Nyungwe Forest National Park
Parc National de Nyungwe
One of Africa's best-preserved montane rainforests, with the only canopy walkway in East Africa and chances to track chimpanzees and several monkey species. Inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2023.
Nyungwe Forest lies in southwestern Rwanda and adjoins Burundi's Kibira National Park. It covers about 1,000 square kilometres at elevations of 1,600 to 2,950 m, and is home to 13 primate species, including chimpanzees, colobus monkeys (in troops of up to several hundred) and grey-cheeked mangabeys. It is also one of the locations of the Nile's most distant source. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023. The most popular attraction is the canopy walkway near Uwinka. Its suspension bridges hang 50–70 m above the ground, and the walkway is about 160 m long in total, offering views over unbroken rainforest. The round trip takes about 2–3 hours and costs roughly $60 per person (check the official site for current prices). Chimpanzee tracking starts around 5 a.m. Sightings are likely but not guaranteed. Other options include the Isumo Falls trail and tea-plantation walks. Accommodation in and around the park ranges from simple campsites to high-end lodges. It's about a 5–6 hour drive from Kigali. You can also visit the Ethnographic Museum in Huye on the way, or combine your trip with Rusizi at the southern end of Lake Kivu. The rainforest is damp and cold, so bring rain gear and warm clothing.
Opening hours
Daily about 07:00–17:00 (activities by reservation)
Nearby sights
- Nyungwe Canopy Walkway
- Isumo Waterfall Trail
- Gisakura Tea Estate
- Chimpanzee Trekking (Cyamudongo)
- Bisesero Genocide Memorial
- Murambi Genocide Memorial
- Sanctuary of Our Lady of Kibeho
- Kibuye (Karongi), Lake Kivu