4 DAYS: NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK RWANDA SAFARI EXPERIENCE
4 DAYS: NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK RWANDA SAFARI EXPERIENCE
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A 4-days safari experience in Nyungwe National Park, located in Rwanda, offers the opportunity to explore one of the most biodiverse and beautiful rainforests in East Africa. Nyungwe National Park is renowned for its lush vegetation, diverse wildlife, and exceptional primate tracking experiences. Nyungwe National Park is one of the oldest rainforests in Africa, is rich in biodiversity, and spectacularly beautiful mountainous region teaming with wildlife, including a small population of chimpanzees as well as 12 other species of primate, including the L’Hoest’s monkey endemic to the Albertine Rift, with 15 trails, some of which are detailed along with various activities visitors can choose to sample the delights of the forest or indulge yourself in one of Africa’s most stunning forests.
Nyungwe National Pack lies in southwest Rwanda, partly abutting the Burundi border. It’s a vast area of mountain rainforest, home to many species of chimpanzees, plus owl-faced and colobus monkeys. The Canopy Walkway, part of the Igishigishigi Trail, is a high-suspension bridge with views over the valley and surrounding forests. A trail runs to the Kamiranzovu Marsh, with its birdlife, orchids, and waterfall. The pack is dominated by a series of mountains, originating in northern Uganda and Congo, running south through the Rwenzori mountains, western Rwanda, and Burundi, to the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Nyungwe forest national park offers scenic views over Lake Kivu and sometimes the Virunga ranges on a clear day. The forest has an extensive network of well-maintained walking and hiking trails to various waterfalls and viewing points. The prime activities in Nyungwe forest are chimp trekking, bird watching, colobus monkey trekking, and the canopy walk.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to over 75 different species of mammals with most of these being small and or nocturnal making them difficult for sighting. Chimpanzees are the main attraction in Nyungwe forest with chimp trekking happening daily early morning. The forest is home to troops of 300 colobus monkeys or more roaming in the trees, Chimpanzees, Silver monkeys, Golden monkeys, Owl-faced monkeys/ Hamlyn’s monkeys, Grey-cheeked mangabey, Red-tailed monkeys, Vervet monkeys, Olive baboons, Dent’s Mona Monkey, Blue Monkey, and Angolan Colobus Monkeys.
Activities In Nyungwe Forest National Park
Bird Watching
Nyungwe forest is also home to about 300 species of birds with 16 endemics, 27 Albertine rift endemics, and 121 forest species. The birds in the Nyungwe forest are mostly found in the trees, shrubs, or the ground at the edges of the forest next to the tea plantations. Some birds are shy and therefore more easily heard than seen like many forest birds. Among the frequently sighted species are the; Chestnut Owlet, Olive and Elliot’s Woodpeckers, Great Blue and Ruwenzori Turacos, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Stripe-breasted Tit, the remarkable Red-collared Babbler, Archer’s Robin-Chat, White-bellied Robin-Chat, Doherty’s Bush-Shrike, Handsome Francolin Mountain Masked, Black-faced, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Purple-breasted and Regal Sun-birds, Chestnut-throated, Collared Apalis, Rwenzori Batis, Neumann’s Short-tailed Warbler, White-tailed Blue-flycatcher and more.
Chimpanzee Trekking
There are two wild chimp communities that are habituated for chimpanzee tourism. One of the groups is in the Cyamudongo section of the Nyungwe forest and the other is around the Uwinka area of the forest. The forest is home to about 400 chimpanzees. While viewing chimpanzees is not guaranteed, you will enjoy learning about these creatures and their natural habitats from your guides. You are expected to be at the briefing area as early as 5.00 am in the morning. This is because chimps are mostly likely to be seen early in the morning and they tend to move about which requires one to be active as you follow after them. However, whether you view the chimps or not, the experience in the forest is rich as you watch other primates, butterflies, several trees, and above all the freshness of the air.
Guided Nature walks and Hiking
Nyungwe forest has a steep landscape and an extensive network of hiking trails making it a perfect destination for hikers. The trails are different in length, ease of hiking, and features; you are therefore advised to ask the ranger guides for advice on which trail to take according to the attractions you are seeking. The trails are through a diverse landscape and represent the most scenic way of exploring the forest. And the forest trails are Congo – the Nile divides Trail, Igishigishigi Trail, Karamba Trail, the Umugote Trail, Umoyove Trail, Uwinka Trail, Irebero Trail, Imbaraga Trail, Bigugu Trail, Isumo Trail, Kamiranzovu Trail, Muzimu Trail, Ngabwe Trail, Ngabwe Trail.
