Nyungwe National Park: Activities in Nyungwe National Park are the ventures in which travelers engage to spice up the safari as they adventure nature and wildlife. Nyungwe National Park is one of the oldest rainforests in Africa, covering 1,019 km2 of dense Afromontane forests, bamboo-covered slopes, grasslands and wetlands. Nyungwe National Park is located in the southwest of Rwanda on the border with Burundi in the south and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the West on the shores of Lake Kivu. The park is a 6 hour drive from Kigali International Airport in the Capital city of Kigali, Rwanda. Below are things you need to know before visiting Nyungwe National Park. Nyungwe National Park has been in existence since 1903 and in 2004 it was then declared a National Park and one of the 4 national parks such as Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park and Gishwati Mukura National Park.
The park is known for its 13 primate species, including the famous chimpanzees, which are the highlight of any visit to Nyungwe. Chimpanzee trekking is one of the most popular activities in the park, and visitors can expect to encounter these intelligent creatures in their natural habitat. Nyungwe is also home to the largest troop of black and white Colobus monkeys, which can be seen swinging through the trees.
The park is also rich in other wildlife, including duikers, golden cats, Klipspringer, impalas, Bushbucks, Buffaloes, Elephants, Bush pigs, Gant forest hog, Blotched serval, Carnival genet, Congo clawless, Mongoose, otter, serval, felis, black-fronted duiker, western tree hyrax, and many more. Birdwatchers will also be thrilled to know that the park is home to over 300 bird species, including the Albertine Rift endemic species.
There are different activities in the Nyungwe National Park to attract many visitors from all over the world including and these include Bird watching, Guided Nature trail hiking, Canopy walk, Tropical waterfall, primates trekking, and Camping.
Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee trekking is one of the famous activities carried out by many travelers who visit Nyungwe National Park since it is covered by the Nyungwe rainforest which is home to 13 primate species including the rare and endangered Chimpanzees. Tourist visits the park throughout the year round to catch a glimpse of these uncommon primates, observing their playful nature and all their other behaviors and characteristics. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe national park begins in the morning at the Uwinka reception center or Gisakura or Katabi with a briefing on the rules and regulation guidelines of the trekking experience and then you will be allocated a ranger who will take you through into the forest to see the attractive chimpanzees and thereafter you will get out of the forest. The chimpanzee trekking experience in Nyungwe National Park takes up to 4 or 5 hours and is at a fee of 90 USD per trekking permit. Other primates in the forest are black and white colobus, L’ Hoests monkeys, blue monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys among others. These you can see on your chimpanzee trekking experience.
Canopy walk
Nyungwe National Park is one of the three places in Africa that offer canopy walkway tours to tourists and the only one in East Africa. The canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park is a walk you take on a 160 km long suspended bridge above the Nyungwe forest or bush. The bridge that hangs about 70 meters above the forest gives you a great chance to witness the beauty of the forest from above, the East African region, Lake Kivu and many animals that you see from the top. The canopy walk is a guided tour by a park guide and it begins from the Uwinka reception center, takes 2 hours and it’s done by travelers of 6 years and above.
Bird watching
You can also take bird watching adventures in the mighty great Nyungwe forest to explore the many more bird species that make their home in the forest. The bird species in the forest have forest birds and endemic Albertine rift valley species that include but are not limited to Rockefeller’s sunbird, Chapin’s flycatcher, red collared mountain babbler, Rwenzori Turaco, white tailed flycatcher, Rwenzori batis, Rwenzori night jar, Rwenzori hill babbler, Congo bay owlet, mountain sooty boubu and many more. Visitors have an opportunity to have guided birding tours in the old Nyungwe forest to sight and witness the several birds in the park, and learn more about them as they enjoy their marvelous noises.
Forest Nature Walks
This is one of the top and most famous activities carried out in Nyungwe National Park. on these walks you get an opportunity to see the various tree species in the forest, several flower species, a variety of butterfly species, birds and wildlife, you will also get a chance to see some waterfalls. Forest Nature walks are normally guided by the forest guides and they take half day or full day, you select one that you feel is okay for physical fitness. Forest walks can take up to 3 hours depending on the travelers’ preferences and wants.
Hiking
The Landscape of the Nyungwe forest is amazing and unique with some hilly rock parts that add beauty to this forest.
This unique landscape has different hiking trails that adventure lovers can take on as they explore the forest. The hiking trails include Igishigishigi trail, Rukuzi trail, Isumo waterfall trail, Kamiranzovu marsh trail, Bigugu trail, Irebero trail, Muzimu trail, Imbaraga trail, Ngabwe trail, Karamba birding trail, Umoyove trail, Congo Nile trail and many more. Hiking the forest trails can be done as a full day activity or even over several days, depending on tourist interests. Travelers should put in minds that hiking Nyungwe forest trails can be cumbersome and some trails are too steep they cannot be hiked by first-timers, you should be physically fit.
Other activities that are done in Nyungwe National Park include;
Other primates trekking, where tourists take on treks to search for the different monkey species in the forest like the black and white colobus, L’ Hoests monkeys, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys among others.
Vegetation tours it’s just a few meters from the park are numerous coffee vegetation that you can explore or visit to experience the different processing stages of Rwanda coffee.
Community encounters this is where you will get an opportunity to visit the different communities that live in and around the park and get a chance to interact with the local community on how they carry out their daily activities and learn more about this culture.
