What is the best time to visit Nyungwe Forest National Park
What is the best time to visit Nyungwe Forest National Park has always been a common question among tourists planning their safari in Rwanda. Nyungwe is among the four National parks in the country and the second most visited park after Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking. It covers an area of approximately 1019 square kilometres, famous for its rich biodiversity.
The park is home to over 85 mammal species, 13 primate species, 120 butterfly species, 320 bird species, and 1600 plant species, including orchids. This ancient tropical rainforest attracts thousands of people globally to enjoy the breathtaking views of the forest and the variety of tourist activities it offers, such as the canopy walk, chimpanzee trekking, butterfly walks, monkey tracking, and nature walks, among others, that offer an exceptional African safari experience.
The best time to visit Nyungwe Forest National Park.
The Park can be visited year-round, and the best time to visit Nyungwe Forest National Park varies depending on your travel style and what kind of experience you’re after, whether it’s bird watching, hiking, chimpanzee trekking or enjoying the famous canopy walk which is one of a kind in East Africa. Nyungwe experiences two seasons, the dry season and the wet season, both provide a unique and memorable safari experience.
The dry season is the most sought-after season by travellers, which runs from June to September and December to February. During this period, there is little to no rainfall, the trails are less slippery and muddy, making it easy to penetrate the forest and the cool temperatures provide a memorable safari experience in the forest. The vegetation is short, making it easy to view wildlife species. However, during this season, the forest is dry and there is not enough food for the inhabitants, which makes wildlife species move deep into the forest in search of food. This makes it challenging to search for wildlife species such as chimpanzees, birds, and monkeys as they keep moving in search of food, and it takes time to locate them.
The wet season can also be the best time to visit Nyungwe Forest National Park, which runs from October to November and March to May. This period is characterized by enough rainfall, making it challenging to penetrate the forest. Visitors should be prepared that the trails are slippery and muddy, and cold temperatures provide quite a unique experience. The trees and plants bear enough fruits, which provide enough food to the forest inhabitants, and this prevents them from moving deep into the forest to search for food. It’s easy to see chimpanzees and bird lovers; this is a breeding period for birds that gives a chance to spot various species of birds. Whether you visit the park during the dry season or wet season, both periods provide unique and unforgettable experiences that make Nyungwe Forest National Park a must-visit on your African safari.
Visitors should be aware that Nyungwe Forest National Park is a tropical rainforest that receives rainfall at any time of the year. While planning your safari, you should consider packing hiking boots, long trousers, water waterproof rain jacket, a hat, long long-sleeved shirt, water bottle.
