Nyungwe National Park is a mountain rainforest in Rwanda, known for its rich biodiversity and significant ecological contributions. Covering 1019 km2, the park provides 70% of the water used during dry seasons and acts as the lungs of Africa, purifying air. The park is home to over 1068 trees and 250 endemic plant species, attracting a wide variety of mammals, birds, and wildlife. There are 85 mammal species, including 13 primates, 120 butterfly species, 38 reptiles, and 33 amphibians. It is the most important primatology forest in Africa and hosts 31 endemic bird species, making it a birdwatcher’s paradise. Despite being the largest protected area in the Albertine rift, poaching led to the eradication of buffaloes and forest elephants from the park in 1997 and 1999, respectively. To conserve and manage the park, African Park, a non-profit conservation organization, has partnered with governments and local communities. The park offers visitors various activities, including primate tracking, bird watching, canopy walkway, and visiting tropical waterfalls. Nyungwe National Park is a significant tourist destination in Rwanda, offering a unique and diverse experience to visitors. However, conservation efforts are necessary to prevent further loss of wildlife species in the park.

TOURISM ATTRACTIONS

Nyungwe National park is considered as the best choice for vacation, all tourists who want to do hiking in the forest as well as enjoying the nature creation. It offers varieties range of hike: easy, moderate and difficult hike with safe stay in the park. Without doubt, hiking in Africa’s largest protected rain-forest offers a magical experience in your life. All hikes should be guided, it is the best option of discovering fauna and flora as the guide will give you more explanation about them. Booking is recommended for all activities. Book here/plan now

PRIMATE TRACKING

Nyungwe national park as it is a home source of the 2 biggest rivers in Africa, also is a home of 85 mammals, 13 species of them are primates which makes up 21% of all African primates. Primates that can be tracked in Nyungwe include Chimpanzee tracking, Colobus tracking, Grey-cheeked mangabey and Silver/blue monkey. Group of tourists is limited to 8 people and exclusive is possible. This hike is moderate tour, this is the best option to enjoy the forest by spotting scenery view of the forest, other monkeys different from those specified above, spotting birds as well as enjoy their different songs, learn traditional use of different trees and plants spotted on the way as well as free to take photos of them, etc. All of those will create a memorable experience in your life.

BIRD WATCHING

Nyungwe National park to be considered as the most important ornithological site in Rwanda even in Africa, this is due to their ecological habitat which provides suitable conditions to different birds. Bird watching safaris in Rwanda can offer opportunity to see more than 700 bird species while Nyungwe National Park is home of more than 340 birds species, where 31 of them are endemic in Albertine rift valley like: Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori nightjar, Dusky crimsonwing, shelley’s crimsonwing kungwe apalis, Rwenzori Apalis, Mountain Masked Apalis, Rwenzori Batis, Regal sunbird, Red collared babbler, Blue headed sunbird, stranger weaver, Dwarf honeyguide, Albertine owlet, Short-tailed Warbler, Rwenzori sunbird, Rockefeller’s sunbird, Grawe’s Swamp Warbler, Stripe Breast tit, Yellow eyed black flycatcher, etc.

NIGHT WALKS

Night walks begin at 5.30 Pm and end around 8:30 Pm, a number of tourists is limited to six people. Night walk gives gratifying moment in the forest by spotting and hearing the calls of different nocturnal animals like: African linsang, African paim Civet, African brush-tailed porcupine, Western tree hyrax, flying squirrel, Eastern potto, Thomas’s Dwarf Galago, African Civet, Large-spotted genet, Servalina genet, Congo clawless otter, Honey badger, Gambian rat, and nightjars etc. Without human activities, without noise, moonlit on your hike, and counting the stars in the sky. Night walks undoubtedly offers particular environment for good enjoyment of the forest.

CANOPY WALK IN NNP

Nyungwe National Park is renowned for its incredible canopy walk, a suspended bridge that traverses the rainforest’s uppermost layer. This walkway, which is 170 meters long and hovers 70 meters above the forest floor, offers breathtaking views of the forest canopy, allowing visitors to observe primates and birds in their natural habitat while experiencing the sensation of walking in the sky. The walk takes approximately 1.5 hours and provides a unique opportunity to learn about the ecological significance of the forest, as well as to appreciate its stunning natural beauty. During the excursion, tourists will be able to spot a variety of monkeys, birds, and other wildlife, as well as take in panoramic views of the forest.

HINIKING

Ubuhoro trail: 3,6 km along with elevation gain of 160m. It is ranked as easy and the shortest one, it takes 1,5 hours around the trip. It offers a nice scenic view of the forest, green vegetation as you are in a jungle forest and a view of Lake Kivu and Ijwi Island in DRC. On the way, you meet with different species of monkeys and different bird species as well as enjoy their songs. 

Igishigishigi trail: 2.1km along with elevation gain of 200m. It is ranked as easy, average time around the trip is 1,5 hours. It was given this name due to the spectacular tree ferns known as prehistoric plants found on this trail. It offers a nice scenic view of the forest and the community outside the forest, birding and help to get to the canopy walkway as well as spotting monkeys on the trek.

Irebero trail: 1.8km along with elevation gain of 116m. It is ranked as easy, average time around the trip is 1,5 hours. Irebereo means viewpoint, it offer scenery view of the forest, view of the community, view of lake Kivu and it Island called Ijwi belongs to DRC on north-western side while on the western south side offer scenery view of the forest and villages of Burundi.

