A 5 hours drive will take you to Nyungwe forest National Park from Rwanda’s Capital Kigali. The park is located in the south western part of Rwanda covering an area of over 1000 Sq Km about 600 square miles. The area was gazetted as a reserve forest in 1934 and was first called the Rujeje forest by the first forest duellers. It was declared a National Park in 2005 by the Rwandan Government.
The Nyungwe forest is a home of 280 species of birds, 32 species of amphibians, 38 species of reptiles, 200 species of plants and 160 species of orchids and many flower species.
Main activities in Nyungwe forest.
Chimpanzee tracking – Nyungwe forest is home to about 400 Chimpanzees and represents one of the last intact populations in the area.In addition to several wild chimp communities,there are currently two habituated chimpanzee groups.One in chamdungo and Uwinka ( around Mayebe). A third group is still under habituation in the northern section of the park at Gisovu.
The tracking is an exciting challenge as you trek through a dense forest with great sightings of other various species of monkeys like the Red tailed, vervets, Olive baboons, Grey cheeeked mangabeys, L’hoest’d Monkeys.
The Canopy walk at Uwinka – The Nyungwe forest Canopy walk gives visitors a great opportunity to experience the rain forest with canopy walk way challenge. The walk way was built in 2010 by a Canadian NGO-Green heart with help from U.S.A.I.D. It is embedded in a specialised guided tour as you slope down from the Uwinka visitor’s centre through the igishigishi trail. The trail will take you approximately 30 minutes to get to the starting point of the canopy as you walk slowly in a steep slippery valley.
The Canopy walk way is 160 Meters, and 70 meters from ground. It has 3,sections with the first Canopy at 45 Meters, second at 90 Meters and third being at 25 Meters. From the Top of the canopy walk way, you are able to have great view of the Nyungwe canopy, monkeys playing, close encounter with birds and on a clear day, Lake Kivu can be spotted. The Congo Nile Trail, Birding, Hiking, and the Isumo water falls visit are among the activities done in the Nyungwe forest National Park.
Some facts about the Nyungwe forest:
Items Recommended for your adventurous trip to the park:
Accommodations in Nyungwe National Park.