A Guide to Rwanda’s National Parks

A Guide to Rwanda’s National Parks: Greetings to the beautiful country of Rwanda! This east-central African nation presents astonishing physical features, which include impressive biodiversity and great wildlife encounters. Rwanda hosts five spectacular national parks that make it an ideal one-stop holiday destination for nature lovers, wildlife photographers, and thrill seekers. In this detailed guide, we’ll explore the rich and vibrant offering without further ado, let us wade into the heart of Rwanda’s playground – the national parks.

1. Akagera National Park

Located in the northeastern corner of Rwanda, Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s first and biggest protected area. created in 1934 this park is relatively large and takes up 1,122 kilometers for a variety of fauna and flora that include the savannah, forest, and even lakes.

Other attractions include the diverse wildlife that can be sited in the Akagera National Park. Here, large herds of grazing and large herds of grazing giraffes, zebras, elephants, buffaloes, and several species of antelopes including the shy and endangered Nyala can be easily spotted. The park also offers more than 500 bird species, so it will be appreciated by lovers of bird watching.

Some of the activities that tourism companies allow visitors to experience in Akagera National Park include interesting game driving, interesting boat trips in Lake Ihema, and nature-guided walks among others. If you want to make your trip even more adventurous you can go for a night drive which gives you an opportunity to see animals like leopards or the bat-eared fox among others.

2. Nyungwe Forest National Park

Located in the southwestern part of this wonderful tourist destination that is Rwanda, Nyungwe Forest National Park is a perfect getaway for nature enthusiasts. Stretching over an area of 1,015 square kilometers, this montane rainforest is one of the oldest reserves in Rwanda. It is also among the most crucial wildlife areas in Central Africa; the park and its wildlife and plant life are diverse and interesting.

Nyungwe Forest National Park offers visitors a diverse experience in primate Tracking & Viewing; this park is host to one of the largest and fastest endangered Mountain Gorillas, Chimpanzees, and Colobus Stock. The park will impress bird lovers by hosting more than 300 different species of birds, for instance, Albertine Rift endemics birds.

Want to go for a nature walk? This will be done in the company of the park rangers because the park conducts guided nature walks in Nyungwe Forest National Park. If you have a flair for the adventurous type, undertake a canopy walk-a bridge-like structure that is stretched across 60-meter-high treetops.

3. Volcanoes National Park

Thanks to the numerous mountains that can be found across the country, Rwanda earns itself the title of the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills.’ This park is located in the stunning Virunga mountains and covers 160 square kilometers of land and is famous for mountain gorillas.

Visitors of Volcanoes National Park get an opportunity to hike on eremite, white and mountainous environments through the forests of Senegal grass tracking these gentle giant animals. The park also has other primate species like the golden monkey and, definitely bird watching will also be exciting due to the many fascinating bird species.

Other than gorilla trekking, travelers can enjoy a number of activities in Volcanoes National Park. If you are adventurous, you may go for the volcano hike where you get to the top of any dormant volcanic cone found in the park. A more important act of excitement is to make a visit to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda – the place where this phenomenal primatologist spent over twenty years studying the gestures of the mountain gorillas.

4. Gishwati Mukura National Park

Gishwati Mukura is Rwanda’s newest national park and it was gazetted in 2015 to encompass important natural resources and champion all aspects of conservation. This sized park occupies an area of 34 square kilometers but it has a lot of historical backgrounds as well as natural value.

This is a park, which was a product of a reforestation exercise and is located in Gishwati Mukura. The park was highly depleted during the late 1990s as a result of logging, agriculture, and charcoal production. Nevertheless, constant efforts of local communities, prominent conservation organizations, and government counterparts have turned the park into a home of numerous types of plants and animals.

Wildlife enthusiasts can find several species of primates in the park and bird life includes over a hundred species of birds including Colobus monkeys. Trails enable individuals to move through the park and have a view of the different natural ecosystems of the park including natural forests, bamboo forests, and tea estates.

5. Kisaka Community Camp

If you would like an experience something different, take a stopover at the Kisaka Community Camp which is conveniently situated next to the Nyungwe Forest National Park. This is an eco-camp situated in a remote area and is managed by guides who have a high passion for the conservation of this type of habitat and also experiences to share with the visitors.

Visitors to the Kisaka Community Camp can engage in a number of guided activities, such as nature walks, birding, and culture. Acquaintance with the customs of the indigenous people, Batwa, who once inhabited these territories, and know the peculiarities of the environment.

When you choose to stay at Kisaka Community Camp, you will directly foster indigenous conservation processes that will encourage the continued management and protection of Rwanda’s great national parks.

Conclusion

The national parks in Rwanda present the tourists with a one-of-a-kind chance to explore some of the most diverse animal and geographical wonders of Africa. Of the existing protected areas, Akagera the savannah grasslands and Nyungwe the rainforest offer every lover of nature a thrilling experience.

When organizing your Rwanda trip must ensure that you identified the activities and experiences best for you. They are endangered and their habitat is in the three major national parks in Rwanda for anyone interested in an up-close view of these marvelous creatures or maybe the classic wilderness interests such as awakening to the sight of a dozen big five animals or even a hot air balloon over the canter rising to view the park, then the parks in Rwanda are for you. So come with your luggage, and your camera and you are prepared for the greatest wildlife experience in the middle of Africa!