The canopy walkway adventure
The canopy walkway adventure is a splendid experience that can be done in a few countries on earth and Rwanda is one of the few African countries that truly hosts a canopy walk tour. However, the canopy walk in Rwanda can be conducted in the beautiful lush montane rainforest of Nyungwe National Park, which offers an exhilarating perspective on the ancient treetops and wildlife species.
The canopy walks measure 160-meter-long and the 70-meter-high suspension bridge allows visitors to access this gainful walk adventure as part of a guided tour along the Igishigishigi trail or those hiking the Umuyove trails.
Truly, this is an escape from the last ice age, meaning the Nyungwe forest is boosted with a wide range of species. During the hour of adventure experience of the canopy walkway from the Uwinka Reception Centre, tourists will be able to have gainful sights of countless butterflies, orchids, and beautiful birds including the endemic species to the region.
More so, Nyungwe National Park hosts 13 species of primates with a great chance of encountering them in their natural habitat. Although those wishing to visit them, we advise them to opt for a dedicated primate visit. Note the park has steep forested slopes and well-maintained footpaths, which can become slippery and muddy, especially after rain falls.
Most travelers planning to visit Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park for a canopy walk may end up asking themselves these questions ;
How much is the canopy walk in Rwanda?
The canopy walk activity is a hallmark guided tour done by persons of 6 years of age and above at a fee of 60 USD per walk per person. Though a 6-year-old child can do the walk or be accompanied by their parents.
Cost of the Canopy Walk –Nyungwe National Park Rwanda
The foreign nonresident pays USD60 per person.
Foreign residents pay USD50 per person
Rwanda residents pay USD5,000 Per person.
East Africa Community ‘’EAC’’ nationals pay USD10 per person
East Africa Community –foreign resident pays USD per person
Rwanda students go; Rwf 5000 per person
Foreign Residents Students pay USD25 per person.
What essentials to carry to do the Canopy walk activity include; a national ID or passport, permit, drinking water, walking stick which can be given at the head, hiking stick, hiking boots, raincoat, enough drinking water, and a digital camera with enough space.
How long is a canopy walk?
The canopy walks tour measures 401 meters long trans versing the beauty of the nature reserve, and 22.5 meters high. Though the canopy walkway was given over to the Nigerian Conservation Foundation by the Lagos state government.
In general, Nyungwe National Park is one of the top visited national on Rwanda Safari, is one of the oldest rainforests in Africa, and is rich in beautiful species, attractions, and memorable activities. The park is also renowned as a mountainous region that ranges with wildlife species including a variety of chimpanzee species and around 12 other species of primates including; the L’hoest’s monkey endemic to the Albertine Rift. More, the park has over 15 trails so rewarding and along with many other activities, visitors can choose to sample the delights of the forest or indulge themselves for a week or even more in one of Africa’s most visited forests.
The major outstanding activity in the park is the primate tracking visitors like most. It is worth a memorable experience for those with enough time to relax and take in the primal atmosphere.
Along your visit to the park, you will be able to marvel range of beautiful plant species over 1068 species, and over 140 orchids. Nyungwe National Park is also a truly stopping birding site with over 322 bird species and 29 other Albertine Rift Endemics such as the Dusky crimson wing, Grauer’s swamp warbler, Albertine owlet, Yellow-eyed black flycatcher, Rockefeller’s sunbird, Ruwenzori batis, Strange Weaver, Shelley’s crimson wing, Ruwenzori turaco, Rockefeller’s sunbird, Regal sunbird, Red-faced woodland warbler, Purple –breasted sunbird, Red-collared babbler among others. Furthermore, Nyungwe National Park is well known as home to primate’s capital and on a visit will be able to see primate species like Chimpanzees, Grey-cheeked mangabey, Olive baboons, Velvet Monkey, Dent’s Mona Monkeys, Crowned monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys among others.
Besides doing a canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park, you can do wildlife viewing in the park where you expect to sightsee species like; golden cats, duikers, Klipspringer, bushbucks, buffaloes, elephants, bush pigs, giant forests hog, blotched serval, carnival genet, western tree hyrax, Congo clawless, Mongoose, bush pig among others. Other different stunning activities to do in the Nyungwe National Park that attracts several tourists from the entire world to come to visit Rwanda’s destination include; Bird watching, tropical waterfall, primates tracking, camping, and guided nature trail hiking among others.
How to visit Nyungwe National Park?
Nyungwe National Park covers a distance of about 226-kilometer drive in 5 hours’ drive from Kigali city. Getting to Nyungwe National park requires one to drive there from Kigali or fly there. For easy accessibility to the park, you can contact a trust worth tour operator to make for your arrangements for a safe car hire service which is in good mountainous.
Where to stay in Nyungwe National park on a visit?
Nyungwe National Park is one of Rwanda’s ranking safari destinations and has got the best out of the best comfortable and out-reaching safari accommodation with perfect amenities that braises visitors’ minds ranging from luxury, Mid-ranges, and budget accommodations. They include; Nyungwe Nziza Eco lodge, Nyungwe Forest lodge, Kitabi Eco-Center, Nyungwe Eco Village, Golden Monkey hotel, Home Saint Jean, Mariah Hill Resort, and Comoran lodge among others.
