Nyungwe Forest National Park is the only place in East Africa to do the Canopy walk, the experience takes place along the lush green montane forest straddling the southwestern border of Rwanda and its neighboring states of Burundi and the democratic republic of Congo. The biodiverse environment comprises angelic flora and fauna, there are about 1000 species of plants recorded, 75 mammal types including the 13 primate species notable for the chimpanzee, and over 300 species of birds, it is a luxurious experience to visit an old ancient park said to have survived from the ice age era.
The canopy walk in the Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the most thrilling experiences to do in Rwanda, it is a hot spot for birders, and adventurous travelers who are always up for new things to explore, the activity was introduced in 2008,and was launched in 2017 by the Rwanda development board as a way of boosting tourism in Nyungwe forest, the canopy stretches about 160 meters suspended across huge trees and rising 70 meters from the ground levels. The walk begins in the morning with a briefing from the park rangers, led by a guide you will be guided along the walk, it takes 2 hours to do the activity.
During the canopy walk you will pass through the Igishigisihi trail to access the starting point, expect to see many birds, and primates, on a lucky day you may be chanced to see animals, the view from above is the loveliest thing you can ever see. The walk is booked by travelers above the age of six years old, and below 15 years old one has to be accompanied by an adult, it is done in sessions, in the morning and in the afternoon.
The walk can be done any time of the year but is best enjoyable during the dry season when there is less interruption from rainfall, the forest region is a rain forest hence it can downpour even on a clear day, the dry seasons run between the months of December- February and June- September. The trail during this time is much drier and easier to access, even along the walk, it is not scary to have to walk on a dry base.
Other activities of the Nyungwe Forest National Park include chimpanzee tracking which takes place beginning at the park headquarters it takes 2-3 hours to do the activity depending on how far the primates have moved, with an experienced guide you will be led into the forest en route expect to see wildlife, more primates for example the black and white colobus monkeys, upon meeting the chimps an hour is allowed to interact take pictures and return. Birding in the Nyungwe forest and hiking through the well-distributed trails of the forest.
Nyungwe Forest National Park can be accessed by road from Kigali International Airport passing through the backdrop of the rolling mountain hills, depending on the time travel, it is possible to pass via the Nyanza province for an experience of the ancient kingship of Rwanda.