Rwanda is situated in the Albertine Rift and is renowned for its rich natural resources, especially its national parks. This country is known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills” for a reason. Rwanda has two main national parks: Volcanoes National Park and Akagera National Park. Every year, thousands of tourists visit this place, enjoying the view and engaging in activities. This article explains Rwanda’s national parks and their unique features, and also why they are renowned for their exceptional qualities.

Covering 125 km² in northwestern Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is also part of a transboundary conservation area. 

This volcano park is home to more than 340 mountain gorillas, making it one of the premier sites in the world for a gorilla trek. It has five dormant volcanoes, offering scenic and world-famous hiking opportunities.

Volcanoes National Park is the Birthplace of contemporary primatology, in part due to the Karisoke Research Center established by Dian Fossey. It preserves a diverse population of golden monkeys, hyenas, bushbucks, and over 180 bird species. It is also dubbed a living research laboratory for the world’s wildlife scientists and conservationists.

Akagera National Park is the largest national park in Rwanda, featuring savannahs, lakes, wetlands, and forests. This shelter is home to the Big Five: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalo, as well as giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, and more than 500 species of birds.

Over the past decade, a successful reunion of lion populations and black rhinos has revitalized the ecosystem in Akagera National Park. 

Ecotourism has made Akagera 90 percent self-sustainable, with eco-lodges such as the Ruzizi Tented Lodge and the Wilderness Magashi Camp located within Akagera National Park. These solar-powered, low-impact lodges promote superior tourism, reducing environmental impacts and creating employment opportunities in local communities.

Not only have Rwanda’s national parks been conservation success stories, but they are also poised to become a viable zone for sustainable investment. There are opportunities surrounding eco-lodging, green infrastructure, agri-business, research tourism, and climate-smart development.

The Volcanoes National Park is located in northwestern Rwanda and spans 125 square kilometers. It is one of Rwanda’s most famous natural resources, considered a treasure. Its unique feature is its mountain gorillas, the main attraction for tourists. This park is part of the Virunga Conservation Area. There are many reasons to consider this one of the most renowned national parks in Rwanda. Such as –

• Gorilla Trekking – This park is considered one of the few places in the world where visitors have the opportunity to trek through the forest to see mountain gorillas.
• Volcanic Landscapes – In this park, there are five volcanoes: Muhabura, Sabyinyo, Gahinga, Karisimbi, and Bisoke. All of these destinations offer stunning scenery and hiking opportunities for visitors.
• Additionally, the park has several unique legacies. Dian Fossey was a renowned primatologist who dedicated her life to gorilla conservation in this park by observing the gorillas. Not only that, but her Karisoke Research Center is also another attraction for tourists. This park is 30 percent covered by bamboo forests, which serve as the primary food source for the gorillas. 

This park is home to wildlife conservation, where many types of animals are found,  such as –

• Mountain gorillas – This park is home to more than 340 mountain gorillas and is an ideal destination for gorilla trekking.
• Golden Monkeys – These rare primates are known for their striking golden fur and lively nature.
• Hyenas – these are often spotted in this park, and they play a crucial role as scavengers in the ecosystem.
• Birdlife – The park is home to more than 180 bird species, including the Rwenzori turaco, dusky crimson-winged, and strange weaver birds.
• Besides, there are other animals as well, including buffalo and bushbucks, as well as black-fronted duikers. All these animals are the source of natural reservation, making a perfect place for wildlife researchers. 

This volcano’s national park serves as a living laboratory for wildlife researchers, conservationists, and environmentalists. With its high biodiversity and protected ecosystems, it offers a range of versatile opportunities for studying animals and their habitat strategies.

Mountain gorilla researchers visit here to conduct behavioral studies, genetic research, and conservation planning aimed at protecting Rwanda’s treasured mountain gorillas. Many conservation partnerships and research institutions also grew there. For example, one has already mentioned the Karisoke Research Center, founded by Dian Fossey. Besides, the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) and the African Parks & Rwanda Development Board (RDB) oversee this park. 

