Nyungwe Forest National Park | Rwanda's Biodiversity Gem

Nyungwe Forest national park located in South Western Rwanda is home to one of the oldest montane rainforests in Africa. The park covers an area of approximately 1,019 square kilometers making it Rwanda’s second biggest national park and the biggest protected montane rainforest in Central and East Africa.

Nyungwe Forest was first established as a forest reserve (1933) before it was officially established as one of the national parks in Rwanda in 2004 to protect the forest from the intense deforestation it was undergoing and to also protect the remaining wildlife that are inhabiting the lush dense forest.

NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK AT A GLANCE

Facts

The park is jointly managed by African Parks and Rwanda Development Board since 2020, October.
Covering an area of 1,019 sq kms, this national park is the 2nd biggest national park in Rwanda covering bamboo, rainforest, bog, swamps and Mt. Bigugu.
It was established as a national park in 2004.
It situated in Rusizi district in South Western Rwanda adjacent to Kibira national park in Burundi.
The park teems with several different primate species from the playful chimpanzees to the Albertine endemic species, the L’Hoest’s monkey.
There are 15 different trails within the park through which visitors can explore the lush evergreen forest and its habitants.
The rich biodiversity of the park includes thousands of different plant species, hundreds tree species, hundreds of orchids, hundreds of different bird species including Albertine rift endemic species, a good number of mammals, primates, reptiles, amphibians and beautiful butterfly species.
The park’s headquarters are located in Uwika.

WILDLIFE IN NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

The Animals: Nyungwe national park has over 70 different animal species including mongoose, serval cat, leopard, Congo clawless otter among others inhabiting the park, 13 of which are primate species.

The Primate species in Nyungwe include:

Chimpanzees
Ruwenzori Colobus monkeys
Red tailed monkeys
Golden monkeys
Silver monkeys
L’Hoest’s monkey
Dent’s Mona monkey
Olive babons
Hamlyn’s (Owl faced) monkey
Grey-cheeked mangabey
Vervet monkey
Blue monkey
Angolan Colobus monkeys

The Birds:

Some notable species include the red-collared babbler, Ruwenzori turaco, great blue turaco, barred long-tailed cuckoo, chestnut owlet, stripe-breasted tit, white bellied and Archer’s robin chats, Elliot’s woodpeckers, olive woodpeckers, purple breasted sunbird, Rwenzori batis, chapin’s flycatcher, handsome francolin, Lagden’s and Doherty’s bush shrikes, pockefeller’s sunbird, yellow eyed flycatcher, white tailed flycatcher, Rwenzori double collared warbler, grey chested kakamega, Rwenzori nightjar among others.

TOURIST ACTIVITIES IN NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

What to do in Nyungwe Forest National Park:

Chimpanzee trekking: This is the tourist activity highlight in Nyungwe Forest and it is carried out on a daily in the early morning. There are 2 habituated troops of chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest national park, one in the Uwinka area of Nyungwe forest and the other, the bigger of the 2 troops is in Cyamudongo section of Nyungwe forest.

Bird watching: With over 300 bird species including the Albertine rift endemics, going on a guided birding safari in this national park will be a rewarding and exciting experience. The most spotted birds include the Kivu ground thrush, the Rwenzori and great blue turacos, Rwenzori nightjar, dwarf honeyguide among others.

Canopy walks: An interesting way of viewing the rainforest and its inhabitants from above. The walkway is about 45 meters above the ground with 3 different levels starting from Uwinka visitors center.
Guided Forest / Nature walks: The park has a number of walking and hiking trails with different length in distances and level of difficulty hence catering for all travelers at different fitness levels. To mention but a few, the trails include, Congo-Nile divide trail, Igishigishigi trail, Karamba, Umugote, Umoyove, Uwinka, Bigugu, Imbaraga, Irebero, Isumo, Ngabwe and more.

Biking safaris through the Congo-Nile trail which also includes camping.

Cultural tours to the local communities around the this national park.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

What to see in Nyungwe Forest national park:

Nyungwe forest, one of the oldest montane rainforests in Africa.

Wildlife in Nyungwe forest national parks which includes 13 different primate species that are a major attraction in the forest.

Birdlife which is made up of over 300 bird species with a good number of Albertine Rift endemics present within the lush green forest.

The different varieties of plant and tree species within the Nyungwe Forest. Botanists will love to know that the forest has 1,060 plant species, 140 orchids and over 200 tree species.

Waterfalls in this national park like the Isumo waterfall among others which can be seen on some hiking trails within the park like the Kamiranzovu trail, Imbaraga trail and the Umoyove trail.

Cyamudongo forest, a top chimpanzee trekking section in this national park.

Gisakura forest which inhabits the Angolan black and white colobus monkeys.

CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

In the year 1933, the forest area was first established as Nyungwe Forest Reserve by the then Belgian colonial government who were concerned about the rapid deforestation activity that was affecting the forest cover.

In the year 2004, the government of Rwanda officially established the then Nyungwe Forest reserve as a national park granting it the highest form of protection.

The Rwanda Development Board signed an agreement with African Parks in October 2020 to assume management of Nyungwe Forest national park after their successful efforts in Akagera national park.

ACCESSIBILITY

How to get to Nyungwe Forest national park

Nyungwe Forest national park is located approximately 230 kms from the capital of Rwanda, Kigali City.

By road

From Kigali, it will take you about 5 hours on the road. There are different attractions along the way that you can opt to check out.

By air

You can chatter a small aircraft from Kigali to Nyungwe Forest national park using RwandAir or Akagera Aviation.

ACCOMMODATION IN NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

Where to stay during your visit to Nyungwe Forest national park

Several hotels, lodges and campsites can be found near Nyungwe forest ranging from luxury options, mid-range and budget options.

To mention but a few, below are some of the accommodation facilities around Nyungwe:

One & Only Nyungwe house
Nyungwe Nziza Ecolodge
Nyungwe Top View Hill hotel
Gisakura Family hostel
EAR Gisakura Visitor center
Gisakura Guest house
KCCEM Guest house
Café Resto Bar Keza
Uwinka campsite
Peace Guest house
Emeraude Kivu Resort
Hotel Ibis Butare
Hotel Credo
Golden Monkey hotel
Rustic Rest house

This national park is a great destination for nature lovers, bird lovers, primate lovers, hikers and adventurers. Just like most parks, game reserves and conservation areas in East Africa, the best time to visit this national park is during the dry months of the year, in January and February and from June through to September. During the dry season, the forest is less dense making it easier to get around, but still very green and lush, and the trails are less slippery as compared to the rainy wet season.