Nyungwe Forest National Park covers 1,019 km² of the Albertine Rift’s ancient montane forest in Rwanda’s southwest, one of the oldest and most biodiverse rainforests in Central Africa, estimated to have survived ice ages that eliminated forests elsewhere. The park is a critical watershed, feeding the Nile, Congo, and other river systems.
Nyungwe shelters 13 primate species, a count rivalled by few forests on earth. Chimpanzee trekking is the headline activity, with habituated groups tracked through the forest on morning excursions. The park also hosts the largest known troops of Ruwenzori black-and-white colobus monkeys in Africa, groups of 300+ individuals moving through the canopy in dramatic processions.
The canopy walkway at Uwinka is Nyungwe’s most celebrated feature: a 160-metre suspension bridge hanging 50 metres above the forest floor, offering a bird’s-eye view of the treetops and the undulating forest landscape rolling to the horizon. The walk is accessible and highly rewarding even for non-hikers.
For birders, Nyungwe is exceptional, 290 species including 30 Albertine Rift endemics found nowhere else on earth. The Albertine owlet, Grauer’s rush warbler, and Albertine sooty flycatcher are among the treasures.
A network of well-marked trails ranges from easy valley walks to the strenuous Bigugu hike (2,950m), with views across Rwanda’s highlands. One trail leads to what is considered a source of the Nile, a small waterfall in the park’s interior.
Nyungwe canopy walkway and chimpanzee trekking
The Uwinka canopy walkway is Rwanda’s most photographed forest experience, and chimpanzee trekking here pairs cleanly with gorilla days in Volcanoes National Park. Travellers comparing Rwanda forests often choose Nyungwe for colobus spectacles and canopy access, then Gishwati-Mukura for a quieter chimpanzee alternative.
Getting there
Nyungwe sits in southwest Rwanda and pairs naturally with Volcanoes National Park (about 3.5 hours) for a complete primate circuit. Explore Rwanda safaris and the Rwanda destination guide.