Visitors can enjoy the stunning views here. Besides, Many activities can be done here, such as the Gorilla Trekking activity, which is one of the most popular, offering guided treks to observe mountain gorillas. Visitors can also see golden monkeys here, though it’s rare to find them.  Birdwatching and hiking are among the most exciting activities typically enjoyed by visitors, as the area features five extinct volcanoes that are part of the Virunga Mountain Range. These mountains create the stunning scenery for the park. An overview of these parks –

• Mount Karisimbi is the tallest volcano in the park, reaching 4,507 meters (14,787 feet).

• Mount Bisoke has a stunning crater lake right at its summit.

• Mount Muhabura sits on the border between Rwanda and Uganda.

• Both Rwanda and Uganda share Mount Gahinga.

• Mount Sabyinyo lies on the borders of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In this park, thousands of tourists visit every year, making it Rwanda’s most popular national park. Another famous park is Akagera National Park, where, in 2019, about 49,000 visitors visited. The number of visitors has now increased.

Akagera National Park is the largest park in Rwanda, covering an area of 1,122 square kilometers. This park is named after the Kagera River. It consists of savannah, wetlands, and forests, making it a diverse and perfect ecosystem. Many unique features make this place special. such as –

This park is recognized as the last remaining savannah ecosystem in Rwanda and Africa’s largest protected wetland. This consists of 

grasslands, scattered trees, and shrubs. 

Here, the Kagera River flows into Lake Ihema and several smaller lakes. This park is home to lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinos, considered by many visitors to be the most impressive way to experience the wildlife scenario. Other notable wildlife animals also found here include giraffes, hippos, Crocodiles, and antelopes. Over 500 bird species have been identified, making the area a paradise for birdwatching enthusiasts. In 2015, lions were reintroduced, and the population has since grown steadily. In 2017, black rhinos were brought back. It is now home to 12,000 animals, making it one of the largest conservation centers.

In this park, there is a lake called Lake Ihema. Lake Ihema is situated at the southernmost extent of Akagera National Park, in Rwanda, within the Kayonza District. It covers a surface area of approximately 100 km², making it the largest lake entirely within Rwanda and the second-largest by overall size, after Lake Kivu. It is fed by a branch of the River Nile, the River Akagera, and is surrounded by swamps of papyrus that are important for biodiversity and water purification. The lake is situated at an elevation of 1,292 meters above sea level and is located within the park’s wetland ecosystem. This lake is the center point of a tourist attraction for boat safaris. Several eco-lodges have been established in the area surrounding this lake, and other businesses have been growing rapidly. 

 To protect this conservation, extensive research and protection efforts have been conducted. Akegare collaborates with global partnerships to preserve this conservation, such as with universities and organizations to train African students and conduct good research. As there are many types of species, already stated, that’s why it’s an ideal place for researchers. It has been found that there are 179 butterfly species, and the area also supports a growing number of amphibians and reptiles. However, another notable list of species includes Masai giraffes, zebras, hippos, and crocodiles, among others. From the bird list, there are some iconic Raptors & Waterbirds found, such as – 

• The African Fish Eagle is unforgettable due to its distinctive white head and haunting cry.
• Martial Eagle- an eagle that is the largest in Africa, strong, and evasive.
• Palm-nut Vulture – commonly perceived as close to wetlands and palm forests.
• Saddle-billed Stork has its red with a black band and a yellow frontal shield with a striking plumage.
• Goliath Heron – This is the largest heron in the world, and it is frequently observed in Lake Ihema.
• Osprey and African Darter are good fishers.

If you visit this place, you will hear the song of birds, and there you can listen to some unforgettable music that will touch your soul and make you more connected with nature. Such as –

• Pin-tailed Whydah- long-tailed breeding males

• Red-billed Firefinch – seed-eating, tiny, crimson-speckled little fellow
• The Black-headed Weaver is a  bright yellow color with fancy nests
• Blue-cheeked Bee-eater – nimble air insectivores 

Also, some rare birds can hardly be seen, such as 

• Red-faced Barbet is almost endemic to the Akagera region

• Crowned Lapwing – can also be observed in open grasslands, etc. 

