What to do in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Are you planning a safari in Nyungwe and wondering what to do in Nyungwe Forest National Park on your safari? This article will help you choose the best activities to do on your safari in Nyungwe Forest National Park, found in the southwestern region of Rwanda. It is one of the oldest tropical rainforests in Africa and is renowned for its rich biodiversity. This UNESCO heritage site covers an area of approximately 1018 square kilometres, and it’s one of the important conservation places in Rwanda.
The park hosts over 13 primate species, 1609 plant species, including orchids, 322 bird species, 120 butterfly species and 85 mammal species, all of which contribute to the variety of activities that travelers can enjoy while on their safari in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Things to do in Nyungwe Forest include the famous canopy walk that is one of a kind in East Africa, birding, chimpanzee trekking, nature walk, monkey tracking, butterfly walks, and hiking which all provide a unique and memorable experience on your African safari.
What to do in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Chimpanzee Trekking
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest is one of the most enjoyable activities in the park. It hosts over 500 chimpanzees, and this makes it the second park with the highest number of chimps in Africa after Kibale National Park in Uganda. This activity starts very early in the morning when chimps are still active and this gives visitors an opportunity to watch their daily activities. There are two habituated groups Uwnika group and Cyamudongo group all groups provide a unique and memorable chimp trekking experience.
This is a guided trek led by an experienced guide who gives more information about the wildlife species that you may encounter while in the forest. Chimpanzees don’t stay in one place; they move from one place to another in search of food, the duration for trekking depends on their movements. Once located, visitors are given one hour to stay with them, they get a chance to see how they feed, play, and mothers take care of the young ones, just like humans as they are believed to be our closest relatives on earth. This gives a unique experience and if you are a primate lover, chimpanzee trekking should be added to your bucket list.
Canopy walk
The canopy walk experience is one of the best things to do in Nyungwe Forest National Park, which gives visitors an opportunity to observe the park from another perspective above the ground. This is a suspended metallic bridge 160m long and 70m above the ground, which creates a unique and memorable experience that cannot be found anywhere else in East Africa. The walk starts from Uwinka reception centre with a briefing and meeting your guide, who leads the group to Igishigishigi trail, which is 2.1km long. While on this walkway, visitors have an opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking views of the forest canopies, Lake Kivu, tea plantations and viewing wildlife from above. On lucky days, you will see chimpanzees playing from one tree to another, beautiful butterflies, and bird species that stay in high altitudes. If you fear heights, we advise you do other activities in the park.
Birding in Nyungwe.
Are you a bird enthusiast and looking for what to do in Nyungwe Forest National Park? The park is a paradise for bird watching as it hosts over 322 bird species, including 29 species which are Albertine Rift endemics. They can only be found in Nyungwe, it’s one of the important birding areas in Rwanda, making it the best birding spot for bird lovers. The park has well-constructed birding trails that cater to all levels, whether you are an experienced birder or a beginner, the park offers the best. Some of the notable bird species to encounter while on your birding safari include the Regal Sunbird, Ruwenzori Hill Babbler, Neumann’s Warbler, Red-throated Alethe, Ruwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Dusky Twinspot, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Golden-crowned Woodpecker, Ashy Flycatcher, Kivu Ground Thrush, Blue-headed Sunbird, Collared Apalis, and Strange Weaver.
Additionally, the rare Albertine Owlet, Holub’s Golden Weaver, Black-necked Weaver, Grauer’s Broadbill, Mountain Masked Apalis, Dusky Crimsonwing, Dwarf Honeyguide, and Stranger Weaver, Archer’s Robin Chat, the rare Ruwenzori Turaco, Bar-tailed Trogon, Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill, Snowy-headed Robin-chat, Vieillot’s Black Weaver, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Sharpe’s Starling, the Grey Parrot, Black Bee-eater, White-headed Woodhoopoe, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Red-chested Cuckoo, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, and African Emerald Cuckoo among more.
Butterfly Walk
A butterfly walk in Nyungwe is one of the lesser-known activities in the park,yet it is incredibly rewarding for butterfly lovers. The park has over 120 butterfly species, of which 21 species are Albertine species and 40 species are endemic to the forest. There are well-maintained walking trails with various species of orchids and plants that attract countless butterfly species, which gives visitors a chance to watch colorful butterfly species. The species to see while in the park include , Long-Tailed Admiral, White-Banded Swift, Regal Swallowtail, Constantine’s Swallowtail, Eastern Dotted Border, Giant Cupids,Common Green Charaxes, Green-Veined Charaxes, Common Bush Blue, Grizzled Bush Brown, Dantate Bush Brown, Sudan Copper White, Brown-Veined White, Fragile Buff, Livid Ciliate Blue, Leaden Ciliate Blue, Small Copper, Pale Ranger, Black and Orange, Grand Skipper, Soldier Commodore, Common Grass Yellow, Blue Pied Pierrot, Palm Tree Nightfighter, African Albatross, Green-Banded Swallowtail among more.
Nature Walk in Nyungwe Forest.
A nature walk is one of the amazing things to do in Nyungwe Forest National Park, as it gives visitors an opportunity to explore the park on foot. There are well-maintained nature walk trails which are specifically constructed for nature walk that cater to all levels of fitness form easy to challenging trail. This is a guided activity led by a guide who gives more information about the park inhabitants that you may encounter. This activity enables nature lovers to connect with nature and appreciate the beauty of the park.
