Sarania Adventure Safaris For Customized East African Safaris

There are some truly incredible safari experiences that you can have throughout the World but making a trip to Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills is one of the most phenomenal and exhilarating experiences that you will be fortunate to relish. Getting up close and personal with some of the World’s most unmissable primate species in their natural environment is something you need to experience first-hand to appreciate.

Nyungwe Forest National Park is unlike any other safari destination you can explore in Africa. It is home to one of mankind’s closest relatives in the animal Kingdom, and provides one of the wildest and most authentic safari experiences you will find anywhere.

Location and size of Nyungwe Forest National Park

Covering about 1017 square kilometers, Nyungwe Forest National Park is the second largest Protected Area in Rwanda (after Akagera National Park) and is renowned for protecting the largest surviving tract of verdant green montane rainforest in the East and Central African region. Set in the southwestern side of the country, the Park forms a contiguous Forest Block with Burundi’s Kibira National Park.

History of Nyungwe National Park

The first step to protecting Nyungwe forest area was declaring it into a Forest Reserve, which was in 1933 by the German Colonial Government. However, due to the rise in population and encroachment around its borders, its existence was threatened.

It is from here that Nyungwe’s size was shrunk to 1017 square kilometers from the original 1140 square kilometers between 1958 and 1973. This was at the same period when the country was undergoing political instability (resulting from Civil Wars).

Rwandan Government, in partnership with concerned Conservation Agencies, undertook research studies between the 1970s and 1980s, which led to the establishment of buffer zones to mark off boundaries with local communities. Significant steps such as reconstruction initiatives began in 1995 to develop several tourism infrastructures to enhance visitor experiences. In 2004, the Forest area was declared a National Park hence making it the third National Park in the country at the time (after Akagera and Volcanoes National Parks).

Nyungwe National Park attractions

Flora

Nyungwe Forest National Park is a biodiversity hot spot with over 1100 plant species, of which 200 are species of trees and 140 are orchids. It might interest you to know that 24 of these plant species are endemic to the Albertine Rift region and these include the rare Begonia pulcherrima.

Animals

Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to over 80 mammal species, of which 63 are rodent and bat species, and 13 are primate species (including the endangered chimpanzees, Olive baboons, blue monkeys, Rwenzori Colobus monkeys, L’Hoests monkeys, Hamlyn’s monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, and more). Also in Nyungwe Forest, you will find 16 endemic mammal species and 5 species that are categorized as threatened by IUCN. Here, there are over 30 reptile and Amphibian species.

Birds

Nyungwe Forest National Park is a birdwatcher’s Paradise with over 300 bird species including 26 Albertine Rift endemic bird species. Always look out for Rwenzori Turaco, Red-collared mountain babbler, Rwenzori batis, Regal sunbirds, Collared Apalis, Mountain masked Apalis, black and white hornbills, handsome francolin, Grauer’s swamp warbler, Chapin’s flycatcher, Strange weavers, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, and more.

Things to do in Nyungwe Forest National Park

Chimpanzee tracking

Chimpanzee tracking is the number one activity for visitors, especially primate enthusiasts to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Here, over 500 chimpanzees are sheltered and two chimpanzee communities have been fully habituated for tracking. Tracking of these Great Apes in Nyungwe is done in two sessions- Morning and afternoon and only visitors aged 12 years and above are allowed enjoy up close and personal encounters with them.

Monkey tracking

Booking a monkey tracking adventure helps primate enthusiasts benefit from insider information of their favorite species. This Park is a haven for blue monkeys, Rwenzori Colobus monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, L’Hoests monkeys, and more which can be tracked during your visit to this phenomenal safari destination.

The Nyungwe Canopy Walk.

A canopy walk affords you the unique opportunity to go over a 200-meter-long walkway suspended over 40 meters above the ground. This provides unrivaled wildlife viewing opportunities offered by Nyungwe Forest with the possibility of watching different tree species, primates, birds, and other spectacular features of the Park. The canopy walk is a unique and promisingly extraordinary way to explore the forest.

Bird watching

Nyungwe Forest National Park is a hot spot for birdwatchers, as it has one of the highest densities of Albertine Rift endemics (totaling to 26 species), Guinea-Congo forest species (totaling to 11 species) and Afro-tropical highland Biome species (totaling to 71).

Notable birding trails in Nyungwe Forest National Park are the Bigugu trail, Gisakura, and Karamba trails with opportunities to sight Rwenzori batis, Grauer’s swamp warblers, handsome francolin, Purple-breasted sunbirds, Kivu ground thrush, Rwenzori Turaco, Rockefellers’ sunbirds, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, and more.

Guided Forest walks/ Hiking.

Nature enthusiasts may head out into the jungles with their armed Park Ranger to learn and read the signs of the jungles, and perhaps come into close contact with various wildlife and bird species in the Protected Area. You can explore the forest through one of the 15 well-maintained hiking trails in Nyungwe Forest National Park to see unique wildlife, birds, stunning waterfalls, and outstanding tree species.

The trails include the Congo-Nile Divide, Bigugu, Buhoro, Rukuzi, Kamiranzovu, Isumo waterfall trail, Umuyove, Igishigishigi, Uwinka Trail, Karamba, Irebero, Umugote, Muzimu, Imbaraga, Ngabwe, and more.

Community tours

There’s no better way to learn about the cultures and traditions of rural communities living around Nyungwe Forest National Park than undertaking community tours. A trip to one of these communities/villages surrounding the Park provides a glimpse of their traditional cultures, local cuisines, traditional dances, and others. You can choose between the Friends of Nyungwe Troops, the Banda Community Village, the Kitabi Cultural Village, or the Cyamundo Culture Group for an insight into how locals tend to their gardens rear cattle, or prepare traditional meals, and more.

Best time to visit Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda

There are two distinct seasons in Nyungwe Forest- the dry season and the rainy season. Don’t let the word “dry” fool you though. Remember that Nyungwe is still a tropical montane rainforest so you should expect to see some rain every day regardless of when you visit.

There’s no clear “best time to visit Nyungwe Forest in Rwanda” since there are pros and cons to both seasons. The advantages of exploring the Forest during the dry season (June to September and December to February) are less rain, fewer mosquitoes, better access to the Forest and friendly trekking conditions since the forest floor won’t be muddy/slippery.

The main advantage of visiting Nyungwe Forest in the rainy season, which typically runs from March to May and October to November is that you have opportunities of enjoying less costly accommodation rates.

Where to stay

There are several Jungle Lodges to choose from around Nyungwe Forest National Park, ranging from more affordable ones with basic amenities to more stylish Safari Lodges. Our top picks for Nyungwe Forest include One & Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Nziza Ecolodge, Kitabi Eco-Center, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, and Gisakura Guesthouse among others.

Getting to Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe National Park is well-connected, making it accessible via two modes of transport from main safari destinations and Cities.

By road: From Kigali, no journey to Nyungwe Forest National Park is ever complete without traversing the countryside. This journey takes about 6-7 hours/217 kilometers from Kigali City. You need a good 4WD Vehicle.

The journey to Nyungwe Forest National Park by public means is also a nice alternative that takes about 7-8 hours from Nyabugogo Bus station (Kigali) to Rusizi, then to the Park.

By air: For travelers looking to save travel time, the One and Only Nyungwe house helipad or Kamembe Airport serve the Park, offering quick access (40 minutes flight) to the Park.