THE PRIMATES OF NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

The Primates in Nyungwe Forest National Park

The Nyungwe rain forest is seated on an area of about 970km²   South West of Rwanda, at the border with Burundi to the south, and Lake Kivu and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. It is known in Central Africa as the best preserved rainforest located in the watershed between River Congo basin to the west and River Nile basin to the East.

Nyungwe Forest was declared a National Park in 2004 and it contains rainforest, bamboo, grassland, swamps, and bogs etc. Uniquely, Nyungwe Forest national park harbors almost a quarter of the world’s primates with 13 recorded species.  These include: the Eastern Chimpanzees, Black and White Angolan Colobus, Blue Monkeys, Mountain Monkeys, Owl-faced Monkeys, Vervet Monkey, Red-tailed Monkey, L’Hoest Monkey, Mona’s Monkey, Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Olive Baboon, Bosman’s Potto, Eastern Needle-clawed Galago, etc, making primates the prime attractions of the Nyungwe forest national park for tracking safaris in Rwanda.

Primate trekking tours are possible in the park because four of the primates (Chimpanzees, Colobus monkeys, Mangabeys and Blue Monkeys) have been habituated; though other primates can be sighted during a trek in Nyungwe forest national park.

Other Activities in Nyungwe Forest National Park

Canopy Walk

Nyungwe Forest national Park is suitable for adventure tourism because of its famous canopy walk remarkably known allover Africa. This makes it possible for visitors to have a relaxing adventure in the park while enjoying the breathtaking sightings over the forest and have a great time interacting with the various dwellers that occupy the canopies.

Forest/Nature Walks

There are well maintained forest trails in the park to distinguish your walk from any other,  The trails of about 5km up to 10km create a beautiful experience of a nature walk along the pre-historic atmosphere with old trees covered in moss, and rare plants and creatures which are observed during the walks.

Birding

Nyungwe Forest national park is endowed with various bird species like the Yellow-billed Duck, Squacco Heron, White-faced Whistling Duck, Hottentot Teal, Red-billed Teal, African Spoonbill, Spur-winged Geese, Little Grebe, Common Moorhen, Hadada Ibis, Black Crake, cater Egret. The Albertine rift endemic bird species are also found in Nyungwe forest making the park one of the most important arenas for birding safaris in Rwanda.

Camping

Well if you can sleep while listening, then it should be in the pitch camp at one of the prepared spots in the Nyungwe Forest national park; spend the overnight to experience the unique sounds of nature.