Nyungwe Forest National Park-Largest Afro-Montane Forest

Nyungwe Forest National Park

33 mi (54km) east of Cyangugu town on the main road east to the town of Butare, is the conservation area covering a large 239,600 acres/97000ha forest tract on Congo-Nile divide. The forest is home to 310 species of birds with 27 highly localized species thus the highest concentration of any single park in Africa and 13 species of Primates including- Chimpanzees, Rwenzori Colobus monkeys, L’Hoest, Red-tailed, and Golden monkey. Views from the ridges to the lakes and volcanoes can be spectacular.

A journey along vast stunning tea fields with meandering road around 4-5 hours’ drive from capital of Kigali gets you to the stunning Nyungwe Forest National Park

Within this park you will find the vast Nyungwe forest, Kimiranzovu swamp, a forest canopy walk hanging on top of trees, lots of forest bird species, butterflies and old unique tree species.

Chimpanzee trekking.

Nyungwe National Park has only two habituated groups one found at Uwinka and another one at Cyamundongo forest. The park hosts over 400 species of chimpanzee making trekking a popular activity in the park.

Enjoying Chimpanzee this activity depends on the behavior of the chimpanzee group, as they move so first, making lot of noise so you have to follow them as you take photos.

Cyamundongo forest with a habituated group of 30 individuals is easier for this activity compared to one in Nyungwe forest, the great vegetation cover and the terrain system makes it hard especially when one is not fit enough but there are many chances of finding these forest specialists swinging and feeding in the canopy. Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe starts in the morning at 4:30 and takes almost a day and at the end of it there is lots of fun to celebrate it.

The park elevation varies between 1600m-2950m above sea level meaning that one has to be fit to hike on the forest trail.

Canopy walk in Nyungwe

The canopy walk is divided into three stretches with each having different length, the shortest walk being 25 meters, 45 meters walk and 90 meters which is the longest walk originating from Uwinka Reception Centre, most visitors who visit Nyungwe National Park choose the longest trail of canopy walk to have the entire scenery of the forest from high elevation of 70 meters high suspension.

Walk on tree tops of Rwanda’s main protected area a tropical mountain rainforest that lies on the south-western slopes of highland region that forms the great divide between Congo and Nile drainage.

Canopy walk gives opportunities for an incredible bird watching with 310 bird species recorded, 27 Albertine rift endemics localized in Nyungwe, the highest concentration found in Single Park in Africa, butterflies, orchids, you have many  chances to spot primates Nyungwe being home to 13 species.

Two shifts for canopy walk is arranged every day, morning shift starting at 8 am and 10 am and the experience is open all year round note that there are many chances of rain in afternoon.

Hiking. This park has over 13 hiking trails and a big number of kilometers run through the park. These include Ngabwe, Bigugu, Congo-Nile divide, Muzima trail, Rukuzi, Igishigishi, Buhoro, Imbaraga, and Umugote among others.

These trails offers a chance to explore the ancient forests and what it offers, the fact that this park has 310 recorded bird species, we highly  recommend the park for keen birders not limited to primates watch with 13 primates including our close relative Chimpanzee, L’Hoest monkey, Blue Monkey, Angolan Colobus monkey, Rwenzori Colobus restricted to Albertine Rift, rare Golden Monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, Gray-cheeked Mangabeys, Owl-faced monkeys, Crowned monkey, Dent’s Mona monkey, Vervet monkey and Olive baboon. Nyungwe represents like 20-25 percent of total number of primates in Africa.

Bird watching.

The park protects one of the region’s largest and oldest remaining patches of montane rainforest and is home to 310 species of birds with 27 Endemic bird species, the highest number of Albertine rift species compared to other parks in Africa.

The pristine ecosystem is ranked as best birding spot with 11 out of 23 Guinea-Congo forest Biome species and 71 out of 74 of the afro-tropical highlands biome that occur in Rwanda are all concentrated in this park

The park has got rich biodiversity with different flowering plants, marsh area which provides food and shelter for birds. This park has got perfect trail which makes birding excellent, these trails include 13km Bigugu trail named after Bigugu hill at altitude of 2950m above sea level, karamba, Gisakura and Kimiranzovu trails.

These trails offer keen birders the best opportunity to spot forest specials like the Albertine Owlet, Kivu ground Thrush, Short-tailed warbler, Regal sun bird, Rockefeller’s sunbird, Grauer’s swamp warbler, Handsome spurfowl, Red-collared Babbler among others

The best season for bird watching in Rwanda is between July and late March, the destination receives migratory birds that come for food.