Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe National Park is a 1,019km² high-altitude montane rainforest in south-west Rwanda, part of the Albertine Rift and managed by African Parks in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board. It protects Africa's largest contiguous tract of montane forest – ranging from 1,600m to 3,000m – and is the country's premier destination for chimpanzee trekking, primate safaris, and birding. The park is home to 13 primate species, 345 bird species (including 29 Albertine Rift endemics), and over 1,000 plant species. Key activities include chimpanzee trekking, the 160m canopy walkway, guided birding, colobus monkey tracking, night walks, and 130km of hiking trails. Nyungwe is commonly combined with gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and a Big Five safari in Akagera National Park for a complete Rwanda itinerary. The best time for trekking and hiking is June to September; birding peaks from January to June.

Nyungwe is open year-round, and there's genuinely no bad time to visit. The park sits at high altitude, keeping temperatures pleasantly mild and rarely exceeding 30°C, though nights and rainy periods can turn cold, so layers are essential.

The driest months fall in June to August and December to February, making these the most popular times to visit. The rainy seasons run from September to November and March to May, with November typically the wettest month. Even then, rain usually comes in short bursts rather than all-day downpours, and the forest is dramatically lush and alive.

The landscape itself is unforgettable in any season: towering mountain peaks, steep forested hillsides, dense ancient canopies, sun-starved valleys, and a web of streams and swamps that give Nyungwe its primeval, otherworldly atmosphere.

Nyungwe wildlife watching is all about primates and birds.

Nyungwe hosts 13 species of primates, and tourists delight in trekking for chimpanzees and other primates such as Rwenzori pied colobus monkeys (including a mega-troop of over 400 individuals), grey-cheeked mangabey, L'Hoest's, Sykes', silver, red-tailed monkeys, and the olive baboon. Owl-faced monkeys occur here but are hard to locate.

Amongst the 75 mammal species found, notables include Congo clawless otters, servals, golden cats, Lord Derby's scaly-tailed squirrels and the rare Central African linsang (related to genets).

The park also hosts over 1,068 plant species (including 140 orchids adding splashes of colour), of which 250 are endemic to the Albertine Rift.

The bird species tally of 345 includes 29 Albertine Rift endemics. Species to look out for include Albertine owlet, red-collared mountain babbler, Rockefeller's sunbird, mountain masked apalis, Rwenzori turaco, dwarf honeyguide, handsome francolin, Neumann's short-tailed warbler, red-throated alethe and Shelley's crimsonwing.

• Bird list for Nyungwe NP

• iNaturalist sightings for Nyungwe NP

Your Africa Geographic safari to Nyungwe contributes directly to the conservation of the park to the benefit of local people because:

• 100% of Nyungwe tourism revenue earned by African Parks goes to the park's conservation efforts and local communities.

• We donate a portion of every safari sold to selected conservation efforts at ground level.

• Your safari supports our conservation publishing efforts, which educate the world about Nyungwe and other threatened ecosystems.

• Our chosen lodges and other service providers support local community initiatives, ensuring that tourism benefits the nearby villages directly. They also adhere to strict environmental practices, such as limited visitor numbers to primate sightings and sustainable camp operations, which help protect the ecosystem.

African Parks has managed Nyungwe since 2010, in a successful partnership with the Rwanda Development Board.

Historically, Nyungwe’s rich fauna and flora were exposed to rampant poaching, illegal mining, unsustainable harvesting and agricultural encroachment, endangering the survival of its rich biodiversity.

The park is now on a strong upward trajectory to restore and protect wildlife, engage with and involve local communities, and develop a strong tourism offering to improve the economic sustainability of the park.

Nyungwe's trails are steep and the forest is wet year-round. Waterproof hiking boots are essential – the park hires hiking shoes on-site if you don't have them. Bring long trousers, a long-sleeved top, a waterproof jacket, a hat, insect repellent, plenty of water, and snacks. Binoculars are useful for both primates and birds. Walking sticks are provided for the canopy walkway. Porter hire is available at the park entrance and is worth considering for longer treks.

Nyungwe has over 100km of marked trails ranging from short forest walks to full-day mountain hikes. The Igishigishigi Trail (2.1km) leads to the canopy walkway at Uwinka. The Bigugu Trail reaches the park’s highest peak, with views across Lake Kivu and into the DRC. The Isumo Trail leads to the park’s largest waterfall through dense forest. Trails vary in difficulty – your guide will advise which suits your fitness level and what you want to see.