Activities in Nyungwe Forest National Park are the remarkable ventures in the park that visitors can do when they visit the park for a safari. Nyungwe National Park is located in the southwestern part of Rwanda and is among few top Rwanda safari destinations to visit while on holiday in Rwanda. The park is approximately 4 to 5 hours from Rwanda’s capital Kigali to main destination. More so, Nyungwe National Pak is the epitome of beautiful nature such as; sight of the prehistoric nyungwe rain forest, tree species in the forest, the grassland, the swamps, the sight of the skies not forgetting the various primates and wildlife in the park many more.
Nyungwe National Park covers an area of about 1,015 square kilometers and habitat to many species of primates, mammals, birdlife, butterflies and reptiles. More so, the park offers series of mountainous steeps that wind up in the forest through to Lake Kivu; these steeps have become a walking and hiking trails that attracts visitors along here.
Although, most visitors to Rwanda -visit Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking, visiting Akagera National Park forgetting that Nyungwe National Park also offers fantastic activities and attraction visitors can experience on their safari. Nyungwe lies 4 to 5 hours away from Kigali the capital city of Rwanda in the southwest of the country, bordering Lake Kivu and Burundi in the west and in the south respectively.
Here are highlight of things to do in Nyungwe National Park
Chimpanzee Trekking
Chimpanzee trekking is one of the main key activities done in the park and this is because Nyungwe rain forest is home to over 13 primate species including the endangered chimpanzees. We see thousands of tourist’s flocks in the park all year round in order to enjoy a glimpse of these unique primates, witness their playful nature and other characteristics.
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe; This is a stunning and rewarding activity as visitors get to encounter our closest relative which is said that chimps have 98% DNA to humans. However, this activity starts in the morning at Uwinka reception centers or at Gisakura or Katabi with a briefing on the guidelines of the tracking experience. Then after , you will go meet your assigned ranger to lead you into the forest to see the chimpanzee .Once you find them an hour is given to you to watch and learn how they feed ,play and behave in their nature habitant. While trekking, you can see other primates such as L’hoests monkey, black and white colobus, blue monkeys and red-tailed monkeys among others.
Canopy walk
Nyungwe National Park is one among the three places in Africa where to experience the Canopy walkways and the only place to practice this in East Africa. Well, canopy walk takes about a 160 Kilometers long suspended bridge above the Nyungwe forest. The bridge hangs about 70 meters above the forest that gives you a gainful view of the beauty of the forest from above. Also, you can view the East African region, Lake Kivu and several animals that you view from the top.
NB; Cost of canopy walk is USD60 per person and experience takes 2 hours. It is limited to minimum of 6 years of age.
Hiking
Nyungwe National Park has got several interesting hiking trails such as; Igishigishigi trail, Bigungu trail, Ngabwe trail, Isumo waterfall trail, Kamiranzovu marsha trail, Karamba birding trail, Muzimu trail, Irebero trail, Imbaraga trail, Umoyove trail and Rukuzi trail.
One of these trails leads you to stunning other points like swamps, caves, waterfalls and spotting of notable birds.
Hiking the forest trails, you will enjoy different beautiful features and the activity can be done as a full day but depends on your interests. All you need is to be physically fit.
Guided Nature /Forest walks
On visit to Nyungwe National Park, you can engage in guided nature where you guided by the ranger in the forest trails and you will be able to learn about the forest unique tree species and vegetation as they take in the diversity of the forest and the beautiful nature. The different trails allow you spot various classic birds and beautiful butterflies.
This activity can take up to 3 hours depending on the travelers’ preferences.
Birdwatching
Nyungwe is home to variety of notable bird species and some of bird species to see includes; White tailed flycatcher, Yellow-eyed black flycatcher, Rockefeller’s sunbird, Chapin’s flycatcher, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Batis, Congo Bay owlet, Mountain sooty boubou many more. Well, tourists can enjoy guided birding tours in this ancient forest to spot several birds in the park.
You can decide to do outside park activities such as visiting tea plantations and culture encounter in communities where you will enjoy the unique lifestyle of Rwandan people who stay around the park
The activities in Nyungwe National Park are worthwhile .
