NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK
Nyungwe national park lies in southwest Rwanda, partly abutting the Burundi border. It’s a vast area of mountain rainforest, home to many species of chimpanzees, plus owl-faced and colobus monkeys. The canopy walks way, part of the igishingishigi Trail and this is a high suspension bridge with views over the valley and surrounding forests. A trail runs to the Kamiranzovu Marsh with its birdlife, orchids and waterfall.
Nyungwe national park is one of the oldest rainforests in Africa and the largest expense of the forests in Rwanda covering 1019 square kilometers of dense Afromontane forests, bamboo covered slopes, grasslands and wetlands.
The park feeds two of the largest rivers that is; the Congo and the Nile rivers and provides a significant portion of Rwanda’s freshwater. Nyungwe national park is a home of over 1,100 recorded plant species, 345 bird species and 85 mammal species including 13 of Africa’s primates such as chimpanzee, Ruwenzori blank and white colobus, L’Hoest’s monkeys are found in this exceptional landscape.
Nyungwe national park is rich in fauna and flora which was exposed to rampant, poaching, illegal mining, unsustainable harvesting and agricultural encroachment, endangering the survival of its rich biodiversity following a successful partnership with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in Akagera National Park.
In 2020, African parks was invited by the Rwandan government to sign a 20-year agreement to manage Nyungwe, we are working to restore and protect wildlife engaging with the local communities and develop a strong tourism offering to improve economic sustainability of the park.
Things to do in Nyungwe National Park
Nyungwe national park has a number of amazing activities that are open to visitors;
Forest and Canopy walks
Visitors that are interested in taking walks in Nyungwe forest have two alternatives, one is a canopy or low ground forest walk. Nyungwe national park is a special because it is the only national park where nature lovers can go for a true canopy walk. The canopy walk in Nyungwe national park is the best in East Africa where it starts at the Uwinka Visitors center and goes through a hanging platform that is about 45 meters above the ground, from this height visitors get spectacular views of the rain forest, animals and birds.
There is no doubt that the canopy walk is amazing and adventurous but it can be scary for those with a fear of heights. There are several hiking trails which go up to the forest interior, the trails are painted in different colors allowing visitors to spot the forest animals and birds in the interior. Some of the trails require 8 hours to complete.
The Igishigishigi trail in Nyungwe national park is the shortest while the Bigugu Trail leading up to the mountain is the most difficult talking at least 5 hours to complete. The water fall trail is designed to lead visitors to the beautiful waterfalls of the forest.
The nature lovers with time to spare usually take time to complete each trail at a time where you would discover and explore everything there to know about this old forest including primates.
Chimpanzee tracking
Nyungwe national park is the best place to track chimpanzees in Rwanda with about 400 individual chimpanzees that live in different clans. Only two groups are habituated.
Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe national park is a year-round activity where every morning groups of tourists set off as early as possible under the guidance of experience of experienced guides to search for one of the two habituated clans found the Uwinka and Cyamudongo sections of the park.
During this activity, you will be surprised by how much they behave like we humans, for the best experience, trackers should come with long sleeve shirts and pants, hiking gum boots, a hat, a rain jacket, a walking stick, binoculars for spotting the chimps on top of trees without forgetting enough drinking water and light snack to renew your energy. I recommend you that you hire the services of a porter to help carry any extra heavy luggage and equipment in order to have a comfortable time for tracking chimpanzee.
Monkey tracking
Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda is one of the best places to spot small primates in Africa. Though chimpanzee tracking is the dominant primate activity, some tourists come purposely to see the other smaller primates like the Angola Colobus Monkey, Dent’s Mona monkeys, Grey Cheeked Mangabeys, Hamlyn’s Monkeys, L’Hoest’s Monkeys, Red tailed Monkeys, vervet monkeys, white and black colobus monkeys, silver monkeys and Olive Baboons.
