Rwanda’s wildlife
- July 28, 2024
- Posted by: chosen@202q
- Category: Prepare To Travel Tips
Rwanda’s wildlife
ENJOY THE BEST RWANDA WILDLIFE SAFARIS
Rwanda is blessed with stunning and distinctive fauna in addition to its genuine culture and the cleanest and most attractive city in East Africa, Kigali. This can be found in the varied terrain and areas of wildlife reserves, national parks, and bodies of water. Rwanda is frequently referred to as “the land of a thousand hills” because of her breathtaking views of the unending undulating hills. Of the three countries in Africa and the globe where mountain gorillas are endangered, Rwanda is one. Volcanoes National Park is home to Rwanda’s mountain gorilla population.
The park is a component of the Virunga mountain range. Three countries are divided by the volcanic mountain range known as the Virunga massif. These are the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.
There are four national parks in the Virunga mountain range, which together house three-quarters of the mountain gorilla population worldwide. The Virunga Massif is made up of two national parks: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (located in Uganda) and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are Virunga National Park. and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.
We must not forget to include Mt. Nyiragongo, one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, whose visit can be conveniently combined with safaris for gorilla trekking and wildlife in Rwanda.
Rwanda’s wildlife and its rapid expansion and development
Among the newest countries in Africa is Rwanda. In 1962, Rwanda won its freedom from Belgian and French rule. The awful 1994 genocide, which caused immense destruction in the form of infrastructure, nature, and life, had a profound impact on the nation! In spite of everything, the nation has been steadily improving and regaining its reputation.
In actuality, Rwanda is among the top travel destinations in the globe right now, not only on the African continent. Travelers from all around the world come to Rwanda. Particularly those that have an ardent interest in gorilla trekking safaris, chimpanzee tracking, birding excursions, hiking adventures, wildlife safaris, and cultural tours.
When it comes to wildlife, Rwanda is one nation that lacks as many national parks as Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. The four best national parks in Rwanda, however, offer abundant opportunities for wildlife safaris. You may discover the wide variety of wildlife species in Rwanda by going on a wildlife trip or taking a safari holiday. Consider the Big Five: chimpanzees, golden monkeys, mountain gorillas, and other primate species are all found in Rwanda.
The ease with which Rwanda safaris may be integrated with other African safaris is one of the things that makes them an incredible adventure. Unlike Tanzania, Kenya, or Uganda, you do not need to travel great distances by car to get from one safari spot to another in Rwanda. In order to see destinations like Lake Bunyonyi, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, to name a few, tourists traveling to Rwanda typically transit into Uganda.
Rwanda’s Bird Heritage
There are 711 bird species in Rwanda, 26 of which are unique to the Albertine Rift Valley. Examples of these include the beautiful spurfowl and Rwenzori turaco. Do you have a strong desire to see various bird species or do you wish to go on a birding safari? You should put Rwanda on your travel itinerary. The greatest birding safaris are available in all of Rwanda’s national parks. Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe Forest National Park are the finest places to go if you’re looking for forest residents.
The greatest park to visit if you’re a fan of savannah plains fauna is Akagera National Park. It is significant to remember that certain bird species are migratory and can be found in Rwanda’s national parks. Stated differently, they are only visible in particular seasons. While some are more noticeable during the rainy seasons, others are plainly identifiable during the dry ones.
In order to ensure that you do not miss out on the greatest Rwandan birding safari experiences, it is preferable that you inform your tour operator in advance of your trip.
The eastern region of Rwanda is home to the black-headed gonolek, cranes, and storks, which are birds of prey associated with lakes and swamps. A Rwandan wildlife trip may also reveal the shoebill, secretary bird, Albertine owlet, and blue swallow, among other bird species. The following birds are classified as vulnerable: white-backed vulture, griffon, hooded vulture, Grauer’s swamp-warbler, Madagascar pond-heron, lesser flamingo, maccoa duck, batter, great snipe, and African skimmer.
Rwandan Mammals
Furthermore, Rwanda is home to a variety of mammals, most of which can be found in its national parks. Mountain gorillas can be found in Volcanoes National Park. Furthermore, there are thirteen different species of primates found in Nyungwe National Park, including chimpanzees, Angola Colobus, owl-faced monkeys, armored monkeys, eastern tree hyrax, and Rwenzori Colobus. Furthermore, the most biodiverse national park at the moment is Nyungwe Forest National Park. Engaging in a wildlife safari within Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park is an opportunity to interact with chimpanzees, which share a close ancestry with humans.
Where in Rwanda can I view wildlife?
Rwandan mammals can be found at Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, and Akagera National Park. These have had a significant impact on travelers traveling alone from all over the world to Rwanda.
The country’s northwest is home to Volcanoes National Park, which is home to a wide variety of natural species, including birds, mammals, and plants. The mountain gorillas are the primary wildlife attraction. Approximately 340 gorillas are habituated into ten different gorilla families. Each individual needs to pay $1,500 for a gorilla trekking permit.
Rwanda’s common species of mammals
Gorillas in the mountains
There are three main gorilla trekking locations in Africa, and they are the only ones that provide the greatest gorilla safaris in the world. These locations are the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Mountain gorillas are highly concentrated in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.
In addition to Rwanda, mountain gorillas can be seen in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) Virunga National Park, Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Because these national parks are all connected to one another, they constitute the chain of rainforests that is home to three-quarters of the world’s gorilla population.
