Nyungwe National Park Rwanda.

Rwanda genuinely is known as the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills.’ The country’s gorgeous and well terraced hills, glittering lakes such as Lake Kivu, clean streets, and friendly residents generally captivate many visitors. Visitors to the Central African country have a lot to see and do, from the bustling capital city of Kigali to the country’s national parks, one of which being Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Rwanda is proud of its four national parks, one of which being Nyungwe Forest National Park. The park is located in the southwest corner of Rwanda. It is bordered to the south by Burundi, and to the west by Lake Kivu and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The national park is located within the famed Nyungwe forest, which is the biggest tropical rain forest in East and Central Africa. This woodland is thought to have been there for thousands of years. The park is strategically placed inside the Congo River basin as well as the Nile River basin.

The Nyungwe national park in Rwanda has an area of 970 square kilometers. It was designated a national park in 2004 and is mostly made up of rainforest, grassland, bamboo, marshes, bogs, and other ecosystems.

The national park of Nyungwe forest is home to 14 primate species, 300 bird species, 2000 plant species, 90 animal species, and 38 reptile species. This national park is certainly a gift from nature, and visitors to the park will find enough to see and do while there.

The German colonial government named Nyungwe a forest reserve in 1903. Between 1958 and 1973, the overall land area of this tropical African rainforest was drastically reduced owing to forest fires, large-scale deforestation, and wildlife hunting. Poachers slaughtered the last buffaloes that lived in Nyungwe Forest in 1974.

Nyungwe Forest National Park was created as a national park in 2004, following Rwanda’s classification as one of the top ten tourist destinations by Lonely Planet. However, Nyungwe Forest National Park was designated as a protected area in 2005, and visitor visitation to the park surged during this period.

The chimps are the major draw of the national park. Nyungwe national park is home to over 1000 species and is situated in the center of a tea plantation, with the Cyamudongo forest being the most popular hiking destination for visitors. The Canopy bridge, Isumo waterfalls, and golden monkeys are among the other spectacular features in the national park.

Activities Offered in Nyungwe National Park Rwanda.

Chimpanzee Trekking.

The Nyungwe National Park is home to 25% of Africa’s primate species, with the bulk of its chimps being habituated. Tracking chimps in the park is one of the joys of a visit, and there are around 500 individuals living within Nyungwe National Park.

A monkey tracking permit in Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park costs USD 90 per person and lasts between 2 and 6 hours. Tracking begins at 8 a.m. from three primary points: Uwinka, Kitabi, and Gisakura.

Hiking

Visitors to Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park may take a guided trek to the famed Isumo waterfalls. The falls are 17 meters high and provide travelers with excellent views of caverns and even the Kamiranzovu wetland. Some hiking pathways will allow visitors to witness snakes, birds, butterflies, wildflowers, and rare tree and plant species.

There are hiking paths that begin in car parks 1 and 2, which may be shorter hikes than other head trails in the national park. Other activities available to travelers when visiting Nyungwe National Park include a Congo Nile guided trek, a three-day hiking adventure, and camping in the forest.

Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park is a hiking paradise. Hiking trips in the forest may take between 1 and 8 hours and cost USD 40. There are 13 hiking paths in all. Other activities in Nyungwe National Park include trekking the Congo Nile Trail, tracking golden monkeys, and camping.

Birding

The national park is home to approximately 300 bird species, including Archer’s Robin Chat, Strange weaver, Chapin’s Flycatcher, and Rockefeller’s Sunbird, among others. The fee of birding in Nyungwe National Park is USD 50 per person per day.

Canopy Walk.

The forest canopy walk was offered as a new tourism product in Nyungwe Forest National Park in October 2010. The canopy walkway is 90 meters long and stretches 200 feet above the forest floor.

The Nyungwe Forest canopy trek lasts 2 hours and begins at Uwinka headquarters. Those interested in participating in this activity will have to pay USD $60 per participant. The canopy walk also allows visitors to explore the higher forest canopy, which offers stunning views of the forest’s scenery.

Accommodation in Nyungwe National Park.

Visitors who choose to stay in Nyungwe National Park for an extended length of time can do so at the Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Gisakura Guest House, Nyungwe Top View Hotel, One & Only Nyungwe House, and Nyungwe Nziza Eco Lodge, among others.

When is the best time to visit Nyungwe National Park?

The dry season, which runs from December to February and June to August, is the greatest time for people to explore Nyungwe National Park. However, you may visit this magnificent national park at any time of year.

How to get to Nyungwe National Park?

The Nyungwe Forest National Park may be reached by road or air. The national park is located in the Butare district near Cyangugu town in Rwanda’s southwest. It takes roughly 4-5 hours to drive from Kigali to Nyungwe, a distance of 225 kilometers. Visitors traveling to the national park on their own can hire a vehicle or take a bus to the park’s visitor centers at Uwinka Center or Gisakura.

The park is also accessible by plane from Kigali International Airport. Visitors can fly domestically from Kigali to Kamembe International Airport, which serves the Rwandan cities of Kamembe and Cyangugu. Visitors may travel 32 kilometers from Kamembe’s airport to the national park. Visitors with a larger budget can also charter a helicopter and fly to the park. Akagera Aviation provides chartered flights for visitors visiting any of the country’s national parks.