Rwanda's National Parks
Three distinct parks make Rwanda a compact but extraordinary wildlife destination.
Volcanoes National Park
Home to endangered mountain gorillas and five of the eight Virunga volcanoes, Volcanoes National Park is Rwanda's most famous attraction. The park covers 160km² of bamboo forests, hagenia woodlands, and Afro-alpine moorland rising to 4,507m.
Ten gorilla families are fully habituated for tourism. The park also offers golden monkey trekking, volcano hiking (Mt Bisoke, Mt Karisimbi, Mt Sabyinyo), and a visit to Dian Fossey's research camp at Karisoke.
Nyungwe Forest National Park
One of Africa's oldest and most biodiverse rainforests, Nyungwe covers 1,019km² in southwest Rwanda. It's home to 13 primate species including chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, and the rare L'Hoest's monkey.
The park features a spectacular canopy walk suspended 50m above the forest floor, and over 300 bird species. It sits adjacent to the shores of Lake Kivu — perfect for combining both in one trip.
Akagera National Park
Rwanda's only savannah park, Akagera covers 1,122km² of rolling hills, woodland, lakes, and swamps in eastern Rwanda. The park was re-stocked with lions (2015) and rhinos (2017), completing Rwanda's Big Five.
Boat trips on Lake Ihema offer superb hippo, crocodile, and birdwatching. Game drives reveal elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, and leopard in a stunning, crowd-free setting.
