When is the best time to visit Nyungwe Forest National Park?

On our scoring, the strongest months are July, August, June. That score is computed from three years of rainfall and temperature: drier months concentrate animals around water and make the roads easier, which is what actually drives game-viewing. March scores lowest — usually because it is the wettest. That does not make it a bad month, but it is a different trip: greener, quieter and less predictable.

What is the weather like in Nyungwe Forest National Park in July?

Typically around 36mm of rain across the month, with daytime highs near 19°C. These are averages from the last three years of records, not a forecast — East African rainfall varies a great deal year to year.

How do I get to Nyungwe Forest National Park?

You fly. It is roughly 26 hours door-to-door from Arusha including transfers — there is no sensible road option.

How many nights should I spend in Nyungwe Forest National Park?

Two to three nights is where most people land, and three is better than two. One night means you arrive, sleep, and leave — you spend more of it driving than looking. The single most common planning mistake we see is too many parks with too few nights in each.

Accommodation is the biggest lever by a distance — ultra-luxury from about $1,100 a night, luxury from about $520 a night, mid-range from about $380 a night per person. The park itself, the guide and the animals are identical whichever you choose. Park fees are set by the government and charged per person per day.

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Southwestern Rwanda

Nyungwe Forest National Park

2 safaris

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Photo: Alex Levis / Pexels

Area 1,010 km²

Established 2004

Overview

About Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe Forest National Park is Rwanda's most biodiverse ecosystem — one of Africa's oldest rainforests, home to 1,000+ chimpanzees and a spectacular canopy walkway 70 metres above the forest floor. Combined with Volcanoes NP, it creates the definitive Rwanda wildlife itinerary.

The Nyungwe Forest is located in southwestern Rwanda, on the border with Burundi, where it is contiguous with the Kibira National Park to the south, and Lake Kivu and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. The Nyungwe rainforest is most likely the best preserved montane rainforest in Africa. It is located in the watershed between the basin of the Congo River to the west and the basin of the river Nile to the east. From the east side of the Nyungwe forest comes also one of the branches of the Nile sources.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

Jan 40

Feb 55

Mar 25

Apr 45

May 70

Jun 95

Jul 100

Aug 96

Sep 79

Oct 55

Nov 35

Dec 29

Scored from three years of rainfall and temperature at this park — taller is better for game viewing. Green (short) months are wetter: thicker bush, wildlife more dispersed.

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Nyungwe Forest National Park

About Nyungwe Forest National Park

When to visit Nyungwe Forest National Park

Ready to explore Nyungwe Forest National Park?