National Parks Of Rwanda

The different national parks of Rwanda include Volcanoes national park, Akagera national park, Nyungwe forest national park and also Gishwati Mukura national park.

Rwanda is an East African country with a lot to offer when it comes to places to visit during a tour. Apart from the national park, tours can also be done around Kigali which is the capital city of Rwanda, visiting Lake Kivu among others.

List of National Parks in Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

Volcanoes national park is located in the north western part of Rwanda and it is a destination which is known for gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

The national park is about 2 hours drive from Kigali city and can be visited during a day tour in Rwanda. Volcanoes national park is part of the Virunga conservation area and some of the Virunga mountains are found at the destination.

These mountains include Mount Karisimbi, Mount Bisoke, Mount Gahinga, Mount Muhavura and Mount Sabyinyo. Climbing to the summit of the Virunga mountains is also part of the exciting activities to do at the destination.

Other activities carried out during tours in Volcanoes national park include gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, visiting the Dian Fossey tomb, cultural tours and also visiting Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo which are twin lakes.

The price for seeing gorillas in Volcanoes national park is 1500 USD which is the charge for a gorilla permit. Children below the age of 15 years are not permitted to engage in gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

Volcanoes national park is located in Musanze and the park headquarters where briefing takes place is at Kinigi.

The best time to visit Volcanoes national park is during the dry season from June to October and also around December to February.

Nyungwe forest national park

Nyungwe forest national park is located in the south western part of Rwanda and is one of the oldest rainforests in Africa.

This national park is home to chimpanzees in Rwanda and 12 other species of primates can be seen in Nyungwe forest national park. Nyungwe national park is also known for its rich biodiversity.

Activities to do around Nyungwe forest national park include chimpanzee trekking, canopy walks, bird watching, nature walks, waterfalls tour and tourists can also visit the neighboring towns and interact with the locals and also engage in activities such as visiting the tea estates.

There are about 322 bird species which can be seen in Nyungwe forest national park. Different trails are also found within the national park which tourists can follow during their various activities in Nyungwe.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe national park costs 90 USD and during this experience other primates can be seen such as black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, baboons, blue monkeys and many others.

Briefing for chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe national park is done at Uwinka, Gisakura or Kitabi. The briefing is done by the park officials and after this, the tourists can head into the natural habitat of the chimpanzees.

Akagera national park

Akagera national park is the place to visit for a wildlife viewing experience in the savannah during a tour around Rwanda.

This national park is located in the eastern part of Rwanda and consists of savannah plains, woodland, wetland and a lake.

A number of activities can be carried out around Akagera national park and these include game drives which can take place in the morning or afternoon, boat rides on Lake Ihema, birding, fishing, nature walks and also community tours.

Wildlife species which can be seen around Akagera national park include the big five such as elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalos. Other wildlife species in the national park include giraffes, antelopes, zebras, monkeys, hyenas, jackals, topi, waterbucks, elands, duikers, oribi, reedbucks, klipspringers, bushbucks, impalas and many others.

During boat rides on Lake Ihema wildlife such as Nile crocodiles and hippos as well as bird species can be seen.

Gishwati Mukura national park

Gishwati Mukura national park is located in the western part of Rwanda and it is made up of the Gishwati forest and the Mukura forest. this national park is also the smallest in Rwanda covering about 34 square kilometers.

Different tree species are found in Gishwati Mukura national park including bamboo and hardwood and primates such as chimpanzees, l’hoest monkeys and blue monkeys can be seen in the national park.

This national park is not as popular as the three other national parks of Rwanda but it is worth a visit with a variety of activities to take part in during a tour around Gishwati Mukura national park such as guided nature hikes, bird watching, visiting the waterfalls among others.

Community tours can also be done during tours to Gishwati Mukura national park and during this activity, tourists interact with the locals, enjoy cultural dances, farm stays, making handicrafts, beekeeping, visiting the tea plantations, learning about the local medicine during a tour to the traditional medicine men and so much more.

Visit Rwanda and enjoy exploring the beautiful national parks and engaging in various activities.