Buhoro trail in Nyungwe National Park

At 1.8 km long Buhoro trail is among the best to experience the serene beauty of Nyungwe National Park. This is the shortest trail in Nyungwe National Park and can be explored in approximately 1.5 hours. Actually, among the locals, the word Buhoro means slow/gentle, referring to the ease of hiking along this trail. Beginning at the Uwinka Visitors Center, the Buhoro trail reaches a maximum elevation of around 2,450 meters above sea level.

What to see along the Buhoro trail in Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe National Park, being among the most biodiverse ecosystems in Africa, hiking along the Buhoro trail offers plenty of authentic views. In a forest where over 345 bird species reside, you will most likely encounter some of them along this trail. The most common bird species to see is the great blue turaco and plenty of Albertine endemic species. Others include buff-spotted flufftail, Rwenzori turaco, great sparrowhawk, lemon dove, and common buzzard, etc.

With 13 primate species, including the iconic eastern chimpanzees, you will have a chance of encountering at least one. Others include vervet monkeys, L’hoest’s monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, Dent’s mona monkey, blue monkey, and red-tailed monkeys. Including the primates, there are 85 mammal species in Nyungwe National Park. You might just get a chance encounter with a black-fronted duiker, bush elephant, or an African civet, etc.

Nyungwe National Park has a lot of flora to see while hiking the Buhoro trail. Over 260 species of trees and shrubs exist in Nyungwe National Park. There are also ferns and herbs. Some of the plants to identify during a hike on the Buhoro trail include mountain thistle, tassel berry, and false fig, among others. There are also many butterfly species that you will find attractive while traversing the Buhoro trail.

What is the cost of exploring the Buhoro trail in Nyungwe National Park?

Exploration of the Buhoro trail is best done on a guided forest walk. This costs USD 15 per person for half a day. Meanwhile, forest walks in Nyungwe National Park for a full day cost USD 25 per person. This covers the fee for guiding but not park entrance or porter services. The latter costs USD 5 for a half-day forest walk, while USD 10 is charged for a full-day forest walk. Porters lighten your load to ensure your experience along the Buhoro trail is comfortable.

The entrance fee to Nyungwe National Park varies depending on the visitor category. It costs only USD 100 per person for international visitors, while foreign residents are charged USD 60 per person. Each African citizen who is not from the East African Community is charged USD 60 per person. Rwandan citizens or citizens from the East African community must pay approximately USD 10 per person.

Other trails in Nyungwe National Park

After exploring the beauty of the Buhoro trail, you will likely enjoy the various captivating trails in Nyungwe National Park. These include Ngabwe trail, Isumo trail, Umuyove trail, Uwinka trail, Kamiranzovu trail, Muzimu trail, Rukuzi trail, Bigugu trail, Congo Nile trail, and Igishigishigi trail. You will also find plenty of wildlife, including primates, birds, other mammals, butterflies, and flora, etc.

Among these trails, birdwatching, canopy walk, colobus monkey trek, chimpanzee trekking tours, and others can be done by visitors. You can also walk on some of these trails to view swamps, waterfalls, and many other things Nyungwe National Park offers.

How to reach Nyungwe?

Reach Nyungwe National Park by road or air transport, based on personal preference. Reaching Nyungwe National Park from Kigali city covers at least 177.2 km, ensuring that you are on the road for 4-5 hours. This journey is scenic and best experienced in a 4X4 safari Toyota Land Cruiser. But, if you choose to travel with Standard Safaris, you can also get to choose from other available vehicle options. These include sedan, drone, minivan, or any other.

Meanwhile, the choice of using air transport is a luxury one, which involves flying in a chartered helicopter. This flight begins from Kigali International Airport to Nyungwe National Park. Flight time is between 30 to 50 minutes, especially if you are landing at Nyungwe One&Only House and Butare. Unlike any other transport mode, helicopter flights offer aerial views of Rwanda’s landscapes. The aircraft are operated by Akagera Aviation.

When to visit Nyungwe?

Visit Nyungwe National Park at any time, as it is open throughout the year. Even though you can go at any time, it is much better to traverse the Buhoro trail during the dry season. This season makes it possible to hike the Buhoro trail at a steady pace, as the trail is less muddy and slippery. This is because there is a reduction in rainfall frequency and quantity during this period compared to the wet season. This happens from June to August and from December to February.

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.

I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.

If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.

The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.

The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.

The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.

The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.

I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.

We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.

Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.
The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.
Game drive security is assured.
Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.
Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.
The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.
It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.
I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.
My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.
I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.

Buhoro trail in Nyungwe National Park

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