Rwanda National Parks
Rwanda National Park /List of National Parks in Rwanda
Rwanda is famously known as a land of thousand hills and it has got four national parks and all protected wildlife reserves and ecosystems including; Akagera National Park, Nyungwe National Park, Gishwati –Mukura National Park, and the Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park; Volcanoes National park is located in the far northwest of Rwanda mainly to protect the steep slopes of this magnificent mountain range. More fact, the park is home to the endangered mountain gorilla and a rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, which attracts evergreen and bamboo forests, swamps, and open grassland. More so, the park was named after the chain of dormant volcanoes making up the Virunga Massif –the highest is Bisoke which raises at 4,507 meters ‘’verdant crater lake, Sabinyo, Gahinga, and Muhabura among others.
The park is renowned as the top tourist destination on Rwanda Safaris and it is home to the world’s unique primates ‘’mountain gorillas, and golden monkeys’’ and also home to colorful bird species many more.
Activities to do in Volcanoes National Park includes; Gorilla trekking, Primate tracking hiking. Rwanda gorilla trekking permits cost USD1,500 per person per day.
Nyungwe National Park
Nyungwe National Park ranks as one of the oldest rainforests in Africa very rich in biodiversity and a spectacularly beautiful safari destination. The park is home to various unique primates, birds, and over 1000 plant species many more. Activities to do includes; Bird watching, Guided Natural trail hiking, Canopy walking, Tropical waterfall, primate trekking, and camping.
Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park is one of the largest national parks in Rwanda, located in the Eastern part of Rwanda and home to famous Big five mammals and other animal species like lions, giraffes, zebras, and hippos that are an inhabitant of savannah, woodlands, wetland, and a dozen lakes.
Activities to do in Akagera National Park includes; Game drive, Birding, Community tours, and a Boat cruise among others.
Gishwati Mukura National Park
Gishwati Mukura national park is the smallest park with a total land of 34 square kilometers that combined Gishwati forest and Mukura forest. The park is located in the western part of Rwanda in between nearby districts ‘’ Rutsiro and Ngororero’’ and it covers an area of about 13.2 square miles.
The park is home to five primate species including; chimpanzees, baboons, golden monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and other animals including Red river hogs, bushbucks, serval cats, tree hyraxes and black-fronted duiker among others. It is also home to over 100 bird species.
Activities in Gishwati Mukura National Park include; Hiking and Guided Nature walks, Cultural Encounters, Biking –cycling through the Congo Nile Trail, and Primates viewing among others.