One by one; in the northern, eastern, western, and southern corners of Rwanda—a land of a thousand hills—we provide exclusive details of all the national parks spread across Rwanda, including their names, locations, activities, history, and uniqueness.
Remember your geography and history classes? Those apes they said you resembled, the botany you know theoretically; you can encounter them in the untamed nature of Rwanda, where most tourists spend their days capturing each detail the wild presents.
Rwanda is a landlocked and one of the smallest countries in East Africa. It is incredibly safe, with modern and ancient infrastructure, good road networks, security, and very warm people.
The climate is exceptional, and the landscape defies imagination.
Neighboring countries include Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Kenya.
Visitors can now enjoy unmatched game viewing experiences, primate trekking, birding, canopy walks, cultural adventures, and more in the different parks during honeymoons, hiking, family vacations, research, and group adventures, among others, for unlimited time.
Rwanda’s national parks protect endangered ecosystems and a wide range of rare species, most of which are in the vast Virunga chain of mountains that stretch into Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
All the national parks are managed by the Rwanda Development Board, with assistance from government ministries.
Here are the four national parks in Rwanda, though three are the most well-known.
Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park is the only Savannah park in Rwanda, established in 1934 to protect rare wildlife species.
Today, you can encounter Africa’s Big Five—lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos—along with several antelope species, birds, and unique plants during a game drive, guided nature walk, birding, or camping experience.
This 1,222 sq. km park, the largest in Rwanda, comprises montane forests, large swamps, the Akagera River, woodland, and savannah pasture.
Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is a prime Rwanda safari destination and Africa at large. It is located in the northern part of the country, at the foothills of the giant Virunga chain of mountains, which also extends to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
These volcanoes are home to the rare mountain gorillas, only found in Africa.
Other unique attractions in the park include the playful golden monkeys, the Karisoke Research Centre, Dian Fossey’s graveyard, mammals such as forest elephants, spotted hyenas, and bushbucks, and about 178 bird species, among others.
Additionally, there are five mountains near this magical park, often hiked by visitors: Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Bisoke, Mount Karisimbi, Mount Muhabura, and Mount Gahinga.
Volcanoes National Park was established in 1925 to protect the endangered mountain gorillas, the forest, and other residents in its 160 sq. km area.
The park is generally cold, day and night, but receives the highest number of visitors in the country.
Gorilla trekking, bird watching, golden monkey trekking, and hiking are among the activities offered in the park.
Nyungwe National Park
Home to over 13 unique primate species co-existing in one place, Nyungwe National Park is one of Rwanda’s major attractions.
This park is located in the southwestern part of Rwanda, near the Rwanda-Congo border, a few kilometers from Lake Kivu, Rwanda’s largest freshwater lake.
It was gazetted on a 270 sq. km area in 2004, with a forest cover that remains evergreen all year round.
Records show there are about 200 tree species, including bamboo and bogs; 13 primates, including baboons, Hamlyn’s monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, silver monkeys, Angola colobus monkeys, and chimpanzees that rule the jungle.
Tourists can engage in activities such as chimpanzee tracking, birding, forest walks (some of the best in Africa), and sightseeing, among others.
Gishwati-Mukura National Park
Established in 2015, Gishwati-Mukura National Park is the newest and smallest park in the country, combining two forests—Mukura and Gishwati.
The park now harbors rare chimpanzees, blue monkeys, golden monkeys, and L’Hoest’s monkeys.
Activities in this park include birding, chimpanzee tracking, and cultural adventures.
It is located in the western part of Rwanda, in the districts of Ngororero and Rutsiro, covering about 13.2 sq. km and protecting the two forests and the rare primates.
It is ideally a model park.
All national parks in Rwanda are open to visitors year-round, offering unforgettable moments and rare attractions.
Gates open at 07:00 hrs and close at 19:00 hrs.
Gorilla trekking permits for Volcanoes National Park are required for the activity and cost USD 1,500 per person per day.
A yellow fever vaccine is mandatory, along with a passport, visa, and other essentials.
The best months to visit Rwanda’s national parks are between June and October and December to February, though the other months are also ideal.
Visit Akagera National Park in Rwanda with these recommended Rwanda tour companies or send us an inquiry below to book through us directly.
