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around Africa - Nyungwe Forest,Rwamda

Nyungwe Forest National Park covers nearly 970km , and is the
2
largest Afro-montane forest in Africa. Nyungwe Forest Park has over 1000
recorded species, over 40 of which are endemic to the park. From swamps to mountainous
highlands this forest reserve has incredibly special plants, like the recently discovered
Epistemma nueurburgii, and the endemic Impatiens nyungwensis (pic below left). I camped at the
Uwinka visitor centre where the views over the surrounding rainforest were astounding.
(Picture on the previous page shows the view from the reception area, with Polyscias fulva tree
in the foreground).
I managed to hike a few trails over the 4 days I spent there, and saw beautiful orchids flowering
like Disa robusta and Eulophia guineensis (pic above left) tall mahogany trees, Entandrophragma
excelsa, with their massive buttress roots supporting a whole world of epiphytes on their trunks.
On many of the trails you can see an astounding diversity of monkeys, including chimpanzees,
and alongside almost every trail are tree ferns (below middle) and many garden plants like
various species of Begonia (below right). It is a special place in Africa and visiting it helps
conservation efforts for many of the restricted-range montane species. Text & Pics by S.C

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