​Wildlife & Animals – Nyungwe NP

Ariadne van Zandbergen
Expert
By Ariadne van Zandbergen

Ariadne is a renowned Africa expert. She and her husband form a team who write and update many Bradt guides, including the guide to Rwanda.

Ariadne is a renowned Africa expert. She and her husband form a team who write and update many Bradt guides, including the guide to Rwanda.

Ariadne is a renowned Africa expert. She and her husband form a team who author the Bradt guide to Rwanda.

Ariadne and her husband form a team who author the Bradt guide to Rwanda.

A total of 86 mammal species have been recorded in Nyungwe National Park, though most are very secretive and rarely encountered. The primates, on the other hand, are Nyungwe’s main attraction, especially the charismatic chimpanzees. Another 12 primate species are present, including olive baboon, l'Hoest's monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, Ruwenzori colobus, silver monkey and owl-faced monkey.

Abundant
Common
Occasional
Rare
None
GorillaNone
ChimpanzeeCommon
White RhinoNone
Black RhinoNone
LionNone
LeopardNone
CheetahNone
HippoNone
BuffaloNone
ZebraNone
WildebeestNone
ElephantNone
GiraffeNone

Wildlife Highlights

Tracking Nyungwe’s habituated chimpanzees is the prime activity in the park. Another highlight are the unusually large troops of Ruwenzori colobus, counting up to 600 individuals. This unique race of Angola colobus is restricted to the Albertine Rift. Antelope species in the park include the secretive bushbuck and the black-fronted duiker, which is commonly seen on the trails and even along the main road.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

The best time for chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe is during the Dry season (June to September). Fig trees are fruiting, and chimps spend more time feeding in the morning before moving on. Trails are easier to navigate at this time and activities are less likely to be interrupted by downpours.

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