Canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park

Canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park: The canopy walk in Rwanda is carried out in Nyungwe Forest National Park, which is located in the southwestern part of the country near the Burundi border. One of a kind in Rwanda, the canopy walk will enable one to explore the rich biodiversity and beauty of the oldest rainforest in Africa. The rainforests cover a total area of 1,019 square kilometers, hosting over 13 primate species, the most famous being the chimpanzees, which are the closest relatives to human beings.

Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to chimpanzees and other species of primates like the L’Hoest’s monkeys, birds, and a few mammals. For tourists to encounter these forest attractions, they need to participate in park activities such as chimpanzee trekking, nature walks, and canopy walks. Below, we talk about the canopy walk, which is the second most popular activity in Nyungwe Forest.

The canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park.

The canopy walk is the second most popular activity in Nyungwe Forest National Park, normally done by tourists after chimpanzee trekking within the same park. The canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park is carried out four times a day at 8 am, 10 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm, all lasting for 2 hours. The activity starts and ends at the Uwinka Tourist Reception Center, taking about 2 hours.

The canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park is a guided activity that starts with a briefing from the park rangers. The briefing is done to enable trekkers to learn the rules and regulations of the activity. Later, tourists are led by the rangers on a forest trail that connects the Igishigishigi trail, where the canopy starts.

The canopy walk is suspended above the ravine in the untouched tropical rainforest of Nyungwe. The canopy is 160 meters long and 70 meters high, taking roughly two hours to complete. During the canopy walk, tourists get to have an aerial view of the forest, spot some of the forest birds, and see a few wildlife species like the monkeys.

What is the cost of the canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park?

To carry out the canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park, you need to pay the entrance fees to the park. Foreign non-residents do pay $100, foreign residents $60, and citizens of East African member states $10 to access Nyungwe Forest National Park. The canopy walk costs $40 for foreign non-residents, $20 for foreign residents, and $5 for citizens of East African member states.

When to visit Rwanda

Rwanda is open for tourism all throughout the year; therefore, tourists can visit Nyungwe Forest National Park for the canopy walk at any time of the year. Even though Rwanda can be visited all throughout the year, some months are better than others, like the dry ones. June to September and December to February are the best for tourism activities. The dry season months will come with little or no rainfall, which makes the walk easy, and tourists get to have a clear view of the forest tops, birds, and animals since the sky is very clear.

Other activities in Nyungwe Forest National Park

Chimpanzee trekking.

The most popular activity in Nyungwe Forest National Park is chimpanzee trekking. This is because the park is still the only area in Rwanda with habituated chimpanzees. Tourists on a safari in Rwanda who would love to meet the closest relatives to human beings have one area, which is Nyungwe Forest, to watch the chimpanzees in their natural habitat.

Nyungwe Forest National Park has a small population of chimpanzees, some of which have been habituated and are used to human presence around them. With the chimpanzee trekking permits, which are sold by the Rwanda Development Board, tourists visit Uwinka early in the morning for a briefing where they learn the rules and regulations of the activity.

After the briefing, groups of trekkers are formed and given armed ranger guides to lead them in the jungle. Inside the forest, different trails are used to search for where the chimpanzees could be, and while doing so, there are chances of meeting different forest attractions. Searching and locating chimpanzees takes 2 to 5 hours, and when the trekkers locate them, they get 1 hour around the members.

While around the chimpanzees, trekkers are allowed to ask rangers any questions about these chimps, which enables them to learn about their habits. Trekkers are also allowed to take photos and record videos of these chimpanzees for future memories. At the end of the trekking activity, all trekkers are awarded certificates to recognize their successful completion.