Nyungwe National park is found in the south of Lake Kivu and it’s along the south western side of the highland region that makes the Congo and the Nile drainage system. It is one of the most amazing primates watching destinations in Rwanda. It is blessed with diverse flora and fauna, has a very rich vegetation cover which is why it is one of the most valuable conservation areas in Africa. The park occupies a space of 1020km sq with some of the places filled with rain forest, others bog habitants, bamboo, swamps, grassland and this is one place you will find the oldest and biggest patches of the montane rainforest. Besides all the vegetation and the animals, this is also a home to about 300 bird species.
Bird life
Bird watching is among the most selling activities in Nyungwe since there are about 300 or a few more species of birds and among these, 27 species are Albertine endemic birds. You will hear them sing as you trek through the jungle and for some of these birds; you may only be able to hear them but not see them. While heading out for the birding adventure, you will get a birding guide who knows more about the birds who will help you search for the birds as they are skilled enough search for them by just listening to their sound even when they are still hiding in the trees. You can expect to see the Rwenzori turco, the grey chested bird, greater blue birds and giant horn bills among so many others. A birding safari in Rwanda – Nyungwe will be worthwhile.
The Primates
There are 13 different types of primates living in Nyungwe forest. This is the highest diversity recorded in a single location which makes this park unique despite the fact that majority of these are endangered species.
The most popular are the chimpanzees. There are 500 chimpanzees living in Nyungwe including those found in the small Cyamudongo forest. A Chimpanzee tracking Safari is one of the Major activities done in this park and while out in the forest tracking the chimpanzees, you are more likely to hear them making noise before you can actually see them but when you meet them, you will be amazed by how these apes relate with one another giving you the great experience.
Other primates include lots of monkey species, majority of which are the Angola colobus monkeys. There are about 400 of these monkeys in that forest, they are inhabitants and that number is the highest compared to other species of monkeys ever recorded in a single place. Colobus monkeys are commonly found in the Albertine rift region, they are very recognizable because the black coat and a snow white color around the face and the shoulder as well as the tip of the tail. There are other monkeys like the Owl-faced monkeys with distinguishing characters which include the white stripes originating from the nose to the lips giving it an owl like look thus the name. These are seldomly seen in this park though because they are so secretive and love the bamboo forest more which in this case is located on the southern side of Nyungwe. More to these are the blue monkeys which are related to the golden monkeys, there are vervet monkeys which love staying in the open woodland, the grey –cheeked monkeys commonly seen in the areas of low forest altitude, the Dent’s monkeys which are very discrete therefore rarely seen in spite of the fact that they are quite many in this park. The L’Hoest monkeys are the commonly seen and you can easily find them alongside the road in groups of 8members to 20. The Red tailed are the least in number because they almost extinct but you can find some in around tea estate along low altitude of the park. There are 13 other primate species in the park which include the nocturnal bush-babies also reffered to as the galago, there are the tail-less pottos, among others.
Mammals
Nyungwe is also a home to about 75 different mammals. These can be spotted as you walk around the jungle, during your trek or nature walk. There are mammals like the mongooses, bush bucks, hyrax, leopards are rarely seen, there are genet, duiker, the Congo clawless otter, civet, wild cats, the golden cats, the side striped jackal, among others.
Other species you can find
Within Nyungwe are different other species that you may be interested in watching during your forest walk. There are attractions like hundreds of butterfly species, there are different types of snakes which you might see, colorful lizards may be spotted, chameleons, to mention but a few. Those that are interested in the green vegetation, you can expect to see the rainforest bamboo, the swamps and grassland as well as bogs all in the same location and this is pretty amazing. Over 240 tree species are recorded in that forest, about 140 orchids, over1068 plant species including the giant lobelia and 250 out that total are endemic to the Albertine rift. Important to note is the fact that this amazing this vegetation cover is a big contributor to the existence of the variety of wildlife found in this park.
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