Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe forest National Park Rwanda is Rwanda’s oldest and most well-liked safari location. The park is situated in the southwest of Rwanda. The Park covers around 970 square kilometres in the south, where it spans the border between Rwanda and Burundi. Some of the most pristine mountain rain forests can be found in Nyungwe Forest National Park, the nation with the greatest diversity of life. The forest is diversified; it originates in northern Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and spreads to the coasts of Lake Victoria through the Rwenzori Mountains, western Rwanda, and Burundi.

Attractions in Nyungwe Forest national park.

Nyungwe Forest National Park is the most enticing safari destination to visit because of its incredible attractions, which include animals. Since Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to a wide diversity of wildlife, many people travel to the nation to witness these animals. All of the park’s species, including mammals and primates, call the park’s dense woods home.

Mammals.

The vast majority of mammals, including the civet, jackal, golden cats, duikers, leopards, golden cats, and numerous other primates, are found in Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Primates are one of the main draws for tourists who come on a Rwanda safari to the Nyungwe Forest National Park, which has 13 species of primates that live in the forest, including red-tailed monkeys, chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, and bush babies, among many others. Though the main primates that attract tourists in the park includes the chimpanzees that are the thrilling in the park.

Bird species.

Bird lovers who visit Nyungwe Forest National Park have a greater possibility of spotting the most stunning bird species there. The park’s vast montane forest, which is home to over 310 bird species, 120 of which are forest species, and 16 of which are endemic to the Albertine Rift, is the reason for this. Regal-Sunbird, Congo-bay Owlet, Grauer’s swamp Warbler, Red-collared mountain babblers, charming francoline, Rwenzori turaco, purple-breasted sunbirds, and many other bird species may be found in Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Vegetation.

Nyungwe Forest National Park encompasses the unique Albertine Rift Montane Rainforest, which is located in the Albertine Rift region. There are more than 1068 distinct plant species in the park, which has a surface area of around 1000 square km. A whopping 200 of these species which also include huge lobelia, orchids, bamboo, and shrubs are trees. Additionally, 68 of these species, including mahogany, talenna rwandesis, and other plants, are unique to the park.

Canopy.

The bulk of tourists are drawn to Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda because of its lofty canopy, which ranges in height from 50 to 200 metres. The canopy is quite enticing to the countless tourists who travel to the country, as it is ranked third in all of Africa. Having the metal walkway available allows people to investigate the park’s mysteries.

Activities to do in Nyungwe Forest national park. 

Chimpanzee trekking.

Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to a number of chimpanzees, making it possible for tourists to do chimpanzee trekking safari there. The majority of the chimpanzees are found in the Uwinka and Cyamudongo regions of the park. Early in the morning, you receive instructions on the rules and regulations to follow during chimpanzees trekking at a briefing at the park headquarters. After the briefing, you can continue the trip by using the forest’s hiking routes with the armed rangers. Once you’ve found the chimpanzees, you’ll have an hour to spend with them.

This is fantastic because when strolling with the gorillas, guests can witness a variety of park wildlife, including primates like red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, grey-checked mangabeys, bushbabies, and others, as well as many bird species.

Canopy walks.

Visitors to Nyungwe Forest National Park can take part in canopy walks, a lovely safari experience that involves gliding over the treetops on a 50-meter-high steel canopy bridge. The canopy walk consists of three walking segments, the greatest of which is 90 metres long and the smallest of which is 25 metres.

You may wander about and learn about the park’s magnificent creatures throughout the two-hour safari trip, which begins at the tourist hub in Uwinka.

Bird watching.

The best spot to watch birds is Nyungwe Forest National Park, which is home to over 310 different bird species. The park is renowned as a haven for birdwatchers. Because it enables users to witness a variety of birds, such the Rwenzori batis, Red-collared mountain-Babbler, Doherty-bush shrike, Congo-bay Owlet, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Gorgeous Francolin, Stripe-breasted Tit, Chestnut Owlet, Regal Sun-bird, and many more, the park is the best choice for bird aficionados.

Guided nature walks and hiking.

Nature walks in the Nyungwe Forest National Park enable visitors to learn about the diverse features of the park’s biodiversity while exploring the hidden regions of the park that are off-limits to safari vehicles on foot while traversing the park’s rugged terrain.

Gisakura plantation tour.

The Gisakura tea estate, which is located outside of the Nyungwe Forest National Park, can be visited by those who want to leave the park. This safari experience is especially amazing because guests can participate in activities like collecting tea and chatting with the local farmers in addition to appreciating the magnificent tea plantation. Travellers use a number of paths, including the Umuyove, Karamba, and Umugote trails, which lead to various spots in the region, for taking nature walks.

Best time to visit Nyungwe forest national park.

The best seasons to visit Nyungwe Forest National Park are during the peak season, which runs from mid-December to mid-February, or the dry season, which runs from June to September.

Where to stay in Nyungwe forest national park. 

There are several different accommodation options available to visitors visiting Nyungwe Forest National Park, which are categorized into budget, mid-range, and luxury categories. These choices include the Gisakura Guest House, Nyungwe Forest Lodge, and Nyungwe Top Vie Hill Hotel, among others. Camping is another option for visitors who want to fully appreciate the park’s natural surroundings.

How to get to Nyungwe Forest National Park.

In the southwest of Rwanda, the Nyungwe Forest National Park is located near to Lake Kivu. The journey of 225 kilometres from Kigali, the nation’s capital, takes 4 to 5 hours. Additionally, a helicopter that takes off from Kigali and lands at Nyungwe Forest Lodge can transport you to the park.