What to do in Nyungwe National Park

Attractions

Wildlife

Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to over 14 primate’s species, including the endangered chimpanzees, rare L’Hoest’s Monkey, Angola Colobus, Silver monkeys, Dent’s Mona Monkeys, Baboons, Vervet Monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, Hamlyn’s Monkeys, Grey-cheeked Managabeys, chimpanzees, black and white colobus. The dense forest is also home to 85 species of mammal such as elephants, bushbucks Golden Cat, Marsh Mongoose, Leopard, African Civet, and Giant Forest Hog. Nyungwe high altitude precludes over 38 reptile and 32 amphibian diversity. However, there are five chameleon species and several snake species, including a viper species, Atheris nitschei. There are over 120 species, of butterflies identified, forty of which are endemic to Nyungwe.

Birds

Nyungwe forest is one of the top birdwatching destinations which houses over 300 species recorded. Some of the birds spotted here includes Great Blue Turaco, Ruwenzori Turaco, Black-billed Turaco, Crowned Hornbill, Crowned Eagle, Forest Buzzard, Handsome Francolin, Olive Pigeon, Cinnamon-breasted Bee-eater, White-headed Wood Hoopoes and Blue-Headed Sunbird among others

Flora

The trees of Nyungwe forest include large species such as Entandrophragma excelsum in the Mahogany family, tree ferns (Cyathea manniana), and many species of herbaceous ferns. More so Nyungwe is home to 154 species of orchids, eight of which are endemic to Rwanda. The Park hosts 68% of the orchid flora of Rwanda. It is one of the world’s greatest concentrations of orchids.