Only a few years ago, this was a fairly short topic of conversation as there was pretty much only one park and that was Volcanoes National Park where you could track the gorillas. These days, however, things have changed and the curious traveller has much more to get excited about. Rwanda’s National Parks offer a diversity often not experienced in East Africa, with rainforest on the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes in the west, the montane forests of Nyungwe National Park in the southwest, and the savannah plains of Akagera National Park in the east. Combined, these national parks provide a stunning journey through one of central Africa’s most thriving destinations. Rwanda’s National Parks are a testament to the wildlife authorities, being well managed with clear park fees and structures and a stunning selection of comfortable accommodation. 80 KIGALI TANZANIA BURUNDI UGANDA DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO Ruhengeri Volcanoes National Park Lake Kivu Nyungwe Forest National Park Akagera National Park Q RWANDA The Diversity of Rwanda RWAnda’s national parks Located in the northwest of Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park borders neighbouring Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable Forest) and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The land approaching the park is comprised of farmland, turning into dense evergreen forest upon crossing the park border. There is a total of nine volcanoes in the Virunga Mountain Range (the highest being Karisimbi at 4,507 metres), six of which are extinct and the other three still active, providing the perfect habitat for the last few surviving mountain gorillas in the world. Volcanoes National Park Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s equivalent of some of Eastern Africa’s savannah reserves, the low-lying park is nestled in the east of the country on the border with Tanzania. In 2010, African Parks conservation took over the management of this eastern savannah reserve and in the last 10 years it has gone from strength to strength with the introduction of rhino and lion adding to the already healthy populations of giraffe, zebra, hyena and more. Akagera National Park As the largest single tract of montane forest that remains in Central/Eastern Africa, the area is absolutely teeming with wildlife. The national park is a great destination to include, especially if you like primates; its verdant forests are a haven for 13 species in total as well as a myriad of birdlife. Nyungwe Forest National Park
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