NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK, RWANDA
Nyungwe Forest National Park Covers over 1000 square kilometers making it one of the world’s most beautiful and fresh mountain rainforests in Africa.Being one of the oldest forests in Africa,Nyungwe forest is ever green even through the Ice Age, explaining its diversity.
Nyungwe forest is a home to habituated chimpanzees and 12 other primate species (including a 400-strong troop of habituated Ruwenzori Black & White Colobus), Nyungwe Forest Park also harbours over 300 species of birds including 16 endemics. This has forever made Nyungwe forest a birder’s destination. The home of roughly 400 species of chimpanzees – Nyungwe, is home to one of East Africa’s last intact populations and boasts two wild chimp communities that welcome guests (one in Cyamdungo and the other around Uwinka). Nyungwe forest is home to 75 different species of mammal as well.Nyungwe rain forest is indeed a centre of nature and wildlife experiences. Nyungwe forest has activities lined up like; Hiking or even biking the beautiful terrain, tracking the famous chimpanzees, experiencing the canopy walk, witnessing beautiful birds, and relaxing by waterfalls.Sounds and views collaborate to create a one-of-a-kind wildlife experience. Exploring through the forest, travelers will witness the lush green mountains and cooling mist in a landscape that won’t be soon forgotten
WHAT TO DO AT NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
Chimpanzee tracking
Nyungwe forest is currently the best place to track chimpanzees in Rwanda. With about 400 individual chimpanzees that live in different clans,Nyungwe forest has Only two groups that are habituated. Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest is a year round activity. Every morning groups of tourist set off as early at 4:00am under the guidance of experienced guides to search for one of the two habituated clans found the Uwinka and Cyamudongo sections of the park.
One needs to be prepared for the demanding activity which requires following highly mobile primates who do not necessarily follow the main trails but can wander off to thick untouched forest. However, once they settle down, visitors get a chance to spot the primates sitting on top of the trees, feeding and grooming. After watching the group dynamics for a while, you will be surprised by how much they behave like we humans. In order to have the best experience, trackers should come with long sleeve shirts and pants, hiking boots, a hat, a rain jacket, a walking stick and binoculars for spotting the chimps on top of trees. Do not forget to pack lots of drinking water bottles and light snack to renew your energies. In order to have a comfortable time tracking the chimps, we recommend that you hire the services of a porter to help carry any extra heavy luggage and equipment.
Tracking Monkeys
Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda is one of the best places to spot small primates in Africa. Although Chimpanzee tracking is the dominant primate activity, some tourist come with the purpose of seeing the other smaller primates like the Angola Colobus Monkeys, Dent’s Mona Monkeys, Grey Cheeked Mangabeys, Hamlyn’s Monkeys, L’Hoest’s Monkeys, Olive Baboon, Red tailed Monkeys, Silver Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, White and Black and Colobus monkeys. Groups of golden monkeys have been spotted in the park but because of their small numbers, finding them is difficult. The most popular species among tourists is the arboreal Ruwenzori Colobus that feeds on leaves and is identifiable by the contrasting black and white (tail and whiskers) colors. All the monkey species move in troops that can go beyond 100.
Nyungwe Forest National Park has four major trails in; The Kamiranzovu Trail which involves walking through orchids and marshes,the Bigugu Trail takes you up to the peak of Mount Bigugu,then the Waterfall Trail that starts from around the Gisakura Guest House up to the Tea estate and finally the Unwika Campsite Trail is the last trail and is divided into two – Red (10 Km) and Grey (1 Km)
Biking
Nyungwe natonal park biking experience is done along the Congo Nile Trail By cycling through the Congo Nile Trial you are assured of opportunities to explore the park at close range. As one rides through the trail, they come closer bird species, primates and other forest wildlife. It is also a perfect way to see all the beautiful tree and plant species that makes the forest so attractive to nature lovers. Camping is a must while biking through the trail. It is therefore important to carry along the right clothing, camping equipment, snacks and water.
Forest and Canopy walks
Nyungwe forest have two different walks, a canopy walk and a low ground forest walk in the rain forest.The canopy walk starts at the Uwinka Visitors Center and goes through a hanging platform that is about 45 meters above the ground. From these heights, visitors get spectacular views of the rain-forest, animals and birds.
The canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest is amazing and adventurous, but it can be scary for those with a fear of heights. Those who fear heights should instead go for the Forest walks. There are several hiking trails which go up to the forest interior. The trails are painted in different colors allowing visitors to spot the forest animals and birds in the interior. Some of the trails require 8 hours to complete. The Igishigishigi Trail is the shortest while the Bigugu Trail leading up to the mountain is the most difficult taking at least 5 hours to complete. The water fall trail is designed to lead visitors to the beautiful waterfalls of the forest. Nature lovers with time to spare usually take time to complete each trail at a time. By the end of their time in the forest, they would have discovered and explored everything there is to know about this old forest including the primates.
Birding walks
Nyungwe forest is a birder’s paradise in East Africa.Nyungwe National Park has over 300 bird species of which 27 can only be found in the Albertine region. Because of the biodiversity in the park and particularly its rich collection of birds, Birdlife International considers it the most important site for conservation in Rwanda. Popuar birds like;Archer’s Robin Chat, Barred long Tailed Cuckoo, Blue Turaco, Chapin’s flycatcher, Doherty’s Bush Shrikes, grey-chested kakamega, Handsome Francolin, Lagden’s Bush Shrikes, Mountain Sooty Boubou, Pockefellers’s sun bird, Purple Throated Sunbird, Red collared mountain Babbler, Rwenzori Double Collared Warbler, Rwenzori Nightjah, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Batis, White Bellied Robin chat, White Tailed Flycatcher and the Yellow Eyed Black Flycatcher.The dry season is perfect for birding because migrant birds usually flock the forest to find food and escape harsh winter conditions in Europe.