Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of nature’s best gifts to Africa. It is an astonishingly green ancient park that is ranked as among the largest tropical forests in Central and East Africa. Its 970Km2 area extends to Burundi’s Kibira National park. It’s abundance of 250 tree species and 140 species of radiant Orchids makes in the most ecologically diverse setting in Rwanda.

Nyungwe Forest National Park sits at 2500 meters above sea level and receives rain for much of the year. It feeds 2/3rds of all Rwanda’s rivers. In turn, they feed two of Africa’s longest river systems; River Nile and River Congo. Although all the park’s elephants and forest buffaloes succumbed to poaching before the park was gazeted in 2004, Nyungwe is still worth visiting. It has 75 species of mammals, 38 reptiles’ species and 32 amphibians’ species. Its claim to fame is 13 species of primates. These include of rarities like Rwenzori colobus, Golden monkeys, Grey cheeked Mangabeys…..and the usual’s are tropical Africa like Blue monkeys, Mona monkey, Owl faced monkeys and L’ Hoest’s monkey.

Rest assured of encountering at least 200 monkeys by the time you conclude your nature walk in the forest. Throughout your chimp tracking adventure, you will be in the hands of ranger guides who are experienced and knowledgeable. They will share with you so many interesting things about the park, its botany, butterflies and animals.

Bird watching in Nyungwe Forest National Park

Over to bird watching, Nyungwe Forest National Park has 300 recorded bird species, 27 of which are Albertine endemics. Such include Rockefellers’ sunbird and Chapin’s flycatcher. The three most rare birds to which it is home are Grauer’s rush warbler- great blue Turaco and Red collared mountain babbler. Other birds on its checklist are Ducky Crimson wing, Stripe breasted tit, Handsome francolins, Mountain sooty boubou, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori hill babbler, Rwenzori batis, Purple throated, Barred long tailed cuckoo and White bellied crested flycatcher, Regal sunbirds, Yellow eyed black flycatcher, Congo bay owlet, Doherty’s and Lagden’s bush shrikes, Albertine owlet, White tailed flycatcher, Archer’s robin chat, White bellied robin chat, Rwenzori nightjar, Rwenzori double collared…….list is endless.

Canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park

The Canopy Walk experience in Nyungwe Forest National Park will electrify your senses. The unobstructed bird’s view of the rainforest from its bridge is one of the things that make it special.