Rwanda Announces New Prices For Nyungwe Forest National Park
For several years, travelers to Nyungwe Forest National Park were required to only pay for the activities they plan on undertaking, without Park entry fees but with the effect from 1st January 2023, Park entry fees and several Park activities will be paid for.
New price tariffs for Nyungwe Forest National Park were announced by Nyungwe Management Company in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board. You might be wondering why the new prices. Even after being given the mandate of fully managing Nyungwe Forest National Park in October 2020, Nyungwe Management Company still maintained the already existing rates (which have surprisingly existed for more than a decade).
The new prices aim to simplify the already existing pricing for travelers as well as harmonize price structures between two of the country’s National Parks (Nyungwe and Akagera National Parks) whose Management was entrusted to African Parks. Also, the new pricing is one of the ways of facilitating longer stays in the Park since rates reduce with more days spent in the Park. There is a higher entry fee for the first day/night and is reduced for the next days.
chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park’s new Pricing policy affects a number of aspects that include the introduction of Park entry fees offering full-day access to any of the Park’s hiking trails.
Travelers are now able to pay annual pass fees hence providing full-year access to Nyungwe Forest National Park (depending on the category of traveler).
With the new pricing regime, domestic tourism is facilitated hence there are EAC Citizen rates, EAC Foreign visitor rates, and African Citizen rates. This is aimed at developing domestic tourism.
Here are the new prices for Nyungwe Forest National Park;
Entry fees
Entry fees have just been introduced and charged according to visitor category and number of days spent in the Park. Interestingly, entry fees won’t be charged for travelers with visits beyond 3 days to one week.
Adult Rwandan or East African Community (EAC) citizens pay USD 10 (RWF 10,000) per person for 1 day/night visit, USD 15 (RWF 15,000) for 2 nights visit, and only USD 20 (20,000) for a 3-night stay. Children from 6-12 years are required to pay half the adult rate for the 1, 2, and 3-night stay. Children below 6 years access the Park for free.
Foreign residents in Rwanda or the East African Community will be required to pay USD 60 per person for the one-night visit, USD 90 when staying two nights, and USD 120 per person when staying 3 nights. The rate is halved for children between 6 and 12 years. These same rates apply to African Citizens (other countries outside the East African Community).
International visitors visiting Nyungwe Forest National Park will be required to pay USD 100 per person for the one-day/night visit, USD 150 per person when staying for two days, and USD 200 per person when visiting for 3 nights in the Park. For children between 6 and 12 years, these rates are halved.
Chimpanzee tracking fees
Chimpanzee tracking rates for Nyungwe Forest National Park also vary according to the category, whereby Rwandan or EAC Citizens are required to pay only USD 25, while Forest Residents in EAC will pay USD 75, AND International Visitor will pay USD 150 per person per trek.
Other special activities (Canopy walks, primate treks, birding, and hiking) fees
Rwandan or EAC Citizens will pay USD 5 to take part in canopy walks, primate treks (other than chimpanzee trekking), forest birding, and hiking, while foreign residents in EAC will pay USD 20 and International visitors will have to part with USD 40.
Annual Pass
You can choose to pay an annual pass, allowing multiple entries into Nyungwe Forest National Park, for a period of one year. Rwandan or EAC Citizens are charged RWF 95,000 for an individual/single pass and RWF 150,000 for a couple pass. You can pay for the entire family (2 adults and 2 children) at RWF 205,000
For the Foreign residents in EAC, the single pass goes for USD 300, the couple pass goes for USD 500 and the family pass goes for USD 700.
Are you interested in commercial photography/filming? If yes, you will be required to pay USD 300 per day but it is important to inform Park officials in advance.