Nyungwe National Park, located in southwestern Rwanda and connected to Burundi’s Kibira National Park, has welcomed over 12,000 visitors in the past six months. The park, covering 1,019 km², employs more than 300 residents.
Of the visitors, 41% were Rwandans, 5% were residents from other parts of Rwanda, and 49% were international tourists. Among foreign visitors, 3% came from East African Community countries, and 1% from other parts of Africa outside the EAC.
Nyungwe, recently recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to a remarkable diversity of wildlife, including over 98 mammal species (with more than 12% being monkeys), more than 1,000 plant species, over 240 tree species, and over 320 bird species — many of which are rare globally.
Mupenzi Narcisse, Mayor of Nyamasheke District, urged citizens to preserve the park and its biodiversity, highlighting its importance for local livelihoods and national tourism.
