Nyungwe Forest National Park
The Stories Behind East Africa Famous Places
Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the reasons why Rwanda has become the top tourist destination in the world over. This is not only the place for relaxation but also one of the places for adventure and insight into Rwanda‘s single beauty. This forest is the largest protected mountain forest in Africa that covers between 1600 and 2000 sq meters and is a five hour drive into the middle of Rwanda, this long drive to Nyungwe also gives the guests an opportunity to drink in the country’s diverse scenery and the imposing landscape as you move to the main attraction. Once you get to the park, you will then prepare to join one of the most unbelievable adventures you will ever have, the canopy walk.
In addition, the beautiful scenery large, centuries-old trees and the added thick forest, and this extraordinary tropical forest is also sheltered to a 200m canopy walkway that will give you the excitement that can hardly be compared by anything else.
Getting to the canopy is also about 2 hours from the starting point at Uwinka visitor Centre. The forest is on a mountain and the hike is also slippery due to the mere fact that the ground on which the guests’ trek is wet and so moist. Viewing the canopy on arrival, most especially for those that are fear heights, this could also be described as the endless walk to hell.
This bridge adjourned between the huge trees one on the feel of the fresh air, 60m above the forest floor. Apart from the freshness in the air and the wonderful aerial view of the trees, you will also enjoy the sights of the fantastic birds that fly across as you enjoy the walk. This canopy walk is the most preferred activity for the park visitors and it’s one of those you want to try before you die.it was opened in 2010 and it’s the only one of its kind in East Africa and the third on the African continent. This 90m long canopy walkway also gives a unique face to face meetings with the butterflies, birds and the monkeys.
The hardwood trees also occupy the upper canopy as the lower part is dominated by the large selection of the purple orchids and the lush flora as well as fauna that curl better in the higher altitudes.
And apart from the canopy walk, this national park also offers many trails into the different parts of the forest for the hikers and the walkers. All the guided walks start from the central Uwinka reception Centre, the western Gisakura entrance as well as the eastern Kitabi entrance.
Since the view might be good from above, this attraction is also good from the forest floor. There is also a network of the ten mud trails that takes you deep into the heart of the forest.
And finally, you will reward yourself after the 10km hike with a visit to Nyungwe’s Ishuno waterfalls that are beautiful. It may also be small in size, but this calm waterfall strikes its way and the breeze to which one is also welcomed will feel one of life’s greatest pleasures.
This park of Rwanda from 50m in the air on the canopy walk and access imposing insights into East Africa’s largest and the oldest Afro- Montane forest. This walkway of about 200m also hangs across a steep and deep valley that is filled with thick forest. This walk gives breathtaking views across the misty forest and the sightings at the eye level of the variety of wildlife that lives in the canopy.
This canopy walk also takes close to 2 hours and its starting and endpoint being Nyungwe National park headquarters- the Uwinka tourist reception center. The first 200m is a walk along the forest trail under the thick canopies for an opportunity of viewing the ground level nature before taking on the canopy walkway to get to the top level of the forest. The prominent sightings here include; the monkeys, including the blue monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, black and white colobus, the red-tailed monkeys and the birds. The minimum age for this walk is 6 years and the kids must be escorted by the adults. The cost of this activity is $60 per person paid to the reception center. More so, the activity is present throughout the whole year. The chances of rain failing are high so, remember to carry a raincoat. The hiking shoes are also vital and both of these can be rented from the reception center. The walking sticks are provided free of charge. About the difficulty, this hike is so easy and takes only 2 hours to complete it.
Starting time of the canopy walk
8:00am /10:00am, 7 :00pm or 3:00pm
What you should carry for the canopy walk.
- 1 liter of drinking water
- The hiking boots
- The rain Jacket
- Cameras
- Small backpack bag
- The walking stick
- Camera batteries
Looking for Chimpanzee Tracking in Rwanda? Visit Rwanda especially Nyungwe National Park; Tucked away in the middle of tea Plantations, the biggest mountain rain forest on this side of the African continent can be a bit deceptive in its vastness if you simply catch a glimpse of it from a far. Nyungwe forest is probably the most preserved forest in Africa. Some say it is the most important site for biodiversity in Rwanda. It is home to over 1000 species of creation after all.
Nyungwe is also not a compact park but large forest and the things to do and see here also take some planning as that your time on the safari is not wasted with drive times. You can also find over 300 different bird species, many butterflies, orchids, 75 mammal species including the 13 primates, and there have also been the sightings of the golden monkeys. Also the park is with its uncountable of the natural wonders and is not missed if you are coming to Rwanda and it will be one of those items to mountain gorilla tracking in Rwanda.
What To Do in Volcanoes
ACTIVITIES
Nyungwe Chimpanzee Tracking
Chimpanzee tracking in Rwanda also starts in the morning and its best to carry a day pack where you have a couple of liters of water, have long trousers, the long sleeved shirt, rain jacket, the hiking boots and the hat. There will also be a maximum of over 8 people in your group that sets out to track the chimpanzees. These chimps at Nyungwe forest have been and are being habituated which means that they are used to human beings. Even though gorilla tracking, however, many set out to track these closest cousins as they play in Nyungwe forest national park.
Hiking in Nyungwe National Park
Nyungwe National park is also a hiker’s paradise. There are also 13 hiking trails with over 130 kilometers of the trails through the forest. The visitors can also spend a good week as you are hiking the many trails, as you explore the ancient rainforest and discovering many habitants found in the forest. Hiking in Nyungwe Forest is the time of discovering in a primal rain forest that will simply amazing may visitors with its fairy tale like appearance, its wildlife, birds, primates, plants, flowers, butterflies and the trees.
Nyungwe Canopy Walkway
This canopy walk is also the first tree top forest canopy walk in East Africa and the third in all Africa.this walk is also an activity not to be missed in Rwanda. In case you are coming to Rwanda to trek the mountain gorillas, you can add on some days and include Nyungwe forest and enjoy the canopy walk as part of your safari itinerary. This canopy walk is also 60 meters above the ground and this can also be dizzying heights for some people, you will see the monkeys move around in the tree tops, the birds that are flying above you and below you and a beautiful view of the huge Nyungwe forest. It’s also an amazing sight. This canopy walk is also 90m long which is not a long distance, however, it’s when you are 60 m above the ground.