Nyungwe Forest National Park – Nyungwe Forest National Park is located in the western part of Rwanda and is one of the world’s best and largest rainforests.
The National Park is surrounded by many mountains such as the Virunga ranges.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the largest forests in Rwanda, covering about 1019 sq km of Afromontane forests, bamboo, grasslands, and wetlands.
The Nyungwe National Park is widely known for its diverse fauna and flora, including over 1100 plant species, 345 bird species (which include chestnut owlet, olive and Elliot’s woodpeckers, great blue and Ruwenzori turacos, white-headed wood hoopoe, barred long-tailed cuckoo, stripe-breasted tit, the remarkable red-collared Babbler, Archer’s Robin chat, among others), 85 known mammal species, and 13 of Africa’s primates, including chimpanzees, Ruwenzori black and white colobus, and L’Hoest’s monkey, among others.
Over the years, Nyungwe Forest National Park has faced high levels of poaching, illegal mining, unsustainable harvesting, and agricultural encroachment, which have destroyed the rich biodiversity.
However, the Rwanda Development Board has done a lot and is still doing to conserve the wildlife.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is mostly known for chimpanzee trekking, with chimpanzees being the major tourist attraction. There are 2 major groups of chimpanzees habituated in the park.
The small group has about 30 chimpanzees and is trekked in the Cyamudongo forest area of the park, and the biggest group has about 60 chimpanzees.
It is worth noting that Nyungwe Forest National Park offers scenic views over Lake Kivu and sometimes the Virunga ranges on a clear day.
Activities for Tourists
- Chimpanzee trekking
- Bird-watching
- Nature and hiking walks in the trails such as the Congo-Nile divide trail, the Igishigishigi trail, Karamba trail, Umugote trail, Umoyove trail, Uwinka trail, Irebero trail, among others
- Canopy walk
- Cultural tours
How to go to Nyungwe Forest National Park
A drive from Kigali to Nyanza to Huye and finally Nyungwe Forest National Park takes about 5 hours depending on the stopovers.
However, air transport is also available through the services of Akagera Aviation.
Accommodation
- One & Only Nyungwe House
- Nyungwe Top View Lodge
- EAR Guest House
- Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel (Cyangugu)
- Emeraude Kivu Resort (in Cyangugu)
- Gisakura Family Hotel
Requirements to carry
- Sun hat
- Insect repellents
- Trousers and long-sleeved shirts
- Sunscreen
- Waterproof hiking boots
Best time to visit Nyungwe Forest National Park
The park is open all year round, but the best months are June, July, and August.
For tourists who want to go chimpanzee trekking, they are advised to visit in the morning hours because chimpanzees are easily seen in the morning, and two groups of visitors are permitted to trek a particular group of primates per day and spend at least an hour.
Cost of visiting Nyungwe Forest National Park
Costs of visiting the National Park are different and depend on which activity you would like to do and the type of visitor you are. Costs include:
Chimpanzee trekking fee:
- Foreign non-residents $150
- Foreign residents $75
- Rwandans Rwf 5000
- Nationals from the East African community $25
- Rwanda student citizens Rwf 2500
- Foreign students $75
Nyungwe guided nature walks fee:
- Foreign non-residents $40
- Foreign residents Rwf 3000
- East African community foreign residents $30
- Rwanda students Rwf 1500
- Foreign students $20
Nyungwe bird watching fee:
- Foreign non-residents $50
- Foreign residents $40
- Rwanda students Rwf 2000
- Rwanda residents Rwf 5000
- East African nationals $10
- Foreign residents students $20
An entry park fee of $100 per day applies outside the above cost.
Conclusively, Nyungwe Forest National Park offers great tourist activities, thus more learning and adventure.