In Rwanda, gorilla trekking takes two to eight hours, including the hour you get to spend with the gorillas when you first see them. The experience begins with a thirty-minute briefing. It is easy to combine the activity with a visit to the Dian Fossey grave and a hike up Mount Bisoke.
For eighteen years, mountain gorillas were studied and conserved at Volcanoes National Park by researcher Dian Fossey. She is well-known for her numerous quotations on conservation, specifically pertaining to mountain gorillas. “The more you learn about the dignity of the gorilla, the more you want to avoid people,” says one of her well-known mountain gorillas.
Rwanda’s Chimpanzee Wildlife
The chimpanzees, which resemble humans, are Rwanda’s second-most popular tourist destination after mountain gorillas. These live in Nyungwe National Park’s woodlands. The majority of the park is composed of a rain forest that has existed for hundreds of years. Rainfall from the forest supplies food for the park’s many animals, and the waters feed the world’s longest river, the Nile. This suggests that Nyungwe National Park is a water catchment area due to its forests and marshes.
Tracking chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of Rwanda’s greatest safari experiences. When tourists come across chimpanzees, they get the opportunity to spend an hour with them.
Chimpanzees lead easy lives and are social animals, just like humans. Chimpanzees are not aggressive until they are provoked. It’s a good thing that you abide by the guidelines and procedures of chimpanzee tracking that park rangers and guides provide. At that point, your Rwandan chimpanzee tracking safari has the potential to be the greatest safari experience.
Experience the incredible chimpanzee habituation process by traveling to Rwanda. It truly is incredible.
Golden Monkeys
Most visitors to Rwanda are interested in seeing chimpanzees and gorillas. Suddenly, the gorgeous and entertaining golden monkeys startle them. One of Rwanda’s greatest attractions is the golden monkey, which can be seen mostly at the Volcanoes National Park.
It is dressed in golden fur. Unlike mountain gorillas, who live in the higher regions of the park, golden monkeys are easily recognized in the lower regions. This suggests that golden monkey tracking is an option for tourists who are not physically well enough to participate in gorilla trekking. For this reason, Rwanda is considered small in size but never in experience.
The big Five Greatest Animals
In many African nations, the big five—the lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhinoceros—are quite frequent. The Okavango Delta in Botswana, the Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda, the Tsavo National Park in Kenya, the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, the Masai Mara National Park in Kenya, and so on are a few examples. Seeing them all in one place is difficult, though. The Big 4 or Big 3 creatures may be found in the majority of parks.
Despite its modest size, Rwanda is one of the few places where travelers may get a close-up look at all five of the big cats. Other than Rwanda, the following African countries are home to the big five: South Africa’s Kruger National Park and Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve; Botswana’s Moremi Game Reserve; Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park; Kenya’s Masai Mara; and Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park.
Are you considering going on an African safari and hoping to see the Big Five? It’s time you thought about going to Akagera National Park in Rwanda and realizing your ambition of seeing the Big 5.
Other creatures
An African safari is never truly complete unless you have seen so many different species of animals that you are unable to recall them all. There are more animals seen in Rwanda than just chimpanzees, mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and the Big Five. There is more to be had in this country. A safari in Rwanda will also introduce you to zebra, warthog, giraffe, and antelope, in addition to species already mentioned. In addition, there are Thomson’s gazelles, topi, impala, bushbuck, defassa waterbuck, hyena, wild dogs, and baboons.
Rwandas National Parks:
Investigate Rwanda’s national parks’ wildlife
Tropical savannah mammals found in Akagera National Park include giraffes, elephants, lions, antelopes, buffalos, elands, and impalas. Along with raptors, papyrus-gonolek, shoebill-stock, lesser kestrel, great-snipe, suaza-shrike, and arnot chat are among the 530 bird species found in the park.
However, one of the best places to see primates is Nyungwe National Park. The park is home to a variety of primates, such as chimpanzees, silver, golden, and owl-faced Mangabeys. And there are Mangabeys with grey cheeks. There are more than 310 bird species in the park. Of these, 25 are species found in the Albertine Rift, 11 in the Guinea-Congo forest biome, and 71 in the Afro-tropical highlands biome.
Volcanoes National Park is well-known for both golden monkeys and Rwanda’s mountain gorillas. It is among Rwanda’s most popular national parks.
Finally, Gishwati-Mukura National Park, which was just founded, has also become more well-known recently. The park is home to a wide variety of animal, tree, and bird species, making it one of Rwanda’s top wildlife destinations.
The Sizes of Protected Areas
The government of Rwanda and other foreign organizations have been putting in a lot of overtime over the past few decades to make sure that Rwandan tourism takes off. For the sake of protecting the environment, certain places have been set aside. While some of these regions are currently being developed, others have already been designated as national parks.
The areas of Volcanoes National Park (16000 ha), Nyungwe National Park (101900 ha), and Akagera National Park (108550 ha) are all covered by national parks. Furthermore, the forest reserves are home to a variety of biodiversity, including plants and animals. For instance, the 160 ha of the Buhanga forest reserve, the 150 ha of Busaga, the 1600 ha of Mukura, and the 700 ha of Gishwati are all covered by these areas.
If you want to see this incredible land of a thousand hills on a wildlife safari in Rwanda in the upcoming season, make your reservation with us. We will be very excited to host you!
In East Africa, this is the operator you can trust. Get in touch with us right now to plan a safari in Rwanda and the surrounding nations.