Nyungwe National Park at a glance
Nyungwe lies in the southwest of Rwanda and covers 1,019 km² of mountain forest, bamboo slopes, grassland and wetland. In 2023 it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, made up of three forest areas: Nyungwe, Cyamudongo and Gisakura. The listed area is 101,963.67 hectares, and the elevation ranges from 1,480 to 2,950 m. African Parks manages the park in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
The park is known for the canopy walkway, a suspension bridge over the forest, and for chimpanzee trekking. It is home to 13 primate species, including the Angola colobus, the L'Hoest's monkey and the eastern chimpanzee. From Kigali it is about 225 km by road, or 5 to 6 hours, and there is a flight from Kigali to Kamembe that takes about 40 minutes.
To the south the forest continues into Burundi's Kibira National Park, but that is not a crossing for visitors. The day visitor centres on the main road are open from 07:00 to 17:00. That does not mean every activity starts at that time, so ask for the start time of each one when you book.
Park fees follow the 2025 to 2026 tariff. An international adult pays $100 for one night of park entry, then $40 for the canopy walkway or $150 for chimpanzee trekking on top. Check the current amount before you book. The prices on the tour cards below show whether park fees are included.
Our picks: Nyungwe tours
A canopy day trip, a two-day chimpanzee trip and a five-day primate tour.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Five days: gorillas, chimpanzees and Nyungwe canopy
- Gorilla and chimp permits
- Canopy and park fees
- Four nights, full board
Nyungwe on days one and two, then Lake Kivu and Volcanoes National Park. Flights and visa are extra, and sightings cannot be promised.
Check availability →Two days at Nyungwe with chimpanzee trekking
- Hotel pick-up and return
- Private vehicle and guide
- King's Palace museum entry
The route runs via Nyanza to Nyungwe. The chimp trekking fee is extra; ask whether park entry is included before you book. Sightings cannot be promised.
Check availability →
Nyungwe canopy walk day trip from Kigali
- Pick-up and return
- 4x4 transport and guide
- Lunch and water
A long day with a guided walk to the canopy walkway, leaving Kigali at about 6 am. Park fees are extra.
Check availability →Nyungwe tours and trips
Canopy walk, chimpanzee trekking, forest hikes and trips from Kigali, with live prices and availability.
Things to do in Nyungwe
The activities that bring most visitors to the forest.
Canopy walkway
A 160 m suspension bridge up to 70 m above a gorge, with the 2026 price.
Chimpanzee trekking
Three communities you can visit, including Cyamudongo, and what a permit costs.
Rwanda tours
Nyungwe trips from Kigali and the Lake Kivu side.
Hiking trails
Igishigishigi, waterfall trails and Bigugu, with mapped distances.
Primates
13 primate species and where to look for them.
Colobus monkeys
Large troops of Angola colobus and how tracking works.
Source of the Nile
The Nyungwe headwaters and the open question of where the Nile begins.
Birds
Albertine Rift endemics and where to look for them.
Places and practical pages
Tea country, two towns and everything for planning.
Tea plantations
Gisakura and Gisovu at the edge of the park.
Huye (Butare)
The Ethnographic Museum and the road to the park.
Rusizi and Kamembe
The western gateway, with the border context.
Park fees
Entry, activities and permits in the 2025 to 2026 tariff.
Best time to visit
Rain and dry seasons around the forest.
Where to stay
Park camping, guesthouses and a lodge near the road.
Kigali to Nyungwe
Road via Huye, flights and transfers.
History
Forest reserve, national park and World Heritage.
A few things to know before you go
Points that often get mixed up.
Entry and activities are priced separately
Park entry is one charge. The canopy walkway, chimpanzee trekking and other special activities are charged on top, with a guide included. Prices are per person under the 2025 to 2026 tariff, and payment is cashless.
Park fees →Zipline, rope course and a lodge are newer
A zipline, the Gisakura Rope Course and a park-run lodge were presented in August 2025. The zipline is a different activity from the canopy walkway.
Canopy walkway →Chimpanzees are not gorillas
Gorilla trekking happens in Volcanoes National Park in the northwest. Nyungwe offers chimpanzee trekking and other primate walks, and no sighting is guaranteed.
Chimpanzee trekking →The source of the Nile is an open question
Where exactly the Nile begins is not settled for good. Nyungwe is counted among its most distant headwater regions, and its streams also feed the Congo system.
Source of the Nile →Reserve since 1933, national park since 2004 or 2005
The forest has been protected as a reserve since 1933. It became a national park in 2004 or 2005 and a World Heritage site in 2023.
History →Kamembe and the border area
Rusizi and Kamembe Airport lie close to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Travel advice for that strip is stricter than for the rest of the country, so read the current advice before you fly or drive there.
Rusizi and Kamembe →Beyond Nyungwe
Other parks and places have their own guides.
For mountain gorillas, Kigali and travel tips for the whole country, see gorilla trekking in Rwanda. If you want savanna wildlife, Akagera National Park has its own guide. Across the border in Uganda, chimpanzees are tracked in Kibale. This site stays with Nyungwe and the places around it.
More independent Rwanda guides
Separate guides from the same team.
Nyungwe National Park: frequently asked questions
What is Nyungwe National Park known for?
For its mountain rainforest, a suspension bridge called the canopy walkway, chimpanzee trekking and 13 primate species. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2023 and covers 1,019 km² in southwest Rwanda. See the primates page for the species.
How far is Nyungwe from Kigali?
About 225 km by road, which takes 5 to 6 hours. A flight from Kigali to Kamembe takes about 40 minutes, but Kamembe lies close to the Congo border, so read the travel advice first. The getting there page covers both routes.
How much does it cost to visit?
For an international adult, park entry is $100 for one night in the 2025 to 2026 tariff. Add $40 for the canopy walkway or $150 for chimpanzee trekking. Check the current amount before you book. All amounts are on the fees page.
Can I see gorillas in Nyungwe?
No. Gorilla trekking is offered in Volcanoes National Park in the northwest of Rwanda. In Nyungwe you can track chimpanzees and Angola colobus monkeys, and no sighting is guaranteed.
Do I need a guide?
Yes. Walks in the forest are guided, and leaving the trails is not allowed. A guide is included with special activities such as the canopy walkway and chimpanzee trekking. See the hiking page for the rules.
Is nyungwe-national-park.org the official park website?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to African Parks, the Rwanda Development Board, a government agency or any tour operator, lodge or tea estate.