DESTINATION GUIDE // RWANDA
Nyungwe Forest National Park
One of the oldest rainforests in Africa, with a canopy walkway suspended sixty metres above the valley floor.
1,019 km2
PARK AREA
13
PRIMATE SPECIES
60m
CANOPY WALKWAY
2023
UNESCO SITE
300+
BIRD SPECIES
Quick answer: Nyungwe Forest National Park covers 1,019 square kilometres in southwestern Rwanda and is one of the oldest rainforests in Africa, thought to predate the last ice age. It holds thirteen primate species and a 160 metre canopy walkway suspended around 60 metres above the forest floor.
OVERVIEW AND LOCATION
Nyungwe Forest National Park At A Glance
Nyungwe is a genuinely ancient forest and feels it. Thirteen primate species live here, including large troops of Angolan colobus that can number several hundred and habituated chimpanzees that are tracked at dawn. The canopy walkway is the signature attraction, a suspended bridge high above a ravine that gives a view into the forest layers you cannot get from the ground. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023.
| Detail | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Location | Southwestern Rwanda, near the Burundi border |
| Distance from Kigali | Approximately 225 km, 4 to 5 hours by road |
| Size | 1,019 km2 |
| Established | 2004, UNESCO World Heritage Site 2023 |
| Known for | Canopy walkway, chimpanzees, colobus troops, orchids |
| Wildlife | 13 primate species and over 300 bird species |
WILDLIFE AND ACTIVITIES
What You Will See and Do
Canopy Walkway
A 160 metre suspended bridge around 60 metres above the forest floor, reached on a guided trail and best walked early.
Chimpanzee Tracking
Habituated communities tracked from dawn. Less certain than Kibale in Uganda but the forest setting is exceptional.
Colobus Super Troops
Angolan colobus here gather in troops of several hundred, one of the largest arboreal primate groupings anywhere in Africa.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
When To Go
| Months | What to expect | Crowds |
|---|---|---|
| Jun to Sep | Long dry season, best trail conditions | Medium |
| Dec to Feb | Short dry season, good for chimps | Medium |
| Mar to May | Long rains, slippery trails, lush | Low |
| Oct to Nov | Short rains, quiet, excellent birding | Low |
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