List of National Parks in Rwanda – Location, Size, Activities, Entrance Fees and more Tour Guide
Welcome to the List of National Parks in Rwanda guide. Reliable visitors guide prepared by local Rwandan folks giving Rwandan travelers accurate information which will be very helpful when planning a safari in Rwanda – the Land of a Thousand Hills. Find information to all national parks in Rwanda, hotels & safari lodges, Rwanda’s Eco tourist sites, maps, driving distances, how to get there, where to hire a car and so much more.
National Parks in Rwanda are protected by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), who are responsible conserving all Rwanda’s wildlife animals and species. While planning your Rwanda tour, below is a list of National Parks in Rwanda to visit;
Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National park Rwanda a home to the endangered mountain gorillas found in the northern part of Rwanda covering an area of 160 sq km of varying vegetation zones from lowland forests to the afro alpine forests between 2,400 meters to 4,500 meters above sea level.
Volcanoes National park marks the Rwandan section of the greater Virunga Mountains shared by three countries of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Virunga massif is the only places in the world with the last surviving population of mountain gorillas, of which over 500 gorilla species are found in Volcanoes national park, making Rwanda perhaps the best tracking safari destination in Africa. Apart from the mountain gorillas the forest is a habitat to a variety of mammals that include forest elephants which are infrequently encountered, bush pigs, forest buffalos, black fronted duiker, bush bucks, spotted hyenas and the giant forest hog, other primates present in the forest such as golden monkeys.
A visit see gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park is purely an outdoor adventure and life changing experience. Virunga’s location in the Albertine and its thick forests create a unique environment for eco tourists The Park is famous for the Albertine rift endemic species of birds of 178 birds recorded in the park, 29 of them are restricted to the Albertine rift region. Some of the frequently encountered species include
Primarily the forest was gazzatted in 1925 as a small area surrounded by dense populated areas of Karisimbi, Visoke and Mikeno to protect the endangered mountain gorillas that were facing a threat of extinction from poachers. Later in 1967 the park became a foundation for the renowned American naturalist Dian fossey who set up a gorilla research center at Karisimbi. Despite the conservation efforts to protect mountain gorillas, the park became a theatre of war during the Rwandan civil war in the 1990’s which left the park abandoned by tourists following the massive massacres that did not only claim lives of thousands of people but also had gorilla population critically reduced.
All activities in the park were stopped not until 1999 when the park was declared safe for travelers under the control of the Rwandan army hence the rebirth of gorilla tourism in Rwanda. In 2005, in a proposition to make better conservation and gorilla tours in Volcanoes National park, Rwanda began the yearly gorilla naming ceremony for baby gorillas branded as ‘Kwita Iziina’ which has seen enormous results of increased gorilla numbers in as far as gorilla population in volcanoes National Park is concerned.
Park Location
Volcanoes national park is found in a small village of Musanze formerly called Ruhengeri; it can be easily accessed by public transportation from Kigali Rwanda or Gisenyi town. The park is about 2 hours drive from Kigali or Gisenyi thus time bound visitors have a chance to track gorillas and drive back to Kigali on the same day. Treks start very early in the morning at 6:00 am from the park headquarters at Kinigi, for that reason if you would like to trek for one day better wake up very early so you can be on time.
Even without mountain gorillas, the park could still be attractive. Its altitude ranging from 2,500 to 4,500 m above sea level Karisimbi the highest peak resulting into an extensive bamboo forests, rare plants such as giant lobelias and groundsels. The park offers an opportunity for primate lovers to track secretive Golden monkeys in the bamboo forests, hiking Karisimbi volcano, visiting the celebrated Dian fossey tomb and visits to the twin lakes of Ruhondo and Bulera can be arranged. Given the interesting hiking trails.
Akagera National Park
Sprawling across the north eastern side of Rwanda along the border with Tanzania, is Akagera National Park a network of forest fringed lakes, papyrus swamps, savannah plains, and rolling hills that offers wildlife enthusiasts a thrilling opportunity to experience Rwanda’s biodiversity. Founded in 1934 when much of the park land was being re – allocated as farmlands which later reduced its size from 25,000 sq km to its apparent size of 1,122 sq km in an attempt to return the park to its natural state by the combined venture of African National Parks. Even though much of the best savannah grazing land is now outside the park borders, what’s left of Akagera National Park is the most varied and beautiful landscape in the East and Central Africa.
The park was named after the Akagera River that stream along its eastern boundary into the several lakes tangled with papyrus swamps that make up a third of the park making it one of the largest protected wetlands in Africa. Renowned for its large mammals and swamp endemic species of animals such as Sitatunga that inhabit the water – logged ,forest fringed lakes along the meandering Akagera river, the steep sided shores and small undulating rolling hill dotted with papyrus swamps and savannah plains is Rwanda’s most developing wetland safari destination.