Nyungwe National Park is also a home of golden monkeys only that have been spotted in small numbers which made them difficult in finding them. The most popular species among tourists is Arboreal Ruwenzori Colobus that feeds on leaves and is identifiable by the contrasting black and white colors and all monkey species move in troops that can go beyond 100 in numbers.
There are four trails in Nyungwe national park where small primates can be tracked, these are Bigugu Trail, Unwika Campsite Trail, Kamiranzovu Trail and waterfall trail.
Bird watching
For those who love birds, Nyungwe national park is the best place to go for bird watching in Rwanda where you find over 300 species of birds of which 27 can be found only in Albertine region because of the biodiversity in the park and particularly its rich collection of birds, birdlife international consider it as the most important site for the conservation in Rwanda.
The following are top bird species to look out in Nyungwe national park ; Yellow Eyed Black Flycatcher, white tailed flycatcher, Chapin’s flycatcher, white billed Robin chat, Archer’s Robin chat, Blue Turaco, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Nightjah, Rwenzori Batis, Rwenzori Double Collared Warbler, Barred long Tailed Cuckoo, purple throated sunbird, grey chested kakamega, and many more others.
Biking through the Congo Nile trail
The Congo Nile Trail passes through Nyungwe National Park allowing visitors to bike through this particular section. Biking or Cycling through the Congo Nile Trail offers the perfect opportunities to explore the park.
It is also a perfect way to see all the beautiful tree, plant species, countless bird species, primates and other forest wildlife that makes the forest so attractive to nature lovers. Camping is a must while biking through the trail.
It is important to carry along the right clothing, camping equipment, snacks and muddy.
Accommodation in Nyungwe national park
Gisakura Guest House
Gisakura Guest House is built 2km away from Nyungwe National Park with beautiful gardens of simple design but with functional rooms that are affordable and ideal for the budget traveler. The showers and toilets are designed to be shared and kept impeccably clean by very friendly staff. All meals are served at the general restaurant.
EAR Gisakura Visitor Center
EAR Gisakura Visitor Center has an advantage in its strategic location in the forest with easy access to the main road. It has four bungalows offer a serene environment for nature lovers because of the forest trees which allows for clean air and great shade even in drier season of the year.
Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel is located near the park headquarters and was opened in 2011. This hotel offers great views of the forest mountains and offers front desk services, a general restaurant that serves drinks to all residents and a sitting area with TV.
They also offer other services like barbecue facilities, shuttle services, a banquet and meeting facilities. The room balconies offer good views of the mountains and forests because of its location in the middle of the park and it is a great place of hiking.
Nyungwe Nziza Ecolodge
This lodge is found in Kitabi and offers good midrange and budget rooms that offers free WIFI, a lounge and barbecue. There is early morning breakfast that is served in rooms or at the general restaurant. The restaurant serves both local and international dishes. Around the lodge there is a good biking trails and bikes that can be rented on arrangement.
Gisakura family hostel
Gisakura family hostel is located besides the major road in Gisakura and it is a great option for the budget travelers. This hostel has simple and good facilities with friendly staff. This will also be favorable to those who travel in groups because of the shared rooms and restaurants with expensive meals.
Kitabi Eco-Center
Kitabi Eco-Center is located in Kitabi with beautiful views of Mount Kitabi. This lodge has services like in-house restaurant which offer morning continental breakfast, specializes in international dishes, a play ground for children, ample parking space and spacious terrace.
Nyungwe House
This is the only luxury lodge near the forest and it was formerly Nyungwe forest lodge but now under one and only hotel group. This hotel is located in the middle of tea plantation with 6 high end wooden villas and 22 Luxury rooms. Nyungwe house offers magnificent views of the Nyungwe forest and the tea plantations.
The hotel offers the most comfortable rooms, best place for tracking primates in the park.
Uwinka Campsite
For visitors who prefer camping, the Uwinka campsite built at the reception center of the park is a great choice.