Renowned for being one of the oldest rainforests in Africa, Nyungwe is the epicenter of primate trekking in Rwanda. It is the second most visited habitat for chimpanzees in East Africa after Kibale National Park of Uganda. Regardless of which time you choose to visit the park, you are guaranteed of chancing on very relaxed chimpanzee families going about their daily business. Having been well-habituated, they are comfortable with you hanging around in their territories. So many clients love the experience immensely, especially from a purely photographic point of view.
Situated in the Albertine Rift Valley, towards the country’s border with Burundi, it is home to 13 different primate species names Angola Colubus, Olive Baboons, Vervet Monkeys, Grey Cheeked mangabey, golden monkeys, Red tailed monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, Dent’s mona monkey, Blue monkey. Due to the high densities of these often enthusiastic primates, the possibility of leaving the park without having sighted at least six of them is very minimal.
Dedicated birders will also enjoy spending some time here as the park covers 1,019 km2 as comprised of thick Afromontane forests, grasslands, bamboo-covered slopes, and wetlands. This variety of vegetation types will ensure you probably add a few lifers to their bird lists. Altogether, it features 322 species with the most common being Black saw-wing, Great blue turaco, Regal sunbird, Red-throated alethe, Rwenzori Turaco, etc.
Bird watching in Nyungwe National Park is great all year round. However, if you want maximum sightings, the best time to visit is March to May, when birds are most vocal and therefore easy to spot. In contrast, most are quiet from June to September as it’s a time they dedicate more to looking after their fledglings.
Here, you will also find a river that feeds two of Earth’s largest rivers, the Nile and Congo.