enthusiasts who have leisure generally walk it one path at a time. They would have learned and investigated everything there is to know about this old forest, including the primates, by the conclusion of their stay in the forest.
Bird Species in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
For birdwatchers, Nyungwe Forest is undoubtedly Rwanda’s greatest spot to go birdwatching. According to Birdlife International, Nyungwe National Park is home to approximately 300 bird species, 27 of which are unique to the Albertine area. Birdlife International believes the park to be Rwanda’s most significant conservation site due to its biodiversity, notably its vast bird collection.
The top bird species to look out for while walking through the established trails in the forest are the Archer’s Robin-Chat, Barred Long-Tailed Cuckoo, Blue Turaco, Chapin’s flycatcher, Doherty’s Bush Shrikes, grey-chested Kakamega, Handsome Francolin, Lagden’s Bush Shrikes, Mountain Sooty Boubou, Rockefellers’ Sunbird, Purple Throated Sunbird, Red-collared Mountain Babbler, Rwenzori Double Collared Warbler, and the Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher to mention but a few.
Because some of the bird species live in specific areas of the park, a guided bird walk is required. Bird walks must be reserved via the Rwanda Development Board for a fee of $. The Birds Guides understand the features of most bird species and where to locate them.
Bird sounds are the greatest way to identify them. To ensure that you have seen the majority of the bird species, we propose that you use more than one of the existing paths. The dry season is ideal for birdwatching since migrating birds migrate to the forest in search of food and to avoid the severe winter weather in Europe.
Congo Nile Trail.
The Congo Nile Trail runs through Nyungwe Forest National Park, and tourists can ride along this portion. Cycling across the Congo Nile Trail provides excellent possibilities to see the park as a whole. When one rides their bike through the route, they are certain to come across several bird species, monkeys, and other woodland creatures.
It’s also a great chance to observe all of the lovely tree and plant species that make the forest so appealing to nature enthusiasts. Camping is required when biking the path. As a result, it is critical to have appropriate clothing, camping equipment, food, and drink.
Best Time to visit Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe National Park receives about 2,000mm of rain every year, with just a brief dry season from June to September. The rainy season lasts from June through August, with temperatures averaging 21C/70F during the day and 10C/59F at night. The dry season ends in September, and it begins to rain, although the temperatures remain constant. However, it rains a lot in the months of October, November, December, January, and February, so bring raincoats, gumboots, and warm clothes for cold weather evenings regardless of when you want to visit the park.
Accommodations in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
The Nyungwe Top View Hotel is about 5.1 kilometers from the park in Luhonge. The hotel offers delicious meals, lovely accommodations with free Wi-Fi, and enough safe parking. Nyungwe Nziza Ecolodge – 14.2 kilometers from the park, with superior accommodation, restaurant, and bar at a reasonable price.
One and Only Nyungwe House is located 1.5 kilometers from the renowned Genocide Memorial in Rwanda. A Karamba hiking route is approximately 3.6 kilometers from the hotel and is popular with both local and foreign guests. Rwiza Village is located approximately 45.7 kilometers from Nyungwe National Park in Kigali. It provides good facilities such as rooms, a bar, a restaurant, and a lounge with free Wi-Fi. Macheo Ecolodge Campsite is 37 kilometers from the Mukura Forest Reserve. It has a restaurant, a bar, and reasonably priced lodging.
How to Get to Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Nyungwe forest national park is situated approximately 6 hour’s drive from Kigali city, covering a distance of about 225 kilometers. The national park is approximately 7 hour’s drive from Volcanoes national park covering a total distance of about 265.3 kilometers.
Visitors looking to cut the long drive can fly from Kigali International Airport to Kamembe airport and then drive for about 1½ to the park. Alternatively, you can charter a helicopter from Kigali to the park, landing at the Helipad at One & Only Nyungwe House.
