Nyungwe is one of the oldest rainforests in Africa, and the largest expanse of forest in Rwanda, covering 1,019 km2 of dense Afromontane forests, bamboo-covered slopes, grasslands and wetlands. The park feeds two of the world’s largest rivers, the Congo and the Nile, and provides a significant portion of Rwanda’s fresh water. Over 1,100 recorded plant species, 345 bird species and 85 known mammal species, including 13 of Africa’s primates – notably, chimpanzee, Ruwenzori black-and-white colobus and L’Hoest’s monkeys – are found in this exceptional landscape.
Historically, Nyungwe’s rich fauna and flora was exposed to rampant poaching, illegal mining, unsustainable harvesting and agricultural encroachment, endangering the survival of its rich biodiversity. Following a successful partnership with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in Akagera National Park, in 2020 African Parks was invited by the Rwandan government to sign a 20-year agreement to manage Nyungwe. Together, we are working to restore and protect biodiversity, engage with the local communities, and develop a strong tourism offering to improve economic sustainability of the park. Today, the park is building a sense of ownership of conservation among the people who live around it, and developing an ecologically healthy and financially self-sufficient asset.
Nyungwe Highlights
- Nyungwe has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, highlighting it as a place of outstanding universal value with significant biological diversity and vital ecological and biological processes.
- The number of endemic species found in Nyungwe is greater than in any other forest in the Albertine Rift Mountains.
- A number of chimpanzee groups are tracked and monitored daily, and visited by tourists.
- Nyungwe’s eco-ranger team is made up of community members, many of whom have renounced their previous involvement in illegal activities, and have contributed to the removal of 60% of all poachers’ snares from the forest.
- A mushroom farming community project, funded by Nyungwe National Park, is becoming a thriving local enterprise.
- Over 6,000 students are members of 85 wildlife clubs, with almost 1,000 children visiting the park annually.
