What animals can be seen in Rwanda? Rwanda Known as “the land of a thousand hills, “Rwanda is a small, landlocked country I Central Africa, bordering Tanzania, Uganda, DRC and Burundi. The country has rich geography and geology comprising of many lakes, savannah and mountains. Rwanda has a great variety of large wildlife species in the four national parks which are designated as protected area. The volcanoes of Rwanda are home to about one-third of the world’s mountain gorillas. Tourism is one of the fastest growing industry in the country, with tourists particularly attracted to the country because they can safely visit the endangered mountain gorillas
Rwanda is visited by numerous tourists who are delighted to explore its nature and wild beauty. Visitors visiting Rwanda are thrilled to get an opportunity to see wild animals in their nature habitats going on with their daily work activities of life. Rwanda is a home to a fascinating primate as well as other savannah wild animals that includes. Below are some of the wildlife that live in Rwanda.
Mountain Gorillas
Mountain gorillas are the top most visited animals in Rwanda. The huge primates that make their home in the Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda accounts for almost one-third of mountain gorillas in the world, where travelers can visit them safely. Gorillas in Rwanda are classified as endangered wild life species, the eastern gorillas are primates with large heads, long arms and broad chest. Mountain gorillas are not just exciting to see but getting them offers its visitor’s adventure as they walk the mountainous forest to get the mountain gorillas. With gorilla trekking in Rwanda, you will have the chance to hike Mount Muhabura, Mount Sabyinyo, Mount Gahinga, Mount Karisimbi, Mount Bisoke the Virunga mountains in Rwanda which will help you watch a number of different attractions in the wild as you will watch a number of different features in the wild from the different bird species, a number of primate species that will make your safari experience hiking through the different vegetation covers in the wild.
Golden monkey
Golden monkey are part of the monkey family originate in the volcanoes national park but unique because of their golden colour. They also have attractive behavior that will fascinate you as you visit them in their habitat. Unlike the mountain gorillas, this golden monkeys live in the lower rangers of the forest do it’s easy to trek them out and the trekking won’t take you long.
Golden monkey trekking is conducted yearly in the volcanoes national park at accost determined by the Rwanda development board at 100US$. On a golden monkey trekking encounter, you can also have a chance to differentiate all the different monkeys that makes a forest their home such as the Hamlyn’s monkey, Mona monkey, dent’s monkey, vervet monkey, the black and white colobus monkeys and many other Albertine endemic monkey species, learn the beauty of the rainforest, its tree species and other dwellers that contributes to the beauty of the forest.
Chimpanzees
Besides mountain gorillas, the others well-known primates in Rwanda are the chimpanzees found in Nyungwe forest national park. Seeking this amazing apes is also conducted on trekking experience known as chimpanzee trekking. Trekking this habituated chimpanzees in the forest is done any time of the year at the cost of 150 US$ per person.
Big 5 animals
Rwanda is a home to the Big Five animals, they are interesting attractions that you can get to see is you are interested in watching a number of wildlife asides the primates trekking in Rwanda. The Big 5 animals in rewind can be sighted while engaging in the game drive in Akagera national park. The park is a home to this fascinating amzing species that includes, Elephants with approximate of over 100 living in the park. The African savanna elephant is the largest terrestrial animal, with the male reaching a height of 13 feet and weighing 10.4 tons. They have prehensile trunks that are highly sensitive and strong which allows the elephants to uplift about 3% of their body weight, lions , Buffaloes, Leopards and Rhinos that can be seen during the morning, and lately game drives. During the morning game drives, you will get an opportunity to the Rhinos, Buffaloes and Leopards as they graze within the savannah grasslands.
Hippo
Hippos are commonly found in sub-Saharan Africa including Rwanda’s Akagera National Park. They are normally found in rivers and swamps in the park where they spend a significant amount of time. The species requires plenty of water to submerge in, especially during the day. Hippos are classified as vulnerable species worldwide because of the decline in their numbers. They are semiaquatic mammals and can be found in forest and savannah.
African Wild Dog
The African wild dog is a large canid native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since it has disappeared from much of its range. African wild dogs occur in small numbers in East Africa and are almost extinct in Rwanda. Its population in Rwanda has been affected by the outbreak of diseases and increased human population which has forced them to move elsewhere. The remaining few species are found in the Akagera National Park.
Other animals
On the top of the listed animals , you will also get to see several other wildlife such as Kobs, Impalas, Oribis, Bushbuck, Elands, Topis, Warthogs, Giraffes, Duiker Klipspringer, Antelopes among others wildlife species. You will get to see all these on a game drives in the early morning, during the day or late evening game drives in Akagera national park. During the lately game drives. You will get an opportunity to spot the carnivores in the park hunting their prey for dinner like the Leopards and lions.
Birds
If you are a bird adventure, you will get an opportunity to spot over 400 species of birds making a country their home mainly in the four national parks that exist in the country such as Gishwati Mukura national park, Akagera national park, Nyungwe forest national park, volcanoes national park plus the Albertine Rift Endemics. the birds in the country includes but not limited Hartlaub’s barbler, Arrow marked-babbler, Red-collard, mountain-babbler, African spotted creeper, Red-billed oxpecker, Yellow-billed oxpecker,Wattled , Albertins Owlet and starling Violet-backed starling among others.
Book with us and let us explore the different wildlife species in Rwanda at the most affordable rates as you enjoy the time you spend in the wild.
