Nyungwe Forest National Park is located in the southwestern part of Rwanda near the Burundi border. The park covers a total land area of 1019 square kilometers. The national park is situated in a mountainous area that is largely covered by Nyungwe forest. This forest is a tropical rainforest, home to primates.
Nyungwe Forest National Park was officially gazetted in 2004-2005 by the Rwandan government. This national park was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is unique because it is one of the oldest tropical rain forests on the African continent. The park accommodates several primates. It is one of Africa’s premier destinations for monkey and chimpanzee tracking.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is located 225 kilometers away from Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. The park entrance fees for a day are USD 100 for an international visitor; foreign Rwandan residents will pay USD 60, and Rwandan citizens will pay RWF 10,000.
ATTRACTIONS IN NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
Mammals
Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to about 90 mammals. These include forest herbivores such as antelopes, bush pigs, giant hogs, and carnivores like the golden cats and wild cats, among others. These mammals are not only significant for tourism purposes but also important for creating balance in the ecosystem. Herbivores control the growth of vegetation in the park, while the carnivores check the populations of herbivores. Hence, they help create balance in the ecosystem.
These mammals enhance the experience of wildlife-loving tourists because they ensure diversity of options of wildlife animal attractions within the same location.
Primates
Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to 13 primate species. These include chimpanzees and the black-and-white colobus monkeys. These primates are key in the national park because they attract primate enthusiast tourists. Visitors engage in activities such as chimpanzee trekking, monkey tracking, and other experiences related to observation of primates.
Tropical rainforests
Nyungwe Forest National Park is mostly covered by tropical montane rainforest vegetation with over 1,000 plant species. Nyungwe Forest is very important because the trees support the balance of the ecosystem in different ways. For example, they are used as shelter for primates like chimpanzees and colobus monkeys. The trees also shelter several different bird species, as well as modifying the climate by helping in the process of rainfall formation.
The trees in Nyungwe Forest support tourism activities such as ziplining and canopy walks with upgraded technology. Hence, enhancing the experience of tourists during their stay in the national park.they enhance
Birds
Nyungwe Forest National Park accommodates huge numbers of birds, with over 300 recorded bird species. They include endemic bird species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, hence making it a suitable birding destination. This is possible because the park is mostly forested, hence sheltering a lot of bird species in the trees. Some of the bird species spotted in Nyungwe Forest National Park include: Congo bay owl, regal sunbird, Rwenzori turaco, red-collared babbler, Kivu ground thrush, among others.
Waterfalls
Nyungwe Forest National Park has a number of drainage features, which include two waterfalls. These are Ndambarare and Kamiranzovu waterfalls. The waterfalls support tourism activities such as hiking and nature walks. These waterfalls also add beauty to the national park because they offer a beautiful scenic view for photography.
ACTIVITIES IN NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
Canopy walks
This activity involves the movement of tourists on elevated suspension bridges at a higher level above the treetops in the forest. This activity provides a clear view of the forest from higher levels. Tourists are able to see the different bird species flying above the forest, hence suitable for birdwatchers. The canopy walks in Nyungwe Forest National Park start at Uwinka visitor centre.
The canopy trails in Nyungwe Forest National Park are one of the most famous in the African continent. They contain a length of 160 metres of suspended bridges at a height of 70 metres above the ground. This makes it possible to provide a clear view of the montane rainforest treetops in Nyungwe.
Canopy walks at Nyungwe Forest National Park cost USD 150 for foreign non-residents, USD 75 for East African residents, and USD 25 for Rwandan citizens.
Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee trekking refers to a guided trek where the tourists move into deeper tropical rainforests of Nyungwe to search for and observe the habituated chimpanzee families. In this activity, the tourists are divided into small groups of about eight, accompanied by an expert ranger guide to help them locate the chimpanzees and also interpret more about the chimpanzee behaviour. Nyungwe is a famous destination for this activity because it shelters a number of chimpanzee populations that live in the tropical rainforests.
This activity costs USD 150 for foreign non-residents, USD 75 for East African residents, and USD 25 for Rwandan citizens.
Bird watching
Bird watching refers to the tourist activity where tourists move into the deeper wilderness to observe, identify, and study different bird species. The locations for bird watching in Nyungwe Forest National Park include the Karamba Trail, famous for spotting the yellow-eyed black flycatcher. This location is suitable because it is an open space that gives tourists a wider view with endless sights of the flying species.
The other birding trail is Bigugu Trail, situated at the highest altitudes of the national park. This location is best for viewing the high-altitude bird species such as the red-faced woodland warbler.
Kimiranzovu Swamp is a unique birding location best for spotting water-loving bird species such as the Grauer’s swamp warbler.
Birding at Nyungwe costs USD 50 for international tourists, USD 20 for foreign resident tourists, and USD 5 for local tourists.
Colobus monkey tracking
This refers to a guided trek where the tourists move through the tropical rainforests in order to locate, observe, study, and interact with the habituated groups of the black and white colobus monkeys in their natural habitats. Nyungwe is a premier destination for this activity because it has a number of monkeys, that is to say the Uwinka super group, which comprises about 500 monkeys, and the Gisakura group, which is easy to access. These monkey groups enhance the tourists’ experience by seeing the monkeys jumping from one tree to the other in the branches. This activity costs USD 40 for international tourists, USD 20 for foreign residents, and USD 5 for resident tourists.
Nature walks
This activity refers to a guided trek into the wilderness through the demarcated paths in natural environments like forests and swamps in order to view the beauty of nature. This activity helps tourists feel the breeze and a connection with the natural environment.
Hiking and cycling.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is a suitable destination for cycling, where tourists ride bicycles through the established trails while exploring the beauty of the area in terms of the natural wildlife, the physical and drainage features, among others. Hiking involves trekking into the higher grounds or areas with higher altitude in the national park, and this gives a clear view of all the beauty of the tropical rainforests in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Ziplining.
Ziplining refers to an adventure activity where tourists slide down on a steel cable from a higher platform to a lower level under safety precautions. The ziplining trail in Nyungwe Forest National Park is 1935 metres long and offers an aerial view of the tropical rainforests.
ACCOMMODATION
Munazi Lodge, Uwinka Campsites, Uwinka Guest House. Gisakula Campsite, Gisovu Guest House.
ACCESSIBILITY
From Kigali to Nyungwe, it’s 225 kilometers, which can take about a 5–6-hour drive. This national park lacks a specific entrance gate because the highway crosses directly through the forest. However, tourists can receive assistance at the Uwinka Visitor Centre, which sits along the main road in the middle of the park. Visitors can also access the park by air by taking a 40-minute flight from Kigali International Airport to Kamembe Airport. Then access the park by vehicle.