Safari Rwanda Nyungwe

Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe Forest National Park is situated in southwestern Rwanda, and lies adjacent to Lake Kivu in the southeast bordering neighbours Burundi. This National park was gazetted in 2004 and extends to approximhttp://www.guideforafrica.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=1911&action=editately 1,000 sq km in the rainforest, bamboo, grassland, swamps of Nyungwe areas.

This park also lying across the majestic hills of southeast Rwanda is the largest block of montane forest in the Great Lake Region of Africa, and one of the most ancient, dating back to before the last Ice Age. Nyungwe Park boasts a uniquely rich centre of floral diversity; this forest-dominated park has more than 200 different tree species, plus a multitude of pinnacle vegetation including the other-worldly giant lobelia and a host of colourful orchids.

Nyungwe Wildlife

Nyungwe’s biodiversity is amazing. The Park has a wide diversity of animal species, which has made it a priority for conservation in Africa. Its strategic location in a region where several large-scale biogeographical zones intersect terrestrial biomes has provided a great span of microhabitats for varied species of plants and animals. Nyungwe is home to over 13 different primate species (25% of Africa’s total) including humankind’s closest living relative the chimpanzee, 85 mammal species, 32 amphibian and 38 reptile species.

Nyungwe Safari Chimp

The several primate species resident in Nyungwe include L’Hoest’s Monkey, Golden Monkey, Dent’s Mona Monkey, Olive Baboon, Silver Monkey, Red-tailed Monkey, Vervet Monkey, Grey-cheeked, the Common Chimpanzee as well as delightfully acrobatic Angola colobus. Many of these animals are restricted-range species that are only found in the Albertine Rift ecoregion in Africa. The famous African Big Five i.e. Elephant, Buffalo and Leopard were relatively common in pre -colonial times, however only leopard are now regularly seen due to the 1970s extreme poaching. Nyungwe does however have many smaller predators including the golden cat, wild cat, serval cat, the side-striped jackal and three types of mongoose. Antelope types here include bushbuck and three types of duiker formerly prone to poaching.

Nyungwe Birds

Nyungwe, a great haven for bird watchers and photographers is an extensively renowned ornithological site in Rwanda harbouring over 275 species of birds. The avian highlight of Nyungwe is the great blue turaco – an outlandish blue, red and green bird which streams from tree to tree like a procession of streamlined psychedelic turkeys. Up to 24 of these bird species are endemic to the montane forests.

Nyungwe Vegetation

Nyungwe vegetation is made up of a complex matrix of Albertine Rift montane forest. The Park is known for its rugged terrain and complex mosaic of dense vegetation types from tall dense forests to open, flower filled marshes. A varied topography with varied soil types providing micro habitats for both plants and animals. Fertile heavy soil supports more than 200 different tall tree species. The southeastern portion of Nyungwe is compounded with bamboo and open herbaceous interspersing throughout. The Afro montane forest of Nyungwe National Park is the oldest of its type in Africa. However, Nyungwe has lately become a constant threat from anthropogenic and environmental stresses.

Nyungwe Albertine Rift Forest

Nyungwe Forest located in the Albertine Rift is a high-altitude, mountainous rainforest in southern Rwanda established as a forest reserve in 1933. It covers approximately 970 sq km of conservation area. It occupies a zone punctuated by a series of mountain ranges beginning at the Rwenzori Mountains in western Uganda and Congo, extending south into eastern Congo’s Lendu Plateau. Bordering Burundi’s Kibira National Park, Nyungwe is one of Africa’s the largest remaining mountainous rainforests.

Nyungwe Safaris Opportunities

• Nyungwe forest National Park is most alluring for its primates. Over 13 species of primates including Chimpanzees, rare golden monkeys, the handsome L’Hoest’s monkey and Rwenzori colobus.
• Monkey tracking in Nyungwe Forest
• Encounter a uniquely rich flora and fauna with over 200+ tree species, 100 varied orchids and 300 bird species (including 23 Albertine Rift endemics).
• Fantastic Chimpanzee tracking opportunities
• Rwanda Safaris Montane Forest tracking