Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe Forest National Park - The biggest Park in Rwanda

Explore Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe Forest National Park is perhaps of the biggest National park that has essentially helped Rwanda’s travel industry, producing millions yearly. Famous for chimpanzee following, the recreation area fills in as a chief objective for Rwanda chimpanzee safaris. The primary movement in Nyungwe Forest is following the two adjusted chimpanzee gatherings: a more modest gathering of 30 chimpanzees in the Cyamudongo Timberland region and a bigger gathering of around 60 chimpanzees.

Nyungwe, Africa’s biggest Afro-Montane Forest, additionally offers the renowned covering walk. Voyagers can climb to the treetops and stroll on hanging spans, respecting the woods’ magnificence. Situated in the southwest of Rwanda close to the Burundi line, south of Lake Kivu, and west of the Majority rule Republic of the Congo, Nyungwe Public Park is arranged in the Rusizi Area. This locale, in southwestern Uganda, is home to the recreation area and Africa’s extraordinary stream, with the Nile toward the east and Congo toward the west. The recreation area’s central command, Uwinka, is around 219 km and a 4-hour drive from Kigali.

Laid out as a National park in 2004, Nyungwe forest is home to north of 1,000 creature, bird, and plant species, making it a significant preservation region in Africa. The recreation area extends from Lake Albert to Lake Tanganyika in the western Extraordinary Break Valley. The Albertine Crack, known for its endemic types of fauna and greenery, highlights around 1,068 plant species, including more than 200 tree species and 248 orchid species. Nyungwe additionally has around 85 vertebrate species, including 13 primate species, and more than 300 bird species, with 29 endemic to the Albertine Crack, procuring it the moniker “birds heaven.”

Nyungwe Forest National Park’s biodiversity incorporates swamps, bogs, bamboo shrubberies, heath, open forest, and different microhabitats. The recreation area is famous for its 13 primate species, including chimpanzees and the biggest group of highly contrasting colobus monkeys. The Cyamudongo Forest is home to very much acclimated chimpanzees, and Gisakura has the second adjusted troop of colobus monkeys. The recreation area highlights more than 130 km of developed trails, permitting voyagers of various wellness levels to investigate its magnificence and partake in the outside air.

Nyungwe offers remarkable exercises like the shelter walk, an uncommon involvement with East Africa and unprecedented in Africa. The suspended extension gives the best airborne perspective on the woods shelter. Nyungwe Forest national Park has three gathering habitats: Kitabi close to the entry, Uwinka in the recreation area’s center, and Gisakura. While there are no inns inside the recreation area, there are reasonable setting up camp administrations, including a rose setting up camp ground at Uwinka, and lodgings can be tracked down around the recreation area.

Nyungwe Forest are indispensable, providing 75% of Rwanda’s water. The recreation area has different waterways; those streaming toward the west fill the Congo Stream, and those streaming toward the east fill the Nile Waterway through the Akagera Stream. Richard Kandt and different analysts have recognized Nyungwe as the wellspring of the Nile.

Activities in the Nyungwe Forest National Park

Chimpanzee trekking

In Nyungwe National Park, two groups of chimpanzees are habituated: one at Uwinka and a larger group in the Cyamudongo fragmented forest. The distance, altitude gain, and estimated time for chimpanzee trekking in Cyamudongo Forest depend on the chimpanzees’ location and the terrain. The round trip for this hike covers about 4.2 km with a total altitude gain of approximately 240 meters. This typically involves roughly an hour of walking and three hours of scanning the treetops for chimps, monkeys, and birds.

What to carry for chimpanzee trekking

 

What to carry for chimpanzee trekking

As you prepare for chimpanzee trekking, you need to carry several essentials for a successful Rwanda wildlife safari. These include binoculars, rain gear, hiking boots or gumboots, water, and snacks. Walking sticks will be provided to help you get a grip on the ground as you hike. Cyamudongo Forest, one of the top sections of Nyungwe for chimpanzee trekking, attracts tourists from all over the world as the home of a large group of chimpanzees.

How to get there

Cyamudongo is a recent annex to Nyungwe National Park, located about an hour’s drive from the Gisakura reception center, outside the park’s main boundaries. This 19 sq. km rainforest fragment survived due to its steep terrain, making it unsuitable for cultivation. It is surrounded by tea plantations, eucalyptus groves, modest homesteads, and shops perched on steep hillsides.

