Nyungwe forest national park is known to be the largest national park within rwanda. The national park is well known for chimpanzee trekking as the main activity. The park has over 500 chimpanzees and it has only two habituated groups that are ready to be trekked that is the one in nyungwe and it’s the largest with over 60 individuals and the other in cyamudongo with only 30 members. This makes it to be called rwanda chimpanzee safari destination. The forest has a canopy walk which makes tourists to hike on top of the trees while on the hanging bridges as they tend to admire the forest and the nearby surrounding.
The national park is found in the southwest of rwanda near Burundi border, south of kivu lake and west of democratic republic of Congo. It’s located in Rusizi district which is also a home to the longest river Nile eastwards and west of Congo. The forest was established in 2004 and it’s a habitant to over 1000 animals, bird species and nature species. This makes it one of the most visited while on a rwanda safari.
ATTRACTIONS IN NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK
WILDLIFE
The national park has over 13 primates and these are the major attractions within the national park. These include chimpanzees, Angola colobus monkey, Ruwenzori colobus, Lhotse’s monkey, silver monkey, dents mona monkey, golden monkey, olive baboon, vervet monkey and grey-cheeked mangabey. Therefore, other animals within the national park are duikers, impalas, buffaloes, elephants, bushpigs, giant forest hog, golden cats, bushbucks, Congo clawless otter, black-fronted duiker among others. But all in all, chimpanzees are the most attraction within the national park.
CHIMPANZEE TRACKING
Due to the fact that chimpanzees are the major attraction within the national park with a population of over 500 chimpanzee individuals and only 2 family groups have been habituated and ready for trekking. One family is found in nyungwe forest whereas the second is found in cyamudongo a small forest that’s found in the east of nyungwe national park. Most of the chimpanzees aren’t habituated like the gorillas and this makes it an interesting and amazing experience. Chimpanzee trekking commences at the main three receptions centers that is kitabi, uwinka which is the main center and gisakura. Tourist only get to spent 1 hour with the chimpanzees as the habituated family in the nyugwe forest has 60 members that are hard to locate due to the rugged terrain whereas the one in cyamudongo has 30 individuals and these are easily sighted though the number is small.
MONKEY TREKKING
There’s quite a number of monkey species within the forest with a population of over 400 individuals as well as the Angolan colobus monkeys which is the largest group in Africa. The trekking takes a few hours of 2-3 hours and even takes the tourists to the tea plantations. The monkeys have an excellent and beautiful experience like jumping from one tree to another, disordered eating habits, there way of climbing among others as they keep moving from one place to another.
BIRDING
Nyungwe national park has various bird species that inhabit within the forests. Over 310 bird species where 27 are native to the Albertine rift valley. These include kungwe apalis `apalis argentea’, dusky crimson wing, Rwenzori-nightjar, Congo-bay owlet, red-faced woodland warbler, Rwenzori-batis, Doherty-bush shrike, grauer’s-swamp warbler, kivu-ground thrush, regal-sunbird.
MOUNT BIGUGU
Mount bigugu is located within the park and it’s one of the challenging trails within nyungwe forest. It rises about 2950 kilometers above sea level. Therefore, tourists can enjoy the climbing and the various amazing views that are in the neighborhood. Its also best for the bird lovers as its good at having a number of various bird species. This gives a very rewarding experience to tourists on their safari.
CANOPY WALK
This is a one-of-a-kind experience within the forest where tourists walk on the built trail above the forest. Its built 50 meters above the forest and it’s meant for the strong-hearted. Therefore, tourists with phobia tend to practice before they travel.
ACTIVITIES IN NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK
CHIMPANZEE TREKKING
The chimpanzee trekking is one of the major attractions within the national park. The activity starts from the 3 receptions that is uwinka, kitabi and gisakura. Tourists meet at the reception as early as 4;30am and the trekking starts at 5am. The tourists are able to spend 1 hour with the habituated family within the forest. In doing so thy get to know them closely as they get to know the features and behaviors, there ways of communication by deafening screams, loud hoots among others.
The habituated chimpanzee family within the national park is one and it’s the largest with 60 individuals while the other group in cyamudongo forest has a small number of 30 members and this gives the tourists a higher chance to see the chimpanzee due to its small dimensions.
FOREST WALKS/ HIKES
The national park has 13 hiking trails that take tourists to the inside part of the forest. Therefore each trail leads to different points within the national park such as waterfalls, swamps, caves and every trail has different and special features. The trails include kamiranzovu marsh trail, bigugu trail, igishigishigi trail, ngabwe trail, isumo trail, karamba birding trail, umoyove trail, muzimu trail among others. Depending on the tourists physical fitness and ability to move or hike there are short and long trails. The walk takes 3 hours or 3 days.
CANOPY WALK
The canopy walk is only done in the nyungwe forest and its 200 meters above the forest. Tourists tend to walk on the built trail that is hanged and this gives them an aerial perspective of the national park, wildlife, Virunga volcanoes and the neighboring community. The walk starts at the parks headquarters at uwinka and it’s the end point as well. The walk takes only 2 hours and tourists must be 6 years and above. The canopy walks costs 60 USD and most rewarding with an amazing and memorable experience.
BIRD WATCHING
With over 300 bird species within the national park, this makes it the best place for the birding safari in Rwanda. 121 are known to be forest birds whereas 27 are natives to the Albertine rift valley. Therefore, the most viewed animals are chapin’s flycatcher, great blue turaco, red collard mountain babbler, rera grauer’s, conga bay owlet, mountain sooty boubu, Rwenzori batis among others.
MONKEY TREKKING
Nyungwe national park is a habitat for 300 monkey species besides the chimpanzee. Monkeys such as the blue monkeys, black and white colobus, L’Hoests monkeys and red tailed monkeys. They are differentiated by different colours but with the same characters. Monkeys are known to be lively and very playful creatures that make tourists to be on guard as they keep moving from one place to another. This makes it a very joyful and long-lasting experience
