Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Canopy walk in Nyungwe forest national park: Canopy walk is one of the most fascinating and adventurous activity does in the Nyungwe forest national park enjoyed by most of tourist on their Rwanda safari. Nyungwe forest national park thrills on an altitude of 1600m to 2950m above sea level and comprises mostly of the tropical rain forest where its name originated as Nyungwe. The park is found in southwestern province of Rwanda in border with Burundi and Lake Kivu and Democratic Republic of Congo. Nyungwe forest national park harbors lots of wildlife species including primates like Chimpanzees, moneys, mammals like Buffaloes, forest hogs, Buffaloes and over 300 species of birds all thrilling in tis forested park in Rwanda. Nyungwe forest national park offers the best canopy walk in East Africa and amongst the 3 best canopy walks in the African continent and it was open in 2010 for tourists to enjoy this adventurous activity in Nyungwe forest. This canopy is a 90m stretch swinging about 60m above the ground which is almost the tree top height which offers a scenic view of the park at a glance with all that thrill within including cheerful primates, mammals, birds and many more.
Canopy walk in Nyungwe forest national park starts from Uwinka following Igishigishi trail and takes about 2 hours. The park offers 2 shifts of canopy walk including morning that starts at 8:00am and the evening canopy walk at 3:00pm on a daily basis.
This activity is adventurous yes but best for people who are okay with heights for those that fear heights, we recommend you take on a forest walk on ground than the canopy since it’s the same forest and the encounters are probably the same though the feeling of viewing the park from above is such a thrilling experience worth to enjoy while on a Rwanda safari.
Canopy walk in Nyungwe forest national park can be enjoyed all year long though the dry months are always the best when the walking trail to the canopy are dry and easily passable. However, even during dry month, it’s possible to experience some rain since it’s a tropical forest. Thus ensure that you pack appropriate attire suitable to keep you warm while in the jungle.
Packing list for canopy walk in Nyungwe forest national park,
While on your adventure to enjoy a thrilling canopy walk in Nyungwe forest, ensure that you pack appropriate and necessary thing including;
- Wear suitable clothes
- Water proof and light hiking shoes
- A camera that you will use to capture all moments in the wild
- A rain jacket shouldn’t miss out in your backpack since it might rain at any time
- Enough drinking water and snacks
- A walking stick though it can as well be provided during briefing.
Other activities done in Nyungwe forest national park
Apart from Canopy walk, Nyungwe forest offers lots of other adventurous tourist activities including Chimpanzee trekking safari that is the top most tourist activity done in this park, a permit to trek chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest national park costs $90 per person. There is also a possibility of trekking other primates like Colobus monkeys at $70 per person since the park thrills with 13 primate species including Black and White Colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkey, Blue monkeys, Rd tailed monkeys, and many more. Nyungwe forest is also a best destination for birding safaris in Rwanda since the park thrills with over 300 species of birds includ
ing handsome francolin, Apalis, Dusky Crimson wing, Ruwenzori Batis, Ruwenzori Apalis, Ruwenzori Turacos, Yellow-eyed-flycatcher, Ruwenzori Night jar, Sunbirds, Red-Collared Babblers, hornbills and many more. One can as well enjoy a forest via different trails including Congo – Nile trail, Igishigishi trail, Rukuzi trail, Ngabwe trail, Bigugu trail, Isumo trail, Irebero trail, Karamba trail, Bigugu trail, Kamiranzovu trail and many more.
Accommodation facilities/ where to stay while on a canopy walk safari to Nyungwe forest national park
Nyungwe forest thrills with different accommodation facilities ranging from budget, midrange and luxury including hotels, lodges, motels, campsites and many more some within the park while others are outside the park. Some of these accommodations include Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Gisakura Guest House, Nyungwe Top View Hotel and many more.
