The Albertine rift eco-region is one of Africa’s most endemic rich regions. Nyungwe forest recently received the status of National Park and became the largest protected high-altitude rainforest of East Africa. This park is located in south west of Rwanda it is bordered with Kibira National Park in Burundi. This park touch on five district, Nyaruguru, Nyamasheke, Karongi, Rusizi, and Nyamagabe.
On your way from Kigali to Nyungwe you can visit the Kabgayi Basilica, Kamegeri rock and King’s palace museum here you will know more about Rwandan culture and see the palace of king Mutara III Rudahigwa in 1949. The more exciting thing to see is traditional cows called Inyambo with long horns. You can also visit the National Ethnographic Museum and learn more about the history of Huye town.
This park is well known as paradise park with different primates like, colobus monkeys, velvet monkey, blue monkeys, chimpanzees and more than 500 bird species like sun birds, flycatcher. The unique selling point of Nyungwe includes canopy walkway, chimpanzee and isumo (waterfall) not only this Nyungwe has a lot of floras and orchids, more nature trails which makes it more beautiful and lovable park. There is also some walking trails that you can do like Umunyove,kamiranzomvu, ngabwe, igishigishigi to enjoy the nature where you will be able to gain more experience about different bird species, flora and fauna.
There is also good hike of Mountain Bigugu which can spend almost 6hours and ngabwe which spends 4hrs, this is also awesome to the people who are fit because on the top of these mountains you can watch the beautiful view of the park.
Hiking trails in Nyungwe National Park are gateways that give travelers a chance to hike and trek through the forest as they explore the wildlife and other natural wonders. There a number of attractions and hiking trails in the park that will be discovered as you hike different trails in the park to ensure that you have a wonderful experience. Many of the trails starts at Uwinka Reception Center where you get briefed about the hike and expectation to have while hiking. Some of the hiking trails include the following:
Isumo Waterfalls: This trail starts at the Gisakura park offices in the tea plantations. Isumo waterfalls trail will offer you amazing opportunity to counter different bird species, butterfly species, some snakes and rewards with good views of the waterfalls.
The Imbaraga Trail: is one of the premier paths in Nyungwe, but also among it’s toughest. This loop trail circumnavigates the head of the Bururi valley, passing through habitats that range from under-story thickets high on Uwinka ridge to lush riverine forests 500 meters below. Special features include great views down and across the Bururi Valley, some of the finest trees in the park, and four lovely waterfalls. The Imbaraga Trail should only be attempted by hikers with enough strength and stamina to manage a long climb up the western wall of the valley to return to the ridge at over 2400 meters above sea level – hence, its Kinyarwanda name means ‘strength’. The ascent is continuous for about 2.5 kilometers and will really get your heart thumping! From Uwinka Overlook, follow the trail to the Buhoro-Imbaraga junction and turn right and continue to the junction with the Igishigishigi Trail. If you follow the Igishigishigi Trail which forks left from the main trail, you will add the canopy walkway experience to your hike. Or, you can continue to the next junction and turn.
Bigugu trail: Is one of the most rewarding trails that one can embark on while in Nyungwe National Park however, it is one of the hardest trails in the park.
Kamiranzovu trail: is another interesting trail that you will take while in Nyungwe. The word ’Kamiranzovu’ means swallowing the elephants in Kinyarwanda is the name of the swamp where you can find the swamp at the end of the trail. The swamp is believed to have killed a number of elephants within the park, they were trapped in the marshland. You will find the skull of the elephant at the end which acts as evidence for the tragic events that took place.
Igishigishi Trail: This is also considered as a shorter hiking trail that takes roughly one hour to complete.
Karamba Birding trail: Looking for the easiest trail with a generally flat area that will offer exceptional views while in Nyungwe, Karamba birding trail is the trail to embark on to have an amazing time in the park.
Ngabwe trail: The trail starts from the park entrance at Kitabi gate from a road which is 3 kilometers from entrance of Nyungwe forest reception area while hiking through the trail, you will come across different attractions like kitabi tea estate where you will be taught how to havest tea and move through the plantation while you see a number of animals like while colobus monkeys, Angolan colobus monkey, grey cheeked mangabeys, black fronted duiker and so on.
Muzimu Trail: While hiking through Muzimu trail, you will go through the eucalyptus trees and the pine plantations from Gisakura entrance and just like the Karamba, it is relatively shorty and easy to climb.
Umugote trail: 3 km, alone, 0.6 km longer than remaining on the upper Umugote Trail isolated from the rest of the Uwinka trail system on the south side of the Huye-Rusizi Road, the upper and lower Umugote Trails descend the southeastern side of the Uwinka ridge.
Umuyove Trail: This is one of the most popular hikes in Nyungwe. In a relatively short distance you’ll relax by a waterfall, try out the views from ten different benches and be amazed by the birds, the colorful flowers and some of the most massive trees in the park. The Kinyarwanda name for the trail, Umuyove, means ‘mahogany’ and you’ll find some of Nyungwe’s finest examples of this valuable tree along this trail.
The source of Nile trail: The hike through the trail is relatively easy and short and you will get to the Rukarara River which is believed to be the source of River Nile in Rwanda as discovered by the Ascend Nile Expedition in 2006.
The Congo Nile divide Trail: While in Nyungwe, you will counter another hard trail among hiking trails in Nyungwe National Park. The trail will give you the opportunity to see different animal species that can be seen along the trail like primate species like chimpanzees, bush pigs, monkeys and duikers.
Irebero Trail: The trail offer spectacular views. This moderate length trail loops around one of the two highest summits on the Uwinka ridge. It has the highest altitude viewpoints of any trail in the Uwinka trail network and overlooks the park and beyond from both sides of the ridge. To the south you’ll gaze all the way across the Rwandan border to the first ridge of Burundi, about 15 km away, as the crow flies. On the northwestern side, you’ll see Ijwi Island in Lake Kivu, 30 km distant. In fact, the name Irebero means ‘place to observe from’ and that definitely describes the path’s many viewpoints that invite you to pass the time taking in the beauty of Rwanda.
Rukuzi Trail: The trail is 9 kilometers long and it takes about 5 hours to be completed. The trail is difficult to be hiked usually chimpanzees are found aong the tril but there is a possibility of not seeing any though but with or without them them. The trail is spectacular with green vegetation cover and the cool breezes which offer relaxation.
When Your Planning To Visit Nyungwe Don’t Forget To Pack The Following
Snacks
Enough drinking water
Good hiking attire (long sleeves, Shoes)
Rain coat because Nyungwe is tropical rain forest
Budget accommodation
Gisakura guest house.
Ken Barham.
Gisakura family hostel.
Keza Nyungwe lodge
Mid- range accommodation
Nyungwe top view hill hotel
Luxury hotel
One and only Nyungwe house (five star)
Other Activities You Can Do In Nyungwe With Nyungwe Cultural Village.
Tea plantation experience.
Coffee experience.
Cultural experience (traditional dance (intore), banana beer production, preparing local food,king’s palace)
Village walk
