Nyungwe forest National Park
Nyungwe forest National Park is one of the biggest national parks in Rwanda that is visited mostly for its high number of chimpanzees to do chimpanzee trekking. Nyungwe National Park is located in south western parts of Rwanda in Rusizi. This national park is located near the border of Rwanda and Burundi with Lake Kivu bordering it in the south, Democratic Republic of Congo in the west.
This national park has one of the oldest rainforests and is rich in biodiversity characterized by rainforest, bamboo, grassland, swamps, and bogs. This national park is habitat for a variety of primate species and other species of animals which include the chimpanzees.
Nyungwe national park is also known for being a chimpanzee trekking destination in Rwanda and also for the canopy walk activity which is a unique experience for tourists visiting Rwanda. This national park is managed by Rwanda Development Board.
This national park is in the Albertine rift which is a mountainous region and it harbors a variety of wildlife and endemic bird species. Different tree and plant species can also be seen during a visit to Nyungwe national park for tourists interested in botany.
Nyungwe forest acts as a water catchment area which is a source of water to the people living around this area.
History of Nyungwe national park
Nyungwe national park was established as a forest reserve in 1903 and in 2004 this forest reserve was awarded national park status. This national park is also considered the largest Afromontane protected area in Rwanda without including Cyamudongo and Gisakura forest.
Cyamudongo forest is a small isolated forest located in the south western part of Rwanda and this forest has a variety of plant and wildlife species and is also known for being a destination where tourists can see chimpanzees.
Access to Nyungwe national park
This national park can be accessed through the following means;
- By road; 4-5 hours’ drive from Kigali and can be accessed by using the Kigali- Muhanga- Huye- Nyamagabe route.
- By air/flight; domestic flights from Kigali to Kamembe.
The best time to visit Nyungwe national park
The climate in Nyungwe national park is characterized by a long wet season extending from the months of September to May with the dry season occurring in the months of July, August, December and January.
For tourists interested in engaging in chimpanzee trekking the best time for this activity is during the wet season because during the dry season the chimpanzees tend to move in search of food which makes them scarce and difficult to sight.
On the way to Nyungwe national park, tourists can also make brief stops to the Nyanza palace to learn more about royalty in Rwanda. The structure of this palace is well crafted with local materials and tourists can also see the long inyambo horned cattle which are believed to have descended directly from the kings’ herd.
Attractions in Nyungwe national park include the following;
- Chimpanzees are the major tourist attraction in Nyungwe national park and many tourists engage in the chimpanzee tracking activity to be able to see these creatures. Other primates such as colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, l’ hoest monkeys, Angolan colobus monkeys, dents monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, diademed monkeys, Rwenzori colobus, silver monkeys, red tailed monkeys can also be seen during treks in the Nyungwe forest. The chimpanzees are easy to spot in the forest especially in the morning hours as they eat and hang in the branches. Other wildlife species can also be seen in this national park and they include cerval cats, mongoose, clawless otter and many others.
- Bird species can also be spotted among the trees during exploration of the Nyungwe forest by tourists and the bird species that can be seen include the blue turaco, pock fellers’ sunbird, chapins flycatcher can be spotted with the help of a guide who identifies the bird species and knows the good birding spots in Nyungwe national park. with the right birding equipment, tourists are able to have an exciting and memorable birding experience during their trip to this national park.
- Gisakura tea plantations offers walks in these tea estates among parallel tea plants with the backdrop of the beautiful mountains surrounded by greenery. Visits to the tea plantations engage tourists in learning more about the tea processing and tourists can witness how tea is picked and collected in baskets and many other processes until it is packaged and ready for consumption.
Activities which tourists engage in during trips to Nyungwe national park include;
- Chimpanzee trekking is the major tourist activity carried out in Nyungwe and it starts from the park headquarters. This activity is carried out at a cost of USD 100 to spend time with these creatures and permits for this activity are booked in advance. This activity is less expensive compared to gorilla trekking which takes place in Rwanda and during chimpanzee tracking, tourists spend more time with the chimpanzees and at a favorable cost. The chimpanzees are easier to find during treks in the Nyungwe forest since they are very playful creatures and can be spotted as they swing in the trees. The chimpanzee tracking activity can start from the following areas Uwinka, Gisakura and Kitabi. Tourists are briefed about the rules and regulations of chimpanzee tracking before heading out into the forest in search of the chimpanzees.
- Hiking takes place in the various trails for forest hikes from the park headquarters and it is the best way to encounter the chimpanzees and see the beauty of the forest and its attractions during a visit to Nyungwe national park. the terrains during these hikes require the hikers to be fit in order to conquer the terrain. Hiking trails include the Congo- Nile divide trail, imbaraga trail, kamiranzovu marsh trail, canopy trail, umugote trail, rukuzi trail, bigugu trail, igishigishgi trail, irebero trail, isumo trail, and karaba trail. Walking sticks are provided during hikes for supporting the tourists as they hike along different trails in the national park.
- The canopy walk is another activity that is popular among the tourists visiting this national park and it involves viewing the trees and other attractions in the forest while walking along a bridge suspended about 60 meters above the forest floor with beautiful views of the plant diversity within the forest. The canopy walk also gives the tourists an opportunity to see the diverse scenery in Nyungwe national park and the landscape and plenty of fresh air as you also watch the birds flying around. The bridge where the canopy walk takes tourists between trees and is a unique experience in East Africa.
- Cultural visits are carried out within the local communities living around Nyungwe national park such as visiting the kitabi village or Banda cultural village. Tourists watch the traditional dance performances, see the local crafts and art pieces, interact with the locals and learn more about their way of life, dress code and listen to local folk stories during cultural visits. Rwanda is generally known for its hospitable people with their unique culture and traditions and this can be experienced during the visit to the local communities living around Nyungwe national park.
Accommodation facilities in Nyungwe national park vary and they include luxury accommodation, mid-range accommodation, and budget accommodation. Some of the accommodation facilities include one and only Nyungwe house, Nyungwe forest lodge, Gisakura family hostel.
