Nyungwe National Park
The largest remaining tract of montane rainforest in eastern Africa is home to nearly a quarter of all primate species in Africa, including habituated Chimpanzees.
About Nyungwe Forest
Only created in 2004, this fairytale forest is thoroughly deserving of a detour for anyone visiting Rwanda.
Nyungwe Forest in the deep south of Rwanda is more of a mission to get to than the Gorilla tracking area in the north, but for those that make the effort the rewards are arguably even greater, Nyungwe is simply magnificent.
The 130km network of paths and a suspended canopy walk allow unfettered access deep into the forest and the Chimps can generally be tracked at short notice. Troops of spectacular Ruwenzori black-and-white colobus monkeys, sometimes numbering in the hundreds, use branches as trampolines to spring 50 feet through the towering forest.
- Trekking for primates
- Africa’s highest canopy walk at 40m up
- Great birding with 310 species to be seen
- First class camps and lodges
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Best time to visit Nyungwe National Park
Nyungwe Forest is open for chimpanzee trekking and hiking throughout the year, but conditions do dictate the type of experience you may have.
Due to the park’s elevation it is comfortably cool all year round. The wet months, from October to May, are the best time for chimp trekking because their food is plentiful.
June to September is drier, making hiking in the forest easier but chimp trekking a little more hit-and-miss. This time is considered high season, but more so due to the amount of people aiming to go gorilla trekking at the time rather than local conditions.
The wettest months are March and April when the forest trails are particularly slippery.
Best time to visit Nyungwe National Park
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Our Favourite Camps & Lodges
Nyungwe House is something of an enigma – a luxury retreat, purpose-built in collaboration with the Rwandan Government 2010 as part of the effort to get international visitors to look beyond the gorillas it was refurbished in 2018 to an even higher standard.
Learn MoreNyungwe National Park (FAQS) NEED TO KNOW
Is Nyungwe Forest a safe place to take children?
While Nyungwe Forest is perfectly safe for children please note that the minimum age to undertake a chimpanzee trekking expedition is 15, which is strictly enforced and there is no flexibility. The minimum age for trekking in the forest is six and kids must be accompanied by an adult.
What is the best way to explore Nyungwe Forest?
On foot. There are no roads to speak of but rather a wonderful 130km network of paths, including East Africa’s highest canopy walk (50 metres above the forest) which you can explore at your own pace. Forest wildlife watching is very different from that on the savannah and involves a lot more patient waiting and listening, as the inhabitants – both mammals or feathered – generally give themselves away by calling or moving.
What is the accommodation at Nyungwe National Park like?
Nyungwe House (previously known as Nyungwe Forest Lodge) is undoubtedly one of Rwanda’s finest lodges, with luxury facilities including an infinity pool and a gym. Nyungwe House is not actually set within the forest but on a ridge overlooking it on a working tea estate. Despite its relatively large size, Nyungwe House retains a highly personalized service with attentive staff and excellent cuisine.
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A print anthology of safari and wilderness travel with over 220 pages of travel inspiration.