Nyungwe Forest National Park – Rwanda’s Primate Capital: Nyungwe National Park is a famous destination in Rwanda located in South western region of Rwanda, at the border of Rwanda with Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Lake Kivu. The park is dominated by one of the world’s most beautiful and pristine rainforest and a series of mountain originating in Northern Uganda and Congo, running south through the Rwenzori Mountains, western Rwanda and Burundi, to the shores of Lake Tanganyika.
Nyungwe Forest is the best-preserved rainforest in the mountainous Central Africa and lies in the watershed between the basin of the River Congo to the west and the basin of the River Nile to the East.
Nyungwe Forest National Park covers an area of 970 square kilometers encompassing of rainforests, bamboo grassland, swamps and bogs. The park protects one of the region’s largest and oldest mountain forest that is said to have existed since the ice age.
Nyungwe National Park protects a diverse ecosystem with a diverse range of flora and fauna including about 1,000 species of wildlife and 13 primate species including a large population of chimpanzees which is one of the largest chimpanzee populations in East Africa.
History of Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park was first gazette as a forest reserve in 1933 by the German Colonial government, between 1960 and 1970 the area was faced by numerous fire outbreaks and numerous human activities such as poaching of the animals which lived in forest and deforestation was carried out by the locals. This destroyed most of the forest cover of the forest. The encroachment on the forest by the locals caused Nyungwe Forest to lose about 15% of her size, later in 2004 the forest was designated a national park.
Wildlife in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to 75 different species of mammals including 13 species of primates and a huge population of chimpanzees, Nyungwe Forest is home to over 400 black and white colobus monkeys which is the highest concentration in Africa.
Primates found in Nyungwe Forest include chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, silver monkey, Hamlyn’s monkey, vervet monkey, olive baboon and red-tailed monkeys.
There are other mammals in Nyungwe Forest such as duikers and golden cats among others.
Birdlife in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park is a great bird paradise with over 280 bird species including 26 Albertine endemics whose range is restricted to a few forests along the Albertine Rift. Some of the common birds regional endemics in Nyungwe Forest include strip-breasted tit, red collared babbler, red throated alethe, archer’s ground robin, Kivu ground thrush, grauer’s warbler, red- faced woodland warbler, Kungwe apalis, grauer’s warbler, yellow – eyed black flycatcher, Ruwenzori batis, blie – headed sunbird and strange weaver.
Other birds found in Nyungwe Forest National Park include Chestnut Owlet, Olive and Elliot’s Woodpeckers, Great Blue and Ruwenzori Turacos, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, , Stripe-breasted Tit, the remarkable Red-collared Babbler, Archer’s Robin Chat, White-bellied Robin Chat, Doherty’s Bush-Shrike, Handsome Francolin Mountain Masked, Black-faced, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Purple-breasted and Regal Sun-birds, Chestnut-throated, Collared Apalis, Rwenzori Batis, Neumann’s Short-tailed Warbler and White-tailed Blue-flycatcher among others.
Water falls in Nyungwe Forest National Park
The forest of Nyungwe is crossed by many rivers and has many springs, as they flow they create magnificent waterflows the landscape of the park is characterized by overlying cliffs, caves and the Kamiranzovu Swamp.
Some of the magnificent waterfalls in Nyungwe Forest National Park include Kamiranzovu waterfall which originates from the Kamiranzovu marshlands.
Things to Do in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Chimpanzee Trekking
The primate Rwanda safari activity to do in Nyungwe Forest National Park is chimpanzee trekking, the forest is regards as Rwanda’s capital as it is home to a huge population of primates with 13 recorded species.
There are over 400 chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest with two chimpanzee communities that are habituated, one of the groups is found in Cyamudongo sector and another around the Uwinka area of the forest where chimpanzee trekking is done.
