Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park is oldest, top leading safari destination in Rwanda. The park is situated in the south western region of Rwanda.The Park covers an area of about 970 square kilometers where it reaches the border of Rwanda and Burundi in the south. Nyungwe forest national park is the highlight of biodiversity full of the pristine mountain rain forests in the whole world, as the forest is diverse originating from the northern part of Uganda and Congo, where it exceeds spreading through Rwenzori mountains, western Rwanda and also Burundi to the shores of Lake Victoria, the forest is very impressive dominated by the mountains.
Attractions in Nyungwe Forest national park.
Nyungwe forest national park is the most attractive destination with the spectacular attractions that are located in the park that includes,
Wildlife.
Nyungwe forest national park is a home to the vast numbers of the wildlife that attracts various tourists in the country to encounter with these species. The park has got the presence of thick forests that inhabits the entire wildlife in the park including the mammals and primates.
Mammals.
Nyungwe Forest national park has got the vast numbers of the mammals, where they inhabit in the park for example the civet, jackal, golden cats, duikers, leopards, golden cats and many others
Primates.
Primates are among the major attractions in Nyungwe forest national park where the park has got 13 species of primates that do reside in the forest like the red-tailed monkeys, chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkey, olive baboon, vervet monkey, and bushbabys and among many others as these attracts tourists who come to explore the destination on a Rwanda safari.
Bird species.
Bird lovers who explore Nyungwe forest national park becomes well contained with the chances to spotting the best attractive bird species in the park. That is due to the fact that the park is fully covered with montane forest, it inhabits over 300 bird species where 120 of them are forest species, and 16 are endemic to Albertine rift. The bird species in Nyungwe forest national park includes red collared mountain babblers, handsome francoline, Rwenzori turaco, purple breasted sunbirds and among many others.
Vegetation.
Nyungwe forest national park has got the unique covered by Albertine rift montane rainforest that exists in the Albertine rift area. The park is located around 1000 square kilometers forest that features over 1068 flora species, and among these 200 species are trees that includes in the giant lobelia, orchids, bamboo, shrubs and among others then 68 of the species are endemic to the park including the mahogany, talenna rwandesis and among others without forgetting the bamboo grassland, swamps, bogs and among others.
Canopy.
Nyungwe forest national park is the attractive national park on Rwanda safari, where it is 50 meters and 200 meters raised canopy above from the ground which is so attractive to the most of the tourists. The canopy is very attractive to the large number of tourists in the country as it’s ranked as the third in the entire Africa. With the presence of the metallic walkway that is used by the tourists to tour the mysteries of the park.
Canopy walk
Activities to do in Nyungwe Forest national park.
Chimpanzee trekking.
Nyungwe forest national park is a home to large number of the chimpanzees which allows the tourists to carry out chimpanzee trekking. Chimpanzees do live majorly in two sections of the park that includes Uwinka area and Cyamudongo section. The chimpanzee trekking starts with a briefing early in the morning at the park headquarters where they give you rules and regulations to follow while trekking the chimpanzees. After the briefing you can be led by the experienced guides to the forest while following the trekking trails to do the trekking and after finding them you are given one hour to be with the presence of chimpanzees.
This is incredible during the gorilla trekking the travelers can come across various wildlife in the park including the various primates like the red tailed monkeys, olive baboon, vervet monkey, grey-checked mangabey, bushbabys and among others and spotting various bird species.
Canopy walks.
Tourists who visit Nyungwe forest national park experience canopy walk as this is the gorgeous safari activity in the park where tourists experience 50 meters high steel canopy bridge that is situated above the treetops. Canopy walk has got 3 walking sections where one has 90 meters longest stretch, 45 meters stretch and 25 meters stretch being the shortest.
The Rwanda wildlife safari activity is adrenaline adventure that takes 2 hours where it starts from the visitors center in Uwinka, as this helps you to explore the beautiful wildlife creatures of the park while moving from up.
Bird watching.
Nyungwe forest national park is the birding haven, which makes the park to be best bird spotting destination where it boasts over 300 bird species. The park is the best choice for the bird lovers where they can be able to spot bird species like Rwenzori batis, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Handsome Francolin, Stripe-breasted, Stripe-breasted Tit, Chestnut Owlet, Regal Sun-bird and many others.
Guided nature walks and hiking.
Nature walks in Nyungwe forest national park exposes the tourists to explore the hidden places of the park where the vehicles do not reach, while on foot to the steep landscape of the park, while using the different number of trails that encounters the tourists to the various features of the park biodiversity.
Gisakura plantation tour.
Tourists do explore outside the park through visiting Gisakura tea plantation tour that is located at the edge of Nyungwe forest national park, as this magical expression while viewing the beautiful tea plantation as during a visit the tourists can participate in activities like tea picking, interacting with the local farmers. The tourists use the different trails as they are carrying out the nature walks like the Umuyove trail, Karamba trail, Umugote trail where the tourists are heading in the areas that are in the place.
Gisakura plantation tour.
Best time to visit Nyungwe forest national park.
Nyungwe forest national park can be visited at any time of the year, though the best time to visit Nyungwe forest national park is during the dry season in the months of June to September or during the short season from mid-December to mid-February.
Where to stay in Nyungwe forest national park.
Tourists who come to visit Nyungwe forest national park are provided with variety of accommodation facilities that provide comfortable zone to the tourists that are grouped in to Budget, Mid-range and luxuries which includes Nyungwe top vie hill hotel, Nyungwe forest lodge, Gisakura guest house, other guests can adopt camping to experience the wilderness in the park and among many others.
How to get to Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Nyungwe forest national park is located in south western region of Rwanda near Lake Kivu. From Kigali the capital city of Rwanda which takes 4 to 5 hours drive that takes 225 kilometers. As well the park can be accessed by air transport where you use the helicopter flight from Kigali landing at Nyungwe forest lodge.
