13 Facts Nyungwe National Park

What to know about Nyungwe National Park.

13 Facts About Nyungwe National Park: Nyungwe National Park is a major attraction site for visitors who are interested in the ecology of the rainforest, primates, birds, and scenic hiking in Rwanda. This is a secure region in the southwestern part of the country that would present a very contrasting experience compared to the other Rwandan savannah and volcano parks that are more renowned.

Knowing the geography, biodiversity, visiting routes, and visitor experience of Nyungwe can enable a traveller to make a fulfilling visit to this place. Eleven facts and twelve pieces of information have been gathered below to state why Nyungwe National Park features such a special place in the tourism and conservation history of Rwanda.

Nyungwe National Park preserves one of the oldest montane rainforests in Africa.

The Nyungwe National Park is home to one of the largest forest blocks in East Africa, and it is about 1,019 square kilometres of dense montane rainforest. The scientific evidence indicates that since the last Ice Age, the forest has existed continuously, and that is why it has a great degree of biodiversity and ecological balance.

It is found on the southwestern side of Rwanda, along the border with Burundi and adjacent to the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of the Albertine Rift ecosystem, a biodiversity hotspot in the world.

The park lies between Rwanda and the southern highlands as well as Lake Kivu.

The Nyungwe National Park is located south of Lake Kivu and west of the central plateau of Rwanda, and the closest towns to it are Gisakura, Kitabi and Cyangugu, now known by the official name of Rusizi. The forest is situated in a mountainous chain which rises between the altitudes of 1,600 and almost 3,000 above sea level, making the temperatures there cool and the mist common. This is where Nyungwe can be easily added to itineraries that involve Lake Kivu or passage between Kigali and the Rusizi district.

One of the best primate diversities in Africa is at Nyungwe.

It has one of the most startling facts about the Nyungwe National Park, which is the population of the primates. This park contains at least 13 known primate species, that is, chimpanzees, L’Hoest monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, blue monkeys, and Angolan colobus monkeys.

The extensive colony of colobus that Nyungwe boasts of (more than 300 individuals in some cases) is also one of the largest known populations of this species in the rest of Africa, and thus colobus tracking is one of the highlights of the park.

• Nyungwe boasts of chimpanzee tracking.

The chimpanzee tracking at Nyungwe National Park is focused on the Cyamudongo forest as well as the main Nyungwe forest around Gisakura. These chimpanzees are semi-habituated; that is, it is not guaranteed that you will see them, but it is usually worthwhile when you do.

Tracking uses early mornings and ascents across steep and forested areas, which is more physically challenging yet engages a person more deeply into the experience, in comparison to chimpanzee tracking in lower-altitude forests across East Africa.

• Nyungwe National Park is one of the best birding sites in Rwanda.

To the bird watchers, the Nyungwe National Park is the best place to watch birds in Rwanda. The park has registered over 320 species of birds, with about 30 Albertine Rift endemics. Birders all over the world are attracted to the Ruwenzori turaco, red-collared babbler, Grauer’s swamp warbler, and great blue turaco, just to mention a few. The variety of habitats, such as bamboo zones, swamp forests, and many more, ensures year-round birding.

• The well-known canopy walkway provides an exceptional rainforest view.

The Nyungwe National Park has the first canopy walk in East Africa, which is close to the Uwinka Visitor Center. The Nyungwe canopy walkway offers panoramic scenes of the treetops, valleys and distant hills and is suspended at a point of about 60 metres above the forest floor and is about 160 metres long. This arrangement enables the visitors to see birds, monkeys, and vegetation in the forest in a way that is inaccessible in a thick rainforest setting.

• Nyungwe has significant sources of rivers and watersheds.

The hydrological role of Nyungwe National Park in the area is vital. The forest is a large source of water, as it supplies the Nile and the Congo river systems via a myriad of streams and rivers. Some of the rivers, like the Nyabarongo, which is a major tributary to the Nile, have their origin in the park or its vicinity. This is because, besides conservation of biodiversity, Nyungwe holds the key to water security in Rwanda and the surrounding nations as well.

• Trails in Nyungwe are either short and easy to walk through or day-long.

The Nyungwe National Park has an infrastructure of hiking tracks which accommodate various levels of fitness and interests. There are shorter walks like the Igishigishigi Trail that surrounds the Nyungwe canopy walkway and longer walks like the Bigugu Trail that go to the top of the mountain Bigugu in the park. These walking paths go through the various forest areas, falls and observation points, which offer hiking as one of the most effective means of exploring the Nyungwe scenery.

• The way to Nyungwe is mostly by road through Kigali.

Access to Nyungwe National Park is possible using road transport, and it takes about five to six hours, depending on traffic and road stops in the country, all the way to the capital of Kigali, Rwanda. The most popular way is the one that passes through the city of Huye, formerly Butare, and provides tourists with chances to stop and see cultural and historical sites on the way. The roads are mostly tarmac, but some roads leading to the parks may be rough, particularly during rainy periods.

• The accommodation has options such as lodges and park guesthouses.

Settlements around the Nyungwe National Park are only concentrated in Gisakura and Kitabi. High-end forest lodges, mid-range hotels, and guesthouses operated by the park are some of the options in the area of Uwinka. Proximity to the park is significant in activities such as Rwanda chimpanzee tracking, which usually starts early in the morning. Nature walks and cultural tours are also offered at a number of lodges in the neighbouring communities.

• Nyungwe is a wet and cool country throughout the year.

The altitude of the Nyungwe National Park makes the park colder in comparison to much of Rwanda, and the temperature in the daytime usually falls within the range of 15°C and 22°C. The rainfall is usually present all year round, with heavier rainfalls occurring during the months of March to May and October to November. One must be ready to deal with muddy paths and rains that occur spontaneously, as these are all the characteristics of the wild rainforest.

• Nyungwe conservation has been changing through decades.

The national park status of Nyungwe was gazetted in 2004, although the history of its conservation dates back to when it was a forest reserve. Management of the park has worked towards balancing the three components of tourism, biodiversity protection and community engagement since it became a national park. Several initiatives aimed at decreasing illegal practices, including logging and poaching, have led to the increasing ecological wellness and enhanced tourism of the park.

• Nyungwe is a supplement to the other national parks in Rwanda.

Nyungwe National Park is a good contrast to other national parks in Rwanda, including Volcanoes National Park and Akagera National Park. Compared to Volcanoes, which has Rwandan mountain gorillas and Akagera savannah wildlife, Nyungwe offers a serious deep rainforest experience that concentrates on primates, birds and hiking. Nyungwe is often a component of an expanded Rwanda safari circuit for many travellers, and that makes the country look more like the natural variety it holds.

Conclusion

Nyungwe National Park can be described as a place of nature, science and salvation where a traveller can experience more than traditional game drives. The primate life, ancient rainforest, excellent birding and scenic hiking trails make the park one of the most rewarding but least known attractions in Rwanda. To tourists looking to see more than the popular attractions, Nyungwe provides a comprehensive experience, which enhances any travel visit to Rwanda and leaves a long-lasting benefit to East African travel plans.