Nyungwe National Park
You can immerse yourself in a variety of wildlife and natural activities in Nyungwe Forest National Park. A few of the things Nyungwe offers are hiking or bicycling through the stunning environment, tracking the renowned chimpanzees, doing a canopy walk, seeing gorgeous birds, and relaxing by waterfalls. A unique wildlife experience is created by the interaction of sounds and views. Travelers who explore the woodland will see the cool mist and beautiful, green mountains in a scene that they won’t soon forget.
The 970 km2 Nyungwe Forest National Park, which was founded in 2004, is made up of rain forest, bamboo, grassland, wetlands, and bogs. Cyangugu, which is 54 kilometers away, is the closest town. Within the boundaries of the park is Mount Bigugu.
Nyungwe National Park lies in southwest Rwanda, partly abutting the Burundi border. It’s a vast area of mountain rainforest, home to many species of chimpanzees, plus owl-faced and colobus monkeys. The Canopy Walkway, part of the Igishigishigi Trail, is a high suspension bridge with views over the valley and surrounding forests. A trail runs to the Kamiranzovu Marsh, with its birdlife, orchids and waterfall.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is a 4-5 hour drive from Kigali on good if sometimes winding roads. There are some attractions en route that include Nyanza King’s Palace and the National Museum should you wish to break the journey. Nyungwe Forest National Park is a 4-5 hour drive from Kigali on good if sometimes winding roads. Transport to and from the park can easily be arranged with the Visit And Tour Rwanda.
WHAT TO DO IN THE NATIONAL PARK OF NYUNGWE FOREST
The Nyungwe Forest National Park is the ideal vacation destination for outdoor enthusiasts. When you visit this park, there is no way you will run out of things to do.
A trek with chimpanzees
Chimpanzees are prevalent in Nyungwe. A common activity for park visitors is chimpanzee tracking. The best time to go chimpanzee tracking is always. Anytime of the year is appropriate.
There is no assurance that chimpanzees will be sighted in specific locations because they are not habituated like gorillas are. But since chimpanzees are extremely common in the wild, you will almost always be able to spot them. The tracking experience is thrilling since the chimps are not as calm and organized as the accustomed gorillas are. You will undoubtedly locate the chimpanzees if you have knowledgeable, experienced guides.
Birding in Nyungwe
More than 285 bird species can be seen at Nyungwe Forest Park. The Albertine Rift valley is home to 27 of these species. There are many unusual and colorful birds to see, with the Blue Turaco being the most notable. Caprimulgus Nightjar of the Ruwenzori Ruwenzori Apalis Apalis Ruwenzori, Kungwe Apalis Apalis Argentina Tit with stripes on it Parus Fasci venter, Robin-chat of Archer Dusky Cossypha archeri Handsome, Shelley’s Crimsonwing Cryptospiza shelleyi, Ruwenzori Batis Batis diops, Crimson Wing Cryptospiza jacksoni Some of the birds you might encounter at the park include the Francolin (Francolinus nobilis) and the Neumann’s Warbler (Hemitesia neumanni).
Canopy Walk in Nyungwe
The Nyungwe forest’s canopy walk is the only one of its sort in the continent. The Nyungwe canopy walk was constructed an astonishing 50 meters above the jungle, so it is not for the faint of heart. If you have a fear of heights, you might want to conquer it before you go because such a magnificent sight ought to be experienced by everyone.
Forest Hiking Trails
The interior of Nyungwe Forest National Park and its varied habitats can be explored by guests on its more than 130 kilometers of trekking trails. Trails in Nyungwe can be walked for one to eight hours and are good. While the 6-hour Bigugu Trail takes you to the highest mountain in the Park at 2950m, the charmingly called Igishigishigi Trail is one of the shorter hikes and features East Africa’s tallest canopy walk with breathtaking views of Nyungwe Forest.