Activities in Nyungwe forest national park
Activities in Nyungwe forest national park
If you are asking for Activities in Nyungwe Forest National Park, There is a lot for visitors to see and do during their visit to the national park. Nyungwe Forest National Park is located in the western region of Rwanda in Rusizi district. The national park is one of the biggest national parks in Rwanda, after Akagera National Park, covering an area of about 1,020 square kilometers.
Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda encompasses the renowned Nyungwe Forest which is one of the oldest rainforests in Africa, and is well known for its rich biodiversity in flora and fauna species. The national park has over 1,068 plant species, 140 orchids, 120 butterfly species, about 322 species of birds, 13 primate species, including a small population of habituated chimpanzees, and 75 known species of mammals.
Visitors in Nyungwe Forest National Park can take part in a number of activities offered by the national park, and these include the following;
Chimpanzee Trekking:
Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the best primate experiences that any visitor could ask for. Most chimpanzee trekking tours in Nyungwe are conducted in Cyamudongo forest, which happens to be the best place to do chimpanzee trekking. Chimpanzee trekking activities in Nyungwe national park start from three sectors which are; Uwinka, Kitabi and Gisakura.
Chimpanzee trekking activities in Nyungwe national park are conducted in groups of a maximum of 8 people. Nyungwe Forest National Park has the largest population of chimpanzees in East and Central Africa, with a record population of over 400 individuals. Nyungwe Forest alone has over 60 habituated chimpanzees while Cyamudongo Forest has 30 habituated chimpanzees.
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe national park can take between 2 to 6 hours, including one hour that is given to trekkers once a chimpanzee group has been located. Visitors interested in seeing chimpanzees should obtain a chimpanzee trekking permit for only USD 90 dollars per person.
Chimpanzee trekking activities in Nyungwe Forest national park begin at 5am with a briefing from the head ranger at the park. It is important for visitors to report to the park in time in order to avoid any inconveniences. The best time for visitors to do chimpanzee trekking in the national park is in the months of June, July and August.
Aside from chimpanzees, there are other primates that you can see in the national park like; L’Hoest monkeys, Baboons, the Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Rwenzori colobus monkeys, Black and White colobus monkeys, the Dent’s monkeys, Blue monkeys and many more.
Nyungwe Forest Canopy Walk:
The Nyungwe Forest Canopy Walk is the most exciting and adventurous activity in Nyungwe National Park. This activity is not for the faint of hearts as it involves walking along the canopy walkway, which stretches 160 meters long and extends 70 meters above the forest ground. The Canopy walkway in Nyungwe national park gives visitors a chance to explore the national park from above, as visitors along the canopy walkway can get a panoramic view of the forest canopy. In addition to this, visitors also have an opportunity to see wildlife in the park such as; monkeys, chimpanzees, butterflies and different bird species.
Visitors interested in the Nyungwe forest canopy walk have to begin their hike from the park’s headquarters in Uwinka. The activity takes about 2 hours and costs USD 60 dollars per person. The canopy walk is an interesting activity for visitors to do as a family since it is available for tourists aged 6 years and above. The canopy walk way/ bridge is accessible by visitors on a hiking tour along the Igishigishigi, Imbaraga and Umuyove trails.
Primate Tracking:
Visitors in Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda can also take part in primate tracking activities in the national park. Primate tracking activities in Nyungwe national park involve visitors tracking the Black and White colobus monkeys. For only USD 60 dollars, visitors have an opportunity to see black and white colobus monkeys in Nyungwe and Cyamudongo forests. The national park has about 400 black and white colobus monkeys and tracking them can take between 2 to 6 hours depending on how fast a group of trackers can located the monkeys.
Hiking and guided nature walks:
Nyungwe Forest National Park offers its visitors hiking and guided forest/ nature walks. The national park has a total of 13 hiking trails, each gracing hikers with spectacular views. Hiking expeditions in Nyungwe national park can take between 1 to 8 hours and costs USD 40 dollars.
Visitors can also hike to Isumo waterfalls which is a favorite among hikers in Nyungwe national park. The falls are 17 meters high and give tourists great views of some caves and even Kamiranzovu swamp. Some hiking trails will offer a tourist chance to see snakes, birds, butterflies wildflowers and unique tree and plant species. A hike to Isumo waterfalls in Nyungwe Forest national park costs USD 50 dollars per person.
Other hiking activities that tourists can partake in while visiting Nyungwe Forest National Park include; Congo Nile guided hike which is a 3 day hiking expedition; and camping in the forest.
Birding in Nyungwe Forest National Park:
Visitors in Nyungwe national park can opt for the Bird watching activities offered by the national park. The national park has a record of about 322 bird species which bird lovers can sight in the park. Some of the bird species that are commonly sighted in Nyungwe national park include; Archer’s Robin Chat, the Strange weaver, Chapin’s Fly catcher and Rockefeller’s sunbird and so many more. Birding in Nyungwe National Park costs USD 50 dollars per person per day.
Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda offers visitors quite a number of activities as mentioned above. It is one of the most biologically diverse national parks in Rwanda and in Africa at large. Visitors interested in visiting this national park should book a tour to Rwanda through a trusted national park like Explore Rwanda Tours, which has super affordable tour packages for tours to Nyungwe National Park.
