Visit Rwanda the Land of a Thousand Hills, a complete destination in Africa with only 4 National Parks. Located in East Central Africa, Rwanda is a landlocked country but it is remarkably, one of the most visited African safari destinations for gorilla trekking.
There are only 4 National Parks in Rwanda and each of them has something unique for the world to explore and experience while on Rwanda safari holidays. The 4 National Parks in Rwanda protect diversity of African wildlife species ranging from primates, birds to big game.
4 Rwanda National Parks
1. Volcanoes National Park
2. Akagera National Park
3. Nyungwe Forest National Park
4. Gishwati-Mukura National Park
1. Volcanoes National Park-VNP
Volcanoes National Park (VNP) is Rwanda’s leading safari park of the 4 National Parks. This is mostly visited by majority of Rwanda safari visitors for mountain gorilla trekking experiences. Volcanoes National Park was created in 1925 and it is located in the North-western Rwanda, Ruhengeri Region.
Volcanoes National Park is among the very few oldest parks in Africa and very compact occupying only 160sq.kms of land area. It is found within the Virunga Conservation Area and its creation in 1925 was primarily to shelter a section of the world’s 1063 mountain gorillas. Presently, VNP in Rwanda protects 13 families of habituated mountain gorillas and they include among others Bwenge, Titus, Hirwa, Agashya, Amahoro, Kwitonda, Ugenda, Susa B/Karisimbi.
Other species that share the same habitat with Rwanda mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park include golden monkeys, bush bucks, spotted hyenas, giant forest hogs, forest elephants, 200 bird species. The park’s unique bird species not to miss sighting include the Rwenzori Double Collared Sunbird, Red Faced Woodland Warblers, Turacos, Archer’s Ground Robin, Grauer’s Rush Warblers, and Rwenzori Batis.
Activities
The prime safari activities Volcanoes National Park is popular for include mountain gorilla trekking, bird watching, volcanoes hiking on Mount Muhabura, Mount Sabyinyo, Gahinga & Karisimbi Volcanoes; cave exploration, golden monkey tracking and Dian Fossey tomb site hike.
2. Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park sits on the North-eastern side of Rwanda. It is the biggest of the 4 National Parks in Rwanda and also the only savanna park. The Akagera NP occupies 1122sq.kms of land area which makes it the biggest protected wetland area in Central Africa. From Kigali Capital, it is easy to reach Akagera NP within 2 and half hours of driving using a comfortable 4×4 rental car or fly from Kigali using Akagera Aviation to the Eastern part where Akagera NP is located.
Akagera National Park is named after Kagera River and generally, it boasts of a distinct landscape that is characterized by savanna grassland, acacia woodland/trees. While on Rwanda safari holiday, consider visiting Akagera a must for mesmerizing big game viewing experiences. The significant species of animal species to look for at Akagera NP include impalas, gazelles, bush elephants, rhinos, baboons, elands, buffaloes, leopards, bush bucks, roan antelopes, Maasai giraffes, duikers, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, crocodiles, oribis, hippos, bush babies.
A sum of over 500 bird species also range within Akagera National Park’s varied habitats. These include sacred and hadada ibis, fan tailed widow bird, viellot black weavers, African darters, shoebill storks, fish eagles, long crested eagles, papyrus gonoleks, cattle egrets.
The likely activities to expect to undertake while at Akagera NP include boat/launch cruise, game drive, helicopter tours, guided nature walks, bird watching. Places to stay before or after your expedition at Akagera N/Park include Akagera Game Lodge, Magashi Luxury Tented Camp, Ruzizi Tented Camp, Dereva Hotel or camping.
3. Nyungwe National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park is Rwanda’s biggest primate safari park, sitting along the South-western part of Rwanda. The park sits on land area of 1000sq.kms and shelters diversity of important primates which total up to 13 species.
Nyungwe National Park hosts 75 species of mammals which include 13 species of primates and they include over 500 chimpanzees, grey cheeked mangabeys, l’hoest monkeys, 4000 colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, owl faced monkeys, vervet monkeys, Dent’s mona monkeys, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, pottos, bush babies. There are also over 310 species of birds and they include 120 forest species of birds.
The birds of Akagera NP include among others bush shrike, stripe breasted tit, Rwenzori batis, chestnut owlets, white headed wood hoopoe, white tailed flycatcher, Ruwenzori turacos, Archer’s robin chat. The main activities Nyungwe Forest National Park has to offer include chimpanzee tracking, canopy walk, bird watching, forest hiking/walks especially best offered on the Congo Nile divide trail which stretches 227kms. Other significant trails in Nyungwe Forest include Kamiranzovu, Igishigishigi trails, Umugote, Karamba, Umoyove, Ngabwe, Rukuzi, Muzimu and many more.
The accommodation in Nyungwe Forest NP-Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Gisakura Guesthouse, One & Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Top View Lodge, EAR Guesthouse, Emeraude Kivu Resort.
Access to Nyungwe for chimpanzee tracking or any other safari experience is easier by road. The park is 5-6 hours of driving and Rwanda safari travelers set off from Kigali Capital.
Gishwati-Mukura National Park
Of the 4 National Parks in Rwanda, Gishwati-Mukura National Park is incredibly the newest. Gishwati-Mukura N/Park was created in 2015 after merging both Gishwati and Mukura Forest Reserves making it Rwanda’s 4th National Park. It is the smallest of all the 4 National Parks in Rwanda, occupying only 34sq.kms of land area characterized by tropical rain-forest.
The diverse primates worth looking for while on Rwanda safari in Gishwati-Mukura National Park include chimpanzees, blue monkeys, olive baboons, l’hoest monkeys. The birds to identify while at Gishwati-Mukura include the Rwenzori Batis, Mountain yellow warblers, Grey crowned cranes, Martial eagles.
Gishwati-Mukura National Park (GMNP) has lots of exciting activities for nature loving travelers on Rwanda safaris to participate in. They include chimpanzee tracking/trekking, primate walks, bird watching, cultural encounters etc. Unlike Nyungwe or Volcanoes NP, Gishwati-Mukura National Park has only Gishwati Lodge for visitors to retire for the night.
While on Rwanda safaris, visitor exploration is beyond just visiting National Parks in Rwanda. The other important tourist sites worth including on your bucket list include Museums, Lake Kivu, Historical Site especially Genocide centres/sites.
