Nyungwe national park is located in the southwest of Rwanda and is popular for being home to the chimpanzees which can be seen in its ancient tropical rainforest.
The park fees for Nyungwe national park in Rwanda vary depending on the activities visitors wish to take part in and the fees are also different for foreign nonresidents, foreign residents and Rwandans.
Activities to do in Nyungwe national park
Nyungwe national park has a lot to offer for visitors in Rwanda and the activities to do around the national park include the following;
Chimpanzee tracking
Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe forest national park is one of the most popular activities in to do at the destination. Visitors below the age of 16 years are not permitted to engage in primate experiences in the national park.
Nyungwe national park is home to chimpanzees as well as over 13 other primate species which can be encountered during tours around the park such as L’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys among others. Chimpanzee tracking allows tourists to spend time with the chimpanzees in the forest.
The chimpanzee tracking experience in Nyungwe starts with a briefing at the park headquarters and the trek through Nyungwe forest in search of the chimpanzees is done with experienced ranger guides.
The starting points for chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe national park include Uwinka reception center, Gisakura or Katabi. The park authorities regulate the number of visitors allowed to track chimpanzees each day to minimize disturbance to the chimpanzees and their environment.
Chimpanzee tracking costs 90 USD for foreign nonresidents, 60 USD for foreign residents, 5,000 Rwanda francs for East African citizens.
Canopy Walk
Another activity to do when visiting Nyungwe National Park is the canopy walk which offers visitors a view of the forest canopy and they also enjoy an exciting guided walk along the suspended bridge through the park which is about 70 meters off the ground and 160 kilometers long.
There are viewing platforms along the suspended bridge from where visitors can see the rest of Nyungwe national park and the forest canopy. During the canopy walk, tourists can also see the various bird species and also see primates in the forest and the activity takes about 2 hours.
The canopy walk experience in Nyungwe national park costs 60 USD foreign nonresidents, 50 USD for foreign residents, 5,000 Rwanda francs for East Africans.
Bird watching
There are various bird species found in Nyungwe national park which makes it a must visit destination for tourists to engage in bird watching in Rwanda.
With over 300 bird species recorded within the park, Nyungwe national park is a paradise for bird watchers. The different bird species can be seen around the diverse habitats in the park during bird watching excursions with experienced bird guides.
Some of the bird species in Nyungwe national park include the Albertine Rift endemics such as Spur-winged goose, Handsome Spurfowl, Scaly Spurfowl, Lemon dove, Speckled pigeon, Great Blue Turaco, Rwenzori Turaco, Blue-headed Coucal, Montane nightjar, African Swift, Red-chested Flufftail, Grey crowned crane, Yellow billed Stork, Long tailed cormorant, Hamerkop, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Hadada Ibis, African Spoonbill, Black winged kite, Crowned eagle, Shikra, African fish eagle, Bar-tailed Trogon, Green woodhoopoe, Malachite Kingfisher among others.
The cost of birding in Nyungwe national park is 50 USD for foreign nonresidents, 40 USD for foreign residents and 5,000 Rwanda francs for East African citizens.
Hiking
Nyungwe National Park offers an extensive network of hiking trails for visitors can explore the forest on guided nature walks or embark on longer treks that lead to scenic viewpoints, waterfalls, and other natural attractions.
The biodiversity of the Nyungwe forest national park provide an enriching hiking experience and some of the hiking trails in the park include Igishigishigi trail, Isumo waterfall trail, Imbaraga trail, Irebero trail, Rukuzi trail among others.
These hikes can be done as a full day excursion and there is also an option of hiking for a few hours through Nyungwe national park.
The cost of hiking along the Congo Nile trail is 100 USD for foreign nonresidents, 70 USD for foreign residents and 10,000 Rwanda francs for East Africans. The waterfall hike costs 50 USD for foreign nonresidents, 40 USD for foreign residents and 5,000 Rwanda francs for East Africans.
Guided nature walks
Guided nature walks through the Nyungwe forest are also part of the experience during a tour around the national park.
This activity is guided by the park rangers who accompany the tourists and show them around the forest as they get to learn more about the tree species, bird species and primate species of Nyungwe national park.
The fees for engaging in guided nature walks in Nyungwe national park is 40 USD for foreign nonresidents, 30 USD for foreign residents and 3,000 Rwanda francs for East African citizens or Rwandans.
Tea plantation tours
Tours around Nyungwe national park can also involve visiting the neighboring tea plantations to learn more about how the farming practices in Rwanda and about the tea planting, cultivation, processing and packaging.
Tea plantation visits in Nyungwe National Park offer an immersive experience where visitors can witness the intricate process of tea cultivation, from plucking the leaves to processing them. This allows visitors to gain a deeper understanding of Rwanda’s thriving tea industry and its significance to the local economy.
The tours often include guided walks through the plantations, during which visitors can learn about the different varieties of tea grown in the region, as well as the traditional and modern methods employed in tea production with local guides.
How to get to Nyungwe national park
From Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, the drive to Nyungwe National Park takes approximately 5 to 6 hours.
Accommodations in Nyungwe national park
There are different accommodations around Nyungwe national park and they include luxury, midrange and budget lodges such as Nyungwe top view hotel, One and Only house, Nyungwe forest lodge, Gisakura guesthouse, Nziza eco lodge, Chimpanzee lodge Nyungwe among others.
