Nyungwe Forest National Park
NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
If the idea of authentic jungle experiences captivate your spirit and senses, then a trip to the verdant Nyungwe Forest National Park is worthwhile. This lush safari destination usually has a mysterious thrill for first-time travellers with attractions ranging from streams, waterfalls, animals, butterflies, birds, unique tree and plant species, to mention but a few. Exploring the Nyungwe Forest is always high on many travellers bucket lists when visiting Rwanda, possible for the canopy walks and Chimpanzee treks.
Size and location of Nyungwe Forest National Park
Occupying about 3.8% of Rwanda’s landscape, the stunning Nyungwe Forest National Park is about 386 square miles and protects the most immense remaining tract of lush montane rainforest in East and Central Africa. This National Park stretches within the southwestern corner of the country, thus forming a contiguous Forest Block with Burundi’s Kibira National Park.
History of Nyungwe Forest National Park establishment
While the montane rainforest has existed for millennia, the National Park was gazetted in in 2004 to protect the outstanding diversity that includes over 1000 flora species, different species of mammals that include 13 species of primates, plethora of birds 15% of which are endemic to the Albertine Rift Valley region, a number of reptile species, species of Amphibians and many other natural features worth marveling at during Rwanda tours.
Nyungwe Forest National Park Attractions
Plant and tree species
Talking of tree and plant species, Nyungwe Forest National Park is truly spectacle with about 1000 plant species, 200 of which are species of trees. The varying elevations have been fundamental is influencing the vegetation types in that areas within 1900 meters above sea level featured the tallest tree species that include Cyathea Manniana, Newtonia, Carapa and many others while areas ranging from 2250 to 2500 meters above sea level had slightly shorter tree species that included a number of Newtonia Symphonia and lots of Polycscias. From 2500 meters above sea level there are Alpine vegetation in form of Shrubs and Bamboo forest.
Animals
Animals are the main drawing factor to the park, and these include 85 species of mammals, 13 of which are species of primates. Be expectant of seeing the endangered chimpanzees, owl-faced monkeys, blue monkeys, silver monkeys, vervet monkeys, Olive baboons, the Rwenzori Colobus monkeys, L’Hoests monkeys and Red-tailed monkeys, to mention but a few. Other animals that call Nyungwe forest National Park home are leopards, Weyns’s duikers, bushbucks, forest elephants, reptiles like snakes, monitor lizards and Chameleons, to mention but a few.
Bird species
Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the forest birding Paradises in Africa boasting of 300 species of birds, 26 of which are Albertine Rift endemics. Birding expeditions uncover the Dusky Crimsonwing, Albertine owlet, Regal sunbirds, Strange weavers, Grauer’s swamp warblers, Rwenzori batis, handsome spurfowl, Collared Apalis, Blue-headed sunbirds, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, Rwenzori Turaco, Congo Bat owlet, red-faced woodland warbler, Red-collared mountain babbler, Eastern mountain greenbul, Kivu ground thrush, Crowned hornbills, black and white hornbills, Long-crested eagles, Mountain masked Apalis, African Paradise flycatcher and Chapin’s flycatcher, to mention but a few.
Nyungwe Forest National Park tourist adventures
Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee treks through the park are wonderful experiences where travellers not only meet face to face with the Great Apes (our closest relatives) but also get the chance to see other residents of this ancient forest. With over 500 chimpanzees as well as two habituated chimpanzee troops, these adventures are worthwhile. One hour is the maximum viewing time once the chimpanzees are found.
Monkey tracking
Monkey tracking is another favorite activity for visitors to Nyungwe Forest National Park, offering the golden opportunity of tracking the other primates that include Mona monkeys, silver monkeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoests monkeys and owl-faced monkeys. The adventure begins at the Park Headquarters with briefing on the guidelines to be followed by the actual search that begins at 8:00am.
The jaw-dropping Canopy walk
The Canopy walk is rare and exceptional to Nyungwe Forest National Park and some other few places in the African Continent. During this activity, you are most likely to see different primate species, birds, and butterflies and be able to spot a number of tree species from their canopies. This activity involves exploring the 200-meter long walkway suspended 40 meters above the ground between the higher mountain slopes as well as towering trees.
Bird watching
Visitors to Nyungwe Forest National Park can relish the popular birding tours with chances of seeing more than 100 of the 300 bird species. In this Park is where 71 of the 74 species of the Afro-tropical highland Biome species, 26 species of Albertine Rift endemics and 11 of the 23 Guinea-Congo forest species can be found.
Popular hiking trails like Bigugu, Karamba, and Gisakura are known for offering excellent birding opportunities with Rwenzori Turaco, Kivu ground thrush, Rockefellers’ sunbirds, mountain-Masked Apalis, Regal sunbirds, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, Red-collared mountain warblers and Purple-breasted sunbirds being among the must-see birds. .
Forest walks or Hiking
Another wonderful adventure offered in Nyungwe Forest National Park is forest walks or hiking where different medicinal plants/trees, animals, birds and butterfly species are uncovered. Always look on the ground for the reptiles (snakes and monitor lizards), up for the red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys and others jumping through the forest canopy. A number of trails make it possible to encounter these attractions but the most popular ones are the Igishigishigi trail, Imbaraga, Umuyove, Kamiranzovu, Bigugu, Congo-Nile Divide, Isumo waterfall trail to mention but a few.
Community/Village Tours
Getting the chance to visit the local community is one of the thrilling tourist adventures enjoyed by travellers to the park. For this adventure, visitors get to interact and learn from the people about their unique way of life, undertake tours of local schools, take part in traditional dance performances and so much more. For your village tours, don’t miss visiting the Friends of Nyungwe Troops, Kitabi Cultural Village, Banda Community Village and the Cyamundo Culture Group among others.
When to undertake tours to Nyungwe Forest National Park
The recommended time to undertake tours of Nyungwe Forest National Park us the dry season from December to February and May to September and December because during these months the forest trails as well as Park roads are easier to access.
Travellers who undertake tours during the rainy season-March to May, October and November will have to endure denser vegetation cover as well as muddy and slippery trails. The good news however is that, this season is wonderful for bird watching.
Accommodation options within or near Nyungwe Forest National Park
Like any other fantastic destination, accommodation is important for relishing tours of Nyungwe Forest. Travellers can stay at One & Only Nyungwe House, the classis Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Nyungwe Nziza Eco-Lodge, Chimpanzee Lodge and Gisakura Guesthouse among others.
Getting to the iconic Nyungwe Forest National Park
The park is in the south-west of Rwanda, only about 134 miles from Kigali City. There are two main options of getting to this Park and they include;
Road
A comfortable 4X4 ride is recommended for driving from the Capital to Nyungwe Forest via a number of beautiful places that include Ethnographic Museum at Butare, Art galleries and Nyanza Royal Palace. This journey is about 7-8 hours.
Air
Helicopter transfer is the faster and less stressful option of getting to this jungle and involves 45 minutes to Nyungwe Forest Lodge. Although rarely used, travellers can also use water transport through a boat ride in Lake Kivu.