NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of Rwanda’s most picturesque parks and it is tucked away in the heart of tea plantations. It features montane rain-forest with huge confinement of biodiversity. Over 13 primate species call this magnificent park a home and they include the red tailed monkeys, chimpanzees, silver monkeys, Hamlyn’s monkeys, Angola colobus monkeys, Dent’s Mona monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, vervet monkeys, olive baboons a mention but a few. There are also over 75 mammal species, 300 bird species and not to forget different colorful butterflies. Nyungwe National Park covers an area of about 1000 square kilometers and its rainforest serves as a major water catchment area. About 2000 mm of rainfall is received every year and it feeds the Congo River and River Nile with water. The floral species in this park include the 200 tree species, 140 orchids with wide range of medicinal plants and at elevation 2950 meters, you will find sub alpine vegetation comprising of bamboo and shrubs, 2500 meters-features the podacarpus, hagenia while 2250 meters-there are tall trees together with ferns and at 1900 meters, there are mainly carapa, Newtonia and others.
Things to do in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Chimpanzee tracking
While on Rwanda safari, chimpanzees are a few most fascinating creatures you need to catch a glimpse at and this means that Nyungwe National Park should be a must to include in your travel plan. A trek to see these creatures gets you close to our closest relatives in the wild. They range in groups of about 10 and more. Permits for this primate adventure costs $90 per person and you will trek through habituated communities/groups. This also rewards you with views over other species of primates that dwell in this park, birds, plant species and many more.
Canopy walk
Nyungwe Forest National Park is that one unique protected area in East Africa and first of its kind to introduce a canopy walk making it a few unique experiences. In Africa, it is the 3rd and the walkway is suspended above 50 meters above the ground taking you through the forest where you will be rewarded by incredible views of primates, birds, plants and many others.
Monkey tracking
Nyungwe Forest National Park is a home to about 13 distinct primate species making it an ideal area for you to explore variety of these exceptional species. While on monkey exploration, you have a chance to see the grey cheeked mangabeys, Ruwenzori colobus monkeys, golden monkeys, red tailed colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, owl faced monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons and vervet monkeys.
Hiking
With about 13 hiking trails that do exist in this park with more than 130 kilometers of the trails via the forest, count it a must in your travel plan. They take hikers through different habitats in this park. While on hiking safari in this park, you have a chance to encounter primates, butterflies, birds, trees a mention but a few.
Bird watching
This park offers refuge to 310 bird species and birders get rewarded with amazing sights at birds like the Grauer’s warblers, dusky crimson wing, Shelley’s crimson wing, black and white casqued horn bill, yellow eyed black flycatchers, Cryptospiza shelleyi, Ruwenzori Nightjar, archer’s robin chat, stripe breasted tit parus fasciiventer, Rwenzori Turaco, purple breasted, blue headed and among others.
Best time to visit Nyungwe Forest National Park
The dry and wet season are the two significant seasons you need to take note of before you embark on actual trip. Each of these seasons has its own advantages and disadvantages. The dry spell kick starts from June to September and the December to February. This is ideal for those of you who are interested in chimpanzee adventures. The wet or rainy season equally is very ideal for you to spend a holiday in this park especially while you are on birding tour. The wet season begins from March to May and October to November.
Where to stay in Nyungwe Forest National Park
The available lodges for your overnight stay while on Rwanda safari in Nyungwe Forest National Park include Nyungwe Forest Lodge-hospitality property that is designed to match with its surrounding areas while also matching the standards of five star safari lodge. It features 22 luxury rooms that are fixed in six wooden villas each of which with 4 rooms; Gisakura guesthouse-this is set about 2 kilometers just outside Nyungwe Forest National Park; Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Wilderness Campsites.