Trails in Nyungwe National Park: Nyungwe National Park is located in the southwestern part of Rwanda at the border of Burundi and the democratic republic of Congo. The park also neighbors the Lake Kivu. It was established in 2004 to increase the tourism in Rwanda. It is famous for holding the largest rainforest in East Africa where the forest is comprised of bamboo, swamp, montane, and grassland rainforest. The park is home to 75 mammal species, 13 primate species, 300 bird species, 120 amphibian species, and many others.
Nyungwe National Park is known for the tracking of the chimpanzee since there are several chimpanzee species in the park. The tracked chimpanzees are first habituated for them to get used to the human presence. Trails of the Nyungwe National Park are the pathways that travelers encounter on foot to explore the different parts of the park. There are several trails in the park that travelers on their safaris engage in to see different attractions in the park. Trails in the park that travelers can follow on a safari include;
Bigugu Trail
This is the most challenging trail that takes through Mount Bigugu which is within the park. The trail starts from the Uwinka reception area where travelers are highlighted about the trail. Though it is rewarding, it is considered to be the hardest trail in the park. Travelers interested in birding, this is the best trail for them to encounter on their safaris.
Several bird species are usually encountered including the endemic species. This trail takes up to the bigger peak and travelers during the hike usually make stopovers at the Rwanda Development Board radio station which is in charge of monitoring the activities in the park. The peak in the park is considered to be the highest point in the park where travelers have a view of the lake kivu.
Karamba Birding Trail
This is among the easiest trails in the park that travelers usually encounter during the safaris. The trail is between the Gisakura and Uwinka visitor centers and is relatively short about 4 kilometers. This tail also has a moderate altitude that is about 1935 meters to 2030 meters above sea level. Karamba birding trail also goes through the gold mining area. Now it is a quarrying site for road construction materials and an army camp. It is the least muddy trail in the park. The trail also offers a perfect experience for travelers interested in birding and several bird species are spotted.
Kamiranzovu Trail
Kamiranzovu Trail is estimated at 5.9 kilometers and it is an interesting trail in the park which travelers on their safaris engage in. Kamiranzovu is a Kinyarwanda word meaning swallowing elephants. This swamp holds a history of killing several elephants in the park where most of them were trapped in the marsh. These are evidenced by several skulls around the swamp. On the trail, travelers will see the waterfalls that connect to the lake kivu which is between the 2 mountains and also offers views of the mountains and the park.
Isumo Waterfall Trail
Most of the trails in the park usually start from the Uwinka reception but this trail starts from the Nyungwe forest lodge and takes you through the tea plantations. The plantation is among the attractions in the park that travelers can see during the safaris. In this trail, there are several wildlife in the park like snakes, butterflies, chimpanzees, vervet monkeys, and many others. Travelers also have a view of the Isumo waterfalls during the hike.
Igishigishigi Trail
This is one of the shortest trails in the Nyungwe Forest National Park which is estimated at 2.1 kilometers. It is one of the famous trails in the park because it is near the canopy walk sites and it is very close to Uwinka reception. It also takes you through the Uwinka Ridge which has several staircases that travelers can engage in to hike. Also in this trail, travelers can have a view of the park and other areas surrounding the park.
Ngabwe Trail
This trail leads to the Ngabwe mountain which is a popular camping site for travelers. It is about 3 kilometers and starts from the Kitabi gate. Travelers take about 3 hours on this trail.
Rukuzi Trail
On this trail, travelers have a view of the Banda homes. It is one of the challenging trails in the park where travelers face challenges during the visit. It is about 9 kilometers and it also offers the sitting of the chimpanzee. The trail is among the most loved trails in the park since it leads to the homes of the chimpanzees and other primates.
Muzimu Trail
It starts from the Gisovu ranger post and is about 5.2 kilometers in the remote areas of the northeastern part of Rwanda. The trail takes you through the buffer zones of the eucalyptus and pine forests. On this trail, travelers will encounter several bird species and also the perfect views of the Lake Kivu and Virunga volcanoes.
Imbaraga Trail
Imbaraga trail starts from the Uwinka visitor center and is about 10 kilometers in length and it is among the oldest trails in the park. Imbaraga is a local Rwandese word that means “strength”. Imbaraga trail is a difficult trail in the park and it is at a high altitude of about 2470 meters above sea level. On this trail, travelers have a view of the magnificent waterfalls, verdant valleys, rivers, chimpanzees, and many others.
The Congo Nile Divide Trail
It is also among the challenging trails in the park that take travelers through Lake Kivu. It is one of the popular trails that travelers can engage in during their safaris. Travelers will encounter several wildlife like chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, Angolan monkeys, and many others.
Source of the Nile Trail
Source of the Nile Trail is an amazing trail in the park that travelers can encounter. The Trail is considered to be the source of the Nile since the river flows to Lake Victoria. It is about 0.98 kilometers and it is the easiest and lasts about 1 hour during the hike.
