National park · Nyamasheke, Western Province

Nyungwe National Park

Ancient montane rainforest in south-west Rwanda, home to chimpanzees and a suspended canopy walkway

Ambient sound · similar settingWest African rainforest ambience in Banco National Park

Photo: Faustin T (@tfaustin) / Unsplash

Discover Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe is a sweep of old, cool mountain rainforest covering roughly 1,000 square kilometres of Rwanda's south-west. Mist hangs over the ridges in the early morning, tree ferns and orchids crowd the trails, and the dawn chorus is loud with birds, many of them found only in the Albertine Rift. More than a dozen primate species live here, including chimpanzees, L'Hoest's monkeys and large troops of black-and-white colobus.

For most visitors the park means two experiences: an early start to follow one of the semi-habituated chimpanzee communities, and a walk along the suspended canopy walkway near the Uwinka Visitor Centre, where the forest falls away beneath you. Add a guided hike to a waterfall, a tea plantation visit on the park edge and a night or two in the area, and Nyungwe becomes the natural centrepiece of any southern Rwanda itinerary.

Don’t miss

01Suspended canopy walkway starting at the Uwinka Visitor Centre, with views across the forest roof
02Chimpanzee tracking with three semi-habituated communities: Cyamudongo, Mayebe and Gisovu
03Large troops of Angolan black-and-white colobus monkeys near Uwinka
04Around 300 recorded bird species, including many Albertine Rift endemics
05Ten hiking trails from Uwinka and three from Gisakura, all with community guides
06Tea estates and village experiences in Banda and Gisakura on the park edge

History & culture

The story of Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe has been protected in some form since the colonial era, when it was set aside as a forest reserve, and it was upgraded to national park status in the mid-2000s. Trail development for visitors began at Uwinka in the late 1980s, and the canopy walkway, built with support from USAID, opened around 2010.

In 2020 the Rwanda Development Board entered a long-term partnership with the conservation organisation African Parks, which now manages the park together with the Government of Rwanda. On 19 September 2023 the UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed Nyungwe on the World Heritage List, the first Rwandan site to be listed. The forest sits on the watershed between the Congo and Nile basins, and streams on its eastern side feed one of the remote headwaters of the Nile.

Local life & traditions

The communities around Nyungwe have long depended on the forest for water, firewood and medicinal plants, and today many families earn their living from tourism and from the green tea estates that line the main road through Gisakura. Freelance community guides lead all hikes in the park, so a guided walk directly supports local households, and the village programmes in Banda and Gisakura give a respectful glimpse of rural Rwandan crafts, music and dance.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Chimpanzee tracking starts very early, because the trackers follow the chimps from where they nested the night before; expect steep, muddy slopes and a long morning. The canopy walkway is a gentler half-day outing, combined with a short forest hike from Uwinka. Guided colobus tracking, birding walks and night walks are also offered, and keen walkers can join the catered three-day Cyinzobe hike with overnight stays in wooden cottages.

Outside the forest, the villages of Banda and Gisakura offer handicrafts, pottery, traditional dance and a tea tour. The Cyamudongo Community Centre has a coffee shop for those tracking chimps in that part of the park. A zipline and rope course near the park add a little adrenaline for families and groups.

When to go

Nyungwe is a rainforest and can be wet in any month, with daytime temperatures around 20 C and nights close to 10 C. The drier months, roughly June to September and again from December to February, make trails less slippery and chimpanzee tracking more comfortable. The long rains from March to May and the short rains around October and November bring heavy downpours, but also fewer visitors and lush green forest. Pack waterproofs and warm layers whatever the season.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Management: Managed by African Parks in partnership with the Government of Rwanda (Rwanda Development Board). Source: rdb.rw ↗
UNESCO status: Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on 19 September 2023, Rwanda's first World Heritage Site. Source: rdb.rw ↗
Getting there: About 5-6 hours (225 km) by road from Kigali, or roughly 40 minutes by air to Kamembe Airport. Source: visitnyungwe.org ↗
Visitor centres: Visitor centres along the main road are open 7am-5pm; food is available at the Uwinka, Gisakura and Gisovu cafes. Source: visitnyungwe.org ↗
Chimpanzee tracking: Three semi-habituated communities (Cyamudongo, Mayebe, Gisovu), each visited by a maximum of eight people per day. Book via the park's official booking page. Source: visitnyungwe.org ↗
Guides: All hiking in the park is led by community freelance guides, available at the Gisakura and Uwinka reception centres. Source: visitnyungwe.org ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Book chimpanzee tracking well ahead in the dry seasons, as group sizes are capped, and confirm current permit fees and minimum ages with the park or RDB when booking.
Wear sturdy waterproof boots, long trousers and a rain jacket; forest trails are steep and often muddy.
Mornings are cold at altitude, so bring a warm fleece even in the dry season.
Halal options inside the park are limited; Muslim travellers may wish to request halal meals from their lodge in advance and carry snacks for long treks.
Allow at least two nights in the area so you can combine chimpanzee tracking and the canopy walkway without rushing.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Nyungwe National Park: food, markets & places to stay

Accommodation in the park ranges from the Uwinka campsites and guesthouse to Gisakura Campsite, Gisovu Guesthouse and Munazi Lodge, with further lodges and guesthouses around Gisakura's tea estates. Basic groceries and fresh produce can be bought in Gisakura town, about 5 km from Uwinka towards Kamembe. The nearest airport is Kamembe in Rusizi District, which also gives access to the southern end of Lake Kivu.