Nyungwe national park.

Nyungwe National Park lies in the southwestern provinces of Rwanda. It extends partially to the north of Burundi due to its vast size. The park lies in an area of close to 1019 square kilometers in Rusizi district. It is a renowned UNESCO World Heritage site hosting a variety of flora and fauna species.

Nyungwe National Park is a celebrated destination offering unforgettable realms of adventure to travelers who visit it. It is a host to one of the oldest moist and evergreen tropical rainforests on the African continent with exceptional biodiversity. The mountainous landscapes teaming up with the wildlife and a series of attractive flora further make the National Park a place to be for adventurers and nature lovers.

The diverse landscapes engulfed in the park’s boundaries portray it as one of the most beautiful areas in Rwanda. Nyungwe offers exciting activities to visitors which makes it a favorite among many travelers.

A brief history of the National Park.

Nyungwe in terms of conservation was first established as a forest reserve in 1930 by the Belgians who were in charge of the Rwandan colony. They saw the urgent need to protect the tree species and the various fauna species living within.

The forest was being turned into a grazing ground and hardwood collection center which led to a loss of some species. Rwanda got her independence in 1962 and took full ownership of the forest. It was later in the early 1950s to 70s reduced to only 150 square kilometers due to cultivation, wildfires, and hunting that was practiced by the neighbors of the reserve.

In 1999, the last elephant in the forest was killed by the poachers and this was the immediate cause of the stronger efforts to resettle the masses and expand the reserve to its current size. Nyungwe was promoted to National Park status in 2005 by the Rwanda government to ensure that it is highly protected.

Key attractions of Nyungwe National Park and its uniqueness.

The key attraction of Nyungwe National Park is the chimpanzees. They attract the highest number of travelers to the National Park who visit to engage in chimpanzee trekking and habituation activities. The park hosts several chimpanzee families that range from around 50 to 150 individuals in each family.

Its fully habituated chimpanzee families are open to visits on a daily basis and can be accessed once one has fully purchased the chimpanzee trekking permits. The trekking permits can be obtained through registered tour operators.

However, it is important to note that some chimpanzees in the forest are not habituated which therefore allows visitors to participate in the chimpanzee habituation activities too. Nyungwe is unique due to its exceptional biodiversity, and the species of primates it hosts and it is home to the oldest tropical rainforests

Other things to see in Nyungwe National Park.

Several other primates. Nyungwe National Park is not only a habitat for chimpanzees but also other attractive primates, especially the Ruwenzori Colobus, red-tailed monkeys, Black and white colobus monkeys, golden, dents mona, hamlets, and vervet monkeys. Visitors to the park have the opportunity to watch these up close.

Bigugu Mountain peak. The mountain is covered with lush vegetation which is ideal for photography. The hikes to the top of the mountain unveil the breathtaking views of the underlying beautiful vegetation on the entire rainforest which makes it a favorite place for sightseeing.

Tropical waterfalls. The waterfalls along river Nyungwe are also a hidden gem in the National Park that is good to marvel at.

Birds. Nyungwe National Park has a collection of over 200 bird species. These mainly include the Great Lakes region endemics, Albertine rift, and the East African Rift Valley endemic bird species, especially the scavengers, African fish eagles, turacos, Abyssinian ground hornbill, black bee eaters, cinnamons, cuckoo shrike, egrets, hammerkops and sunbirds.

Activities to do when in Nyungwe National Park.

Canopy walks. These are conducted to help the travelers to keep their eyes on the primates within the canopies of the forest. Canopy walks done in the golden hours of the day provide a therapeutic experience.

Golden monkey trekking. This activity is also conducted in the park and helps visitors to the exciting golden monkeys up close. Visitors have the opportunity to watch their fascinating behaviors and take pictures with them.

Chimpanzee trekking and habituation. This is the highlight of the National Park. Visitors get to spend ample time with the chimpanzees learning and unlearning things about them.

Bird watching.  Visitors have the opportunity to observe various beautiful bird species that live within the canopies of the forest.

Camping. Guests can also camp in the camping centers in the forest. This helps them immerse themselves in the beauty of nature as they listen to the sounds of the wind through the canopies and nature which is therapeutic. It also enables one to reflect on the beauty of the park.

Guided nature walks.  These are conducted under the guidance of the Rangers through the trails in the forest to equip the guests with more views of the diverse flora and fauna species of the park.

When to visit and how to access the National Park.

The perfect time to visit Nyungwe National Park is in the dry seasons that run from June to September and from December to February. They are characterized by low rainfall and therefore the grounds are usually steady for the tourists to maneuver through the tropical rainforest with limited hardships.

Nyungwe National Park can be accessed both by air and road transport.

Flying travelers can catch flights from Kigali International Airport to the park. The flights can be booked in advance through the help of the registered tour operators. By road, it is about 177.1 kilometers from Kigali city and takes about 3 hours and 53 minutes to drive.