The canopy walks in Rwanda give you a new perspective on this remarkable destination. Within Rwanda’s Nyungwe forests lies a canopy bridge one can enjoy. So, for your next safari in Rwanda, head to Nyungwe National Park and be a part of this life-changing excursion.
Nyungwe rainforest plunges from the slopes into impenetrable valleys, while a ridge running through the reserve creates a watershed between the Nile and Congo rivers. It is said that raindrops falling on either side of the ridge will reach the ocean 5,000 km apart. The forest is a sanctuary to 13 primate species, including the endemic L’Hoest’s monkey, 300 birds and 75 mammal species, and more than 1,000 types of plants, including 140 different orchids.
The famous canopy walkway experience in Rwanda is the only one of its kind in East Africa. This breathtaking construction hangs 60 meters above the forest floor between giant trees and towers, revealing stunning aerial views of this wonderful forest, both below and above. It is therefore an iconic magical experience that cannot be found elsewhere.
Guests are required to secure a canopy walk permit far in advance to confirm participation. We recommend comfortable outdoor clothing, covered footwear, and sun protection. The walk can be done in the morning during the 08:00 am and 10:00 am morning sessions or the 01:00 pm and 15:00 pm afternoon sessions.
More attractions to encounter on the canopy walk in Rwanda
Nyungwe Forest is such a magical forest that render visitors a chance to encounter and come face to face with chimpanzees. So, you can plan to go for an early chimpanzee tracking experience in the forest to look for the closest friends to mankind. The forest ranger will guide you through the various forest trails.
Chimpanzee tracking activity takes roughly 3 to 5 hours before returning to your lodge.
Experience the naturally beautiful countryside of Rwanda with a unique opportunity to observe the remarkable mountain gorilla in the Virunga ranges. We have curated and most inspirational safaris for you to experience, in the finest ways possible.
What the Walk Itself Feels Like
The canopy walkway is a series of suspended metal bridges strung between three viewing platforms built into the forest’s tallest trees, with the highest section reaching that dramatic 60-meter drop to the forest floor below. Guides walk the route with small groups, pointing out birdlife and monkey troops moving through the canopy at eye level, a genuinely different vantage point from a forest floor trail. The full loop, including the approach hike from the trailhead, typically takes around two to three hours round trip.
Wildlife Beyond the Chimps
While chimpanzee tracking gets top billing, Nyungwe’s 13 primate species include large troops of Angola colobus monkeys, sometimes numbering several hundred individuals moving through the canopy together, along with L’Hoest’s monkeys, blue monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabeys. Birders come specifically for Nyungwe’s Albertine Rift endemics, species found nowhere else on Earth, making the forest one of Rwanda’s most rewarding destinations for serious wildlife watchers, not just primate trekkers.
Best Time to Visit Nyungwe
Nyungwe is a genuine rainforest, so rain is a possibility in any month, but the two drier windows, mid-June to mid-September and December to February, offer the most reliable conditions for both the canopy walk and chimp tracking. The wetter months bring a lusher, more atmospheric forest and quieter trails, though the canopy walkway can occasionally close briefly in high winds or severe weather, worth confirming with your operator if you’re traveling in the rainy season.
Getting to Nyungwe Forest
Nyungwe National Park sits in Rwanda’s remote southwest, roughly five to six hours by road from Kigali, making it one of the country’s more far-flung destinations. Many itineraries pair the drive with a stop at Rwanda’s Lake Kivu shoreline en route, breaking up the journey with a scenic overnight rather than a single long transfer day.
Combining Nyungwe With Gorilla Trekking
Because Nyungwe sits at the opposite end of the country from Volcanoes National Park, most travelers treat it as an extension to a gorilla trekking trip rather than the sole focus of a visit, adding two or three days to a Rwanda itinerary that already includes Kigali and the Virunga region. All in Africa Safaris can help you fit the canopy walk and chimp tracking into a wider Rwanda safari without an overly rushed pace.
