Nyungwe forest, is a rainforest which is located in the southwestern part of Rwanda, at the border of Burundi and Rwanda, to the south and Lake Kivu and Democratic Republican of Congo to the west.
The park was established in 2004 and covers an area of approximately 970km2 of rainforest, bamboo, grassland, swamps and bogs.
The forest has a wide diversity of animal species. The park contains 13 primate species, 200 bird species, over 500 tree species, 90 mammals, and 38 reptiles.
The animals in Nyungwe are found in the Albertine Rift montane forest in Africa. Rwanda is a home of a thousand hills and its takes approximately 4hours through the tea plantation.
The park has a famous forest canopy as the only one in East Africa there only 3 in Africa, there many opportunities at the park including birding, chimpanzee trekking, butterflies.
There many attractions at the park with a number of activities.
Hiking in Nyungwe forest.
Nyungwe forest National park is a hikers paradise with a number various hikes through the forest.
Hikers can spend a good week exploring and hiking the rainforest to discover the habitats found in the forest. Hike and have an opportunity to spot the primates, flowers, birds, plants, trees and butterflies.
Chimpanzee trekking
Nyungwe forest is one of the forests in Rwanda perfect for the chimpanzee trekking and can be added to your Gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes national park with out driving long distances. The chimpanzee trekking begins very early in the morning with a short briefing about chimpanzee trekking.
The trek is done with a maximum of eight people in the group. The chimpanzees are habituated and already used to human beings. They can be spotted as they play, feed, display their nests.
Birding
There about 300 bird species living in the forest with 27 endemics species in the forest of Albertine Rift. Such as the Rush Warbler which is an Albertine Rift endemic and is found in the mountain swamps such as Kamiranzovou in Nyungwe forest.in Nyungwe forest one can be able to spot the Rwenzori Turaco and the large blue Turaco, sun birds of various types such as purple-breasted and blue-headed sunbird .the forest is a paradise where birds can be spotted with other primates of the forest.
Nyungwe canopy walk.
Nyungwe forest canopy walk is a tree top canopy walk in East Africa and the third in the whole of Africa.
This activity is not to be missed out on your trip to Rwanda while your on your Gorilla trip and more days spent at Nyungwe forest .The canopy is a 50 meter walk above the grounds although the height can cause some dizziness but worthy your walk-on the walk you have an opportunity to see monkeys on top of the trees, birds and an amazing sight of trees and many more to spot. It’s a 90 meter distance and doesn’t not sound too long to walk.
Ruwenzori colobus money and Grey cheeked Mangabey.
The forest protects 13 primate species with confirmation of Golden monkey has also been spotted. Besides the chimpanzee trekking one can as well spot out the Gray-cheeked Mangabeys, Ruwenzori colobus monkeys in Nyungwe forest.
The colobus monkeys can be spotted in a large number of group about 300 colobus money. Other primates to be spotted are the Lhotse’s Mountain Monkey, owl faced monkey, blue monkey, Mona monkey and many more.
Nyungwe forest is a primate world and one can spot a number of primates.
Accommodation.
There a number of accommodations all ranging in budget, mid range and luxury depending on your travel budget.
If you would like us to include any activity in your itinerary please let us know and we would do our best according to your options.