Nyungwe is one of the oldest rainforests in Africa, and the largest expanse of forest in Rwanda, covering 1,019 km2 of dense Afromontane forests, bamboo-covered slopes, grasslands and wetlands. The park feeds two of the world’s largest rivers, the Congo and the Nile, and provides a significant portion of Rwanda’s fresh water. Over 1,100 recorded plant species, 345 bird species and 85 known mammal species, including 13 of Africa’s primates – notably, chimpanzee, Ruwenzori black-and-white colobus and L’Hoest’s monkeys – are found in this exceptional landscape.
Following a successful partnership with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in Akagera National Park, in 2020 African Parks signed a 20-year management partnership with the Rwandan government for Nyungwe. This partnership is helping to restore the parks’ vital ecosystems, support community development and establish economic sustainability.
Through the support of community cooperatives, comprising small-scale enterprises, the park promotes sustainable resource use while facilitating income-generating activities to stimulate the local economy. At the same time a growing tourism offering is strengthening the parks sustainability and creating local employment. These activities are helping to nurture a shared responsibility for biodiversity conservation, while building a conservation-led future.
