Despite its tiny size, Rwanda is home to a number of varied ecosystems

Rwanda truly has it all, with the lush rainforests of Nyungwe to the south, the Virunga volcanic mountains to the northwest, and the plains of Akagera National Park to the east. To top it all off, this country is home to a diverse range of indigenous flora, fauna, and animal species.

The Akagera National Park, located in northeastern Rwanda along the country's border with Tanzania, was established in 1934. However, it was reduced in size in the late 1990s in order to provide appropriate farmland to the surrounding villages. Despite the fact that many of the park's animals were slaughtered during the Tutsi genocide in 1994, the park reintroduced lions in 2015 and black rhinos in 2017. Akagera, Central Africa's biggest protected wetland, is now prospering under the leadership of the Rwandan Development Board and African Parks, a South African conservation organization. The environment of the park changes considerably from south to north, and views of giraffes, hippos, zebras, water buffaloes, elephants, antelopes, and a wide variety of bird species are common. Though less well-known than Kenyan or Tanzanian parks, Akagera will surely be a contender in a few years thanks to protection and devotion.