List of National Parks in Rwanda- From tracking the majestic mountain gorillas in the misty forests in Virunga Volcanoes, to thrilling encounters with wildlife including the Big Five, Rwanda offers unparalleled adventures.
Known as the Land of a thousand hills, Rwanda is one of the best destinations in the East African region to visit on an African safari. The country has total of 4 national parks open for visitors of Rwanda Safari, each of these park offers a different perspective of the country as well as attractions and scenery.
National parks in Rwanda are Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park and Gishwati – Mukura National Park.
National Parks in Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park
Situated in the far northwest of Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park lies along the steep slopes of the magnificent Virunga mountain range – home of the endangered mountain gorillas and protects a rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, which embrace evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp and heath.
The park is named after the chain of dormant volcanoes – the Virunga Volcanoes making up the Virunga Massif; Karisimbi – the highest at 4,507m, Bisoke with its verdant crater lake, Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura.
Volcanoes National Park is the most popular national park in Rwanda, and a premier destination for gorilla trekking. Mountain gorillas are endangered primate species and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is one of the only 4 places on earth where trekking to see these gentle giants in their natural habitat is possible.
The park covers an area of 160 square kilometers and was established in 1925 mainly to protect mountain gorillas. Compared to other Rwanda national parks, Volcanoes National Park sits on a higher altitude and is generally colder. In addition to the five Virunga Volcanoes, the park also consists of bamboo forests, rainforest, a few lakes, marshes and the Musanze Caves.
Coming second to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Volcanoes National Park is home to the second highest population of mountains. Other animals found in the park include the endangered golden monkeys, forest elephants, spotted hyenas, bushbucks, buffaloes, smaller primates and over 178 bird species.
Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park – There are 12 gorilla families living in the misty forest of Volcanoes National Park, with a few others habituated sole for scientific research. Gorilla Families open for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park are Susa, Igisha, Karisimbi, Sabyinyo, Amahoro, Agashya, Kwitonda, Umubano, Hirwa, Bwenge, Ugyenda and Muhoza.
The research and conservation studies about gorillas made by Dian Fossey has made Volcanoes National Park stand out and internationally known. Dian Fossey was an American primatologist famous known for her research on gorillas at her Karisimbi Research Centre in Volcanoes National Park from 1967 until her death in 1985.
To get to Volcanoes National Park, international visitors have to fly to Kigali International Airport (KGL) – the closest airport to the park situated just outside the Rwandan Capital. From there, it takes roughly three hours to drive the 70 miles to Musanze, the closest village to the park.
Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park – the primate capital of Rwanda and one of the best places to see chimpanzees in Africa is found in western Rwanda, Nyungwe Forest is one of the world’s most beautiful and pristine rain forests. The park is dominated by a series of mountains that originate from northern Uganda and Congo, running south through the Rwenzori Mountains, western Rwanda and Burundi, to the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania.
Nyungwe Forest National Park covers approximately 1,019 square kilometers and is situated near Cyangugu, close to Lake Kivu, and the borders with Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is famous for its populations of primates hosting 13 species, including huge numbers of chimpanzees with over 500 individuals, Silver monkey, Golden monkey, Owl-faced monkey/ Hamlyn’s monkey, Grey-cheeked mangabey, Red-tailed monkey, L’Hoest’s monkey, Vervet monkey, Olive baboon, Dent’s Mona Monkey, Blue Monkey and Angolan Colobus Monkeys among others. The park is renowned for its rich biodiversity including 1,068 plant species and 310 bird species, including endemics species unique to the Albertine Rift.
Chimpanzee trekking is the main Rwanda safari activity done in Nyungwe Forest National Park, the park has two habituated chimpanzee groups; one in Cyamudongo section and another around the Uwinka area of the forest.
How to Get to Nyungwe Forest National Park – Nyungwe Forest National Park is bisected by the Huye – Cyangugu Road , with an entry point at Kitabi in the east or Gisakura in the west. Roughly, the park is 140 miles from Kigali International Airport (KGL), the main entry point for international visitors. From here you can get to the park either by road or by air.
By road it is a drive of roughly five hours. The domestic flights by Rwanda Air and Akagera Aviation take just over an hour’s drive.
Akagera National Park
The only savannah national park in Rwanda and the only place to see the Big Five, Akagera National Park is the best place in Rwanda for wildlife safari tours. The park is situated in Northeastern Rwanda along the border with Tanzania, it spans 1,122 square kilometers (433 square miles) and is characterized by its diverse landscapes, including savannah, montane forests and extensive wetlands.
Akagera National Park was founded in 1934 during the days of Belgian colonial rule, boasting vast savannah grasslands, rolling highlands, and unique papyrus swamps which together make for gorgeous scenery and an impressive diversity of wildlife. Today, Akagera National Park supports more than 13,000 animals.
Game viewing is the main Rwanda safari activity to Do – Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s only Big Five reserve, meaning it is possible to spot lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos that can be seen on a single safari. Other iconic safari animals in Akagera include zebras, giraffes, olive baboons, and vervet monkeys.
How to Get to Akagera National Park – from Kigali City, Akagera National Park is roughly 2.5 hours away by a car. Also, it is possible to fly to Akagera by flights operated by Akagera Aviation.
Gishwati – Mukura National Park
Located in the western part of Rwanda, Gishwati – Mukura National Park is a relatively new park in Rwanda connecting the Gishwati and Mukura forests covering 13.2 square miles. The merging of two major forests created a park with incredible biodiversity with animals like red river hogs, bushbucks, serval cats, tree hyraxes and black – fronted duiker protected in the forest.
Gishwati – Mukura National Park is home to 5 primate species including chimpanzees, baboons, golden monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys. This forested park is a premier birding destination in Rwanda with over 100 species of birds including the Old World Warbler, Mountain Yellow Warbler and White-headed Woodhooper among others.
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