Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park is among the biggest national parks that have highly boosted the tourism industry of Rwanda. Nyungwe Forest National Park was established as a National Park in 2004. The forest is a home to about 1000 different animals, plants and bird species. The park is known for its incredible chimpanzee tracking. Chimpanzee tracking is the main activity carried out in the park though the park has other unique primate species such as the red colobus monkey.
Nyungwe Forest National Park hosts two habituated chimpanzee groups. The small group in Cyamudongo forest area of the park holds 30 chimpanzees. The larger group has approximately to 60 chimpanzees.
Forest of Nyungwe is the largest Afro-montane forest in Africa.
Location
Nyungwe Forest National Park is located in Rusizi District found in the Southwestern part of Uganda. The park’s headquarter (Uwinka) is about 219 km and 4 hours drive from Kigali. The park is in the western part of the great western rift valley.
Nyungwe forest is within the Southwestern part of Rwanda near the border with Burundi. The forest is south of Lake Kivu and west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Brief History of Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park is an important conservation area in Africa. The park hosts quite a good number of animals making it one of the amazing destination in Rwanda. It has about 1068 plant species of which 200 are tress, 248 orchids among others. The park holds 85 mammal species of which 13 are primate species.
It accommodates about 300 different bird species and about 29 are endemics to the Albertine rift. This makes the park one of the bird watching haven just like Semuliki National Park in Uganda.
What is unique about Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the oldest rainforest in Africa. The park existed some years back since 1903 during the German colonial government when it was declared a reserve. Between 1958 and 1973, the park reduced in size to 150 km2 due to human activity such as, bush fires, deforestation and encroachment.
Some good numbers of elephants were killed around 1975 and buffaloes as well. The number of the monkeys instead increased around 1984 to about 400.
During the genocide in 1994, many tourism facilities were destroyed, though restoration was made in 1995 until 2004 when the park was declared a national park.
The number of the tourists started increasing gradually from that time. Now Nyungwe Forest National Park is among the top tourist destinations in Rwanda.
Activities in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Chimpanzee tracking
There are basically 2 groups of the chimpanzees found at the park. One group is found at the parks headquarter in Uwinka and the other one is in Cyamudongo.
Chimpanzee tracking starts very early in the morning around 7:30 am with the briefing. Visitors then enter the forest in search for the chimpanzee however, the tracking time various according to chimpanzee distance.
The moment the group is located, visitors spend one hour observing and having some good pictures with the chimpanzees. The hiking takes about 4.2km. Return to the starting point after the tracking where you will find your driver guide waiting for you.
Requirements for chimpanzee tracking
Whoever is waiting for chimpanzee tracking, carry the following items in order to add on your experience.
Wear long sleeved shirts on the tracking day to avoid the stinging needles. Remember to tack in your trousers into the socks to avoid ants from entering your clothes.
Carry good hiking shoes or the gum boots would be the better option for hiking and passing through the boggy ground. Carry your cameras and binoculars, even your phones too for unforgettable memories. Move with your facemask too.
Do not forget to carry a minimum of 2 litres of water and packed lunch or some snacks that you will use during the tracking process. Get a walking stick while at the park to make your trekking journey easy.
Other primates
Gisakura forest is an amazing place to be for the nature lovers, the forest is less than 1 km2. It was given a park status in 2005 after discovering that a group of Angolan black and white colobus monkeys had established their home there.
The primates feed on the alien pines and eucalyptus as a supplementary diet to their usual food. Spot the Mona monkeys having some good time with the colobus in the forest. The place has about 12 species of primates including the L’Hoest monkeys that are endemic to the Albertine rift.
There are many species of flowers that one can enjoy viewing while at Gisakura forest. Such as begonia, bright blue brillantaisia, a variety of shrubs and impatiens.
Zip lining
Zip lining is one of the exceptional adrenaline activity that one can carry out while in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
There is nothing more memorable than feeling the rush of wind while zip lining in the air, combining with the heart felt excitement of passing over the huge forest.
The zipline is the longest in East Africa extending to about 1.5-1.9 meter in length and 20-50 meters in height above the ground.
Best time for zip lining
Dry season is the best time for zip lining. During that season, the weather and temperatures are very favorable for the activity. Dry season ranges from June-September and December-February. Sometimes it can rain since nature is much undetermined though it still stands out as the best season for zip lining.
Rainy season ranging from March – May and October –November is not that favorable for zip lining. During the season, the temperature ranges 20 oC during day and 11 oC during night. This season is not advisable for zip lining due to the slippery conditions and it can rain any time making the experience not enjoyable.
Nature walk
Have an amazing nature walk while in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Listen to the sweet sounds of the birds, chattering monkeys as you learn different tree species during the walk. The park has about 300 different bird species, 30 of which are endemic to the Albertine rift.
Nature walk makes you get closer to nature as you interact more with it.
Canopy walk
The amazing Canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Canopy walk in the forest is a mind-blowing experience, viewing nature while at 360 degrees. The canopy is 160-meters long and 70 meters high.
Enjoy viewing the montane rainforest. Spot the monkeys jumping from one tree to the other or view the primates feeding and nurturing the other.
During the canopy walk, you as well be in position to spot different bird species calling in the forest.
Adventure trails
The mountainous landscape in Nyungwe is a very tremendous place for those that love hiking. About 10 hiking trails begin from Uwinka visitor Centre and the other 3 begins from Gisakura campsite. Come and have an amazing hiking experience at the park while lost in nature.
Accommodation
While at Nyungwe Forest National Park, there are a variety of accommodation that favors all the categories of visited. The park has budget, mid- range and luxury type of accommodation.
To talk of Nyungwe top view hill hotel, Uwinka campsites, Gisakura family hostel, Nyungwe forest lodge, Gisakura Campsite, Nyungwe house among others. Book your trip with Beyond Sight Safaris, Where every trip is a story.
