Nyungwe Forest National Park

Background Information

Nyungwe rainforest is located in south-western Rwanda, at the border with Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nyungwe rainforest is probably the best preserved rainforest in the mountains throughout Central Africa. It is located in the watershed between the basin of the river Congo to the west and the basin of the river Nile to the east.

This forest is home to 25% of all of Africa’s primates, including a large population of chimpanzees, which produce the national park’s main attraction: chimpanzee trekking. Nyungwe Forest National Park was established in 2004 and covers an area just under 1000 sq km of rainforest, bamboo, grassland, swamps, and bogs. Along with its biodiversity, Nyungwe is an important water catchment for Rwanda and contains many natural resources integral to Rwanda’s human populations.

By Road: Nyungwe forest national park is located in South western Rwanda, close to the Lake Kivu and Democratic Republic of Congo, with the Burundi border in the south. It is located near Cyangugu town, about 225km and a 4-5 hour drive from Kigali. The journey by car starts in Kigali. Travelling south you will come across several towns, one of the main cities you will come across is Huye town, which is about 32km from Kigali. The road up to there is quite smooth, but has some very sharp turns so your driver should be careful. 200km or so and you will be in Nyungwe.

By Air: If you are looking for a much faster means of transport, then you can book a flight with RwandAir. The airline offer domestic flights and one of its domestic routes is Kigali-Kamembe. RwandAir offers a minimum of 9 flights a week from Kigali to Kamembe International airport.Kamembe airport happens to be a short 32km from Nyungwe forest lodge, which offers helicopter pickups. It is quite a convenient arrangement if you can afford it. Travelling to Nyungwe Forest national park shouldn’t be difficult if it well planned. An easy way to do that is hire a safari company to make the arrangements on your behalf.

Most of the commonest activities to do while at Nyungwe Forest National Park include: Gorilla trekking, Primates of Nyungwe, Nyungwe Canopy Walks, Walking Bird Safaris.

Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda experiences a tropical montane climate, characterized by high humidity and consistent rainfall throughout the year. The park sits at an elevation of between 1,600 to 2,950 meters (5,250 to 9,680 feet), which influences its cooler and more temperate conditions compared to the surrounding lowland areas.

Key climatic features:

• Rainfall: The park receives substantial rainfall, with peaks during the two rainy seasons. The main rainy season is from March to May, and the shorter one is from October to December. Rain can also occur sporadically throughout the year.
• Temperature: Average temperatures range from 10°C to 25°C (50°F to 77°F), with cooler temperatures at higher elevations. The mornings and evenings can be chilly.
• Dry Season: The drier months are typically from June to September and January to February, though some rain is still possible.