Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest: East Africa's only canopy

Walk suspended above the oldest rainforest in central Africa

A nine and a half hour canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park, located in southwest Rwanda, takes you across the only canopy walkway in East Africa, suspended above a 1,016-square-kilometer rainforest that dates back before the Ice Age. The day includes pickup, a live English or French-speaking guide, lunch and mineral water at Gisakura, and a moderate hike through forest that shelters 13 primate species, over 1,025 plant species and more than 500 orchid varieties. Not suitable for pregnant travelers or those with cardiovascular concerns. Infants travel on an adult's lap.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit cultural museums in Rwanda

• Visit Ethnographic Museum in Butare
• Explore Royal Palace Museum in Nyanza

The experience

Nyungwe is the largest mountainous rainforest in central and east Africa, and the canopy walk is the only one of its kind in the region. You'll spend most of the day suspended above the forest floor, moving through the canopy itself rather than walking beneath it: a perspective that changes what you see. The forest holds 13 primate species including chimpanzees, Black and White Angolan colobus monkeys, Mangabeys and Blue Monkeys, though sightings depend on the day and the season.

The day starts with pickup and a drive to Gisakura, where you'll have lunch and a rest before the canopy walk begins. Mineral water is served throughout. The walk itself requires moderate physical fitness. The terrain is forest floor and elevated walkway, and the full outing runs nine and a half hours from start to finish. A live guide speaks English or French and leads the group through the walk, pointing out the plant and animal life specific to this elevation and canopy layer.

What’s included

• Pickup from your location.
• a live guide speaking English or French.
• lunch at Gisakura.
• mineral water throughout the day.
• access to the canopy walk itself.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day27 departure times: the first at 05:00, the last at 18:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (15 to 55 years) · Senior (56 to 80 years) · Youth (8 to 14 years) · Child (5 to 7 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 14 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Usalama Tours Rwanda

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or French, so you'll follow the commentary comfortably if you speak either language. The nine and a half hour commitment suits travelers with a full day free and moderate fitness. It's not a quick stop, and the canopy walk itself demands steady footing and a comfortable pace through forest terrain.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (8 to 14 years); Child (5 to 7 years); Infant (1 to 4 years): free.

What makes Nyungwe's canopy walk different from other forest walks?

Nyungwe's canopy is the only one in East Africa, meaning you walk suspended above the forest rather than on the ground below it, moving through the layer where the oldest trees live and where most of the wildlife stays. The forest itself dates back before the Ice Age and covers 1,016 square kilometers across the hills of southwest Rwanda.

How long does the full day take, and what's included in that time?

The activity runs nine and a half hours total, which includes pickup from your location, the drive to Gisakura, lunch and rest time there, the canopy walk itself, and the return journey. Mineral water is served throughout the day.

What animals might I see on the canopy walk?

Nyungwe is home to 13 primate species including chimpanzees, Black and White Angolan colobus monkeys, Mangabeys and Blue Monkeys. The forest also supports over 1,025 plant species and more than 500 varieties of orchid. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed and depend on the season and the day's conditions.