What to do in Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda?
What to do in Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda? A number of tourism activities can be done in the park such as chimpanzee trekking, bird watching, nature walk among others.
Chimpanzee trekking safaris
Chimpanzee tracking safaris to Nyungwe Forest National Park Nyungwe Forest National park offers the best destination for chimpanzee tracking in Rwanda. The park has over 400 chimpanzees that reside in different groups and it is only 2 groups that are habituated and are available for tracking by visitors. Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National park can be done any season of the year and visitors will need to wake up early in the morning to search for one of the habituated chimpanzee groups under the guidance of well-experienced guides. Only 8 visitors are allowed to trek a particular chimpanzee group per day. The habituated groups or clans of chimpanzees are found in Cyamudongo and Uwika sections of the park.
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National park is challenging because the chimpanzees are mobile and therefore one needs to be physically fit and ready to spend long g5ours of the day searching for the chimpanzees. Sometimes visitors might not follow the trail because chimpanzees keep moving but after you land your eyes on them then you will find everything so good and nice as you will be able to know their feeding habitats, movements, and grooming among others. Visitors for chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park will need to purchase a chimpanzee trekking permit which costs 100 United States dollars from Rwanda Development Board.
Bird watching safaris
Nyungwe Forest National is one of the leading destinations for birding with over 324 bird species of which 29 species live only in the Albertine Rift endemic and this makes it interesting for birdwatchers. The park features several trails that enrich visitors with unique bird species. There more you hike within the park the more birds you get to see. The common bird species in Nyungwe Forest National Park include white Headed Wood Hoope, Francolin, regal sunbird, blue-headed sunbirds, Forest Hornbill, Paradise flycatcher, Great Blue Turaco, Red-faced Woodland, red-Breasted Sparrow Hawk, Ruwenzori Nightjar, White-bellied Robin Chart, Rwenzori double collared warbler among others. It more exciting when you go with the guide in the forest as they are knowledgeable about birds and no better where most of the bird species are located
Canopy walk safaris
Nyungwe Forest National park offers the most thrilling activity where visitors walk through a hanging troll on a 200-meter long trail 50 meters above the forests as they see the panoramic view of the forests in addition to spotting birds and animals. The canopy walks commence at the Uwinka visitor’s center. It is somehow scary but it provides one of the bests adventure experiences. It is only in Rwanda in the whole of East Africa where canopy walks are done. visitors who fear taking canopy walks can opt for nature forest walks following different trails which are painted in different colors to enable visitors to spot animals. The most trails include Igishigishigi the shortest and Bigugu the longest trail
Monkey tracking safaris in Nyungwe Forest National Park: Nyungwe forest National Park shelters about 13 primates of which the majority are monkeys. Most tourists know that Nyungwe is for chimpanzees only but there are some of the tourists who go to Nyungwe Forest National park for seeing and tracking other primates especially monkeys. There number of monkeys which you can track Other than chimpanzee tracking including colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, silver monkeys, dents mona monkeys, Golden monkeys, vervet monkeys, Olive baboon, red-tailed monkeys, Grey’-cheeked mangabey, Owl’-faced monkey and L’-hoest monkey. The monkeys in Nyungwe Forests National Park move in troops even to more than 100.
Biking safaris via Congo Nile trail in Nyungwe National Forest National Park
The prominent Congo nail trail that passes via Nyungwe Forests National Park enables visitors to bike as they enjoy this beautiful section of th6e forested Park. Biking is an exciting adventure activity that visitors can opt for to explore the park for primates watching. As you’re biking you will make sure that you camp as the trail is a bit longer. Thus you must pack the right equipment that will help you while biking essentials such as clothing, snacks, and water which can be of great importance for your safari.
All the above-narrated activities can be visited throughout the year but it’s nest when you arrive in Rwanda during the dry season when the trails and routes to explore these activities are not filled with mud to become slippery.