Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park: The canopy walk within Rwanda is a breathtaking and amazing experience in Nyungwe National Park on a suspended bridge 70m high above the forest. The guided walk is done on a 160 meters long walkway that takes 2 hours on the suspended bridge. The ancient Nyungwe forest is home to numerous wild species, including the endangered chimpanzees, as well as 12 primate species. The biodiverse rain forest is also famous for its 1000 unique tree species, 300 bird species, and various amphibians and reptiles. All of the wildlife species add to the uniqueness and richness of the forest, thus making the canopy walk experience very memorable while on a Rwanda safari.
The canopy walk is a guided safari done by persons of 6 years and above at a fee of 60 USD per walk and per person. The walk is done all year round, but it’s much better and easier in the dry seasons when the walkway is much drier. The dry seasons in Rwanda run from June to September and December to February. The canopy walk offers great views of the Great East African region, Lake Kivu, and the different sections of the Nyungwe forest, as they spot the different animals, birds, insects, reptiles, and amphibians that live within the forest.
Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park
The canopy walk involves a slight hike before reaching the suspended bridge from the 2.1 km long Igishigishigi trail. After the trail, you will join the 160-meter suspended bridge that’s over the forest. The hiking trail shouldn’t stop you from taking the walk; it’s very easy to hike even for first-time hikers. It just has a few steep points because of the mountainous terrain, but it’s totally doable. The scheduled time for the canopy walk is 8 am, 10 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm. The walk starts from the Uwinka reception center, which is also the head office for Nyungwe National Park. At the Uwinka reception center, visitors are briefed about the walk and assigned a walking guide. For those who want to purchase things such as walking sticks, raincoats, among others, can get them from there. After the session at the reception, you then move with a guide to the igishigishigi trail, then a 160m suspended bridge that is anchored on huge, strong trees on top of the ancient biodiverse Nyungwe forest.
For the walk, one needs to wear hiking shoes or boots, a rain jacket, a snack in case of children, a bottle of water, and a camera to capture moments. However, it’s advisable to be in good health before embarking on the walk. If you don’t feel well or if you have a sickness that may worsen by the walk, then you can excuse yourself from the walk and engage in other activities. The canopy walk is the best adventure for a person who loves a good adrenaline rush, nature enthusiasts, and risk takers.
The walkway is firm and even on the walk, the park operators ensure that several safety measures are implemented for your safety on the walk. The canopy walk was created by the USAID through the Green Heart NGO group in 2010. The walk is partitioned into 3 sections, that is 90 meters, 45 meters, and 25 meters. The canopy walkway within Rwanda is the third of its kind in Africa and the only one in the East African region.
Nyungwe National Park is one of the three national parks within Rwanda, and it offers tourists a great safari experience not only on the canopy walk but also on other activities such as chimpanzee trekking, birding, hiking, Ishuno waterfalls, nature walks, and community visits. Therefore, tourists can plan to have a canopy walk while on a safari in Rwanda. Besides the canopy walk, tourists can take part in other activities within Nyungwe National Park.