To reach Cyamudongo from the main road out of Nyungwe, you must navigate a rough dirt track, requiring a 4×4 vehicle. After about 11 km along the Shagasha tea estate and village, you take a sidetrack to the park. There, you will meet teams of trackers and rangers who follow trekkers during daylight hours to assist and protect them. They maintain radio communication with the guides to lead tourists to the chimps by the most efficient route.

Best time for chimpanzee trekking

Chimpanzees are easily seen in the early morning, which usually means waking up around 4:00-4:30 AM in June, July, and August. The fig trees in the park, which produce abundant fruit, make this forest ideal for chimp trekking. The chimpanzees feed until much later in the morning, so tourists who sleep until normal hours still have a good chance to see them. Only two groups of visitors are permitted to trek a particular group of primates on a given day, and they are allowed to spend only one hour with them.

Colobus Monkeys in Gisakura Forest

If you have done a strenuous hike the previous day or have just arrived with a few hours before dinner, consider a relaxed outing that can be done in one to three hours. This easy hike is accessible from the nearby Gisakura Guest House and the Nyungwe Forest Lodge, currently called One&Only. A guide is required to accompany you, and you should bring binoculars, rain gear, water, and proper hiking shoes. Your guide will provide a walking stick.

Gisakura Forest, an isolated patch of rainforest surrounded by tea plantations, lies just outside the park boundary. This small forest remnant, less than 1 sq. km in size, is located in a deep valley with a stream flowing along the bottom. It serves as the watershed for the spring supplying the tea plantation. In 2005, Gisakura Forest received park status when a group of Angolan black and white colobus monkeys established their home range there. These primates can supplement their natural diet with alien pine and eucalyptus, enabling them to survive in this small territory. Occasionally, a Mona monkey can be seen among the colobus, though its presence remains a mystery. A solitary tracker follows the colobus in and out of the forest, protecting them.

If the colobus monkeys are in the forest, the tracker will direct your guide to the specific access trail to lead you there. If the colobus is not found, you can enjoy a short stroll in the forest or a pleasant walk along the perimeter on plantation roads. Especially to the right of the forest and at the far end of that section, the plantation track veers right. On a clear day, you can enjoy beautiful views of the dramatically hilly countryside extending all the way to Lake Kivu and the DRC. The perimeter road receives lots of sun, fostering many species of wildflowers not found in the rest of the forest, including bright blue brillantaisia, impatiens, begonias, and various shrubs.

Accommodation in Nyungwe

When planning a safari to Nyungwe Forest National Park, choose a lodge that matches your budget. Nyungwe Forest is surrounded by a variety of accommodation options, ranging from luxury to midrange to budget facilities. Some notable options include:

  • One & Only Nyungwe House: A luxury lodge offering high-end amenities and services.
  • Nyungwe Forest Lodge: A premium facility providing comfort and exceptional views.
  • Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel: A midrange option with stunning panoramic views.
  • Gisakura Family Hostel: A budget-friendly choice offering basic accommodations.

More Destinations

Safari packages

4 Days Kidepo National Park Safari

4 Days Kidepo National Park Safari

This 4 Days Kidepo national park safari has a lot of excitement and adventure. Kidepo National Park is the least explored of all Uganda’s national parks yet so endowed and beaming with wildlife and picturesque virgin plains.

Read More »
14 Days Best of Uganda Wildlife Safari

14 Days Best of Uganda Wildlife Safari

This 14-day safari adventure offers an extensive exploration of Uganda’s diverse wildlife and breathtaking landscapes. From the moment you arrive in Entebbe, you’ll be immersed in the country’s rich natural beauty and cultural heritage.

Read More »
3 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tour

3 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tour

The 3 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tour with Frero Adventures is a captivating journey into the untouched jungles of East Africa, where you will experience an encounter with one of the world’s most majestic creatures—the mountain gorilla.

Read More »

4 Days Rwanda Gorilla tour

4 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour offers a perfect blend of thrilling wildlife encounters and cultural exploration. This meticulously crafted safari package takes you on an unforgettable journey through Rwanda’s captivating landscapes and vibrant heritage.

Read More »
5 Days Uganda wildlife Tour

5 Days Uganda wildlife Tour

The 5 days Uganda Wildlife Tour offers an immersive experience in the diverse ecosystems and captivating wildlife of Uganda. From thrilling game drives to unforgettable encounters with mountain gorillas, this safari promises adventure and discovery amidst the natural beauty of the Pearl of Africa.

Read More »