Nyungwe forest national park : Indeed, Rwanda is the “land of a thousand hills.” Many tourists are frequently charmed by Rwanda’s beauty, which is largely due to the country’s stunning and well-terraceed hills, brilliant lakes like Lake Kivu, clean streets, and hospitable residents. From the bustling capital city of Kigali to its national parks, which include Nyungwe National Park, visitors to the Central African nation have a lot to discover while there.
One of the four national parks that Rwanda is delighted to boast about is Nyungwe Forest National Park. In Rwanda’s southwest is where the national park is situated. The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Lake Kivu are its western neighbors, and Burundi is its southernmost neighbor.
The renowned Nyungwe forest, which is thought to be the biggest tropical rain forest in East and Central Africa, contains the national park. It is thought that this woodland has been around for a very long time. The park is ideally situated in both the Nile River basin and the Congo River basin.
The Rwandan Nyungwe Park has a radius of 970 square kilometers. It was designated a national park in 2004 and is primarily made up of bogs, grasslands, bamboo, wetlands, and rain forests.
About 14 primate species, 300 bird species, 2000 plant species, 90 animal species, and 38 reptile species may be found at Nyungwe Forest National Park. This national park is genuinely blessed by nature, and visitors to the park will find plenty to see and do there.
A forest reserve was established in Nyungwe by the German colonial government in 1903.
Due to forest fires, extensive deforestation, and wildlife hunting, this tropical African rainforest’s overall land area significantly shrunk between 1958 and 1973.
Poachers murdered the last buffaloes to live in Nyungwe Forest in 1974.
After being named one of Lonely Planet’s top 10 travel destinations in 2004, Nyungwe National Park became the first national park in the country.
However, Nyungwe Forest National Park was designated as a protected area in 2005, and it was at this time that the number of visitors rose.
The chimpanzees in the national park are its biggest draw. The Cyamudongo forest is the most popular hiking location for tourists in the tea plantation-surrounded Nyungwe national park, which is home to a total of 1000 species. Golden monkeys, the Isumo waterfalls, and the Canopy walkway are just a few of the national park’s breathtaking sights.
Activities carried out in Nyungwe National Park.
Chimpanzee Tracking;
25% of all ape species in Africa are found in Nyungwe Forest National Park, where most of the chimpanzees are habituated. There are roughly 500 chimpanzees living in Nyungwe Forest National Park, making chimpanzee tracking one of the pleasures of a visit there.
In Nyungwe National Park, chimpanzee tracking permits are available for USD 60 per person, and the activity lasts for 2- 6 hours. Tracking starts at 8 a.m. from Uwinka, Kitabi, and Gisakura, three important locations.
Those interested in participating in chimpanzee trekking activities in Nyungwe National Park should try to arrive there by 5am to register and receive a briefing from the park’s head ranger.
Hiking to Isumo waterfalls:
A guided trip to the renowned Isumo waterfalls is available to visitors to Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park. Visitors can enjoy fantastic views of various caverns and even the Kamiranzovu marsh from the 17-meter-high falls. A visitor may witness snakes, birds, butterflies, wildflowers, and unusual tree and plant species along several hiking trails.
There are hiking trails that start at parking lots 1 and 2, and they could be shorter than other head trails in the national park.
Tourists can also go on a three-day guided hike along the Congo Nile, camp in the forest, and engage in other activities while visiting the Park.
Nyungwe Forest Canopy Walk:
As a brand-new tourist attraction in the park, the forest canopy walk was unveiled in October 2010. The canopy walkway is 90 meters long and rises 200 feet above the forest floor.
The 2-hour Nyungwe Forest canopy trek starts at the Uwinka headquarters. For individuals who want to participate in this activity, it will cost USD $60 per person. Tourists can also explore the higher forest canopy while enjoying stunning views of the forest’s topography thanks to the canopy walk.
Birding:
Over 300 different bird species can be found in the national park, including the Rockefeller’s sunbird, Chapin’s flycatcher, Strange weaver, and Archer’s Robin Chat. Nyungwe National Park charges USD 50 per person per day for bird watching.
Forest hiking:
A hiker’s paradise, Nyungwe Forest National Park is located in Rwanda. Hiking excursions in the woodland can last anywhere from one to eight hours and cost USD $40 thanks to the region’s 13 hiking paths.
Visitor options in Nyungwe Forest National Park also include camping, trekking the Congo Nile Trail, and finding golden monkeys.
Where to stay in Nyungwe National Park Rwanda.
Accommodations are available at the following establishments in Nyungwe National Park: Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Gisakura Guest House, Nyungwe Top View Hotel, One & Only Nyungwe House, and Nyungwe Nziza Eco Lodge, among others.
Best visit Nyungwe National Park.
Nyungwe National Park is best visited between December and February and from June to August, which is the dry season. You can, however, visit this beautiful national park at any time of the year.
Getting to Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda.
You can fly or drive to get to Nyungwe Forest National Park. In the southwest of Rwanda, in the Butare area close to Cyangugu town, is where you’ll find the national park. From Kigali to Nyungwe, a distance of 225km, it takes approximately 4-5 hours to drive. Alternatively, people visiting the national park on their own can rent a car or take a bus to the park’s visitor centers in Gisakura or Uwinka Center. Visitors can rent a car in Kigali City for between USD 32 and USD $50 per day.
The international airport in Kigali is another way to get to the national park. Visitors can take domestic flights from Kigali to the Rwandan cities of Cyangugu and Kamembe at Kamembe International Airport. Visitors can travel 32 kilometers to Nyungwe national park from the Kamembe airport. Alternative transportation options include renting a helicopter and flying to the park. Travelers can book chartered flights through Akagera Aviation to any of the nation’s national parks.
Those who love the outdoors should visit Nyungwe Forest National Park, which also offers wonderful activities that visitors may enjoy with their friends and families.