Which is the oldest and largest rainforests in Rwanda?
Which is the oldest and largest rainforests in Rwanda? The Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda provides an outstanding primate safari. The park was designated a reserve in 1933 to protect it from the growing threat of agricultural cleansing. Nyungwe has seen an increase in tourists since it was designated a national park in 2004. Those who go on a Rwanda chimpanzee tour to Nyungwe Forest National Park will find themselves engulfed by the region’s spectacular biodiversity.
Which is the oldest and largest rainforests in Rwanda?
Spanning over a radius of 370 square miles, Nyungwe forest is by far the oldest and largest rainforests in Rwanda. It is made up of steep rainforest, beautiful grassland, and wetland. It also has altitudes ranging from 5,600 feet to 9,700 feet. The diversity of terrain in this region of the Albertine Rift offers a diverse range of habitats for a variety of animals to survive.
Chimpanzee Tours in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to about a quarter of Africa’s primate species. As a result, a hike through the park promises to be a must-do on any Rwanda primate safari. As a result, it provides the adventurous tourist with the opportunity to see 14 distinct species of monkeys. These include the L’Hoest’s monkey, owl-faced monkey, black and white colobus, and the ever-popular chimp, with hundreds of troops.
Aside from its famed monkeys, Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to a thriving butterfly population as well as a variety of rare flora and creatures found nowhere else in Africa. Hiking and trekking adventures in the park offer tourists up up and personal with the region’s diverse animals. The canopy walk, a 295-foot-long bridge hanging 130 feet above the earth, offers a particularly satisfying experience. From here, visitors may get up and personal with the diverse monkey species and bird life hiding inside the forest canopy.
The beautiful Lake Kivu is bordered by Nyungwe Forest National Park. It is surrounded by mountains and separated from Rwanda by the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s border. Shifting rifts in the volcanic region contribute to the lake’s remarkable depth of 1,575 feet, making it one of the deepest in the world. Indeed, residents of the lake routinely catch Nile tilapia, Tanganyika sardine, catfish, and barbel.
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe national park commences at 5:00 a.m. and concludes at 2:00 p.m. Visitors interested in monkey tracking at Nyungwe National Park are first briefed by the park’s head ranger. After that, visitors are separated into trekking groups of no more than six persons. The trek begins about 5:00 a.m. with a briefing, so visitors should wake up early for breakfast and then proceed to the starting point.
With roughly 60 habituated individuals in Nyungwe forest and 30 habituated individuals in Cyamudongo forest, a little relict forest located in Nyungwe forest, Nyungwe forest national park is home to the most chimpanzees in Rwanda. In Nyungwe Forest National Park, chimp trekking begins in one of three tourist centres: Uwinka, which also acts as the park’s headquarters, Kitabi, and Gisakura.
When going chimp trekking in Nyungwe national park in Rwanda, travellers should bring a packed lunch and enough of water to keep them energised. Following a briefing on the rules and expectations for chimp trekking, visitors are separated into groups of eight and escorted into the jungle by park guides.
Best Time for Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Chimpanzee trekking safaris are available at any time of year, but the best time is during the wet/rainy season, also known as the low season, which extends from March to May and October to November. The rainy season is ideal for chimp trekking since there will be plenty of fruits and food for the chimpanzees, which will limit their movements and allow them to be easily spotted throughout the journey. In the national park, the wet season is also good for bird viewing.
What other activities can one do in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Visitors to Nyungwe Forest National Park may participate in a variety of activities, including the canopy walk, guided nature walks, bird watching, hiking to Isumo waterfalls, and primate trekking, to name a few.
How Can One Access Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Air travel from Kigali International Airport to Kamembe International Airport is available to reach Nyungwe Forest National Park. If you arrive at Kamembe International Airport, you may either drive 32 kilometres to the national park or charter a helicopter, depending on your budget.
Nyungwe is located in the Butare district, near the town of Cyangugu in south-western Rwanda. It is a four to five hour trip from Kigali to the national park, covering a distance of 225 kilometres. To go to Uwinka Center or Gisakura, one can take a bus or rent a vehicle.