Home to a variety of big game mammals, such as buffalos elephants, giraffes, zebras, waterbucks, many species of antelope roan antelope, the elusive eland, topi including other antelopes such as duikers, oribi, klipspringer, bush buck and the handsome chest- nut coated impalas including swamps endemic species of sitatunga are present as well. Due to the park’s exceptionally levels of biodiversity, Akagera National park is an important birders paradise with over 500 species of birds among which are the rare swamp endemic species such as shoebill stork, papyrus Gonelock and other dense populations of water birds in the wetland. Primates can also be seen such as the mysterious blue monkeys, olive baboons, vervets which can be seen during the day with bush babies which can be seen during night game drives.
In an attempt to restore Akagera’s big five status, of the largest predators such as Transvaal lions have been reintroduced from south Africa being the first lions of its kind in the last 15 years. Other resident predators include leopards, side striped jackals, spotted hyenas. Apparently there’s is an ongoing project to bring back the Black rhinos which was once poached to the brink of extinction. Akagera River is a typical African savannah landscape of acacia woodlands intercepted by not only the mesmerizing tracts of thorn acacia woodlands, open savannah teemed with herds of elephants, buffalos and antelope one tends to associate with equatorial East Africa but also camping alongside the shimmering attractive lakes of Akagera heaving with a aquatic life is a truly mystical introduction to wonders of African bush.
Along the shores of forest fringed lakes duetting with a pair of connecting marshes one can encounter pods of over 50 hippos, gape mouthed crocodiles silently watching prey, lining the lakes are some of the monarchs of African waterways – the African Fish eagles magically toning apart the sky is unforgettable experience while enjoying the lakeside eye-catching views on a boat trip.
In the north and north east of the park lies the mutara a natural and historic region where traces of long pastoral occupation can be seen. The other hill region with gentle slopes and depression dotted with lakes, Permanent River, floating vegetation, a mosaic of diverse fertile soils combine to make AKagera national park amongst the most scenic and thought after reserves with exceptional levels of biodiversity in Africa.
Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe forest National Park is located in the southwest corner of Rwanda covering over 1,020km2 of untouched rain forest is regarded as one of the remaining pristine mountain rain forests staying ever green and with a high dense canopy in Africa. In 2004 when Rwanda wanted to boost her tourism beyond the famous mountain gorillas, Nyungwe forest received a national park status and became the largest protected area with high altitude rain forest .It was mainly important because when you realize that the forest is the biggest water reservoir for Rwanda because of the vast magnificent biodiversity associated with the Albertine rift montane forests.
Scenically dominated by a series of mountain chains, originating from the lendu plateau in the democratic republic of Congo, running through the Rwenzori mountains to the southern shores of lake Tanganyika makes Nyungwe Africa’s most endemic rich eco regions. Nyungwe forest National park is an ideal destination for lovers of primates and nature adventures, traveling through the forest is a sure deal to witness the world’s beautiful lush ever green, mist covered untouched rain forest.
Deep in heart of the rain forest is like an endless scenery of quite myth with over 200 forest species, one can see Africa’s oldest and tallest species of trees such as mahoganies, ebonies covered by giant tree ferns, lobelias everlasting flowers, orchids and various climbing species of plants towering above the sky up to 50 meters. Walking quietly under the cool forest, encounter the beautiful colored butterflies will reward you with exciting definitive real sound of Africa’s dense equatorial rain forest teemed with various species of birds.
The forest is teeming with a vast array of flora and fauna all over the park, transacted by the surfaced road between Butare and Lake Kivu, Nyungwe forest is a home to more than 500 chimpanzee man’s closet cousin. Of the largest mammals, monkeys are exceptionally well represented in Nyungwe Forest National Park with 13 species recorded representing 25 % of the African primate checklist. It is the only place where more than 300 troops of colobus monkeys have been seen making it Africa’s primatologist dream destination.
Nyungwe forest boasts the greatest primate variety and density in east Africa, with five or six species likely to be observed over of one afternoon walk. Of particular interest are the most handsome L’Hoest monkeys, delightful acrobatic colobus monkeys often seen from the forest trails, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys and olive baboons just a glimpse of primate species.
Bird life is prolific throughout Rwanda, but certain key sites should be included in any birders itinerary. For dedicated ornithologists the prime attraction in the forest is the presence of forest is the presence of over 300 species of birds with about 27 Albertine rift endemics making it a complete birding destination. Specialist birding tours throughout the forest’s extensive network of hiking trails that takes you through various spots of waterfalls offers you an opportunity to watch the alluring list of forest specialists includes the iridescent sun birds, the psychedelic Rwenzori Turaco, forest buzzards, olive pigeon, and wood hoopoes.