Discover the most rewarding hiking trails in Nyungwe Forest National Park, a 970 sq. km rainforest-dominated protected area in Rwanda. Located in the Southern Province of Rwanda, Nyungwe National Park lies at an altitude of 3000 meters and features among the oldest tropical forests in Africa. Nyungwe extends to the border with Burundi and is close to the Kibira National Park and is also bordered by Congo and Lake Kivu in the western part of the country.
The different hiking trails in Nyungwe each reward nature enthusiasts with incredible encounters of floral and faunal dwellers in this lush protected area. Nyungwe Forest National Park trails offer a complete immersion into the jungle with nature lovers guaranteed of great surprising encounters of the park-endowed fauna. Here is a detailed list of amazing hiking trails to explore on the Rwanda safari in Nyungwe National Park.
Ngabwe trail
The Ngabwe hiking trail is one of the interesting trails worth exploring on a Rwanda tour in Nyungwe Forest National Park. It is a perfect trail to explore by nature enthusiasts and what is remarkable about it is that it ushers visitors to Mount Ngabwe. Hiking the Ngabwe trail involves conquering a 4.7 km long enriching trail leading you via the Kitabi tea plantations and some sections of Nyungwe Forest.
As you embark on a guided nature walk through the Ngabwe trail, expect to come across many primates in Nyungwe Forest. The different primates to expect to encounter on a guided hiking adventure along the Ngabwe trail include gray-cheeked mangabey monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, etc.
Kamiranzovu marsh trail
The Kamiranzovu trail introduces you deep into the caldera depression in Nyungwe Forest National Park. It is a 6 km long trail and offers a bit of challenging hikes taking visitors about 3 to 4 hours. While on the Kamiranzovu marsh trail, expect to come across different birds including the Grauer’s rush warblers and lush vegetation. Visitors who desire hiking through this begin their journey from the Uwinka reception.
Igishigishigi trail
The Igishigishigi trail is a 2.4 km extensive trail about a 1.5-hour hiking trail. It is one of the trails you can easily explore and offers great views of the canopy walkway. Hikes through this trail can be done in the morning and afternoon. This trail is located at the elevation range of 2295 to 2450m.
Uwinka trail
Uwinka hiking trail is 10.5 km translating to about 8 hours. Along Uwinka trail, expect to enjoy great views and expect to encounter of some of the interesting species. Hiking through Uwinka requires a bit of fitness level to have a complete round journey.
Irebero trail
Irebero nature trail in Nyungwe National Park is 3.4 km and takes visitors about 3 hours to enjoy a complete hike. This hiking trail allows you enjoy views of Lake Kivu and border areas.
Bigugu hiking trail
Bigugu is one of the hiking trails in Nyungwe that are hard to hike but rewards hikers with great encounters. The hikes through Bigugu involve conquering the high elevation of 2367m and the trail is 13.2 km about 6 hours round hike.
Bigugu hiking trail is ideal for birding and bird enthusiasts have a lot of birds to spot. The likely birds to be spotted along the Bigugu trail include the red-collared babblers, red-collared mountain babblers, Archer’s robin chat, Olive & Elliot’s woodpeckers, Rwenzori turacos, and barred long-tailed cuckoos. Other birds include white-headed wood hoopoe, stripe-breasted tit, and white-bellied robin chat, etc.
Umugote hiking trail
Umugote is 3.6 km long and takes its name from a Syzgium tree. Hiking through Umugote takes about 3 hours and is an ideal primate and birding trail. The hikes through Umugote usher visitors via the scenic valleys where a myriad of forest species can be encountered.
Isumo waterfall trail
Isumo fall trail is 10.6 km translating to about 4 hours round hiking experience. Isumo is set at the elevation of 1770 meters and 1940 meters. Along this trail, expect to come across some of the ferns, birds, and monkeys.
Imbaraga trail
Embarking on the Imbaraga hiking trail involves exploring a 10 km long trail about 6 hours hiking journey. This nature trail takes its name from the Kinyarwanda word which translates as strength and is evidenced by the difficulty of hiking through it. Imbaraga trail hikes start from the Uwinka reception center and introduce you to enriching spots to find various fauna.
Congo Nile divide trail.
The Congo Nile divide lies along the Southern end of the park and connects parts of Nyungwe and Kibira National Park in Burundi. This extensive trail extends to Butare-Cyangugu road approximately 7 km west of Uwinka. It is an enriching hiking trail that brings you up close with the park’s diverse fauna and avifaunal species like the Kivu ground thrush, Rwenzori turacos, and red-collared mountain babblers.
Karamba trail
Karamba is a favorite birding trail in Nyungwe and is notably one of the easiest trails to explore on the Rwanda safari. Hikes through Karamba begin from Karamba main road and expect to take 3 hours round hiking journey. The Karamba trail is set at an altitude of 1935 meters and 2030 meters. Along the Karamba trail, there are colorful orchids, Dent’s monkeys, and giant trees to explore.
Muzimu trail
Muzimu is 5.2 km and expect to take 3.5 hours to have a round hike. Muzimu hiking trail offers moderate hiking adventure and visitors get to navigate via the lush vegetation cover featuring pine forests, eucalyptus trees, shrubs, and wildflowers. On the Muzimu trail, expect to enjoy great views of Lake Kivu and the surrounding Virunga Mountain ranges.
Rukuzi
Rukuzi is one of the amazing hiking trails in Nyungwe. It is a 9 km long hiking trail and takes about 5 hours to have a complete hike. Along the Rukuzi trail, expect to come across some of the unique primates including chimpanzees, and do not miss the breathtaking views of Nyungwe Forest.
Umoyove trail
Umoyove hiking trail takes about 2-3 hours for you to have a round hike. The hikes through this trail allow you to explore the scenic waterfall, flowers, and mahogany trees. It is a 5.5 km extensive hiking trail and offers the shortest hikes preferably the ideal spot for hikers who do not want to spend long hours walking.
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