
Backpacking For Solo Travellers in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Backpacking for Solo Travellers in Nyungwe Forest National Park: Backpacking for solo travellers in Nyungwe forest national park is a type of low-cost, autonomous travel that frequently entails sleeping in cheap hotels and carrying all required things in a rucksack. It was formerly seen as a fringe sort of travel conducted solely for survival, but it has now become a mainstream form of tourism.
While backpacker tourism in Rwanda’s Nyungwe national park is typically associated with young people during gap years, it is also popular among older persons taking a work break or retiring. Despite its growing popularity for luxury tourism, Rwanda remains a great location for backpackers. Rwanda is one of the most exciting and accessible countries in the East African Region, with many undulating hills, a booming artistic economy, several volcano climbs, and breathtaking lake panoramas.
Rwanda’s backpacking culture is growing, despite the fact that it is not as developed or well-travelled as that of Southeast Asia. In such a small country, there is a lot to do. The options are as varied as they are beautiful, ranging from early morning game drive safaris in Akagera National Park in search of lions to chimpanzee trekking tours in Nyungwe Forest national park and visiting the adjacent shores of Lake Kivu.
Quiet travellers will find sanctuary in the well-preserved national parks, while those who want to get out and about will be able to experience all of Kigali’s youthful exuberance. The mix of late-night dancing events in the capital city and eco-adventures in the countryside – replete with fresh Rwandan food and magnificent sunrises – raises Rwandan tourism to a new level. Rwanda is still relatively new to the backpacking scene, which adds to its allure. It provides a mix of quiet introspection and raucous celebration.
There’s a lot of information on Rwanda on the internet, but much of it is about gorilla trekking and the horrible 1994 genocide. Though climbing a volcano with these majestic primates is amazing, and learning about Rwanda’s history at the Kigali Genocide Memorial is essential, the country has much more to offer.
Explore a variety of guidebooks, blogs, and websites to learn about this country’s hidden gems and to get off the beaten path. The breathtaking green rainforests of Nyungwe forest and Cyamudongo forest in Nyungwe national park, as well as the glittering twin lakes just north of Musanze, and Kibuye, the most scenic town on Lake Kivu, are all well worth a visit.
Rwanda, in general, moves at a slower pace which is a wonderful thing. Meals take longer to prepare, buses are late, and an unexpected rain may cause your trip to be delayed. That is to be expected; simply create place in your calendar for these events.
Though some activities, such as a volcanic trek to Mount Bisoke’s top or a wildlife safari in Akagera national park, should be planned ahead of time, there is no need to meticulously plan every day of the trip. Bus tickets cannot be scheduled ahead of time, the weather is always changing, and a new acquaintance at your Kigali guesthouse may encourage you to visit the southern areas of Lake Kivu on the spur of the moment. Rwanda is a small country with easy on-the-fly planning, so take use of it.
IS BACKPACKING SAFE FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS IN NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK?
Rwanda is frequently rated as one of the world’s safest countries. This is a very secure and safe location, ranking ninth safest by the World Economic Forum and eleventh safest according to the 2017 Gallup poll.
Tourists are welcome to visit Nyungwe forest national park, from little fishing villages to the bustling metropolis of Kigali, and violent crime against foreigners is almost non-existent. The only thing to be concerned about is safety on the road. Motorcycle accidents are unfortunately all too common; therefore passengers should always wear the right helmet and make sure their driver is following correct road etiquette.
However, like in any country, keep an eye on your belongings if you’re out late at night or at a crowded market. Despite Rwanda’s near-unrivalled safety record, leaving a phone on the table or a purse on the back of a chair may result in a bad evening. Nonetheless, Rwanda continues to beat the rest of the world in terms of overall safety.
Top Things to Do For Solo Backpacking Travellers Visiting Nyungwe Forest National Park
Chimpanzee Trekking
Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park is a popular activity for people interested in learning more about the lively monkeys in the wild. The national park is well-known for being Rwanda’s primate center, home to 13 primate species, including more than 1000 chimpanzees.

Canopy Walk
The canopy walks in Nyungwe forest are a mind-blowing and exhilarating experience for adrenaline seekers who are not afraid of heights. The Nyungwe forest national park, one of Rwanda’s primate national parks, provides this experience to all visitors. The main activity in the Nyungwe forest is chimp trekking, but there is so much more to see and do in this park.
The Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest national park was established in 2010 and is regarded as one of the greatest canopy walks in Africa as a continent, ranking third overall. This canopy walk is a 160-meter-long walk separated into three segments, the first of which is 25 meters long and the shortest, the second of which is 45 meters long, and the final of which is also the longest, reaching up to 90 meters.
All of these portions begin at the Uwinka reception, which serves as the beginning point, and tourists are given the option of choosing whatever path they are most comfortable and interested in attempting the canopy walk.
Primate Tracking
Even though Nyungwe forest national park is dominated by a number of chimpanzees, there are other primate species that can be seen during the various activities such as hiking the different trails in the park, carrying out the canopy walk, nature walks, and other activities one can see a number of primate species such as the but among the monkeys species, the black and white colobus monkeys are the most interesting primates that catch the interest of tourists when they spend time there. During primate tracking safaris in Nyungwe national park, tourists may track the black and white colobus monkeys and study their behavior in the wild for a wonderful experience.
Hiking
Hiking the many paths in the park is one of the most exciting activities in Nyungwe National Park that should not be overlooked on your Rwanda Safari Tours to-do list because of the hidden jewels that will be uncovered.

Bigugu route, which leads to chimpanzees and other animal species like as bushbucks and forest elephants, is one of the hiking trails in Nyungwe forest national park. The hike will also provide you with spectacular views of Lake Kivu, Rwanda’s largest fresh water lake.
In Summary, backpacking for solo travellers in Nyungwe forest national park is totally safe and very fun-filled given that the national park has a lot of activities to offer tourists visiting the park. Solo backpack travellers can also travel to other beautiful destinations like Volcanoes national park, Gishwati Mukura national park and Akagera national park.