Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda
One of Africa's
Nyungwe is one of the oldest rainforests in Africa and one of the richest in wildlife, covering nearly 1,000 square kilometres in Rwanda's southwest. It has been here, largely undisturbed, for over a million years. Walking into it feels different from any other forest I have been in.
It is home to thirteen primate species, over 300 bird species and more than 1,000 plant species. Chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, L'Hoest's monkeys. Most of it you will see on a single morning trek.
We also stop at the tea and coffee plantations at the forest edge, a part of the trip that surprises almost everyone.
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We track habituated chimp communities with expert rangers. Unlike gorillas, chimps move fast and high, and the chase through the canopy is half the experience. You get one hour with them once found.
Rwanda's canopy walkway stretches 160 metres across the treetops. From up here you see the forest from above, the layers of green, the mist, and birds at eye level you would otherwise only glimpse.
The Angola colobus of Nyungwe travel in groups of up to 400, the largest colobus troops anywhere on Earth. Watching hundreds of them move through the canopy overhead is hard to believe until you see it.
The plantations at the forest edge are some of the most beautiful I have seen, rolling green hillsides at altitude with the forest behind them. We walk the rows, meet the pickers, and you leave with fresh Rwandan tea and coffee in your hands.
Tea trails, chimpanzees and waterfalls, all from our own trips
Five to six hours from Kigali through Rwanda's hill country. The drive is one of the most beautiful in Africa and 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 and the rain brings the mist that makes Nyungwe so beautiful.
One&Only Nyungwe House sits right at the forest edge. Mantis Kivu Marina Bay is on the shore of Lake Kivu, a drive from the park.
On the way to or from Nyungwe we stop at Lake Kivu, one of the most beautiful lakes in Africa. No hippos or crocodiles, so you can swim in it.
On the road south, Nyanza has the rebuilt King's Palace, a museum of Rwanda's royal history and one of the best cultural stops in the country.
Chimpanzee trekking is more demanding than gorilla trekking. The terrain is steep and chimps move fast. Moderate fitness 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.