Cultural Visits Around Nyungwe Forest National Park

A visit to Nyungwe Forest National Park guarantees you mesmerizing experiences beyond chimpanzee treks and canopy walks. Cultural visits or community tours are among the most memorable experiences awaiting you on a Rwanda tour in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Cultural visits around Nyungwe National Park present tourists with a great opportunity to have a close interaction with the local residents.

Cultural visits in Nyungwe Forest National Park are done in the local communities adjacent. There are many options to consider for cultural visits around Nyungwe Forest National Park. They include;

Bisesero Village visit

Bisesero Village is one of the places you should consider visiting for cultural tour after chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Bisesero lies on Bisesero Hill and overlooks Lake Kivu. A cultural tour in Bisesero offers you a chance to explore the Bisesero memorial site where a section of the 1994 Rwanda genocide victims were buried.

Bisesero features a distinct history where nearly a million lives were lost during the civil war between the Tutsis and Hutu. 1000s of the Tutsis were brutally murdered in Bisesero as they tried to resist with spears, stones, farming tools, and more. At Bisesero, you can also take pictures of Lake Kivu at the hill.

Banda Village

Visit Banda Village for a rewarding cultural experience. If you are looking for a culturally rich community to explore after tracking chimpanzees in Nyungwe then the Banda Village is one of them. Banda is one of the best places to visit, especially if you are interested in authentic Rwandan cultural experiences. The cultural visit to the Banda Village offers a deep insight into the Rwandan local life, crafts, and traditions.

Banda Village is set close to the Uwinka reception centre in Nyungwe Forest National Park, Rwanda. Its strategic location makes it the most accessible cultural village. What awaits you on Banda Village tour includes amazing traditional dances. Expect to witness some of the exceptional traditional dances as showcased by the locals. Experience the vibrant local life –observe the daily life, including how certain foods are prepared plus the different traditional activities.

Additionally, you stand a chance to explore the different crafts and souvenirs, have a taste of local cuisine and don’t miss the banana beer. Visitors also have a chance to have engaging interaction with locals, explore their ways of life, and gaining a deeper insight into the distinct Rwandan cultures.

It is possible to access Banda Village by road/on foot. You can trek from the end of the canopy walk where you can also appreciate the scenic descent to the Banda village. The most remarkable bit about Banda Village tours is that you get a chance to witness the outstanding community-based tourism practices.

Gisakura Village

Gisakura Village lies adjacent to Nyungwe Forest National Park. It is one of the unusual places worth considering for cultural tours after the primate safaris in Nyungwe. What awaits you on Gisakura Village tour include tea plantation tours, community interactions, and more. The tea plantation tours take you through the deep exploration of the Gisakura tea estate- get to learn more about the tea cultivation, harvesting, and processing plus also tea tasting.

Community interaction on Gisakura Village tour comes with inspirational stories about the tea estate. You also stand a chance to witness the impact the tea estate has created in the communities surrounding it and Nyungwe Forest National Park. Expect to also have a chance to observe and learn more about the efforts being invested to ensure conservation of Nyungwe Forest National Park.

What else should you expect on a visit to Nyungwe National Park?

Beyond authentic cultural experiences, Nyungwe Forest National Park has a lot more for you to enjoy. They include;

Chimpanzee trekking

Chimpanzee trekking/tracking offers primate enthusiast a chance to observe chimpanzees in the wild. This is the unusual primate adventure and involves you navigating through the jungle in search of the habituated chimpanzee community. Nyungwe Forest National Park has two sections where chimp treks are conducted including Uwinka and Cyamudongo.

To track chimpanzees in Nyungwe, you should have a valid permit. It is what allows you to have access to Nyungwe and track one of the habituated chimpanzee communities. The current cost of Nyungwe chimpanzee trekking permit stands at USD 250 per visitor for all foreign non-residents. The foreign residents pay USD 75 per person to obtain Nyungwe chimp permit, and East African citizens are charged USD 25.

Chimpanzee tracking permits should be obtained in advance at least 2-6 months before the actual date of traveling to engage in the trek with chimps in Nyungwe. Talk to our team to secure your chimpanzee permit and also plan the entire trip in advance.

Canopy walk

The first ever canopy walk in East Africa was launched in Nyungwe Forest National Park. A canopy walk in Nyungwe starts from the Uwinka Visitor Center. Visitors embark on a guided hike along the suspended walkway set about 70 meters from the forest floor and extends up to 160 meters. Expect to come across variety of species including bird species, flora, primates, and more.

Birding

Bird-watching in Nyungwe allows you explore a range of birds. The Park boasts of up to 310 species of birds which include about 27 Albertine rift endemic species. A guided birding tour in Nyungwe gets you exposed to diversity of birds such as the yellow-eyed black flycatcher, Rwenzori nightjar, Grauer’s swamp warblers, dusky crimson wing, Rwenzori turacos, Kungwe apalis, regal sunbirds, Albertine owlet, and handsome spurfowl.

Other species of birds to find in Nyungwe Forest National Park include purple-breasted sunbirds, Neumann’s warblers, red-faced woodland warblers, Ruwenzori batis, Shelley’s crimson wing, red-throated alethe, Rockefeller’s sunbird, stripe-breasted tits, and Ruwenzori nightjars.

Hiking/nature walks

Nyungwe is one of the best places you should expect to visit to enjoy a guided hiking/nature walk. A guided nature walks/hikes are conducted along the designated trails including the Bigugu trail, Congo Nile Divide, Umoyove, Karamba, Imbaraga hiking trail, and Igishigishigi trail, etc. During the nature walk, you can come across variety of species including birds, primates, and other mammals.