Activities in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Activities in Nyungwe Forest National Park include various adventures that visitors can do while exploring the park. Nyungwe is situated in the western region of the country, spanning an area of 1018 square kilometers. It’s one of the most visited parks in the country and the remaining tropical rainforest in Africa. The presence of various ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, woodlands, grasslands, and rivers, provides a habitat to a wide range of wildlife species that call Nyungwe Forest National Park home.
The park is famous for its rich biodiversity, including birds, primates, reptiles, butterflies, plants, and tree species that provide a wide range of activities in the park. Whether you are looking to immerse yourself in nature or enjoy the beautiful sounds of birds, watching primates in their natural habitats, Nyungwe Forest offers the best experiences to travellers. If you are planning your African safari, consider visiting Rwanda.
Top Activities in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Canopy Walk
This is one of the best activities in Nyungwe Forest National Park, which gives visitors a chance to view the forest from a vantage point. The canopy walk is done on a suspended metallic bridge which is 160m long and 70m above the ground, across a deep valley filled with thick forest. This is a guided activity that starts with a briefing about the rules and regulations of the activity. Your assigned guide will lead you and provide important information about the park’s inhabitants that you may encounter. While on the walkway, visitors have an opportunity to observe and enjoy the breathtaking views of the tropical rainforest from above. They also view wildlife species like butterflies, monkeys swinging from tree to tree, various bird species, among more from above, which creates a memorable experience.
Chimpanzee Trekking.
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe is one of the amazing activities that visitors can enjoy in the park. It is the second park with the highest number of chimpanzees in Africa after Kibale Forest National Park in Uganda, and the best place to do chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda. Trekking starts early in the morning with a briefing about the rules and regulations of the trek, and later, you meet your assigned guide, who leads the search for these playful animals. The trek involves hiking on steep slopes, and we encourage participants to be physically fit. Once chimps are located, visitors are given one hour to learn and observe more about their behaviours.
Birding
Birding is among the top activities in Nyungwe Forest National Park; it’s one of the best birding destinations in Rwanda, with over 322 bird species, including 29 species that are Albertine Rift endemics. The park has well-constructed trails, which are specifically for bird watching and cater to all levels of fitness, ranging from easy to challenging, all providing unforgettable bird watching experiences. Some of the bird species to encounter include Blue-headed Sunbird, Collared Apalis, Strange Weaver, Albertine Owlet, Rockefeller’s Sunbird, Ruwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Dusky Twinspot, Red-throated Alethe, Mountain Masked Apalis, Dusky Crimsonwing, Dwarf Honeyguide, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Archer’s Robin Chat, Regal Sunbird, Ruwenzori Hill Babbler, the rare Ruwenzori Turaco and Shalley’s Crimsonwing, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Grauer’s Broadbill, Kungwe Apalis, Yellow-backed Weaver, Yellow-throated Nicator, Willard’s Sooty Boubou, and Doherty’s Bushshrike.
Colobus Monkey Tracking.
This is the best activity in Nyungwe Forest National Park for monkey lovers, as the park has over 12 species of monkeys, like blue monkeys, colobus monkeys, and mona monkeys, among more, but the only habituated monkeys that are fully accustomed to human presence are the colobus monkeys. These live in groups of up to 400 individuals, and they are more active than chimpanzees. Tracking takes between 1 to 4 hours, depending on their movements since they keep moving from place to play in search of food. Once participants locate them, they are given one hour to observe more about their behaviours.
Nature Walk.
Nature walk is among the amazing activities for nature lovers in Nyungwe Forest National Park, as it gives them a chance to immerse themselves in nature. This is a guided activity led by an experienced park guide who gives more information about the park’s inhabitants that you may find along the way. The park has well-constructed nature walk trails that cater to all levels of fitness, from challenging to easy, which all provide unique and memorable experiences.
