Nyungwe Forest National park

Introduction;
Nyungwe Forest National Park is an enormous tropical forest with a high canopy which is located south of Lake Kivu on the boarder with Burundi. This Park was established in 2004 and covers an area of approximately 970 km² of rain forest, grassland, swamps, bamboo, rainforests and bogs.
Nyungwe Forest is, in fact, the largest swathe of montane forest left in East or Central Africa. It harbours about 275 different birds, hundreds of butterflies and orchids, and over 75 different species of mammals – including 13 primates (about a quarter of all Africa's primates).
There are so many activities inside the forest, you can either track chimpanzees or search for Ruwenzori colobus monkeys which are countless here. Some of the primates you can find here are; The common chimpanzees, Adolf Friedrich’s Angola Colobus, L’Hoest’s Monkey, the Silver Monkey, Golden Monkey, Hamlyn’s Monkey, Red-tailed Monkey, Dents Mona Monkey, Vervet Monkey, Olive Baboon and Grey-cheeked Mangabey and others. 

Location of Nyungwe Forest National Park. 
This enormous tropical forest is located south of Lake Kivu on the boarder with Burundi. The nearest town to Nyungwe Forest National Park is Cyangugu which is 54 km to the west and Mount Bigugu which is also located within the Park boarders.

Attractions in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is enriched with a lot of attractions which pull many tourists from different countries. Some of which include; It being the largest Montane Forest remaining in Africa, Mt. Bigugu which is 2925m, the 260 species of trees and shrubs, Orchids and giant lobelias (over 140 species),13 recorded species of primates, the Rwenzori colobuses, baboons, Leopards, the 3 bush baby species, golden cat, side tripped jackal. The other mammal species still in Nyungwe Forest National Park are; the 3 species of duikers, two species of flying squirrels, tree hynax and Congo claws otters.
Not forgetting the butterflies, there are 120 species all together, the reptiles (the 3 species of horned chameleons and the known 275 bird species which are mostly found in the Albertine Rift.
All these attractions make Nyungwe Forest National Park a place to be for tourists. It is crazy when you get there.

Accommodation.
Nyungwe Forest has got one of the best accommodations around. ORTPN Rest house which is also known as Gisakura Guest House and well situated on the edge of the Forest. This is quite convenient because as you are taking a cover inside your room, you are at the same time watching animals roaming around the place.
Gisakura guest house has a helpful and friendly team which makes you indeed comfortable together with its simple and nice rooms.

Apart from Gisakura, Nyungwe has also got a more luxurious Lodge which is called the Nyungwe Forest Lodge with a very fantastic position and good views overlooking the forest canopy from a ridge to one side and a tea-plantation on the other. This is also exciting about this enormous Nyungwe Forest.

Accessibility.
The nearest town to Nyungwe Forest National Park is Cyangugu. When you get into the Park, there is no walking individually. I mean you are supposed to have a guide always and whenever you want to get to some where for as long as you are in the Park. All tourists are advised to use a four wheel drive simply because they make the trip more comfortable.

Activities at Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Birding is one of the exciting activities in Nyungwe Forest National Park. It is easy to see some birds especially in most tropical forests while in some cases, you just have to look for them.         Other wise watching birds, is spectacular and unforgettable. Examples of some bird species are; Giant hornbills, great blue turacos and red-breasted sparrow hawks are amongst the specials, of which 24 are endemic to this section of the Rift Valley.
Nyungwe Forest still contains other bird species like the sunbirds, such as the endemic Purple-breasted and Blue-headed can be seen feeding in flowering trees. This Nyungwe Forest is such a birder’s paradise which gathers most tourists to this area.

The forest walks is another excellent activity enjoyed here. Lasting from one to six or seven hours. We can arrange for you to track chimpanzees, or search for Ruwenzori colobus monkeys, which can be found here in troupes of several hundred. Other primates such as the L’Hoest’s monkey and the grey-cheeked mangabey are often sighted as well.
Primate tracking is another activity enjoyed by a good number of tourists. So many primate species are tracked and some of these include;  The common chimpanzees, Adolf Friedrich’s Angola Colobus, L’Hoest’s Monkey, the Silver Monkey, Golden Monkey, Hamlyn’s Monkey, Red-tailed Monkey, Dents Mona Monkey, Vervet Monkey, Olive Baboon and Grey-cheeked Mangabey and others. 
Photography is also allowed here, Scaling Mt. Bigugu (2925) , Excursions to Lake Kivu and Gisakura tea factory and Excursions to Kamiranzovu Marsh among others.