Chimp Trekking and Enjoying Nyungwe Forest

Nyungwe Forest National Park is located in the southwestern part of Rwanda, boasts a wide variety of wildlife and is Africa's oldest national park. This place is magical with its breathtaking forested trees in the mountains, smokey clouds often dissipating in early morning hours, clearing way for full sun and the sound of colobus monkeys and the main attraction, Chimpanzees.

The park is home to over 1,100 plant species, including 265 that are endemic to the area. Additionally, there are 345 bird species, 30 of which are Albertine Rift endemics and 85 mammal species. Nyungwe is home to 13 different species of primates, including the l’hoest’s monkey, which is endemic to the Albertine Rift. Other primates found in the park include chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus monkeys and blue monkeys. Chimpanzee tracking is a popular activity in the park, and visitors can explore the lush tea estate and brewing rituals in Gisakura Tea Estate and trail blazing the Karamba trail where it goes from flat to hard up hill as you go through the open-air site of a former gold mine towards Mount Bigugu trail. There are also 300 bird species, more than 200 different varieties of trees and at least 100 species of orchids to see.

The key takeaways of coming to these partner stays is that One & Only Resorts and Akagera Aviation have partnered to bring an exclusive offer when visiting Rwanda. Transfers are available from One & Only Nyungwe House to One & Only Gorilla’s Nest (Nyungwe to Ruhengeri in the north). If you book three nights at One & Only Nyungwe House and three nights at One & Only Gorilla’s Nest, you can receive a complimentary helicopter transfer between the resorts.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Rwanda. In need of further inspiration? Check out Arun Sastry’s guide, Rwanda: Mountain Gorillas, Coffee, Gorgeous Landscapes and More.