Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe National Park protects one of the oldest and largest tracts of montane rainforest in Africa, draped across the mountains of southwestern Rwanda near Lake Kivu. This ancient forest is a haven of biodiversity, sheltering thirteen species of primate, among them large troops of Angolan colobus and habituated chimpanzees, alongside hundreds of bird species and a wealth of orchids and other plants found nowhere else. Deep valleys, waterfalls and a canopy walkway suspended high above the treetops draw hikers and wildlife watchers, while the forest also forms part of the watershed feeding both the Nile and the Congo river systems. Its cool, misty ridges and dense greenery make it one of the continent's premier destinations for forest trekking. Rwanda's newest national park to gain international recognition, Nyungwe is prized for its exceptional ecological richness and its role in conserving Central Africa's rainforest heritage.