Night Walks in Nyungwe Forest National Park

Aside from day guided chimpanzee trekking, canopy walk and normal nature walks, Rwanda safari holidaymakers can now add night walks to their bucket-list experiences in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Night walks is a newly introduced experience in Nyungwe Forest, offering nature enthusiasts a remarkable opportunity to soak themselves deeper in the park’s jungles while enjoying a close encounter with diversity of nocturnal species.

The night walks in Nyungwe begin at 5:30 pm each day and visitors are led by an experienced park guide. The 1-3 hours’ guided walk brings you closer to different nocturnal species. The new activity is aimed at boosting visitor experience on Rwanda tour in Nyungwe Forest National Park. The revenue collection from night walks will be used to support conservation activities in Nyungwe Forest National Park, especially community involvement and law enforcement.

Nocturnal species to see on night walk in Nyungwe Forest

Nyungwe Forest is a rich habitat to nocturnal species. On a night walk, expect to encounter the tree hyrax, flying squirrel, and bush babies. To birders, you will come across birds like square-tailed nightjar, Ruwenzori nightjar, Albertine owlet, and montane nightjar.

Other wildlife in Nyungwe Forest National Park include chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabeys, silver monkeys, owl faced monkeys, vervet monkeys, Dent’s monkeys, and blue monkeys. There are also several forest elephants, bushbucks, klipspringers, black-fronted duikers, Congo clawless, blotched serval, buffaloes, western tree hyrax, impalas, golden cats, carnival genet, mongoose, giant forest hogs, otters and more.

When to visit Nyungwe for a guided night walk?

Nyungwe Forest National Park night walk begins at 5:30 pm, lasting for 1-3 hours. The best time to travel to the park to take part in this experience is during the dry season. The dry season in Nyungwe National Park starts around June, July, August, September and December, January to February.

Some of the essentials to consider packing for your night walk include head light/torch/spotlight, waterproof walking shoes/boots, a camera, long trousers, long sleeved shirt, rain jacket, a sweater and daypack.

What else to do besides night walking safaris?

Chimpanzee tracking

Nyungwe Forest National Park alone contains up to 500 chimpanzees and tourists can visit already habituated communities. The habituated chimp communities exist at Cyamudongo and Uwinka area. Before you come across chimpanzees, you will embark on a guided chimpanzee trekking tour with an experienced park guide.

Canopy walk

Canopy walk is one of the new experiences Nyungwe Forest National Park has to offer the world. It is the first experience to be introduced in East Africa, and visitors begin their walk from Igishigishigi trail, taking you through the scenic view of the rainforest, bird sighting and more.

Birding

About 310 bird species survive within the different habitats in Nyungwe National Park. These include Albertine rift endemic species and resident birds. The birds of interest on birding tour in Nyungwe National Park include archer’s robin chat, Doherty bush shrike, Rwenzori nightjars, white bellied robin chat, Rockefellers sunbirds, red throated alethe, Kivu ground thrush, cinnamon chested bee-eaters, red faced woodland warblers,

Blue headed sunbirds, Neumann’s warblers, red collared mountain babblers, grauer’s rush warblers, Great blue turacos, strange weavers, grey chested Kakamega to mention but a few.

Hiking

Hiking allows visitors to immerse into Nyungwe National Park. The hiking opportunities are available on the numerous walking trails. Nyungwe hiking trails include Bigugu, Ngabwe, Congo Nile divide, Muzimu trail, Rukuzi trail, Buhoro, Igishigishigi, Irebero, Imbaraga trail, Umuyove, Umugote, Isumo and Kamiranzovu marsh trail.

Accommodation choices to stay

Available lodging choices at Nyungwe include Kitabi Eco Center, One and Only Nyungwe House, Emeraude Kivu, Gisakura Guesthouse, and others.

Getting there

Getting to Nyungwe takes 5 to 6 hours for guests to drive from Kigali city center to the Southern Proving. You can also take flight using Akagera Aviation and spend shorter hours to get there.