Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of Africa’s oldest rainforests, is incredibly gorgeous and abundant in wildlife. The mountainous area is teeming with wildlife, including 12 different kinds of primates, including the rare L’Hoest’s monkey to the Albertine Rift, and a tiny colony of chimpanzees.
Visitors can opt to spend a week or longer indulging in one of Africa’s most beautiful woods, or they can choose to sample the wonders of the forest with 15 trails some of which are described here and a variety of other activities. Most visitors prioritise primate tracking, but for those with the time to unwind and enjoy the simian ambiance, it’s worthwhile to stay a little while longer.
The 1,068 plant species and 140 orchids will wow botanists. With 322 bird species, including the Red-collared Babbler and 29 other Albertine Rift Endemic species, the bird watching is some of the greatest in Africa. Another typical sight are butterflies, of which there are at least 120 species. There are 75 known species of mammals in Nyungwe, including the leopard, congo clawless otter, mongoose, and cerval cat, to mention a few. Sightings are sporadic because most are shy.
Existing since the Ice Age, Nyungwe Forest is the largest remaining montane forest in Africa. One of the great River Nile’s sources is thought to be Nyungwe Forest. The park’s varying mountainous, hilly, and level terrain contributes to its incredible plant diversity. The park is home to around 1,060 different plant and tree species, with some of the tallest reaching at 1,900 metres above sea level. These species include the Carapa, Cyathea manniana, Engtandophrama, Newtonia, and Prinaria exelsium. At elevations of 2500 metres and above, species including Macaranga, Podocarpus, Hagenia Syzygium, and Balthacaria flourish. At 2,950 metres above sea level, the Sub Alpine vegetation, which is made up of bamboo and shrubs including Podocarpus, Erica johnstoni, and Phillipia, is found. The woodland is home to various plant species, including ferns and mosses.
Things to do in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Chimpanzee Tracking
In the remote forest of Cyamudongo Forest, which became a part of Nyungwe Forest National Park in 2004, chimpanzee tracking takes place. To ensure they report on time, visitors should be informed of the beginning location and remain closer to it. Chimpanzee trekking can start at either the Uwinka or Kitabi centres, so it’s crucial to communicate with your guide or the park officials to make sure you get to the correct location. Early in the morning, between 7:00 and 7:30 am, tracking will start. RDB guides will give a briefing on what to expect. Make sure you arrive prepared for chimpanzee tracking, with hiking boots, long pants, bug repellent, a camera with additional batteries, a packed lunch and drinking water. Because of the terrain’s inherent challenges, hiking can be difficult; consequently, planning ahead is essential to successful tracking. It could take two to five hours to find the chimps. Porters can be hired for an additional fee, and they will assist with carrying your bags and lending a hand when hiking.
Colobus Monkey Tracking
With more than 400 members, Nyungwe Forest is home to the biggest group of black and white colobus monkeys in East Africa. The majority of the colobus monkeys have become accustomed to forage together, which makes it simpler for tourists to witness the primates in their native environment. In the Nyuwe Forest National Park, colobus monkey tracking begins at the visitor centres in Gisakura and Uwinka. The exercise is offered in Uwinka in the morning, with two sessions beginning at 7 and 11 a.m. At the Gisakura Visitor Information Centre, tracking takes place in many sessions from 8 am to 3 pm. In order to follow Colobus monkeys, reservations must be made in advance.
Canopy Walk Experience
A beautiful experience at Nyungwe National Park is the canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest. The two-hour trek to the canopy walk begins at the Uwinka Visitor Centre and travels through dense, unusually huge, ancient trees that are found in the Afro-Monane forest in Eastern Africa. The remarkable towers and trees that support the Canopy Walkway are suspended 60 metres above the forest floor. Particularly for those who are really daring and brave, the unique East African Canopy Walkway offers a breathtaking perspective of the park’s rich wildlife and landscape as an exciting and gratifying trip.
Isumo Waterfalls Tour
The newest opulent lodge in the Park, Nyungwe House, is five km away from Isumo Waterfall. The most difficult walk in the Nyungwe forest is the 2.3 km Isumo Waterfall Trail, which winds through several steep ravines and treacherous sections. It drops into one of the steepest and most densely planted rainforest ravines on the trail. As you breathe in cool, moist air and hear the murmur of a river rising from below, you can observe several species of primates mixed in with the calls of birds, frogs, and insects. You can also take in the breath-taking views of trees, many of which are endangered species, blanketing every vista.
Bird Watching
The Nyungwe Forest is possibly the greatest spot in Rwanda for birdwatching for those who enjoy the outdoors. Of the approximately 300 bird species present in Nyungwe National Park, 27 are unique to the Albertine region, according to Birdlife International. Birdlife International views the park as the most significant location for conservation in Rwanda due to its huge bird collection and great biodiversity. The Archer’s Robin Chat, Barred Long Tailed Cuckoo, Blue Turaco, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Doherty’s Bush Shrikes, Grey-chested Kakapega, Handsome Francolin, Lagden’s Bush Shrikes, Mountain Sooty Boubou, Pockefellers’s Sun Bird, Purple Throated Sunbird, Red-collared Mountain Babbler, Rwenzori Double Collared Warbler, Rwenzori Nightjah, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Batis, White Bellied Robin Chat, White Tailed Flycatcher, and the Yellow-Eyed Black Flycatcher are the top bird species to watch for when strolling through the established tails in the forest.