Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda is home to one of Africa’s oldest tropical forests, a bio-diverse protected area. Nyungwe is a spectacular protected area and its landscape is characterized by a series of mountains. In addition to the natural rainforest, Nyungwe also features some patches of grasslands, peat bogs, and thickets where a variety of its floral and faunal species survive.
Nyungwe Forest National Park offers refuge to the diversity of globally threatened species including the Eastern Chimpanzees (Pan Troglodytes), the critically endangered hills horseshoe bat, and the golden monkeys.
Nyungwe is a spectacular park, located in Southwestern Rwanda. It is strategically lying in the areas where visitors can enjoy the excellent views of Lake Kivu and on a clear day, you can view the breathtaking views of the Virunga Volcanoes. Besides faunal and floral species, Nyungwe boasts of its extensive network of well-maintained walking and hiking trails that lead to scenic waterfalls and other beautiful tourist sites.
Gazetted in 2004, Nyungwe is currently sitting in a land area of 970 sq. km. It shelters a total of about 1100 species of plants, more than 85 mammal species inclusive of 13 primate species, and 345 species of birds.
Faunal species in Nyungwe
Wildlife/Animals in Nyungwe National Park
Over 85 mammal species freely roam in the diverse habitats in Nyungwe Forest National Park. These comprise 500 chimpanzees, 400 colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, golden monkeys, silver monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, Dent’s Mona monkeys, olive baboons, and Angolan colobus monkeys.
Birds
Over 345 species of birds survive in the diverse habitats in Nyungwe Forest including endemic species, forest species, and others. The birds for you to expect to identify in Nyungwe National Park include barred long-tailed cuckoo, Chestnut owlet, white-headed wood-hoopoe, olive & Elliot’s woodpeckers, stripe-breasted tit, great blue and Rwenzori turacos, and archer’s robin chat. Nyungwe also protects birds such as the Kivu ground thrush, Kungwe apalis, Rwenzori batis, collared apalis, Chapin’s flycatchers, Doherty’s bush shrike, red-collared babblers, Neumann’s short-tailed warblers, handsome francolin, black-faced, Rockefeller’s sunbird, purple –breasted and regal sunbirds, white-tailed blue-flycatchers, and red-throated alethe.
Additional birds to identify on bird-watching excursions in Nyungwe include Grauer’s swamp warblers, bar-tailed trogon, Strange weaver bird, Shelley’s crimson wing birds, Rwenzori-nightjars, Congo-bay owlets, to mention but a few.
What to do in Nyungwe National Park
Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee tracking/trekking is one of the enriching primate experiences Nyungwe is known to offer primate enthusiasts. Treks to explore chimps in Nyungwe are conducted in any of the park’s two communities; Cyamudongo and Uwinka. Over 500 chimpanzees survive in the Nyungwe Forest Park alone and normal day treks begin early due to the nature of these primates’ habitat.
Nyungwe is found at an altitude of 1600 to 2950 meters and the highest point is marked by Mt. Bigugu. The kind of elevation in Nyungwe requires some level of fitness for you to have a complete round trek. You can only be allowed to engage in a trek with Nyungwe chimps if you have a valid permit and each costs USD 250 for the foreign nonresidents and USD 75 for the foreign residents. Lastly, the East Africans pay USD 25 to obtain a Nyungwe chimp permit. Talk to your local expert Allan Blackia Safaris to book your chimp permits and also a holiday.
Essentials to have on a chimp trek in Nyungwe include a valid chimp permit, long-sleeved shirts, a daypack, a good camera, waterproof hiking boots, a safari hat, insect repellents, a pair of binoculars, a rain jacket, and sunscreen.
Bird watching
Nyungwe is a favorite bird-watching site in Rwanda due to its abundant bird species. On bird watching tour, expect to explore the diversity of birds including the Kivu ground thrush, white-tailed crested flycatchers, montane double-collared sunbird, Rwenzori nightjars, great blue and Rwenzori turacos, dusky crimson wings, red-faced woodland warblers, yellow-eyed black flycatchers, Kungwe apalis, and purple-breasted sunbird.
Nature & hiking walks
Nyungwe National Park features a great network of hiking and nature walking trails. These lead visitors to the breathtaking landscapes with a chance to spot a diversity of birds, primates, and other species. The hikes are conducted with the presence of an experienced park ranger guide.
Top hiking trails to conquer include the Congo-Nile divide trail, the 227 km long hiking trail. To complete your trek through the Congo-Nile divide trail, you require a good number of days. You can go hiking or cycling and the trail passes via the lush countryside of Rwanda.
The Igishigishigi trail is a 2-km trail known to offer great views of the Nyungwe forest canopy. As you trek through this trail, expect to come across some monkeys, birds, and flowering plants. The complete hike can run for 1-2 hours and accommodates up to children of about 6 years.
Additional hiking trails to explore in Nyungwe include the Umugote trail best for primate encounters; Karamba trail, Uwinka, Isumo, Umoyove, Muzimu trail, Ngabwe hiking trail, Imbaraga hiking trail, Irebero hiking trail, Rukuzi trail, and Kamiranzovu trail.
Canopy walk
A canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park is the best done on the Igishigishigi trail. The canopy walkway is 200 meters and is set 70 meters from the forest floor. The walk involves exploring the diversity of primates, birds, and the scenic forest canopy.
Community/cultural safaris
Cultural/community visits are perfect additions to chimp treks or birding expeditions in Nyungwe Forest National Park. This is the best way to have a close interaction with locals, exploring their practices, traditions, cultures, and a lot more.
The best time to go to tour Nyungwe
Nyungwe is best to visit during the peak dry season/months; June to August. These months experience favorable weather conditions that make them the best for trekking Nyungwe chimpanzees or engaging in colobus monkey tracking.
Where to stay on Nyungwe Forest National Park holiday
Places to consider for your overnight stay include Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, One & Only Nyungwe House, and Gisakura Family Hostel. On an actual holiday, you have a chance to spend a night in the quality budget, midrange, and luxury.
Getting to Nyungwe
Kigali to Nyungwe covers a distance of about 230 km and depending on the stopovers en route, the entire journey can take about 6-7 hours. The other available option is taking a flight using Akagera Aviation services from Kigali to Nyungwe.