Source of the Nile trail: it is ranked as moderate, average time around the trip is 2 hours. This hike starts from Gisovu. It shows how this forest is very important to Rwandans as 70% of water we use in dry season comes in the forest as well as the source of the biggest river in Africa like the Nile river. On the way you spot viewpoints, some monkeys as well as birds with their calls.

Kamiranzovu trail: 5.9km along with elevation gain of 258m it is ranked as moderate, average time around the trip 3,5 hours. It crosses a swamp by using a bridge and the swamp is known as to be the home of different orchids, begonia, water birds, endemic birds with their calls.

Umugote trail: 3.6km along with elevation gain of 218m. It is ranked as moderate, average time around the trip is 3 hours. It offers viewpoints of the forest on western part of the forest and Burundi when the weather is clear, spotting birds with their calls and monkeys.

Umuyove trail: 5.5km along with elevation gain of 313m. It is ranked as moderate, average time around the trip 3.5 hours. It is named due to the community of African mahogany trees found on this trail, known as to be the home of many endemic birds, tree ferns, one waterfall, biggest trees with buttress or additional roots used by chimpanzees as the drums. 

Kamiranzivu waterfall: 6.5km along with elevation gain of 275m. It is ranked as moderate, average time around the trip 3,5 hours. This hike begins by spotting scenery views of the tea plantation at the same time as Nyungwe house and then the trail descends down into dense forest and flat trail crossing valleys in the rainforest. Cool fresh air and the murmur of a river rise from below makes hike to be suitable, mixed with calls of birds, colorfully flowers, tree frogs and insects, viewpoints. This trek gives a memorable experience on a tremendous tropical waterfall, where you enjoy beautiful plumes produced after water bouncing on the rocks and produce roaring as well as the rainbow when it is sunny. The strongest waterfall in the park with a height of 9m and wide increase due to the rain up to 3m and roaring .

Ndambarare waterfall: 7.5km along with elevation gain of 240m. It is ranked as moderate, average time around the trip is 3 hours. It is named Ndambarare due hiking structure almost flat that make it favorable to all tourists. This walk starts in the opening air tea plantation, offering views across to Nyungwe forest, Colobus Monkeys, Chimpanzees, Birds, Flowers, Orchids, Sunset and Tea plantation can be seen and sometimes meet with tea pickers and get experience on tea picking. The most beautiful waterfall in the park is due to the structure with a corner, the gorge and thundering down to produce beautiful plumes of mist that reflect a rainbow when it is suny, on a rocky river and the water.

Imbaraga trail: 9.8km along with elevation gain of 715m. It is ranked as difficult, the average time around the trip is 6 hours. This hike gives you a good experience of the rain tropical forest, goes up  and down, crossing 4 waterfalls, canopy trees like African mahogany trees, scenery views of the forest,  colorful flowers, spectacular tree ferns, spotting birds with their calls and monkeys, sometimes chimpanzees. 

Bigugu trail: 13.2km along with elevation gain of 666m. It is ranked as difficult, the average time around the trip is 6 hours. This hike leads to the highest point of the park at 2950m, offering panoramic views of the forest and neighboring regions. Wildlife spotting opportunities include chimpanzees, dikers, and endemic birds. A campsite at the top allows for an immersive forest experience.

Rukuzi trail: 9.1km along with elevation gain of 409m. It is ranked as difficult, the average time around the trip is 6 hours. This hike offers good experience to the forest like spotting scenery views of the forest, spectacular trees, view of Lake Kivu, crossing different streams, some monkeys as well as birds with their calls.

Uwinka trail: 17.8km along with elevation gain of 704m. It is ranked as difficult, the average time around the trip is 8 hours. This hike gives real experience to the forest, goes up and down the hills, spotting beautiful view points, monkeys like colobus monkeys, silver monkeys and sometime chimpanzees as well as spotting birds with their calls, crossing Kamiranzovu swamp for water birds and orchids.

Congo Nile divide trail: it has 42.2km along with elevation gain of 1765m and it takes 3 days and 2 nights in the forest with campsite for night stay, it is ranked as difficult. This hike in Nyungwe offers a unique experience of the park’s hydrology, as its central ridge divides Africa’s two largest drainage systems. You can see the Nile source and streams that flow to the Nile and Congo rivers, and enjoy the forest’s beauty and fresh air while hiking.

Accommodation: Also, there is a possibility for night stay in park by camping or outside of the park, there are different hotels, lodges and camp sites on specific site that provide a comfortable stay for all categories. Luxury Accommodation/ mild-range Accommodation /Budget Accommodation; as tourism in Rwanda is developing all categories of Accommodation are available around the park.   

Community Tour: as the park is surrounded by the local community, here you can enjoy community experience by engaging in different community activities like; traditional dancing, cooking traditional food, hunting by shooting, make banana beer and sorghum beer production, etc. this tour offer good experience and real image of life of local people in the village.

Tea tour: Tea is one among the cash crops we have in Rwanda, Tea plantation play important role as buffer zone. Tea tour, provide memorable experience which involves tea picking, tea processing, tea testing and spotting scenic view of the tea as well as sun set over lake Kivu or over tea plantation.