On many of our trips to the field to visit coffee farms and wet-mills we traverse the ruggedly beautiful Nyungwe forest in the southwestern corner of Rwanda. Nyungwe National Park is the largest montane forest in East and Central Africa stretching some 1,000 square kilometers and bordering Burundi to the south. The mountains range in altitude from 1,600 – 2,950 meters and boast an array of flora and fauna including 13 primate species (chimpanzees and the Colobus monkey are among the most notable), 300 bird species and 250 different tree and shrub species.
Despite the beauty of the forest, the road through the park is probably the worst “paved” road in Rwanda. Winding its way over mountain passes; the pot-hole ridden asphalt brings travelers dangerously close to the edge of cliffs at times and leaves backs aching and stomachs churning.
An overturned truck, an accident, armed military patrols, speeding buses, wandering tourists, fallen down trees and curious monkeys can all be seen on a typical drive through the forest. The diversity of the forest and the range of scenes one can come across just on the main road makes every journey through Nyungwe a new adventure!
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