 From the tourists’ perspective, there is no doubt that these two parks can be the main attractions for visitors to Rwanda, offering a chance to observe the beauty of the thousands of hills. However, there are more benefits to the investments. If you are an investor and you are eager to invest here, there are many opportunities hidden here that you should know first, and then choose which sectors to invest in for your maximum benefit. 

There are some existing business which has their real-life successful stories in the Volcanoes National Park, such as –

• Gorilla Trekking and Permits – This revenue generator generates $1,500 per permit for foreign tourists.  More than 43,000 people visit every year; tourism increased by a factor of two during 2008-2016. The number of gorillas has risen, and Rwanda is currently a leader in high-value, low-impact tourism
• There are community-owned lodges, which Governor Camp manages—a 10-year initiative that has generated $ 2.9 million for local communities. Small businesses, electrification, and funded schools are a textbook example of conservation-based development.
• Besides, there is an initial project for Green Smart Villages and Land Extension. The investment is USD 48 million by the World Bank, AWF, and others. The 3400 climate-resistant houses are being built, and 23 percent more park has been developed to reduce human-wildlife conflict.

For the Akagera National Park, there are also some other types of opportunities, such as – 

• Ruzizi Tented Lodge – This type of eco-lodge can be funded, as Ruzizi Tented Lodge is a luxury, low-impact, solar-based ecotravel destination. This lodge has made Akagera self-sustaining, with tourism now accounting for 90 percent of the park’s costs.
• Gishanda Fish Farm – This is a public-private partnership project involving African Parks, FoodTechAfrica, and the governments of the Netherlands and Rwanda. The farm produces over 30 tonnes of tilapia annually, educates the local community, introduces electricity to villages, and helps replenish local lakes. Success has been achieved through established jobs, improved food, and the initiation of organic vegetable farms. 

 In this park, these success stories can serve as a primary target for new investors. They could be part of these existing business lines, in addition to having the opportunity to start something new. Additionally, for tourists, there is no doubt that these places are among the most beautiful in the world, not only in the region but also in African regions. Its beautiful attraction and rare collection of nature hold significant importance for biodiversity and attract tourists. So, why are you still reading? Get ready for the next trip to Rwanda. 

1. What is so popular about the Volcanoes National Park?

The park is renowned for hosting mountain gorillas, a significant attraction that draws thousands of tourists every year, making it a popular destination for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. There are also five beautiful volcanoes and a diverse array of wildlife.

2. What is the price of gorilla trekking in Rwanda?

Foreign tourists are charged 1,500 dollars for the gorilla trekking permit. The income is used to sponsor conservation and community development of the locals.

3. Do you have any community-owned tourism projects?

Indeed, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is an excellent example. It is a community-owned organization that has donated more than $2.9 million to local communities in ten years.

4. What is the Green Smart Village project?

This is a $48 million investment by the World Bank and the World Bank Group’s Wildlife Foundation. It entails the construction of 3,400 climate-resistant housing units and the enlargement of the Volcanoes National Park to restore the balance between people and wildlife.

5. Why is the Akagera National Park unique?

It is the largest park in Rwanda and one of the locations on the continent where you can spot all the Big Five creatures. It boasts wetlands and lakes, as well as a rich bird-watching environment.

6. Where do the funds of Akagera National Park go?

With the income derived through tourism facilitated by eco-tourism initiatives like Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Akagera now has its operating expenses pegged at 90 percent.

7. What is the Gishanda fish farm?

A practical example of a public-private partnership that rears more than 30 tonnes of tilapia annually. It encourages food security, trains people, and practices eco-agriculture.

8. Can I invest in such parks?

Yes. Eco-lodging, clean energy, sustainable farming, and guided and research tourism operate as investment opportunities.

9. What kinds of birds are present in Akagera?

The birds feature such classic representatives as the African Fish Eagle, Goliath Heron, and Palm-nut Vulture, as well as exotic ones like the Red-faced Barbet.

10. Is Lake Ihema a place to visit?

Absolutely! It is the largest lake entirely located within Rwanda, which is home to birds and hippos, and one that attracts boat safaris and nature lodges.