Nyungwe Forest & Huye

One of Africa's oldest montane rainforests, with a canopy walkway and chimpanzee tracking, plus stops at the King's Palace in Nyanza and the Ethnographic Museum in Huye.

Nyungwe Forest and Huye lie in southwestern Rwanda and form the southern route branching off Rwanda's “gorilla circuit”. The core is Nyungwe National Park: this montane rainforest of about 1,000 square kilometers is one of the oldest in Africa, was added to the World Heritage List in 2023, and is home to 13 primate species, including chimpanzees and colobus monkeys in troops of several hundred. East Africa's only canopy walkway is in the park, at Uwinka. The eastern part of the route is a cultural hub of the Southern Province: Nyanza was the old capital of the Kingdom of Rwanda, with a reconstructed royal palace, the royal long-horned Inyambo cattle and an art museum; Huye (formerly Butare) is a university town with the country's best ethnographic museum and coffee estates; along the way, the Murambi Memorial and the Kibeho holy site record the country's pain and faith. In the west you can add Gisakura, surrounded by tea plantations, and Kibuye on the shore of Lake Kivu. Climate: the rainforest is damp and cool all year; June–September and December–February are the dry seasons, when trails are easier, and the altitude makes mornings and evenings cold, so be sure to bring a rain jacket and warm clothing. Getting there: from Kigali head south on the main highway, about 2 hours to Nyanza, 3 hours to Huye and 5–6 hours to Nyungwe; public buses reach Huye and Gisakura, but you need a chartered vehicle for activities inside the park. We suggest 3–4 days: Nyanza and Huye on day 1, then days 2–3 for the Nyungwe canopy walkway, chimpanzees and waterfall, with an optional extra day at Lake Kivu. Activities inside the park must be booked with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and are led by guides; prices change often, so check the official website. The last Saturday morning of each month is Umuganda, the national community service day in Rwanda, which affects transport and business hours.

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