Nyungwe Rainforest Rwanda

Africa's oldest forest

Nyungwe Forest National Park covers 1,019 square kilometres of montane rainforest in southwest Rwanda, close to the Burundi border. It is one of the oldest and most biodiverse forests in Africa — estimates suggest it has been continuously forested for over 30,000 years. It survived the ice ages and the continental shifts that eliminated forest cover across much of East Africa.

The canopy walk is the signature experience: a 200-metre suspension bridge 70 metres above the forest floor, swaying gently in the mist. The views along the valley and the birdlife around the canopy are extraordinary. Below, trails wind through giant tree ferns and ancient hagenia.

Nyungwe is home to 13 primate species, including chimpanzees and the spectacular Angola colobus — a black-and-white primate that moves through the canopy in groups of up to 300 individuals, which is one of the largest primate groupings anywhere in Africa. Chimpanzee habituation treks allow extended time with a wild community.

For birders, Nyungwe is exceptional. The forest holds a suite of Albertine Rift endemics found nowhere else in the world, alongside forest heavyweights like the great blue turaco. Rangers help guide us through the forest trails for a special birding experience.