A nature walk to Ndambarare waterfalls in Nyungwe Forest

About the Ndambarare waterfalls

Ndambarare waterfall is an epic landmark located in Nyungwe Forest in the southern region of Rwanda. The Ndambarare waterfalls are a perfect escape into nature as their pristine water flushing from the forest and plunging into a calm pool at the bottom. The waterfall of Ndambarare stands at a height of over 15 meters. The Ndambarare waterfalls bring a taste of adventure to Nyungwe Forest.

How interesting is it to have a nature walk to the Ndambarare waterfalls?

A guided nature walk to the Ndambarare waterfalls is a great way to explore the falls. The excitement stretches from the nature walk to the falls to other interesting things encountered while on this walk as unveiled below.

Wildlife

Interesting, the guided nature walk to the Ndambarare waterfalls may be, encountering several wildlife species while on this walk is adding icing to the cake. The location of Ndambarare waterfalls deep in the forests of Nyungwe provides it with a front-row seat to several wildlife encounters. The most notable are the primate species like chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, and olive baboons.

Birdlife

Similar to the wildlife encounters while on a nature walk to Ndambarare waterfalls, the birdlife in abundance, adds an interesting twist to the walk. The waterfalls are strategically located deep in the forest of Nyungwe, providing water to the forest, especially the birdlife. While on a nature walk to the waterfalls of Ndambarare, it is interesting to note that these colorful and cheerful birds usher you into the adventures of the waterfall with sweet melodies. Their blended music with the natural sounds of the waterfalls crafts a piercing lullaby that melts even the heart of stone. Some of the birdlife species at the waterfalls include double-collared sunbird, Grauer’s swamp warbler, handsome spurfowl, African olive pigeon, and brown snake eagle, among others.

Scenery

The most interesting part of the nature walk to Ndambarare waterfalls is the sightseeing. The waterfalls provide the best scenery that affirms how good of an artist God is. The raging water of the falls breathes life to the sounding areas of the forest, painting a piece of white and green. This is truly an insight of how the biblical Garden of Eden was. The sun rays pierce the forest canopies, reflecting the combined white colors of the waterfall and the rainforests, crafting a scene from the movies.

Vegetation

The vegetation around Ndambarare waterfall is as interesting as the waterfall, if not more. During a nature walk to the waterfalls, visitors are blessed with epic vegetation covers from the umbrella canopies of the rainforest to the thick undergrowth. Some of the vegetation here dates back centuries, and on this nature walk a guide will tell you all about them.

How hard is it to take on a nature walk to the waterfalls?

A guided nature walk to Ndambarare waterfalls in Nyungwe Forest sounds like just a walk, well it’s not a walk in the park with the difficulty it exposes. The hardness or difficulty of the nature walk to Ndambarare waterfalls depends on a lot of factors, as we shall uncover them below.

Fitness of the hiker

The level of hardness of the nature walk to the Ndambarare waterfalls can also be attributed to the level of individual fitness of the visitor. A physically fit visitor may see the nature walk to the falls as an easy walk and a chance to burn extra calories. However, if a visitor is physically unfit, the nature walk to the falls can prove to be very challenging. Therefore, it is advisable to do some physical exercises before to prepare your body for the walk.

Distance of the nature walk

The Ndambarare waterfall spans across 9.5 kilometers of landmass deep in Nyungwe Forest. This distance can be a stumbling block to many, hence proving the level of difficulty. The entire nature walk takes approximately 3-4 hours.

Altitude of the area

Altitude of the Ndambarare waterfall is also a great factor in considering the level of hardness and difficulty of the nature walk. The waterfall stands at an elevation of 15 meters, proving it’s not a simple nature walk.

Weather factor

Weather can also increase the level of hardness of the nature walk to Ndambarare waterfalls or easy it. Given the country’s closeness to the equator, Rwanda receives an equatorial type of climate. This means that there are two wet and dry seasons in the country every year. The wet season is a period of great rains that lasts for months. These heavy rains cause the nature walking trails to be muddy and heavily soaked. This hinders navigation, thus increasing the difficulty to take on a nature walk to the Ndambarare waterfall.

What to see while at the Ndambarare waterfalls?

As you embark on a nature walk to Ndambarare waterfall, keep your eyes peeled for exciting encounters. The notable things to see while on this adventure include the following.

Ndambarare waterfall

The Ndambarare waterfall is the main attraction of this adventure nature walk. The falls are well positioned providing visitors with incredible scenes. The falls descend for an elevation of about 15 meters off a rock cliff. Visitors on a nature walk are blessed with an epic scenic encounter with the Ndamabarare waterfalls.

Wildlife species

The presence of Ndambarare waterfalls in Nyungwe places this waterfall at an advantage of hosting various wildlife species. These wildlife species have regenerated and are now part of the waterfalls and can be encountered on a nature walk. Some of these wildlife species to encounter on this nature walk include colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and vervet monkeys.

Birds

The Ndambarare waterfalls area provides the best place for encountering bird species. These bird species are of two types, migratory and endemic species. The waterfalls nature walk experience offers an encounter with these birds. Black-billed barbet, Rwenzori turaco, standard-winged nightjar, and red-faced woodland warbler are some of the birds to look out for.

What is the best time for a nature walk to the Ndambarare waterfalls?

The Ndambarare waterfalls are best explored on a nature walk during the dry season. This period is characterized by dry weather with little or no rainfall. This ensures that the visitors to the falls can walk to the waterfalls with ease, unlike in the wet season when the trails are muddy and slippery because of heavy rainfall.