Nyugwe Forest National Park

Nyugwe national park

Nyungwe National Park is primarily a rainforest, but it also boasts a diverse range of habitats such as swamps, marshes, bamboo thickets, heath communities, open woodland, and microhabitats. The park is situated in the westernmost region of the Great Rift Valley, also known as the Albertine Rift, which stretches from Lake Albert to Lake Tanganyika. This area is home to many large mountains and lakes that drain into either the Congo River system to the west or the Nile River system to the east and north. Along with its stunning landscapes, the Albertine Rift is famous for its high number of endemic species of plants and animals. Nyungwe National Park alone has over 1,400 plant species, at least 85 mammal species (including 13 primates), and over280 bird species. If you’re interested in exploring this unique biodiversity, consider visiting Nyungwe National contact beautiful safaris Uganda

With over 280 bird and 13 primate species and spreading over 1000 square kilometers, Nyungwe National Park is one of the most acclaimed biodiversity rainforests in Africa. Notwithstanding the various attractions in the park, the Canopy Walkway remains one of the best places to experience as it offers a magnificent view of the canopy and it gives a great site for bird-watching.The Canopy walk is suspended at a height of about 60m above the ground and goes over giant trees. While the beauty of Nyungwe National Park remains unknown to many, efforts are being made to attract many tourists.

Activities in Nyugwe forest national park

Best known for its mountain gorillas, Rwanda also offers the opportunity to see all the Big Five in the savannah of Akagera National Park and to track chimpanzees in East Africa’s largest remaining Afromontane forest. That forest’s name is Nyungwe, and it is protected in a magnificently scenic and biodiverse 1,015km²/392mi² national park set on the Rift Valley escarpment above Lake Kivu. At least 500 chimps roam this vast forest, but the main trekking site is Cyamudongo, an isolated forest annex whose community of 30 chimps is well habituated to tourists. These humanlike apes share almost 99% of our DNA, and trekking through the jungle of Nyungwe to look for them is one of many magical experiences on offer in this underrated park.

Canopy walk in Nyugwe forest national park

Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park Canopy Walkway was officially opened in 2010 – in short, its 3 suspension bridges with suspension cables spanning a total of 170 meters, the main span is 86 meters and approximately 70 meters above the forest floor.

Birding in Nyugwe forest national park

Nyugwe forest national park is prime birding destination home to over 280 species of birds and its regarded as the birders paradise in Rwanda with over 17 birds species endemic to the albertine rift valley
Nyungwe National Park is a stunning birding destination. Casual birders will be amazed at the variety of colorful species fluttering around, while dedicated bird-watchers have an opportunity to mark off many lifers. It pays to ask for a specialist birding guide at the park’s headquarters as they can identify many species by call. Of specific interest are the many Albertine Rift endemics and birds unique to the highland forest habitat includes abyssinian ground thrush, mountain masked apalis, dusky crimsonwing,red throated alethe, Rwenzori batis, Rwenzori turacco, yellow eyed black flycather, albertine owlete, collard apalis among others . Three birds unrecorded elsewhere on the eastern side of the Albertine Rift are Albertine owlet, red-collared babbler and Rockefeller’s sunbird.

when is the best time to visit Nyugwe forest national park

Nyungwe  forest National Park is open throughout the year. The dry months, from June to September, are the best time for chimpanzee trekking, spotting other primates and hiking. At this time the trails are less slippery, and activities are less likely to be interrupted by heavy rainfall.

how to get to nyugwe forest National park