Canopy walk in Rwanda
Canopy walk in Rwanda is found in Nyungwe forest national park which is located in the south western part of Rwanda about 225 kilometers from Kigali and taking about 5 hours’ drive to the park’s headquarters at Uwinka overlook. The park has a remarkable diversity of wildlife which includes 13 species of primates, more than 300 species of birds, 85 species of mammals, over 1000 species of plants, 32 species of amphibians, and 38 species of reptiles. Many of the species are endemic to the Albertine Rift region within which the forest lies.
The canopy walk activity in Nyungwe Forest National Park is a thrilling adventure that nature lovers and adrenaline junkies should not miss out on if they visit Rwanda and Nyungwe forest for any tour, be it birding, Colobus monkey tracking, chimpanzee tracking and any other of the nature activities offered in the park. The canopy walk has now become an iconic activity of Nyungwe forest National Park that does not miss on Nyungwe tour itineraries. The walk offers breath-taking views across East Africa’s largest and oldest Afro-montane forest, and also offers a chance to see at eye-level wildlife that live in the forest canopies but is not easily seen from the ground such as monkeys and birds.
The canopy walkway is accessed from the Igishigishigi trail, one of the many hiking trails in Nyungwe Forest National Park. The canopy walk tour therefore involves hiking along the Igishigishigi trail 2.1km long, with the canopy walkway creating a sort of bridge or shortcut along this looping trail. The canopy walkway measures a total of 160 meters in length and is suspended 74 meters from the ground across a deep valley filled with thick forest.
The canopy walk tour starts at Uwinka which is also the park’s headquarters and the round trip takes from 1.5 to 2 hours long. After registering at the Visitor’s Centre, visitors take on a forest trail that connects to the Igishigishigi trail. The forest walk offers a beautiful nature experience and one gets to observe wildlife found at the ground level and enjoy beautiful views of forest clad rolling hills. The canopy walk tour is a guided activity lead by an assigned park guide. Unguided tours are not permitted. The minimum age for the canopy walk is 6 years and children must be accompanied by an adult
The views from up here are stunning, and the adrenaline will no doubt be rushing through as the bridge sways. It can feel a bit unstable, especially in windy conditions, so we wouldn’t recommend this section of the walk for those who don’t have a head for heights – but the views from either side of the bridge, looking across to the Uwinkwa Ridge, are equally magnificent.
The canopy bridge leads between some huge, ancient trees, home to many species of endemic plants and ferns, as well as over 300 species of birds, 25 of which are endemic to this area, which is part of the Albertine Rift. Keep an eye out also for primates, as the forest is home to 13 different species. We were lucky enough to see Rwenzori colobus monkeys, as well as L’Hoest’s and golden monkeys during our trek. Though the chimpanzees are mainly found in other areas of the forest, there’s always a chance they may be foraging nearby also.
The whole trek lasts around 2 hours and though some parts can be slippery and/or steep, the walk is relatively easy. It’s important that you wear comfortable and suitable shoes for these conditions. You’ll be offered a walking pole at the start of the trek, should you need. The minimum age for this walk is 6 years old, and kids must be accompanied by the adults.
Cost of the Rwanda Canopy walk tour – 60 USD for the Foreign Non Residents, 50 USD for the Foreign Residents in Rwanda & East Africa, 10 USD for the East African Citizens, 5000 Rwandan Francs (RWF) for the Rwandan Citizens
Schedules of the Nyungwe Canopy walk tour in day – In a day there are four starting times of the canopy walk activity in Nyungwe Forest : 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm
Level of difficulty of the canopy walk – The hike is rated easy. There are some steep climbs/descends along the trek given the terrain is mountainous, however they are manageable. No serious fitness is required. Those afraid of heights will find the canopy walkway a challenge as it is suspended about 50 meters from the ground.
What you need to carry for the Canopy walk
- Hiking shoes/boots
- Rain poncho/jacket
- Small backpack
- At least 1 litre of drinking water
- Camera
- A brief About Nyungwe Forest National Park
