Wildlife
Mountain gorilla. These great endangered primates live in the bamboo forests of the Virunga Massif. They can grow up to two meters high and weigh almost 200 kilograms, but they're peaceful herbivores. Extremely sociable, they live in small groups consisting of a dominant silver-backed male, three or four females and several young, from babies to teenagers. In their natural environment, gorillas can live for up to 50 years.
African elephant. The Akagera Park is home to nearly a hundred of these big-eared pachyderms. Elephants live in a matriarchal society, their herds are led by the oldest females. It's they who make the decision to flee or charge when danger threatens. The males, recognisable by their bulging foreheads, have no say in the matter! Solidarity and mutual aid are the order of the day in elephants, who protect their children and animals of all ages or injured at all costs
The buffalo. Visible in most parts of Rwanda, these black cattle with wide horns are mastodons. The males can weigh up to 900 kg and are particularly aggressive and dangerous when they feel threatened. If you don't want to end up trampled by the hooves of these giant herbivores or impaled at the end of their horns, don't approach them under any circumstances!
The roan antelope. Also known as the horse antelope, it is a difficult animal to observe. Although it has become rare in the Akagera Park, the roan antelope is extremely recognizable thanks to its fawn colour, its black and white face and its long horns. It is more easily visible during the dry seasons when herds gather near waterholes.
The plains zebra. In Rwanda, it is only found in the Akagera National Park. Belonging to the equidae family, zebras can be distinguished from their horse cousins by their black-and-white striped coat, which is used to repel insects, especially horse flies, the large flies with painful bites
The lion. After the genocide, the lions of Rwanda gradually disappeared, poisoned by herders to preserve their livestock. By 2000, there was not a single one left in the whole country. In 2015, the government brought seven wild lions from South Africa to reintroduce the species in Akagera National Park. Today, it is estimated that there are about 30 of them roaming the savannah of the nature reserve, hunting antelopes and zebras in groups.
The giraffe. In 1986, six giraffes from Kenya were introduced into Akagera National Park. Today, the reserve counts more than a hundred of them. The giraffe is the largest mammal in the world. Thanks to the exceptional length of its neck, it can reach up to 5.80 m. While its astonishing anatomy allows it to see predators from afar, it also causes it some discomfort. To drink, the giraffe must adopt a curious and uncomfortable position, spreading its front legs apart and bending its knees. To give birth, giraffes remain standing. Their young thus begin their lives by falling 2 m high!
The hippopotamus. Very numerous in the Akagera Park, these semi-aquatic mammals spend most of their time in the water. Despite weighing up to 2 tons, they swim with ease and can remain apnea-free for more than 5 minutes. Thanks to their very heavy skeleton, they are able to walk quietly on the bottom of the water. Distrustful all the same, these animals can be aggressive and have no qualms about breaking boats that are considered too invasive.
The black rhinoceros. Disappeared from Rwanda since the late 1990s due to poaching, black rhinos were reintroduced into the country in 2017. These prehistoric-looking animals can be recognized by the two horns adorning the front of their skull. Contrary to what their name indicates, they are not black but dark grey. Critically endangered, they seem to thrive in the Akagera plains. However, their population is slowly increasing because the gestation period for females is very long, 450 days on average.
The birds. Rwanda appears to be a paradise for ornithologists. 683 species of breeding or migratory birds can be observed there. In addition to kingfishers, eagles and pelicans, you may be lucky enough to observe the giant touraco, a rare bird with sparkling turquoise plumage.
The flora
The orchid. Nyungwe Nature Reserve, considered the largest high-altitude primary forest in Africa, is home to nearly 150 species of orchids. When they bloom during the months of May and June, the spectacle is breathtaking.
Bamboo. The main source of food for mountain gorillas, bamboos abound on the slopes of the Virunga Mountains. Some plants can grow up to 30 m high.
The frangipani tree. This tree, which can grow to a height of about ten metres, produces magnificent star-shaped flowers. Pleasantly fragrant, they can be white, pink or light yellow.
Erythrin. This sacred tree, also known as the coral tree, can grow to more than 10 metres high. Its large red flowers are made up of a multitude of filaments. It is used in traditional medicine to treat stomach aches and coughs.
The banana tree. Most of the banana trees present on the Rwandan territory produce what are called plantains, large bananas with little sugar, which are eaten as vegetables or from which beer is made.
Eucalyptus. Imported from Australia, these trees have been planted in very large numbers on the territory in order to limit soil erosion and landslides. Recognizable by their pale, silvery leaves, they leave a pleasant minty scent in the air.
The flamboyant. This decorative tree native to Madagascar bears its name well. During its spectacular flowering period, it adorns itself with a multitude of bright red flowers. In Rwanda, it can be found on many public roads.
