The Uwinka coloured trails
The trails radiating from the Uwinka area are colour-coded and differ by length and by what they are good for. The short blue trail — around 2.5km — is the general-purpose option and gives a decent chance of primates and birds without much effort. The longer red trail, roughly 10km, runs past several waterfalls and into terrain where chimpanzees are more often heard. Between them there is something for every level of fitness and every amount of remaining daylight.
The Waterfall Trail
Starting from the resthouse area rather than Uwinka, this one drops through tea plantations, ravines and stream crossings to the base of a tall forest waterfall. It takes anywhere from three to six hours depending on pace and conditions, and it is the wettest, most slippery trail in the park — which is the trade-off for the best single view.
Kamiranzovu and Bigugu
The Kamiranzovu trail leads into high-altitude marshland and is the orchid walk: the flowering plants here are the draw, along with the birds that come with wetland. Bigugu is the serious one — a six-hour ascent to 2,950m, the highest point in the park, with the payoff view over the forest and, on a clear day, towards Lake Kivu.
What is in the forest
Nyungwe dates back to the last Ice Age and its ecosystem is one of the most diverse in Africa: over 200 tree species, hundreds of flowering plants, around 100 orchid species, and close to 300 bird species including two dozen Albertine Rift endemics. Thirteen primate species live here — roughly a quarter of all the primates in Africa. See birdwatching for what to target.
Practicalities
This is a true rainforest, taking over 2,000mm of rain a year. Waterproofs are not optional in any month, and boots with grip matter more than anything else you pack. Trails are done with a park guide.