National Parks in Rwanda

There are four national parks in Rwanda which are all protected wildlife reserves and ecosystems. The 4 game parks in Rwanda include Akagera National Park, Nyungwe National Park, Gishwati-Mukura National Park and the Volcanoes National Park, the home to mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is the major tourist activity in this tiny East African country.

Volcanoes National Park Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park is a game park found in northwestern Rwanda and covers 160 km² of rain forest and a habitat to mountain gorillas. The parks also encompasses five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains including Mount Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo.

Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe National Park found in southwest Rwanda and partly adjoins the Burundi border is a massive area of mountain rain forest, home to many chimpanzee species, owl-faced monkeys and colobus monkeys. The Canopy Pathway and part of the Igishigishigi Trail is a high suspension bridge with views over the valley and nearby forests. This trail runs to Kamiranzovu Marsh with its bird life, orchids and waterfall.

Akagera National Park Rwanda

Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda near the border with Tanzania is features woodland, swamps, low mountains and Savannah. The park’s wide-ranging terrain sheltering wildlife including zebras, giraffes, elephants, lions and hundreds of bird species like the rare shoebill stork. In the south of park is Lake Ihema known for harboring hippos and crocodiles.

Gishwati-Mukura National Park and Biosphere Reserve

Gishwati–Mukura National Park is found in the western part of Rwanda in the districts of Rutsiro and Ngororero and occupies an area of 13.2 square kilometres.   Gishwati Forest is a forest in the north-western part of Rwanda, not far from Lake Kivu. It is part of Gishwati–Mukura National Park. The area’s forests were largely intact in 1978, and substantial forest cover still remained in 1986.