Rwanda

Rwanda is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. It is highly elevated, giving it the sobriquet "land of a thousand hills" with its geography dominated by mountains in the west and savanna to the southeast, with numerous lakes throughout the country.

Rwanda has four national parks – Akagera, Volcanoes, Nyungwe and Gishwati

Naturally occurring vegetation is now mostly restricted to the national parks, with terraced agriculture dominating the rest of the country. Nyungwe, the largest remaining tract of forest, contains 200 species of trees as well as orchids and begonias. Vegetation in the Volcanoes National Park is mostly bamboo and moorland, with small areas of forest. By contrast, Akagera has a savanna ecosystem in which acacia dominates the flora.

Volcanoes National Park is named after the chain of dormant volcanoes making up the Virunga Massif. Mountain gorillas are the star attraction of Rwanda. Over 380 mountain gorillas live in the Volcanoes National Park and gorilla trekking is what attracts most travelers. Tracking gorillas through the mysterious intimacy of the rain forest, alive with the calls of 200 species of colorful birds and chattering of the rare golden monkey, is only one of the truly unique experiences in the area.

One of the oldest rainforests in Africa is Nyungwe National Park which is rich in biodiversity and spectacularly beautiful. The mountainous region is teaming with wildlife, including a small population of chimpanzees as well as 12 other species of primates that represent 25% of the total number of primates in Africa. More so, many of the primates are also listed as endangered on the IUCN red list and Nyungwe is also the main stronghold for two of them. The Rwenzori Colobus, an acrobatic and arboreal leaf eater, is easily distinguished from other types of primates found in Nyungwe just by contrasting black over all colors and snow white whiskers, the shoulders and the tail tip. Even though all the Colobus monkeys are sociable, there is a semi habituated troop of over 400 and the largest troop of the arboreal primates in Africa or anywhere else in the world.

Akagera National Park is Central Africa’s largest protected wetland and the last remaining refuge for savannah-adapted species in Rwanda. Since 2010 wildlife numbers have rebounded dramatically. Following lion and rhino reintroductions, Akagera now boasts thriving populations of these, as well as elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe and leopard, while the waterways teem with hippo and enormous crocodiles. A convenient and beautiful park to visit, and an easy add-on before or after visiting the gorillas or other primates in Rwanda. Akagera remains a relatively undiscovered gem, so enjoy excellent wildlife sightings without the crowds.

Rwanda’s fourth national park, Gishwati Mukura National Park, is made up of two separate forests, the larger Gishwati and small Mukura forest. The park has five primate species including chimpanzees, baboons, golden monkeys, L’Hoest’s Monkeys, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys. Birds are well represented too, 232 species have been seen at Gishwati and 163 at Mukura, among them Albertine Rift Endemic species as well as forest specialists.