Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda
Africa's oldest
Nyungwe is one of the oldest and most biodiverse rainforests in Africa. It covers nearly 1,000 square kilometres in Rwanda's southwest, and it has been here — largely undisturbed — for over a million years. Walking into it feels different from any other forest I've been in.
The forest is home to 13 primate species, over 300 bird species, and more than 1,000 plant species. Chimpanzees. Colobus monkeys. L'Hoest's monkeys. Angola colobus. The biodiversity here is staggering, and most of it you'll see on a single morning trek.
We also stop at the tea and coffee plantations at the forest edge — one of the most unexpectedly beautiful parts of the whole Rwanda experience.
— Che
We track habituated chimp communities with expert rangers. Unlike gorilla trekking, chimps move fast and high — the chase through the canopy is half the experience. You get one hour with them once found. Permit is $100 per person.
Rwanda's iconic canopy walkway stretches 160 metres across the forest treetops. From up here you see the forest from above — the layers of green, the mist, and birds at eye level that you'd otherwise only glimpse. Genuinely unlike anything else.
The Angola colobus monkeys of Nyungwe travel in groups of up to 400 — the largest colobus groups anywhere on Earth. Watching hundreds of black-and-white primates move through the forest canopy overhead is one of those sights you don't quite believe is real.
The plantations at Nyungwe's edge are some of the most beautiful I've ever seen — rolling green hillsides at altitude, with the forest behind them. We walk the rows, meet the pickers, and you leave with freshly made Rwandan tea and coffee in your hands.
The tea plantation experience — one of the things people talk about most after the trip
5–6 hours from Kigali by road through Rwanda's hill country. The drive itself is one of the most beautiful in Africa. We stop at scenic points along the way.
June to August is dry season — ideal for trekking and the canopy walkway. The forest is green year-round; rain makes the mist and atmosphere even more atmospheric.
Mantis Kivu Marina Bay on Lake Kivu, or One&Only Nyungwe House — both are extraordinary and sit right at the forest edge.
On the way to or from Nyungwe we stop at Lake Kivu — one of the most beautiful lakes in Africa. No hippos or crocs: you can swim in it.
Nearby Nyanza has the rebuilt King's Palace — a living museum of Rwanda's royal history. One of the most interesting cultural stops in the country.
Chimpanzee trekking is more demanding than gorilla trekking — the terrain is steep and chimps move fast. Moderate fitness is recommended. The canopy walkway is accessible to most.
Most people combine Nyungwe with Lake Kivu and either Kigali or Akagera. I'll put together an itinerary that works for your timeline.