Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda
Nyungwe Forest National Park is situated in the South Western Part of Rwanda near the border of Burundi in the South, DR Congo and Lake Kivu in the West. The Park is prominently known to offer amazing Chimpanzee Tracking Tours to all travelers that visit Rwanda and is between the watershed of two river basins i.e River Nile in the East and River Congo in the West. The Park includes 970 km2 of rainforest, bamboo, grassland, swamps, and bogs with numerous wildlife animal species i.e 13 primate species, 275 bird species, 1068 plant species, 85 mammal species, 32 amphibian and 38 reptile species.
The Park is prominently know to offer Chimpanzee Tracking in the Cyamudongo Forest located a few kiloemeters off the major forest of Nyugwe and comprises of other primates like the black and white Colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys.
Safari Activities to Do in the Park
Bird watching
Nyungwe Forest National Park offers remarkable Bird watching adventures to all birders from all over the world. The Bird spceis you watch here include; the Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Rwenzori Turacos, Red-throated Alethe, Apalis argentea, Purple-breasted and Blue-headed, Kungwe Apalis Ruwenzori Apalis, Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill, Alehe poliophrys, Stripe-breasted Tit Parus fasciiventer, Batis diops, Ruwenzori Batis, Caprimulgus ruwenzorii, Archer’s Robin-chat Cossypha archeri, Flycatcher, Melaenornis ardesiacus, Regal Sunbird, Neumann’s Warbler and Cinnyris regius etc..
Chimpanzee Tracking
Chimpanzee Tracking is the most prominent Safari Adventure in the Park and requires you to transfer to the park headquarters for briefing on the code of conduct around the Chimpanzees then later in groups of 8 with a park ranger, you enter the forest to track the Chimpanzees for 2-4 hours and when you meet them, an hour is allowed in their presence taking various photos to keep for memories.
Canopy Walks
Nyungwe Forest National Park offers amazing Canopy Walk Adventures as you transfer at the tree tops of Gingantic mahogany trees at 60 meters high with a very sharp valley underneath. The walks take place in company of a skilled park ranger who helps you traverse from one point to another watching various bird species, monkeys, butterflies and the green forest vegetation terrain. The Canopy Walk takes a period of 2-3 hours to finish.
Hiking and Nature Walks
Nyungwe Forest National Park offers amazing Hiking and Nature Walk Adventures along various trails which include the Igishigishigi, Imbaraga & Umoyove Trails that stretches to approximately 2.1 kms offering you vies of wild flowers. Karamba Trail is perfect for all birders and consists of stunning fern trees and the prominent Congo-Nile Divide Trail which crosses the water basins of River Nile and River Congo and takes about 227 kms. You transfer through the forest enjoying views of the bamboo forests, rainforest, open fields as well as birds and since you are spending the night, you shoud carry your own tents to spend the Overnight .
Other trails you can follow include; the Umugote Trail, Umuyove Trail, Uwinka Trail, Irebero Trail, Imbaraga Trail, Bigugu Trail, Isumo Trail, Kamiranzovu Trail, Ngabwe Trail, Rukuzi Trail.