Wildlife In Their Natural Habitats In Rwanda

Rwanda is a success story in wildlife protection, and there are many opportunities to see wildlife and explore national parks. More than half of the mountain gorillas in the world live in the Virunga Mountains, a mountain range spanning Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Visitors to the nation can visit gorilla families in the wild and contribute to their protection. Nyungwe National Park also harbors chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, and more than 300 distinct species of birds in addition to gorillas. Africa’s “Big Five” are once more present in Akagera National Park thanks to the reintroduction of lions and rhinoceroses to Rwanda in 2015 and 2017, respectively.

Wildlife in Rwanda.

The Land of a Thousand Hills is how Rwanda is known. It is a beautiful terrain filled with mountains, lakes, and savannahs, with three national parks and other forest reserves. Despite being landlocked, this tiny country, which is slightly larger than Wales, boasts a wide variety of ecosystems that are home to more than 700 distinct bird species. Other species found in Rwanda includes golden monkeys, hippos, and gigantic forest hogs. The highly endangered mountain gorilla, of which there are only around 500 left in the world, is Rwanda’s undeniable ruler and top tourist draw.

Top wildlife to see in Rwanda.

We look at a few of the species to be on the lookout for in Rwanda in this section:

Mountain Gorillas.

Tourists can view mountain gorillas in all their splendor in one of just two countries in the world—Rwanda. Tourists can visit seven families, including one group of 41 gorillas that contains unusual twins. These magnificent animals can weigh up to 200 kilos, but despite their size, they are kind creatures below. Mountain gorillas are primates who occasionally eat ants in addition to plants, tree bark, fruit, and leaves.

Hamlyn’s Monkey.

One of Rwanda’s top wildlife attractions is the Hamlyn’s monkey, sometimes referred to as the owl-faced monkey. Only Rwanda and its neighboring nations are home to this species, and bamboo forests high in the hills and mountains serve as its normal habitat. A stripe that extends from the mouth to the middle of the brow and another that runs horizontally across the brow define their distinctive visage. The Hamlyn’s Monkey’s stripes come in a variety of colors, which heightens its allure.

Shoebill.

The odd shoebill is a huge bird with a sizable population in Rwanda. It is also known as the shoebilled stork and whale head. It was originally believed to be connected to storks, but the most recent genetic data suggests that it is more closely related to pelicans. The shoebill can grow to be 140 cm tall, has grey plumage, and a bill with a unique clog form, making it simple to recognize but sometimes difficult to locate in its swampland habitat.

The Black Mamba.

The Black Mamba is a snake that deserves a place on this list of Rwanda’s fauna because it is among the biggest, deadliest, and fastest snakes in the world. Although specimens can reach lengths of 4.3 meters, the typical length is around 2.5 meters. Instead of its body, which normally has a variety of tones from grey to yellow, the “black” in its name refers to its menacing black mouth. Along with its venom, it also holds the title of fastest snake in the world, with a maximum speed of 20 km/h.

Lions.

In Rwanda, lions were once poisoned to protect livestock, which resulted in their extinction. But now, in the Akagera National Park in the North East, a group of seven have been reintroduced to the nation. Since they have returned to the wild after a 15-year absence, experts believe they are doing well.

Tree Hyrax.

The tree hyrax is an intriguing animal. This diminutive nocturnal mammal, which is recognized for its unusual call, is thought to be distantly related to elephants and sea cows. Several cries and shrieks then follow, so if a tree hyrax disturbs your sleep in Rwanda, you might start experiencing nightmares quickly!

Best sites to see wildlife in Rwanda.

Where in Rwanda can you watch animals the best? Many of these are located within the three national parks, where visitors can find many options to go on a safari trip and see wildlife. A large number of hippos, up to 400 different bird species, leopards, hyenas, and giraffes can all be seen in Akagera National Park. Chimpanzee trekking is possible at Nyungwe Forest National Park, the largest protected rainforest in all of Africa.

The five volcanoes in Volcanoes National Park—Bisoke, Gahinga, Karisimbi, Muhabura, and Sabyinyo—are included as the name would imply. It’s an excellent site to see the renowned mountain gorillas and golden monkeys.

Clients, tourists and travelers visiting the country can visit gorilla families in the wild and aid their conservation. Other than gorillas, Nyungwe National Park is home to chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, and more than 300 different bird species. Since lions and rhinos were reintroduced to Rwanda in 2015 and 2017 respectively, Akagera National Park once again has Africa’s ‘Big Five.’