Activities in Nyungwe National Park

Activities in Nyungwe National Park are the ventures in which travelers engage to spice up the safari as they adventure nature and wildlife. Nyungwe national park is one of the oldest protected rain forests in Africa which is located in the southern-west of Rwanda. The park covers 1,019 square kilometers including Cyamudongo as a fragmented forest which is known to be the home to a big group of chimpanzees.

Nyungwe National Park is rich in biodiversity including a small population of chimpanzees as well as 12 other species of primates, 300 bird species as 29 among them are endemics in Albertine rift and over 1000 of plant species.

There are different activities in the Nyungwe National Park to attract many visitors from all over the world including and these include Bird watching, Guided Nature trail hiking, Canopy walk, Tropical waterfall, primates trekking, and Camping.

Birding

Birding is one of the activities in Nyungwe national park which is an untouched tropical rain forest and is home of over 300 bird species and surprisingly 29 of them are endemics in Albertine rift, including the Kungwe Apalis, Grauer’s Warbler and Shelley crimson wing. Professional birders guide required to make a memorable checklist while bird watching in this forest.

Costs of Birding Safaris in Nyungwe

Foreign non-residents pay: $50/person
Foreign-resident pay: $40/person
Rwanda residents pay: Rwf 5000/person
East Africa Community (EAC) nationals pay: $10/person
East Africa Community (EAC) Resident foreigners pay: $40/person
Rwandan students pay: Rwf 2000/person
East Africa Community (EAC) students pay: $5/person
Foreign Residents Students pay $20/person.

Things to carry when going for birding safaris in Nyungwe National Park include National ID or passport, Permit, Drinking water, Binoculars, Raincoat, Camera and a Guiding book (recommended Birds of East Africa and birds in Rwanda).

Nature trail hiking

The hiking trails in this park take 4 hours to 3 days to hike. There are 130 kilometers of well-constructed hiking trails that are found in this park including the Congo Nile divide as the longest one, Imbaraga as the difficult one and Igishigishigi trail as the shortest one.

Cost of Natural Trail Hiking

Foreign non-resident pays: $40/person
Foreign-resident pays: $30/person
Rwanda residents pay: between Rwf 3,000
East Africa Community (EAC) nationals pay: $5/person
East Africa Community (EAC) foreigner residents pay: $30/person
Rwandan students pay: Rwf 1,500/person
East Africa Community (EAC) students pay: $3/person
Foreign Residents Students pay $20/person.

Things to carry when going for the hiking trails include National ID or passport, Permit, Hiking boots, drinking water, Hiking stick, Raincoat, and Camera.

Canopy walk

The Canopy Walkway which is part of the Igishigishigi Trail is a high suspension bridge with views over the valley and surrounding forests. This is the most famous activity for domestic tourists and the second one done by a big number of tourists in Nyungwe national park after the chimpanzee trekking. It was established in 2010 for the purpose of boosting domestic and international tourism. The canopy walkway is a lifetime experience with a breathtaking view of the Nyungwe Forest view from the top. The activity of canopy walkway starts at 9 am and the last trip canopy walkway is 3 pm.

Activities in Nyungwe National Park — Canopy Walk way in Nyungwe Forest National Park

Costs of the Canopy walk

Foreign non-residents pay: $60/person
Foreign-resident pays: $50/person
Rwanda residents pay: Rwf 5000/person
East Africa Community (EAC) nationals pay: $10/person
East Africa Community (EAC) foreign resident pays: $50/person
Rwandan students pay: Rwf 5000/person
East Africa Community (EAC) students pay: $5/person
Foreign Residents Students pay $25/person.

Things to carry when going to do the Canopy walk activity include a national ID or passport, Permit, Drinking water, Hiking stick, Hiking boots, Raincoat, and a Camera.

Tropical waterfall

The visit to the tropical waterfall is one of the amazing activities in Nyungwe National Park. There are plenty of waterfalls within the Nyungwe national park but the most famous and biggest one is Kamiranzovu waterfall as the biggest tropical waterfall found in the park. The name Kamiranzovu (swallowing elephant) named after the wetland called Kamiranzovu Swamp found in the park as the main source of this waterfall. This is also a famous activity for the visitors in the park especially hikers because, after 3 to 4 hours of the hike, they get the reward of this breathtaking tropical waterfall.

Cost of this tropical waterfall visit

Foreign non-residents pay: $50/person
Foreign-resident pays: $40/person
Rwanda residents pay: Rwf 5000/person
East Africa Community (EAC) nationals pay: $10/person
East Africa Community (EAC) foreign resident pays: $40/person
Rwandan students pay: Rwf 2000/person
East Africa Community (EAC) students pay: $5/person
Foreign Residents Students pay $20/person.

Things to carry along for this tropical waterfall visit include national ID or passport, permit, Drinking water, Hiking stick, Raincoat, and Camera.

Chimpanzee Trekking

Nyungwe has a large population of chimpanzees and this is the most done activity in the park compared to other activities in Nyungwe National Park. There is no season for chimpanzee trekking because it can be done all year round. The chimpanzees are not settled and orderly, which makes it very fun and exciting while trekking this species with an experienced guide.

Costs of the Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe

Foreign Non-residents pay: $90
Foreign Residents pay: $ 60
Rwandans pay: 5,000Rwf
Nationals from the East Africa Community (EAC) pays: $10
East Africa Community (EAC) Foreign Residents pay: $60
Students who are Rwanda citizens pay: 2,500 Rwf
East Africa Community (EAC) students pay: $5
Students who are foreign residents pay: $30

Things to carry when going for chimpanzee trekking include Bring binoculars, rain gear, hiking boots with gaiters or gumboots, water and snacks, and walking sticks will be provided

Other Primates trekking

The Angolan Colobus Monkeys tracking: There are over 350 to 400 individuals of Colobus Monkeys in the park. A trek of these monkeys is not difficult and can be considered as a nature walk and is also a perfect morning activity for any visitor.

Costs of other Primates trekking

Foreign Non-residents pay: $60
Foreign Residents pay: $ 40
Rwandans pay: 5,000Rwf
Nationals from the East Africa Community (EAC) pays: $10
East Africa Community (EAC) Foreign Residents pay: $40
Students who are Rwanda citizens pay: 1,500 Rwf
East Africa Community (EAC) students pay: $3
Students who are foreign residents pay: $20

Things to carry when going to trek other primates in Nyngwe include bring binoculars, rain gear, hiking boots with gaiters or gumboot, water, and snacks, and Walking sticks will be provided.

Camping

Camping is another of the amazing activities in Nyungwe National Park. When it comes to accommodation inside the park, camping is the only option to able to spend the night in Nyungwe national park as a tropical rain forest. When you want to stay inside the park you should know that there is only one option which is camping. Not only inside the park but also around. There are other places that offer camping which is located near the forest.

There is a campsite inside the park which is set at the Uwinka reception center, it is a tented campsite and tents are pitched on the wooden made platform but not like the house because it has no walls but covered on top to prevent rain. Campfire is already there and modern toilets and bathrooms.

Costs of camping in Nyungwe

40$/person including a tent
30$/person with your own tent

Important note: in all the national parks of Rwanda, they no longer accept cash at reception. You have to pay with a VISA card or mobile money to visit.

It’s advisable to buy the permits before and present them during the visit.