
Top Ten Photography Safaris in Rwanda
Top Ten Photography Safaris in Rwanda: Rwanda is one of the super regions of East Africa; it is increasingly becoming a favorite shooting ground for wildlife photographers. The fact that Rwanda is blessed with various types of territory including the rain forest, open savanna, and others – all these territories are suitable for dwelling various species. Indeed, photographers found Rwanda’s natural parks as the perfect place to take some of the most arresting animals in the world. From the easily recognizable gorillas and chimpanzees to lions and big elephants, even big Ugandans, Rwanda has a lot of wildlife. New to wildlife photography or a seasoned photographer, the following regions in Rwanda provide excellent shots of wildlife in their natural habitat.
Volcanoes National Park:
As for wildlife photography in Rwanda, one cannot but mention Volcanoes National Park. Situated in the mountainous region of the Virungas, this park hosts the world’s ONLY country that hosts endangered mountain gorillas. For those wildlife photographers, it will be gen for them to photograph these animals in close quarters without them fleeing deep into the forest. Few places in the whole world can boast of being the home of these gorillas and Volcanoes National Park is one of those lucky places where you can get a close with these primates through photography.
Going gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park means you are taken deep into the jungle that is surrounded by mist and offers a home to small groups of families of gorillas headed by a giant silver-black male. The enormous number of trees allows one to shoot the gorillas against a beautiful background of green foliage that contrasts sharply in terms of color with the fur of a gorilla. Their non-confrontative, human-like demeanor – a mother holding her child or a large male grabbing his cubs – gives photographers some wonderfully memorable experiences. Night forest is not easy but the result, one certainly gets a profile picture with one of the most recognized animals on planet Earth.
For the best photograph, it is advisable to take a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a fast lens since the forest canopy is known to provide low light. While hiking, be ready to go in for some very steep and rocky terrains, but it would be worth it.
Akagera National Park: From the Big Five group photographic of the savanna of Rwanda
Sitting in the east of Rwanda, Akagera National Park is the only savanna ecosystem and is perfect for photographers looking to capture the classic savanna wildlife. Spanning over 1,200 square kilometers, Akagera is home to an impressive range of wildlife, including the famous Big Five: Lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, and leopards.
From a photographer’s perspective, the wide expanses of rolling hills and adventure, together with the water features make the perfect hunting grounds for wildlife photography. Be it lions lazing in the shade, elephants wading in Lake Ihema, or zebra running across the plains, Akagera has a picture-perfect scene playing out at any one time. The park glows in the golden light of early morning and late afternoon with most animals being active in the park making the park to be well illuminated for photography.
One of the greatest attractions in Akagera is the boat cruise in Lake Ihema for a close view of hippos, crocodiles, and a wide range of birds. Animals wading or standing still in the water early in the morning or in the evening is a sight that you can capture and add sophistication to your collection.
For optimal shots, a telephoto lens is very important in Akagera because it allows a photographer to take shots at a distance without interfering with the animals. A wide-angle lens is also good for tane-off shots like the savannas which give perspective on where your wildlife images have been taken.

Nyungwe Forest National Park: Capturing Primates and Rainforest Magic The rich colors, intense emotions, and drama of these images in this book will forevermore
Lovers of primate and forest wildlife should not dismiss Nyungwe Forest National Park in the southwestern region of Rwanda. This is one of the oldest and most biodiverse rainforests in Africa, making it a perfect spot for observing and photographing animals, especially primates There are 13 species of primates, including chimpanzees,, colobus monkeys, and L’Hoest’s monkeys in the park.
Trekking in search of chimpanzees is among the exciting adventurous activities in Nyungwe that photographers love. Photographing these intelligent and social animals while they are up in the trees or participating in group activities is not easy but, it is really fun. This is especially so because photography in the forest entails capturing shots from within bushes and trees which necessarily takes a lot of time because of the difficulty of stabilizing the camera in a manner that enables focused and clear pictures to be taken.
Other attractions in Nyungwe include one of the most outstanding photographic marvels that entice visitors to capture photographs with their cameras, the Canopy Load Walk – a suspension bridge across the forest canopy. It affords an excellent viewpoint to see the immensity of the forest as well as the birds and beasts from the point of view of a bird. It is also a perfect place to take photos of more than 300 bird types in the park, like the stunning Ruwenzori turaco.
Nyungwe is set in a forest so the right equipment, especially for low light and for most animals that must be photographed at a distance includes a fast lens for low-light situations and a telephoto lens for distant subjects. Use the trip to test your equipment in final conditions likely to be encountered since its design so be prepared for wet and humid weather.
Gishwati-Mukura National Park: Close Encounters with Animals
For those photographers who long for something less crowded and more personal Gishwati-Mukura National Park is the place to go. This is Rwanda’s new national park, with has potential to present clients with a photographic paradise of wildlife without the crowded menace often found in a bigger modern national park. It is an important site for Rwanda’s revitalization of key ecosystems, giving meaningful photographs of nature and conservation.
The park is also blessed with a small population of chimps and spectacular golden monkeys, both of which are popular with wildlife photographers. The landscape of hills and forests gives interesting combinations of green contrasts the green of the forests and the park against the fiery colors of the beasts. The friendly nature of the chimpanzees, which on most occasions are grooming or playing, offers photographers lots of photo opportunities.
Bird also has a representation of many people, while the park remains the best site for bird photographers owing to its serene nature. A myriad of birds and primates alongside beautiful backgrounds makes Gishwati-Mukura a rare photography haven for those who would like to discover unknown parts of Rwanda.
Conclusion: Rwanda: The Photographer’s Dream for Wildlife Lovers
Due to strong Rwandan practices in conservation, the presence of natural resource endowment and spectacular terrain, Rwanda is a haven for Wildlife photographers who seek to put a face to nature.