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Into the heart of Rwanda’s ancient rainforest.
Explore one of Africa’s oldest rainforests, where dense forests, mist-covered mountains, remarkable primates, and scenic trails create an unforgettable nature experience.
Nyungwe National Park is a vast rainforest in southwestern Rwanda, known for its exceptional biodiversity, mountain landscapes, and rich primate life.
The park offers a different experience from Rwanda’s savannah and volcanic regions, with opportunities for chimpanzee trekking, canopy walks, birdwatching, hiking, and other nature-based experiences.
Whether you’re looking for an immersive rainforest adventure or combining Nyungwe with other parts of Rwanda, we can help you plan the journey around your interests, travel style, and budget.
Explore the rainforest with experienced guides in search of wild chimpanzees and other primates.
Experience the forest from above on a suspended walkway offering panoramic views across the rainforest and surrounding landscape.
Discover Nyungwe’s remarkable diversity of primates, including colobus monkeys and other forest species.
Explore forest trails, waterfalls, viewpoints, and other natural features through guided walks and hikes.
Discover an exceptional variety of birdlife, including species found only in or around the Albertine Rift.
Nyungwe can be visited throughout much of the year, with changing conditions offering different hiking, wildlife, and rainforest experiences.
| PERIOD | WHAT TO EXPECT |
|---|---|
| January – February | Generally provides a mix of drier periods and occasional rainfall, with good opportunities for hiking and wildlife experiences. |
| March – May | The long rains create especially lush forest conditions, although trails can become wetter and more challenging. |
| June – September | Generally a drier period, making it popular for hiking, chimpanzee trekking, and exploring the forest. |
| October – December | Short rains refresh the forest and can create excellent conditions for scenery and birdwatching, with more variable weather. |
Rainforest weather can change quickly, and trail conditions vary. We'll help you choose travel dates based on the experiences you want most.
Experience chimpanzee trekking, forest trails, and the spectacular landscapes of Nyungwe on a journey designed around your interests and budget.
Open a day to see what happens.
Begin your journey in Kigali and travel southwest toward Nyungwe National Park, passing through Rwanda’s scenic countryside and changing landscapes along the way.
Set out into Nyungwe’s ancient rainforest with experienced guides in search of wild chimpanzees.
Discover another side of the rainforest through a guided nature experience. Depending on your interests and availability, explore the canopy walk, hike a forest trail, enjoy birdwatching, or visit one of the area’s scenic natural features.
Enjoy a final morning in the Nyungwe area before beginning your journey back to Kigali.
From comfortable lodges surrounded by rainforest to intimate stays near the park, there are accommodation options to suit different travel styles and budgets.
Tell us what matters most to you, and we’ll help you find the right place to stay near Nyungwe National Park.
HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend! I had such a good experience booking my safari with her. Everything was so smooth, especially considering how last-minute my trip was.
Very well arranged everything was as I hoped they delivered well Very great trip. … We gave them our budget they stuck to it.
Everything was smooth and stress free from start to finish and their customer service was exceptional. They checked in regularly to make sure I had arrived safely … and genuinely cared that I was enjoying my trip.
Planning our Cape Town trip with Elite Travel Consultants was very seamless from start to finish. The team was professional, responsive, and always ready to answer our questions.
Their service was professional, smooth, and stress-free from start to finish. They helped plan everything within my budget and made the whole process easy.
Nyungwe is around 5-6 hours by road from Kigali, via Huye. A quicker option is a domestic flight to Kamembe Airport, followed by a short road transfer.
Most travellers spend around 2-4 nights in the area, depending on whether they want to include chimpanzee trekking, the canopy walk, hiking, birdwatching, or other experiences.
Comfortable layered clothing, sturdy hiking shoes, waterproof outerwear, insect repellent, sun protection, and a small backpack are useful essentials.
Chimpanzees are wild animals, so sightings cannot be guaranteed. Experienced guides and trackers work to maximise opportunities while following appropriate wildlife-viewing practices.
Trail difficulty varies depending on the route, weather, and activity. Some experiences are relatively moderate, while others can involve steep or longer sections.
Depending on availability, activities may include canopy walks, hiking, birdwatching, waterfall visits, photography, and other guided nature experiences.
The official currency is the Rwandan Franc (RWF).
Kinyarwanda, English, French, and Swahili are commonly used in Rwanda.
Rwanda uses Central Africa Time (CAT), which is UTC+2.
Tell us when you’d like to travel, who you’re travelling with, what you’d like to experience, and what you’d like to spend. We’ll help you turn your ideas into a personalised journey.