Nyungwe National Park is one of the best chimpanzee trekking destinations in East Africa primarily because of its huge chimpanzee population, this amazing primate activity begins as early as 08:00 am with briefing about the rules, regulations and what to follow during the trek at Uwinka, Kitabi and Gisakura.
Only 8 people per group are allowed to participate in chimpanzee trekking, the trek takes about 2 to 5 hours and exposes you to other forest creatures such as olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys and many birds. Visitors are allowed to stay only 1 hour in the presence of the chimpanzee taking pictures and enjoying they amazing behavior.
All trekkers need to have a chimpanzee trekking permit.
Primate/monkey tracking – in addition to chimpanzee trekking, Nyungwe National Park offers primate tracking experience done on several trails running through the forest of Nyungwe. On this activity you will have a chance to wander around the forest and spot various primate species inhabiting in the forest such as black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, silver monkey, Hamlyn’s monkey, vervet monkey, olive baboon and red-tailed monkeys among others.
Nyungwe Forest Canopy Walk
Canopy Walk is one of the remarkable safari activities to do in Rwanda, this kind of canopy walk is the first tree top forest canopy walk of its kind in the whole of East Africa and the thirds of its kind in Africa.
The canopy walk is a metallic way suspended above the ground and spans 160 meters between trees, the canopy walk starts from the Uwinka Visitor Center. The walk takes approximately 2 kilometers through the untouched natural rainforest, you will have a chance to spot several primates such as olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys and many colorful birds.
Birding
Nyungwe National Park a birder’s haven ranked among the best birding destinations in Rwanda, the forest is home to over 300 bird species including 27 Albertine rift valley species. Birding in Nyungwe Forest National Park offers you a chance to spot a variety of colorful bird species including Archer’s Robin Chat, Barred long Tailed Cuckoo, Blue Turaco, Chapin’s flycatcher, Doherty’s Bush Shrikes, grey-chested kakamega, Handsome Francolin, Lagden’s Bush Shrikes, Mountain Sooty Boubou, Pockefellers’s sun bird, Purple Throated Sunbird, Red collared mountain Babbler, Rwenzori Double Collared Warbler, Rwenzori Nightjah, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Batis, White Bellied Robin chat, White Tailed Flycatcher and the Yellow Eyed Black Flycatcher among others.
Community walks and Cultural Experience
Community walks and cultural experience in Nyungwe National Park take you on a visit to the local communities situated along the park’s borders, these visits offer you an opportunity to learn about the rich culture of Rwanda’s people.
Villages visited for community walks and cultural experiences are Kitabi Cultural Village and The Banda Village, in these villages you are entertained by local dances and drama, visit the medicine man to learn about various medicine, grinding of maize and sorghum, get a taste of local cuisines among others.
Hiking
Hiking in Nyungwe National Park is a thrilling experience done on 13 hiking trails which cover 130 kilometers, these trails differ in length and runs through various areas of the park. These trails include Congo – Nile Divide trail Ngabwe Trail, Bigugu Trail, Congo Nile Divide Trail, Muzimu Trail, Rukuzi Trail, Igishigishigi Trail, Buhoro trail and Imbaraga Trail.
On hiking experience in Nyungwe Forest, lookout for baboons, black and white colobus monkeys and many birds.
Where to stay in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Unlike other Rwanda safari destinations, Nyungwe National Park has limited accommodation facilities. These accommodations are categorized as budget, midrange and luxury.
- One & Only Nyungwe House
- Nyungwe top view lodge
- Regina Pacis Kibeho Hotel
- Delta Resort Hotel
- Mariah Hill Resort
- Gisakura guest house
- EAR Guesthouse
- Emeraude Kivu Resort
How to get to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe is a very accessible Rwanda safari destination located in South Region of the country approximately 200 kilometers from Kigali City – the capital of Rwanda. It is a drive of approximately 5 hours depending on the stopovers along the way.
Alternatively, you can fly to Nyungwe Forest National Park by flights operated by Akagera Aviation.