Nyungwe Forest National Park

In 1933, Nyungwe Forest was declared a reserve to save it from the increased threat of agricultural clearing. Enjoying national park status since 2004, over 370 square miles of mountainous rainforest, lush grassland and swamp with elevations ranging from 5,600 feet to 9,700 feet are found in this corner of the Albertine Rift.

The mix of geography creates a vast range of habitats for the many species found here. A stellar biodiversity includes a dense butterfly population and 14 different species of primate, with many troops numbering in the hundreds. Many of the plant and animal inhabitants are endemic species not found anywhere else in Africa. Hiking and trekking expeditions bring visitors incredibly close to the vast array of wildlife in the park.

The park borders Lake Kivu, a turquoise lake surrounded by mountains and split by the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Shifting rifts in the volcanic area contribute to the significant depth of the lake, among the deepest in the world at 1,575 feet. Nile tilapia, Tanganyika sardine, catfish and barbel are among the fish harvested regularly from the lake.

Properties

• Cormoran Lodge
• Nyungwe Forest Lodge

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