Top Visited National Parks in Rwanda
A guide to the top visited National Parks in Rwanda and why they are visitors’ bucket list destinations. Rwanda is home to four game safari parks, each offering unique experiences that attracts travelers from around the world. Three of these parks are renowned for its large population of primates, making then ideal for wildlife enthusiast eager to observe these incredible creatures in tire natural habitat. This remaining park is a savanna-dominated park that provides exceptional Big 5 game viewing expeditions, making it an essential part of any Rwanda tour.
The four national parks in Rwanda are Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Volcanoes National Park and Gishwati-Mukura National Park. Among these Akagera, Nyungwe, and Volcanoes National Park stand out as the most frequently visited, drawing many visitors who wish to experience Rwanda’s diverse ecosystems and rich wildlife.
Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park stands as Rwanda’s largest protected area and the only savanna ecosystem in the country. Located in the eastern part of Rwanda, the park was officially established in 1934 and spans an area of 1,122 square kilometers. Its diverse habitats include woodlands, savannas, montane forests, and extensive swamps, offering a rich variety of ecosystems.
The park is renowned for its population of the Big Five— the Elephants, buffaloes, lions, rhinos and leopards. Visitors often explore these majestic animals through guided game drives along the park’s well-maintained tracks, providing an immersive wildlife experience. Additionally, Akagera offers memorable boat cruises on Lake Ihema, where travelers can observe hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of aquatic bird species.
Beyond the Big Five, Akagera is home to a wide array of wildlife such as, zebras, giraffes, warthogs, impalas, bushbucks, hyenas, and several antelopes like the bushbucks, roan antelope, Topes, klipspringer, Oribis, Cape eland, water-buck, duikers and impalas among others. The park also hosts over 500 bird species, making it a significant destination for birdwatching. Notable bird species include Shoebill, elegant Grey-crowned cranes, striking saddle-billed storks, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Papyrus Gonolek, White-Winged Swamp Warbler, Carruthers’ Cisticola, White-collared Olive back and many more, highlighting the area’s importance as an avian habitat.
Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park is located in the far southwestern region of Rwanda and is renowned as a premier destination for primate safaris. Since its establishment in 2004, the park has grown to cover approximately 970 square kilometers and is home to 13 primate species, including around 500 chimpanzees.
Among the primates, visitors can also find as L’ Hoests monkeys, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, bush baby, golden monkeys, Hamlyn’s monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, gray cheeked mangabey, eastern needle-clawed galago, velvet monkeys and olive baboons among others.
The park’s diverse habitat supports over 322 bird species, astonishingly 29 species are recorded to be endemic to the Albertine rift which includes Great Blue Turaco, Red-Breasted Sparrow Hawk, White Headed Wood Hoopoe, Re-Throated Alethe, Paradise Flycatcher and the Gigantic Forest Hornbill, Green Pigeons, Ross’s Turaco, Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Red-Faced Woodland Warbler, the purple breasted and blue-headed sunbird, and the Rockefeller are among
Additionally, Nyungwe is rich in other wildlife with over 120 butterfly species, 32 amphibian species, and 38 reptile species. It is among Rwanda’s top-visited national parks, attracting visitors not only for its exceptional chimpanzee treks but also for guided canopy walks, bird watching, hiking along various trails, particularly the Congo Nile Divide trail.
Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is situated in the Virunga region of Northwestern Rwanda. Together with Congo’s Virunga National Park, it was officially established in 1925, making it one of the oldest mountain gorilla parks in Africa.
Among Rwanda’s top national parks, Volcanoes National Park covers just 160 square kilometers and was primarily created to protect the endangered mountain gorillas and endangered playful golden monkeys. In addition to these remarkable primates, the park is home to five of the eight Virunga volcanoes: Sabyinyo, Bisoke, Karisimbi, Muhabura, and Gahinga.
The park also hosts a diverse array of wildlife, including bushbucks, spotted forest elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, duikers, spotted hyenas and bush-buck.
Volcanoes National Park is also home to over 200 bird species with 29 species are recorded to be endemic to the Albertine rift. Some of the bird species you might spot here includes lovely francolin, strange weavers, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori double-collared sunbirds, Rwenzori batis, Archer’s ground robin, Collared Apalis, Doherty’s bush- shrike, Red-faced woodland warblers, Brown-necked parrot, Baglafecht weaver, African long-eared owl and Dusky Crimsonwing African green broadbill, olive bellied, black cuckoo-shrike bat hawk narina trogon among others. Its popularity as a destination in Rwanda and Africa stems from a variety of attractions, such as mountain gorilla trekking, golden monkey safaris, volcano hikes, visits to Dian Fossey’s tomb, and birdwatching opportunities.
Gishwati-Mukura National Park
Gishwati-Mukura National Park, located in Western Rwanda, is one of the country’s tops visited national parks. Established in 2015 through the merging of Gishwati and Mukura Forest Reserves, it has quickly become an important protected area. The park is home to a variety of primates, including as golden monkeys, chimpanzees, blue monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, baboons, black and white colobus monkeys.
In addition to its primate populations, Gishwati-Mukura hosts a rich diversity of bird species. Visitors can observe birds such as Martial Eagle, the Grey Crowned Crane, Weaver birds, Mountain Yellow Warblers, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Red-throated Alethe, Regal Sunbird, Ruwenzori Batis, Ruwenzori Turaco, Wood hoopoes, strange weavers and the Stripe-breasted Tit, Dusky Crimson wing, among others
Best time to visit Rwanda
The best time to visit Rwanda is during the peak dry months of June to September and December to February. Throughout the year, Rwanda welcomes visitors, but traveling during these periods offers optimal conditions for activities such as mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, game drives, boat cruises, golden monkey tracking, and volcano hiking.
What to carry for Rwanda safaris
When preparing a Rwanda safari tour, it is important to park the essential items needed for a smooth and enjoyable experience. These include waterproof hiking boots, a yellow fever certificate, a valid passport, a visa, a chimpanzee permit in case you plan to go for chimpanzee tracking, a sweater, insect repellents, gardening gloves, and first aid kit.
