Wild Animals in Rwanda; Primates, Big Five, Birds, Snakes & More
Wild animals in Rwanda offer visitors exceptional opportunities to go on thrilling game drives in different national parks and sanctuaries where they are carefully preserved to catch glimpses of them.
These protected areas, such as Akagera National Park, famous for Rwanda Big Five, Volcanoes National Park, renowned for its mountain gorillas, Nyungwe Forest National Park, known for its chimpanzees, and Gishwati-Mukura National Park, provide suitable natural habitats where Rwanda’s wildlife can thrive without the direct threats posed by human activities.
Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast or simply seeking a Rwanda wildlife safari adventure, the country’s protected areas offer thrilling game drives connecting you with some of the world’s remarkable wildlife creatures in their natural habitats.
Here are some of the notable Rwanda wild animals you are most likely to encounter while on your wildlife safaris in the country;
The Famous Wild Animals in Rwanda
Mountain Gorillas
These are famous wildlife of Rwanda attracting tourists from different parts of the world to engage in gorilla trekking adventurous activities in Rwanda which offer them an opportunity to encounter these endangered fascinating majestic primates in their natural habitats.
In Rwanda, these incredible primates are trekked in the dense tropical forests of Volcanoes National Park. Here visitors embark on guided gorilla treks that last between 2 to 4 hours or even more depending on the gorilla family location on that particular day.
These treks are led by an experienced park guide and an armed ranger and involve maneuvering through diverse challenging terrains to the high altitudes of the gorilla natural habitats. It is an exhilarating and rewarding experience offering close encounters with the mountain gorillas.
Chimpanzees
These fascinating and intelligent primates attract visitors specifically to Nyungwe Forest National Park, the only national park in Rwanda offering thrilling guided chimpanzee trekking tours to catch a glimpse of them. The park is home to a substantial number of chimpanzee troops, many of which are habituated and open for trekking adventures.
Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is a exhilarating activity involving tracking these primates in their natural habitats to watch them display their acrobatic skills, swinging from tree branches to another, and providing deep insights into their social behaviors.
Golden Monkeys
Loved for their striking golden fur, golden monkey trekking in Rwanda is one of the thrilling adventures, experienced in the bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park, sought after the famous gorilla trekking.
These distinct social primates live in large troops ranging from 50 to as many as 100 individuals. Watching them swing from one bamboo to another, groom, feed, and play offers deep insights into their social behaviors and daily life.
Other primates in Rwanda
Rwanda’s protected natural habitats are home to a remarkable variety of primate species, totaling 13, making it a premier destination for primate safaris in Africa.
Beyond the famous mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and chimpanzees, visitors and wildlife enthusiasts in Rwanda can also encounter lesser-known primates such as colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and blue monkeys, which are best observed at Nyungwe Forest National Park.
In Akagera National Park, olive baboons and vervet monkeys can be seen. These lesser-known primates significantly enhance Rwanda’s rich wildlife and are best observed during guided forest nature walks through their diverse natural habitats.
The Big Five;
Rwanda is home to the iconic African Big Five, preserved in Akagera National Park. These include the majesty predators, the dangerous animals in Rwanda thats the lion and leopard, which is the national animal of Rwanda. Others include buffalo, African elephants, and rhinoceroses.
In Akagera National Park, you can find over 100 African savannah elephants, around 58 lions, 15 to 20 leopards, approximately 4,000 buffaloes, and about 30 rhinoceroses.
These majestic animals are best observed during guided game drives through the park’s savannahs, woodlands, and wetlands. In addition to the Big Five, visitors may also encounter giraffes, zebras, hippos, wildebeests, waterbucks, oribi, primates, and a variety of bird species, making Akagera National Park a destination for an exciting and unforgettable wildlife adventure in Rwanda.
Zebra
Zebras are among the fascinating animals popularly seen rooming their natural habitats during game drives specifically in Akagera National Park, a Rwanda park which is renowned for its diverse wildlife.
Zebras in Akagera are primarily Burchell’s zebras, also known as the Plains zebras (Equus quagga) that are recognized for their classic black and white striped pattern. Zebras are social animals and are seen in large herds which are usually led by a dominant stallion. Watching them bond, interact with each other through various vocalizations and body language offers exceptional game drive experiences.
Antelopes
Rwanda with its varied landscapes filled with savannahs, woodlands, and highlands is home to an array of antelope species offering impressive wildlife views specifically in Akagera National Park.
The common antelope species of Rwanda include waterbucks which are commonly found in wetlands areas, impala seen in a variety of natural habitats such as open savannahs and woodlands, Topi giraffes thriving in open grasslands, oribi, and bushbucks found in the dense bushes of Nyungwe forest national park and woodlands of akagera.
Birds of Rwanda
Rwanda, with its varied landscapes of savannahs, woodlands, forests, and highlands, is home to a diverse array of bird species, boasting over 700 species across these different habitats.
Some of the birds of Rwanda include African Green Broadbill and shoebill, Albertine owlet, Blue-headed sunbird, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Black-headed Waxbill, Doherty’s Bush-shrike, Eastern Mountain Greenbul, Great Blue Turaco, Grey Cuckooshrike, Montane Oriole, Mountain Illadopsis, Mountain Sooty Boubou, Pink-footed Puff back, Red-chested Owlet, Regal Sunbird, Ruwenzori Batis, Ruwenzori Blue-headed Sunbird, Sharpe’s Starling, Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Handsome Francolin, Handsome spur fowls, Neumann’s Warbler, Purple Breasted Sunbirds, Regal sunbird, Rwenzori Batis, Rwenzori Nightjar, Rwenzori Turaco and the Red-collared babblersSlender-billed Starling, Striped-breasted Tit, Stuhlmann’s Double-collared Sunbird, Stuhlmann’s Starling, Thick-billed Seedeater, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, White-starred Robin, and the Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher.
Birds of Rwanda are best seen during guided birding safaris through the Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Volcanoes National Park, and other different forested areas of Rwanda.
Reptiles and Amphibians of Rwanda
Rwanda’s diverse landscapes which range from lush rainforests, swamps, and savannahs to high-altitude grasslands offer a reliable and suitable habitat for a wide range of reptiles and amphibians making it a fascinating destination for herpetologists and nature enthusiasts.
Notable reptiles of Rwanda include the distinctive Jackson’s Chameleon Known for its distinctive three horns and vibrant colors. This is sighted in the montane forests of Volcanoes National Park. Parson’s Chameleon is one of the largest chameleons inhabiting the highland forests. Notable Rwanda snakes include African Rock Python and Boomslang. African Rock Python is a large non-venomous snake found in various habitats, including savannahs and forests.
Boomslang is a highly venomous snake, found Forested and bushy areas. Agama Lizard is common in Rwanda’s savannahs and open woodlands. Nubian Rock Monitor is known for its robust build and strong climbing abilities. African Clawed Frog, an aquatic frog is found in ponds and marshes recognized by its distinctive claws on the hind legs.
Mountain Reed Frog is Found in the highland forests of Volcanoes National Park. The giant East African Toad is known for its distinctive call and sizeable, warty skin.
Common Toad (Bufo bufo) is recognized for its rough skin and robust body. African Newt Though less common, newts can be found in the forested and wetland areas of Rwanda.
Rwanda wildlife is as varied as its landscapes, offering extraordinary opportunities for encounters with some of Africa’s most iconic and endangered species. Whether tracking mountain gorillas in the misty highlands, spotting the Big Five in the savannah, or exploring the rainforests for primates, Rwanda provides a rich and rewarding wildlife experience. For those seeking a meaningful connection with nature, Rwanda’s wild wonders promise an unforgettable adventure.