Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the top places you should consider a must to explore on your Rwanda safaris. Nyungwe is famous for its biodiversity and as an ancient tropical forest Protected Area in Africa. The Park holds the highest concentrations of wildlife, especially primates and bird species. To help you plan a successful Rwanda tour to Nyungwe National Park, here is the updated travel guide. This travel guide to Nyungwe Forest National Park covers all the general information you need to know, attractions, prices, permits, animals to see in the Park, different safari activities, best time to visit, and popular accommodation, etc.

General Travel Information about Nyungwe

Nyungwe Forest National Park is spectacularly lying in the Southern Province of Rwanda. The Park is set close to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lake Kivu, and Burundi. Nyungwe was officially declared as a National Park in Rwanda in 2004 and is currently covering the land area of 970 sq. km.

Nyungwe is dominated by the vast rainforest and other habitats where diverse wildlife, flora, and birds live. Its ecological richness make it one of the favorite destinations by tourists on Rwanda tours.

Tourist Attractions in Nyungwe Forest

Wildlife to See

A total of about 85 mammal species are confined in Nyungwe Forest National Park. They include 13 primate species that comprise of over 500 chimpanzees, blue monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys, over 400 colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, golden monkeys, silver monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, Dent’s Mona monkeys, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, and others. Other mammals include serval cats, Congo clawless otters, and mongooses.

The Birds

At Nyungwe National Park, there are over 345 bird species to identify, which include endemic, forest, and other various bird species. The birds of interest in Nyungwe alone include the barred long-tailed cuckoos, stripe-breasted tit, Congo-bay owlets, Shelley’s crimson wings, Kungwe apalis, Rwenzori nightjars, bar-tailed trogon, Kivu ground thrush, chestnut owlet, Doherty’s bush shrikes, and regal sunbirds. The Park also hosts birds such as Great blue turacos, olive and Elliot’s woodpeckers, white-tailed blue flycatchers, and more.

Nyungwe Forest National Park also holds over 30 reptile species, 12 amphibian species, 120 colorful butterfly species, and others.

Top Activities to do on a Tour in Nyungwe

A myriad of exciting things await you on a Rwanda tour in Nyungwe National Park. The key safari activities to enjoy in Nyungwe include bird-watching, colobus monkey trekking, chimpanzee tracking, forest hiking, and community visits.

Chimpanzee trekking

Nyungwe is the leading spot for chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda. Tourists on a Rwanda tour in Nyungwe get a chance to walk through the rainforest in search of chimpanzees, and upon locating them, they spend a great time as they observe closely how these primates behave. At Nyungwe, chimpanzee treks begin from Cyamudongo and Uwinka, where you can start the day with a briefing on guidelines.

When planning a chimpanzee trek tour, timing is required. First, you must consider reporting to the briefing location early to get briefed and be allocated a park ranger guide. The key areas to gather for briefing include Gisakura, Uwinka, and Kitabi. Visitors are expected at the briefing centers at around 5:00 am.

Unlike other places like Kibale National Park, visiting Nyungwe for chimpanzee trekking requires some preparedness. The park lies at an elevation of 1600 to 2950m, with Mount Bigugu being the highest peak. Conquering the peaks of Nyungwe in search of chimpanzee communities requires you to be physically fit.

In addition, a valid chimpanzee permit is essential for you to have entry to Nyungwe to engage in this epic adventure. The foreign non-residents (international visitors) obtain chimpanzee permits at USD 250, USD 75 for foreign residents, and East African citizens at USD 25.

Bird-watching

Birding should be a must-do activity in Nyungwe. The park holds interesting bird species for enthusiastic birders to explore. During the birding excursion, the bird list in Nyungwe Forest include the red-throated alethe, Albertine owlets, great blue turacos, dusky crimsonwing, Rwenzori batis, regal sunbird, Rwenzori nightjars, purple-breasted sunbirds, red-faced woodland warblers, Kungwe apalis, Kivu ground thrush, white-tailed crested flycatchers, archer’s robin chat, and white-headed wood hoopoe, etc.

The special birding trails to explore in Nyungwe include Kamiranzovu, Karambi, Gisakura, and Gisakura trail. Each trail introduces you deep into rich bird habitats for you to spot diverse avifauna.

Colobus monkey trekking

Colobus monkey trekking lets you embark on a journey to explore colobus monkeys. Over 400 colobus monkeys live in Nyungwe and a trek to see them is mainly for you to have a close observation on how they behave.

Canopy walking

Nyungwe offers an exceptional guided canopy walk experience, and this is the first of its kind in East Africa. You embark on a guided walk on a 200m walkway, which is also set 60m from the forest floor. You need about 2 hours to complete the canopy walk excursion, and visitors can go for the morning or afternoon season.

Guided forest walks

Visitors can embark on hiking excursions in some of the numerous trails in Nyungwe National Park. The main trails to explore during guided hiking adventures in Nyungwe include Isumo, Kamiranzovu hiking trails, Imbaraga, Umugota, Irebero, Muzimu, Igishigishigi, and the 227 km Congo-Nile divide.

Community visits

Guided community tours are offered in the communities adjacent to Nyungwe. During the community walk, you get to interact with residents, learn their traditions, cultures, and practices. Community visits also introduce you to the vast tea estates.

The best time to visit Nyungwe

Nyungwe National Park can be visited for a vacation at any time of the year. The Park enjoys favorable weather conditions, but being a tropical rainforest Protected Area, expect rains at any time. The best time to get to Nyungwe for a tour is during the dry season and this is from June to August or December to February. This Park, being an all-year-round destination, it is possible to plan and visit it even during the wet or rainy months of the year. The wet or rainy months in Nyungwe run from March to May, then from October to November.

Where to stay on a vacation in Nyungwe

The top five accommodation options to consider for an overnight stay in and around Nyungwe include One & Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Gisakura Family Hostel, and Emerude Kivu Resort.

Getting to Nyungwe for your holiday

By road –Travel from Kigali, which is 6-7 hours, and you navigate through the Huye and Nyanza towns. From Volcanoes National Park, you can take 4-5 hours to reach Nyungwe National Park. By air- you can take helicopter flights for about 45 minutes, and this is operated by Akagera Aviation. Nyungwe is serviced by Kamembe International Airport, which is 40km away.