Canopy Walk
This Is along the Igishigishigi trail. The walkway is accessible as part of a specialized guided tour along the trail. The canopy walk hangs 60 meters above the forest floor between giant trees and towers, which provides a stunning view of the park.
Colobus Monkey Trekking
Nyungwe is home to a large population of colobus monkeys, including the Angolan colobus and the black-and-white colobus. Guided treks are available to observe these fascinating creatures.
Waterfall Trails
Several trails lead to beautiful waterfalls within the park, such as the Kamiranzovu Waterfall Trail. These hikes offer the chance to cool off in pristine natural pools and enjoy the scenery.
Primate Tracking and Night WalkÂ
In addition to chimpanzees and colobus monkeys, Nyungwe is home to other primates like the L’Hoest’s monkey and owl-faced monkey. Tracking these primates is an exciting activity for wildlife enthusiasts. Nyungwe offers night walks for a chance to observe nocturnal creatures such as hushbabies, chameleons, and tree frogs. Night walks provide a different perspective of the forest’s ecosystem.
Cultural Tour
Complete your experience with the community to engage in the rich Rwandan culture. The communities along the boundaries of this forest have co-existed with it and helped to some extent in its preservation after understanding its importance to Rwanda’s ecosystem. There have been efforts to launch community-based experiences to preserve the culture of Rwanda and offer visitors a rich experience. Once at the village, you can be part of activities such as a dance ceremony, banana beer production, bow-and-target shooting, traditional medicine making, and maize-grinding.
Please Note that this itinerary can be customised, and the actual safari experiences may vary based on your interests and the availability. Nyungwe National Park offers a wide range of activities, including hiking, nature walks, and additional primate tracking experiences.
Included/Excluded
- Accommodation
- 4×4 safari vehicle with fuel and Driver
- Full Load Meal Plan
- Professional English/French speaking Guide
- All park entry fees-Game drives, ranger
- Boat Safari Execution
- All local taxes
- Entry Visa Fees
- All Air Fares
- Meals Where Not Provided
- Alcoholic Drinks
- Porter Fees While trekking/hiking
- Personal Insurance
- Personal Shopping Bills
- Items Of Personal Nature
Day 1: Transfer from Kigali Airport or Hotel to Nyungwe National Pack
After your breakfast at your hotel in Kigali, your driver/guide will pick you up and start your adventure journey drive heading to the western province, while on your way you will have short breaks to visit the Royal Palace Museum and Ethnographic Museum in Southern Province, this will give you a great historical experience of traditional ways of living among Rwandans and their past way of leadership of Kingship with an En-route lunch break. You will proceed and reach in the afternoon at Nyungwe National Park, and you will spend the rest of your afternoon at your booked accommodation, Dinner and overnight at the lodge in the pack.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking and Forest Canopy Walk
After your early morning breakfast, you will leave your hotel to experience the natural forest of Nyungwe well known for having 13 species of primates and transferred to the park for briefing and chimpanzee trekking. You will be entitled to one hour on finding the chimpanzees. After doing the chimpanzee trek, head for lunch before heading for a canopy walk. These 70 meters suspended metallic bridge will give you a great overview of Nyungwe forest and on a luck day spot one or two more primates in the forest as you take a walk on this bridge and later return in the afternoon for dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 3: Colobus Monkey Trekking and Bird Watching Experience
After your morning breakfast, you will head to the park for briefing before you head to search for the colobus monkeys, and on finding them, you will be allowed to take as many pictures as you wish. Return for lunch and after lunch, head for Birdwatching your guide will lead you to the trees and areas of birds along the drive you will make stops in the forest to watch birds the forest keeps different bird species from the planet and this include: Handsome Francolin Mountain Masked, Black-faced, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Purple-breasted and Regal Sun-birds, Chestnut-throated, Collared Alalis, Rwenzori Batis, Neumann’s Short-tailed Warbler, White-tailed Blue-flycatcher and more. Later after the tour your driver/guide will drive back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at.
Day 4: Boat Ride, Hiking and Transfer back to Kigali City
After a relaxed morning breakfast, your driver will transfer you to Lake Kivu, to catch up with the beautiful sun rise over the Lake Kivu after just getting done with your morning breakfast. You will take a boat ride to explore the beautiful attractions within this great lake. You have a nature walk at one of the islands within this lake which is known for harboring thousands of the bats. The lake is also known as a birding paradise as it hosts a number of bird species like the comrand, pied king fishers, weaver birds, heron to mention but a few. You will later return for and drive off to Kigali or to your preferred destination.