Why the Ridge Matters
The Congo-Nile watershed ridge running through Nyungwe isn’t just a geographic curiosity, it’s part of why the forest holds such unusual biodiversity. Species on either side of the divide have, over long stretches of time, evolved somewhat separately, contributing to Nyungwe’s status as one of Africa’s richest centers for Albertine Rift endemic species, plants and animals found nowhere else on the continent. For hikers, the ridge trail itself offers some of the park’s best panoramic views, with cloud forest dropping away on both sides toward two entirely different river systems and, eventually, two different oceans.
Other Trails Worth Combining With the Canopy Walk
Beyond the canopy walkway itself, Nyungwe maintains an extensive network of hiking trails ranging from short one-hour loops to full-day treks, several leading to waterfalls tucked into the forest’s steeper valleys. The Igishigishigi trail, which connects directly to the canopy walkway, is the most popular combination for visitors with a single day in the park, while longer trails reward hikers with better odds of colobus monkey troops and a genuine sense of the forest’s scale beyond the walkway’s fixed viewing points.
Birding in Nyungwe
Serious birders often extend their Nyungwe stay specifically for the forest’s Albertine Rift endemics, species like the Rwenzori turaco, red-collared babbler, and Grauer’s swamp warbler that are difficult or impossible to see outside this specific stretch of forest. Guided birding walks, separate from the canopy walk and chimp trekking, are available and worth arranging in advance if this is a priority, since Nyungwe’s birding trails and the primate-trekking trails don’t always overlap.
What to Pack for Nyungwe
Nyungwe sits at higher altitude than much of Rwanda, so mornings can be genuinely cold even in the dry season, pack a warm layer alongside the waterproof jacket you’ll want regardless of season. Sturdy, broken-in hiking boots matter more here than on a standard game-drive safari, given the combination of the canopy walkway approach hike and the uneven, sometimes muddy chimp-trekking trails.
Where to Stay Near Nyungwe
A handful of lodges sit directly on the park’s edge, ranging from simple guesthouses to upscale properties with views over the forest canopy, all positioned to minimize the drive to the trailhead before an early morning trek or canopy walk session. Staying inside or immediately adjacent to the park also means evenings often come with their own wildlife soundtrack, forest sounds and, on quieter nights, distant primate calls carrying across the valley.
Nyungwe’s Place in a Wider Rwanda Circuit
Many Rwanda itineraries treat Nyungwe as the third stop in a loop that also includes Kigali and Volcanoes National Park, sometimes extended further to Lake Kivu’s shoreline towns for a beach-style break between the two forest destinations. Because Rwanda is a compact country with genuinely good road infrastructure by regional standards, this kind of multi-stop circuit is more realistic here in a single week than it would be across the larger, more spread-out parks of Kenya or Tanzania.
Booking Your Canopy Walk Permit
Canopy walkway permits are separate from chimp-trekking permits and are generally easier to secure on shorter notice, though booking ahead through a tour operator still avoids any risk of a sold-out session on the day you’d planned to visit. Combining both activities on the same day is possible but makes for a long morning, many travelers instead spread the canopy walk and chimp trek across two consecutive mornings to enjoy each at a less rushed pace.
Safety and Fear of Heights
The canopy walkway is built with sturdy metal railings and a secured walking surface, and guides are trained to help nervous walkers pace themselves across the more exposed sections. That said, the drop is real and the bridges do sway slightly underfoot, so travelers with a significant fear of heights should weigh this honestly before booking; there’s no shame in admiring Nyungwe from its excellent ground-level trails instead if the walkway itself feels like too much. Children are generally welcome with adult supervision, though check current age and height guidelines with your operator before the trip.
Guides and Group Sizes
Both the canopy walk and chimp-tracking sessions are led by park-trained guides who share detailed knowledge of the forest’s ecology, from the orchid species lining the trails to the behavioral quirks of the specific chimp community you’re tracking. Group sizes are kept deliberately small, particularly for chimp trekking, to limit disturbance to the primates and keep the experience personal rather than crowded, one more reason advance booking through an established operator matters for securing a spot in your preferred time slot well ahead of your travel dates, especially during Rwanda’s busier July-to-September and December-to-February travel windows when both activities book up fastest.
