Vegetation in Rwanda
Senior 2 · Geography and Environment
Vegetation in Rwanda
Lesson 1 of 3
20 min
Drive from Rusizi in the south-west to Kayonza in the east and the plant cover changes completely. You leave a dark, dripping mountain forest in Nyungwe, cross the cultivated hills of the Central Plateau, and end among the tall yellow grass and scattered trees of Akagera. These changes are not random. Each type of plant cover records the climate, soil and relief of its area, and each supports different wildlife, tourism and livelihoods. This lesson names Rwanda's natural vegetation types and shows you how to recognise and describe them.
| Type | Where in Rwanda | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Montane (mountain) rainforest | Nyungwe, Gishwati and Mukura on the Congo–Nile Ridge; the lower slopes of the Virunga volcanoes | Dense, evergreen forest with tall trees in layers, climbers, tree ferns, mosses and orchids growing on branches |
| Bamboo forest | Slopes of the Virunga volcanoes, roughly 2,500–3,200 m | Thick stands of tall bamboo, the favourite food of the mountain gorilla |
| Afro-alpine vegetation | Upper slopes of Karisimbi and the other high volcanoes, above about 3,500 m | Giant lobelias and giant groundsels, heath, then short grassland near the summits |
| Savanna | The eastern lowlands: Akagera National Park, parts of Nyagatare, Kayonza and Bugesera | Tall grass with scattered trees and patches of thicket; the grass turns yellow in the dry season |
| Swamp (wetland) vegetation | Akagera wetlands, Rugezi, Akanyaru, the Nyabarongo valley and many valley floors | Papyrus, reeds and other water-loving plants rooted in waterlogged soil |
| Gallery (riverine) forest | Narrow strips along rivers in drier areas, for example beside the Akagera River | A ribbon of trees fed by river water, with grassland on either side |
Nyungwe covers about 1,019 km² of the south-west and is one of the best-preserved mountain rainforests in Africa. More than 1,000 plant species have been recorded there, along with 13 primate species, including chimpanzees. Its features:
In Akagera, lakes and the papyrus swamps linking them make up more than a third of the park. That is why a single park shows both savanna and swamp vegetation.
Describe the natural vegetation of Akagera National Park.
A full answer always has these four parts: type, description, adaptations and the reason for its location.
Tip
Exam technique. When a question says "describe the vegetation", use the four-part frame T-D-A-L: Type, Description, Adaptations, Location reason. Always name a real Rwandan place: Nyungwe for rainforest, Akagera for savanna, Rugezi for swamp.
Solution: natural vegetation grows without people planting it, such as Nyungwe forest; planted vegetation is established by people, such as a eucalyptus woodlot or a tea estate.
Solution: swamp vegetation: papyrus, reeds and other water-loving plants growing in waterlogged soil.
Solution: small leaves (and thorns) reduce water loss; thick bark or deep roots help them survive drought and fire.
Solution: the trees near the river can reach water all year; away from the river the soil dries out in the dry season, so only grass survives.
Solution: 1,019 ÷ 26,338 × 100 = 3.9% (to 1 decimal place).
Summary
Sources and credits
The vegetation table, worked example and practice items are written by Ganzaa.
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
