Rwanda Wildlife tours to Nyungwe National Park are a must-do. The park is one of the most exclusive wildlife destinations in Rwanda and East Africa in general. Nyungwe National Park is located in South Western Rwanda about a 6 to 7 hours drive from Kigali Rwanda’s capital city. It protects Rwanda’s largest forest and one of the oldest rainforests in Africa. Nyungwe is home to several wildlife species making it a top destination for Rwanda Wildlife Tours.
Nyungwe National Park covers a land area of 1,019 square Kilometers. It is diverse and it is on this basis that it was recently inscribed as a World Heritage Site. It is also among Rwanda’s largest protected areas. The forested national park is mountainous and consists of Afro-montane forests, Swamps, bamboo, grasslands, and bogs that are all habitats for several wildlife species.
There are 13 primates, over 300 bird species, 85 mammal species, 38 reptiles, 32 amphibians, and over 1060 plant species. On Rwanda wildlife tours to Nyungwe you, therefore, have several activities you can engage in, and they include the following.
Chimpanzee trekking is the main safari activity done in Nyungwe National Park. There are two main chimpanzee communities here that are habituated and open to tourism. One community is at Uwinka the main park headquarters and the other is at Cyamudongo near Lake Kivu. Chimpanzees share over 98% DNA similar to humans making them man’s closest primates. It is therefore adventurous to take on Rwanda Wildlife tours to Nyungwe to meet these human relatives.
The chimpanzee Trekking Experience
Nyungwe Chimpanzee trekking starts early morning with a briefing at the park headquarters. To avoid wasting time it is important to book accommodation near the sector or community where you will be tracking. You can however still make it regardless of where you have accommodation.
Trekking to the chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest takes 2 to 4 hours of hiking in the forest. Here you get to see several wildlife, especially birds and small reptiles. There are usually park rangers who go ahead of time and they communicate with the ranger guides once the chimps have been located. Once you get to them you are only allowed one hour in their presence learning more and taking photos. Later you are brought back to the park headquarters.
Chimpanzees are highly mobile compared to other primates. They tend to move from one place to another sometimes jumping from one tree branch to another. Chimpanzees communicate by making different sounds and calls amongst themselves. Expert ranger guides have trekked these forests for years and can tell the next move by sound and body language.
Colobus monkey and other primate treks
On these primate treks in Nyungwe forest, you will get to see the other 12 primates the park has. They include red-tailed monkeys, Olive baboons, Grey-cheeked mangabey, Silver monkeys, Colobus, and Vervet Monkeys among others. Nyungwe National Park has about 25% of Africa’s primates, and Rwanda Wildlife tours featuring any of them are unmatched.
The best time to start these primate treks is in the early morning but afternoon sessions can work as well.
Night Nature Walks
Nyungwe National Park has several nocturnal animals that can be explored on a night nature walk. The night is the best time to listen to the sounds and even the smallest species including crickets. Night nature walks in Nyungwe start at 7:00 pm and end at 9:00 pm. In the two hours of hiking, you enjoy the Jungle and get to feel the real African wilderness.
Day Nature Walks
Several well-developed trails in the Nyungwe forest are hiked during the day. A number of these take 2 to 3 hours or more depending on one’s interest. The canopy walk is among the most spectacular as you hike East Africa’s major canopy walkway. The Canopy hangs several meters in the sky. On this adventurous walk, you are able to see the wildlife species that prefer staying in the top canopy layers. You also enjoy the great scenic views of the great Albertine Rift and some of the nearby Rift Valley lakes.
There is also a guided nature walk to the waterfalls in the middle of the forest. Here you mainly enjoy the scenery from the forest and the waterfalls.
Birding Wildlife Tours
Nyungwe National Park is Rwanda’s most Important Birding Area and the best birding safari destination in the country. The park is home to several Albertine Rift endemics and many species restricted to the central African forests.
Notable birds in the Nyungwe forest include the Rwenzori Nightjar, the Great Blue Turaco, Rwenzori Turaco, the Regal sunbird, the Kivu-Ground Thrush, and Congo the bay Owlet among others. Birding trips to Nyungwe are among the most important Rwanda Wildlife tours to be part of while in Nyungwe.
The best time for birding safaris in Nyungwe is from March to May. This is because birding in Nyungwe depends on calls and these months are when birds are more vocal. Migratory birds are also present in the park from November to May giving you a chance to see several species.
Other Rwanda Wildlife Tours
Rwanda offers other incredible wildlife experiences. These include primate treks to the mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park. You can also be part of the big five safari experiences in Akagera National Park. Akagera has all the most desired safari animals including both black and white rhinos.
All Rwanda Wildlife tour destinations have several bird species and are ideal for birding tours. We customize itineraries to all these depending on your preference and convenience. To have the best of Rwanda we recommend a 5 or 7-day Rwanda wildlife safari. The 10-day Rwanda Safari option is also great featuring the 3 National Parks in Rwanda. Contact Us now to start planning for your next Rwanda wildlife tours.
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