There are four national parks in Rwanda.
Volcanoes National Park
Arguably the most famous of all Rwanda tourist attractions is the stunning Volcanoes National Park, the country’s flagship reserve. It covers 160 square kilometres (62 square miles) of prime rainforest, encompassing five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains range. It’s a mystical backdrop for life-changing gorilla trekking adventures – no other wildlife encounter on Earth compares with the experience of spending time with a family of mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
Guided by experienced gorilla trackers through the park’s towering African redwoods, bamboo, weaving vines and flowering lobelias, Volcanoes offers some of the best gorilla trekking expeditions in Africa. The park was also the base for pioneering primatologist Dian Fossey – you can pay your respects at Fossey’s grave and even enjoy immersive gorilla conservation experiences with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
Don’t spend too much time taking photographs of the gorillas. Before you know it, your hour with them is over. Rather just relax, observe, and savour every minute you have with them. And hire a porter! They know the area and the terrain extremely well, and they carry your bags. It’s a small amount for travellers, but it makes a big difference to the lives of local families.
Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park is a colossal tropical rainforest that includes the biggest strip of remaining montane forest in Central or East Africa. It’s home to a plethora of bird, butterfly and orchid species, as well as about a quarter of all Africa’s primates.
The heart of Nyungwe is like a scene from a fairy tale. Ancient mahogany and ebony trees tower above you, gorgeous orchids cling to every branch, and colourful birds and butterflies flit around while you quietly follow the calls of primates.
Primate safaris are among the top Rwanda tourist attractions, and Nyungwe is the ideal destination for these tracking experiences. With 13 different primate species living in Nyungwe Forest, trekking in search of chimpanzees, Rwenzori colobus monkeys, l’Hoest’s monkeys, and the grey-cheeked mangabey are among the many highlights in this spectacular rainforest.
Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park covers about 1,120 square kilometres (432 square miles) and is one of the oldest national parks in Africa – it was first gazetted in 1934. The park endured a troubled period in the late 1990s when its ecosystems were harmed by cattle-grazing and poaching in consequence of Rwanda’s civil war.
But today, Akagera is managed in partnership with African Parks, a non-governmental conservation organization which has made a very positive impact on the park’s animal populations. Thanks to various anti-poaching measures and the reintroduction of lions and rhinos, Akagera National Park is well on its way to being restored.
When you’re visiting Rwanda and enjoying a safari in Akagera, you are most likely to see the usual plains species like impala, topi, eland, giraffe, waterbuck, sable, roan and zebra. Hippo, crocodile, buffalo and elephant are also commonly spotted on game drives. And thanks to the successful reintroduction of lion and rhino, Akagera is also home to the Big 5. Leopards are present but a little trickier to spot – no matter where you are on safari – because of their mastery of camouflage and stealth.
If you are a keen birdwatcher, then a safari in Akagera will float your boat. It’s a birdwatcher’s paradise of over 480 species! Raptors and savannah birds are common, as well as numerous endemic species like the red-faced barbet. Plentiful waterbirds like African fish eagles, open-billed storks, cormorants, herons, and crowned cranes can also be spotted on boat cruises in Akagera lakes.