Canopy Walk Experience in Nyungwe Forest National Park
The canopy walkway offers an amazing view of the old treetops and wildlife as it is suspended above a ravine in Nyungwe National Park’s lush montane rainforest. A guided tour along the Igishigishigi route or trekking the Imbaraga or Umuyove trails can lead to the 160-meter-long and 70-meter-high Suspension Bridge.
Nyungwe Forest, having survived the last ice age, is a biodiversity hotspot. Visitors to the Uwinka Visitor Centre will witness an abundance of colourful birds, including several native to the area, and an abundance of butterflies and flowers throughout their hour-long stroll to the canopy walkway. Nyungwe is home to thirteen different species of primates, so stumbling into one is not impossible. However, people who are specifically looking for them might consider scheduling a dedicated primate tour. The well-maintained footpaths along the steep forested slopes can get muddy, especially after rain.
When visiting Rwanda and Nyungwe Forest for any tour, whether it be for birding, chimpanzee trekking, or any other natural activity provided by the park, nature enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies should not miss out on the exhilarating canopy walk activity. The canopy walk is now a must-do item on itineraries for visits to Nyungwe Forest National Park and has become an iconic sight. The hike provides the opportunity to witness at eye level animals, including as monkeys and birds, that dwell in the forest canopies but are difficult to see from the ground. It also offers stunning views across the largest and oldest Afro-montane forest in East Africa.
One of Nyungwe Forest National Park’s numerous hiking trails, the Igishigishigi trail, leads to the canopy walkway. Therefore, the canopy walk tour entails hiking the 2.1 km Igishigishigi route, with the canopy walkway acting as a type of shortcut or bridge along this circling trail. Overlooking a deep valley teeming with dense forest, the 160-meter canopy bridge is suspended 74 metres above the earth.
Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda offers the greatest canopy walk experience in East Africa. A canopy walk is, quite literally, a walk on a suspension bridge over the tree canopies of the historic Nyungwe Forest. A canopy walk is unique in that it allows you to observe various bird and monkey species while taking in the view of the forest from above. Starting from the Uwinka visitor centre, you can walk to any of the three trailheads to begin the trek. The canopy walk is a better choice if you’re looking for a distinctive safari adventure because it offers sensations that are unmatched.
The 1.5 to 2 hour round-trip canopy walk tour begins at Uwinka, which doubles as the park’s headquarters. Visitors begin their journey on a woodland trail that links to the Igishigishigi trail after registering at the Visitor’s Centre. The forest walk provides a lovely opportunity to get in touch with nature while observing local species and taking in breath-taking vistas of undulating hills covered in forest.