Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park

Lying atop a gully within Nyungwe National Park’s verdant montane rainforest, the canopy walkway offers a breath-taking vantage point over the old treetops and fauna. Hikers on the Imbaraga or Umuyove routes, or those taking a guided trip along the Igishigishigi trail, can cross the 70-meter-tall and 160-meter-long Suspension Bridge.

The Nyungwe forest, which survived the previous ice age, is a hotspot for biodiversity. Visitors to the Uwinka Reception Centre can witness an abundance of colourful birds, including several native to the area, and an abundance of butterflies and orchids 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.

Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park features a canopy walk. Nyungwe Forest National Park is located in the southwest of Rwanda, 255 kilometres from the country’s capital Kigali. From 50 metres above the ground on the Canopy Walk, visitors can gain breathtaking views of East Africa’s largest and oldest Afro-Montane Forest. There are thirteen species of primates, over three hundred bird species, eighty-five animal species, over a thousand plant species, thirty-two amphibian species, and thirty-eight reptile species in the park. The forest is located in the Albertine Rift region, home to many rare species. Cyangugu, the closest town, is 54 km distant, on the shore of the stunning Lake Kivu. Not only is Nyungwe Forest a well-known place for chimpanzee trekking, but it is also the location of the only canopy walkway in East Africa.

The renowned ‘Canopy Walk’ is accessible from the entrance, which is 30 minutes beyond the first gate and outside the town. Explore the pristine rainforest canopy from a different angle, strolling among the animals and ancient treetops that date back millennia. What a rush it is, too. An unforgettable journey awaits you when you combine the exhilarating 60-meter canopy walkway with an adrenaline rush.

The 200-meter boardwalk dangles over a deep, steep valley that is covered in dense vegetation. The Canopy Walk provides eye-level views of many rare species living in the canopies as well as stunning views over the misty forest.

The Canopy Walk activity lasts for almost two hours, and it begins and ends at the Uwinka visitor receiving centre, which is the headquarters of Nyungwe National Park. Before navigating the canopy bridge to reach the uppermost level of the forest, one can spend the first 200 metres or so strolling along a forest trail beneath dense canopies, where one can watch the natural world below ground. Numerous birds and various monkeys, including L’Hoest’s, Blue, Black-and-White Colobus, and Red-tailed monkeys, have been sighted.