African parks takes management of rwanda’s nyungwe forest, one of africa’s largest montane rainforests

In the misty mountains of western Rwanda, Nyungwe National Park stands as one of Africa’s most biodiverse treasures. The 1,019-square-kilometer montane rainforest recently earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 2023, recognizing its extraordinary ecological significance. Home to eastern chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, and 13 primate species total, the park’s emerald canopy shelters an astounding variety of life including 200 orchid species, 300 butterfly varieties, and over 350 bird species—30 of which are found nowhere else in East Africa’s Albertine Rift.

Now, this natural wonderland has a new guardian. African Parks, a conservation organization known for managing protected areas across the continent, has taken over as Nyungwe’s warden. The transition marks a significant shift in how this critical ecosystem will be protected and managed for future generations.

For visitors like trail guide Jacques Habimana, who leads tourists through the forest’s winding paths, Nyungwe offers daily encounters with nature’s quiet majesty. Blue monkeys with haunting orange eyes peer down from the canopy, while panoramic views reveal the park’s undulating hills stretching to the horizon. These moments underscore why conservationists consider Nyungwe so vital—not just for Rwanda, but for global biodiversity.

As African Parks assumes stewardship, the organization brings experience managing some of Africa’s most challenging conservation areas. Their involvement signals renewed hope for preserving this montane rainforest and its incredible array of species for generations to come.