Nyungwe Forest National Park and Rwanda’s high rainforest

Nyungwe Forest National Park spreads across the highlands of southwestern Rwanda, including the district of Nyamagabe. Its visible character comes from the meeting of dense montane rainforest, ridges, valleys, peatlands and open grassland. The park became a national park in 2005, and its forest landscape carries a long record of protection.

Nyungwe Forest National Park across Rwanda’s highlands

Nyungwe Forest National Park lies within the Albertine Rift, between Lake Kivu and the border with Burundi. The landscape is mountainous, with forested slopes cut by valleys and streams. Elevations across the park rise from about 1,600 m to nearly 3,000 m, giving the forest a cool, highland setting within equatorial Africa.

The protected area covers 101,900 hectares. Its vegetation includes intact forest, bamboo, thickets, grassland and peat bogs. These habitats appear as changing textures across the hills, from tightly packed trees on ridges to open vegetation in wetter or higher sections. The park became a national park in 2005.

Forest habitats and Albertine Rift wildlife

Nyungwe’s biological identity rests on variety rather than a single signature animal. The forest provides habitat for the Eastern Chimpanzee, golden monkey and Hills Horseshoe Bat, alongside many other mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects. The Eastern Chimpanzee is recorded as Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii, while the golden monkey is Cercopithecus mitis kandti.

Birdlife forms another major part of the park’s character. A total of 317 bird species is recorded, including globally threatened species. Orchids, trees, vines and mosses occupy the forest layers, while peatlands and grasslands add habitats beyond the closed canopy. Nyungwe National Park is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a natural property.

The canopy walkway above Nyungwe’s trees

A suspension walkway near Uwinka forms a distinct feature of the park’s visitor landscape. It crosses the forest canopy at about 70 m above the ground and extends for 160 m. The walkway is associated with the Igishigishigi trail and presents the forest from a raised position among the upper branches.

From the forest floor, Nyungwe is defined by trunks, undergrowth, ferns and narrow paths beneath a dense roof of leaves. From the walkway, the ridges and valleys become part of the view. The same rainforest therefore appears in two clear vertical layers: a ground-level world of vegetation and an elevated line through the canopy. Nyungwe’s canopy suspension walkway is close to Uwinka Visitor Centre.

Visiting Nyungwe Forest National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Nyungwe Forest National Park lies in southwestern Rwanda, with Nyamagabe among the districts connected to the forest. The main road crosses the highland landscape between Huye, Nyamagabe and Rusizi.
• The terrain is mountainous, with steep slopes, forest trails, ridges, valleys and high elevations. Walking routes include uneven ground and sections with substantial gradients.
• The canopy walkway is reached through the Uwinka area and forms part of the forest’s trail network. It stands above the trees rather than at ground level.
• The official language is Kinyarwanda, with English, French and Swahili also used in Rwanda; the currency is the Rwandan franc.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Nyungwe Forest National Park

Where is Nyungwe Forest National Park?

Nyungwe Forest National Park is in southwestern Rwanda, across highland districts including Nyamagabe. It lies between Lake Kivu and the Burundi border.

What can visitors expect in the park?

The landscape includes montane rainforest, peatlands, grassland, ridges and valleys. Trails pass through forest habitats, while the canopy walkway crosses above the trees near Uwinka.

What makes Nyungwe Forest National Park distinctive?

Its distinctive character comes from the combination of high-altitude rainforest, Albertine Rift species and a canopy walkway suspended above the forest. The park is also a natural World Heritage property.