Nyungwe National Park.

In the southwest of Rwanda, Nyungwe Forest National Park is an enormous tropical forest with a high canopy. Tall old mahoganies, ebonies and giant tree ferns tower above you, whilst orchids and other epiphytes cling to every branch.

Brightly coloured birds flit around, butterflies are everywhere, and walking quietly you may encounter larger forest residents.
Nyungwe Forest is, in fact, the largest swathe of montane forest left in East or Central Africa.

It harbours about 275 different birds, hundreds of butterflies and orchids, and over 75 different species of mammals – including 13 primates (about a quarter of all Africa’s primates).

The forest walks here are excellent, lasting from one to six or seven hours.

You can track the Chimpanzees, or search for Ruwenzori Colobus monkeys – which can be found here in troupes of several hundred. Other primates such as the Blue monkey and the Grey-cheeked Mangabey are often sighted as well.

The birds are spectacular, though as in most tropical forests, you’ll have to look hard for them.

Giant hornbills, great Blue Turacos and Red-breasted Sparrow-hawks are amongst the specials, of which 24 are endemic to this section of the Rift Valley.