Rwanda’s Nyungwe Primates
Those who are interested in primates or birds should also make time to visit Nyungwe National Park. Throughout the 1000 square kilometer park, this forest is also home to a vast variety of plants and animals. The primates in Nyungwe are also a treat after exploring the jungle, which has waterfalls and observation spots. The Angola colobus, L’Hoest’s monkey, and chimpanzees are among the 13 species.

Nyungwe birdwatching

With over 300 different bird species in the park, bird enthusiasts can only imagine how much fun it would be to see the great blue turaco. Albertine Rift Montane Rain Forest is another name for Nyungwe Forest National Park. The epicenter of Africa’s montane rain forest circle is likewise formed by this albertine fissure.

As it begins on the Lendu plains in northern Uganda and Congo and travels through the Rwenzori Mountains, western Rwanda, and Burundi, it is also home to several mountain ranges, including some of the lonely massifs that line the shores of Lake Tanganyika.

Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest

Among Africa’s most endemic areas is the Albertine Rift Ecoregion. Nyungwe was also recently designated as a national park, making it the largest protected area. It was crucial to preserve the forest reserve because the Albertine Rift is home to the largest population in Africa and the forest serves as the nation’s largest water reservoir.

With a unique ecology, this 970-kilometer Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda is the only location where we have observed the army of 300 colobus monkeys that wander in the treetops. With over 13 known monkey species, this national park is home to 25% of Africa’s primates and is a private paradise!

Along with 21 forest species and 27 albertine rift endemics, this forest is home to 300 different kinds of birds. With 200 tree species and over 00 orchid species, the local flora is very abundant. There is a vast network of walking paths in this national park that take you past several waterfalls and viewpoints. Nyungwe also provides beautiful views of the Virunga, Lake Kivu, and the forest.

Rwenzori Colobus, chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkeys, silver and golden monkeys, owl-faced, red-tailed, Den’t mona, vervet, olive baboon, grey-cheeked Mangabey, and three kinds of bush babies are among the primate fauna. Rwandan gorilla safaris are limited to Volcanoes National Park; you won’t see mountain gorillas in Nyungwe.

The Galapagos Islands in Africa are home to these jungles, which are encircled by rwenzori turacos, huge Labelians, golden monkeys, gorillas, and gleaming sunbirds. They should be given more attention, protection, and research than they now have.

The biggest remaining island of montane forest in East or central Africa, this national park spans more than 1000 kilometers across the highlands of southeast Rwanda. It is an old and rich hub of natural marvels and the highest level of biodiversity. Nyungwe, which is separated from Butare and Lake Kivu by a paved road, is a complex of forests that are only open to casual tourists.

Nyungwe is a renowned park with a wide range of its flora and animals that has just been granted national park status. Along with 200 distinct tree species, the forest is home to a wide variety of blooming plants, such as the amazing huge Lobelias, more than 100 varieties of orchids, and wild begonias. Primates are the most noticeable of the big animals as well; there are 13 species known to exist, making up 25% of the African primate checklist.

Monkeys in the Nyungwe Forest

The delightfully acrobatic Angola colobus arboreal monkeys, which are often seen from the woodland pathways during the wet season, are also of great interest. They roam in contingents of hundreds to over 500 chimpanzees. The L’Hoest’s monkey, silver monkeys, olive baboons, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and red-tailed monkeys are among the other primates that may be seen during the visit.

With 13 species of primates, including chimpanzees—the closest relatives of humans—L’Hoest’s monkeys, and many Angola colobbus, Nyungwe is also the most alluring park for primates. Nyuungwe, Rwanda’s most important ornithological location, is home to approximately 300 bird species, two of which are unique to the Albertine Rift’s montane forests.

The big blue Turaco, an unusual blue, red, and green bird that flies from trees like a parade of the sleek, colorful turkeys, is also Nyungwe’s bird of the year. Additionally, there is a large, well-maintained network and a walking track that winds through the forest to several waterfalls and observation spots.

This reserve may be visited as a day trip from all of the towns of Butare and Cyangugu, and it has a peaceful rural rest house and a well-located campground along the main road. This park is worth spending a lot of time in, particularly for people who like to follow chimpanzees and other smaller monkeys, which will take two days. Even more so, the ardent bird watchers may not want to pass up any opportunities.