Activities in Nyungwe National Park 2025 include the amazing things that guests can do when on safari in the park. One of the best safari sites to visit while on vacation in Rwanda is Nyungwe National Park, which is situated in the country’s southwest.
Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, is about four to five hours away from the park’s primary destination. Furthermore, Nyungwe National Pak is the pinnacle of breathtaking scenery, including the ancient Nyungwe rain forest, the forest’s tree species, the grasslands, the marshes, the sky, and, of course, the park’s diverse monkeys and fauna.
Approximately 1,015 square kilometers make up Nyungwe National Park, which is home to numerous mammal, bird, butterfly, and reptilian species. Furthermore, the park features a number of mountain steeps that wind through the forest all the way to Lake Kivu; these steeps have been turned into popular walking and trekking routes.
While most tourists travel to Rwanda to undertake gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, they often overlook the amazing activities and attractions Nyungwe National Park has to offer during their safari when they visit Akagera National Park. Nyungwe is located in the southwest of Rwanda, close to Burundi in the south and Lake Kivu in the west, and is 4 to 5 hours distant from Kigali, the country’s capital.
These are the top attractions in Nyungwe National Park.
Since over 13 primate species, including the endangered chimpanzee, may be found in the Nyungwe rain forest, chimpanzee trekking is one of the park’s most popular activities. All year long, thousands of tourists rush to the park to get a sight of these unusual primates, see their playful behavior, and take in other features.
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe is a beautiful and fulfilling experience that allows tourists to get up close and personal with our closest relative, chimps, who are said to share 98% of our DNA. However, this activity begins with a briefing on the rules of the tracking experience at the Uwinka receiving centers or at Gisakura or Katabi in the morning.
After that, you will go meet the ranger who has been assigned to you, who will take you into the forest to see the chimpanzees.You get an hour to observe and discover how they feed, play, and act in their natural habitat after you locate them. Numerous primates, including L’hoests monkeys, black and white colobus, blue monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys, can be spotted while hiking.
The canopy walk
The only location in East Africa to enjoy the canopy walkways is Nyungwe National Park, one of only three locations in Africa. The canopy walk is a 160-kilometer suspended bridge that crosses over the Nyungwe forest.
You may get a good overview of the forest’s magnificence from above thanks to the bridge, which is suspended roughly 70 meters above it. Additionally, you can see Lake Kivu, the East African region, and a number of wildlife from the summit.
Canopy walk: The event lasts two hours and costs $60 per person. The minimum age requirement is six years old.
Hiking
There are a number of intriguing hiking trails in Nyungwe National Park, including the Igishigishigi, Bigungu, Ngabwe, Isumo waterfall, Kamiranzovu marsha, Karamba birdwatching, Muzimu, Irebero, Imbaraga, Umoyove, and Rukuzi trails.
One of these pathways takes you to additional breathtaking locations, such as caverns, waterfalls, marshes, and places to see famous birds.
Hiking the woodland trails will allow you to take in a variety of stunning sights. Depending on your interests, you can spend the entire day doing this activity. Being physically fit is all that is required.
When visiting Nyungwe National Park, you can participate in guided nature, where a ranger will lead you along the forest paths and teach you about the forest’s distinctive tree species and plants while you enjoy the diversity of the forest and its stunning surroundings. You can see a variety of iconic birds and stunning butterflies throughout the numerous pathways.
Depending on the preferences of the travelers, this activity may take up to three hours.
Birdwatching
Many noteworthy bird species may be found in Nyungwe, including the White-tailed Flycatcher, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Rockefeller’s Sunbird, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Batis, Congo Bay Owllet, Mountain Sooty Boubou, and many more.
In order to see a variety of species in the park, visitors can take advantage of guided birding tours in this old woodland.
You can choose to engage in activities outside of the park, such touring tea farms and experiencing local cultures, where you can take in the distinctive way of life of the Rwandan residents.
Complete Guide to Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park (Parc National des Volcans) is one of the most celebrated wildlife destinations in Africa. Set in the Virunga Mountains on Rwanda’s northwestern border with Uganda and the DRC, the park protects a significant population of mountain gorillas across 13 habituated gorilla families, each visited by a maximum of 8 tourists per day.
A gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda costs USD 1,500 per person. While more expensive than Uganda, Rwanda offers significant advantages: closer proximity to Kigali (approximately 2.5 hours by road), a well-developed luxury lodge sector around Kinigi, and the option to combine gorilla trekking with a city break in clean, safe Kigali.
Volcanoes National Park – What to Know
Volcanoes National Park covers 160 km² of Virunga volcanic chain forest, ranging from 2,400m to 4,507m (Mount Karisimbi). The park is named after its six volcanoes: Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga, Sabyinyo, and Mgahinga. In addition to gorilla trekking, the park offers:
- Golden monkey trekking: Permits cost USD 100. Golden monkeys are found only in the bamboo forests of the Virunga Mountains.
- Dian Fossey Tomb hike: A 3-4 hour hike to Karisoke Research Centre and the grave of the legendary gorilla conservationist, set amid the forest where she worked for 18 years.
- Volcano hiking: Mount Bisoke (3,711m) can be hiked in a day. Mount Karisimbi (4,507m) requires a two-day overnight trek.
- Cultural village visits: Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village near the park entrance offers traditional dance, music, and demonstrations of Rwandan cultural practices.
Recommended Tours: 4 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari | 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour & Golden Monkeys
