UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Rwanda
Nyungwe National Park
- What it protects: a montane rainforest with 1,468 plant species, 317 bird species and about one fifth of Africa’s primate species, including chimpanzees.
- Size: 101,963.67 ha, with a buffer zone of 10,085.22 ha.
- Where: the south-west, in the Southern and Western provinces, between Huye and Rusizi.
- Management: the Rwanda Development Board with African Parks, under a 20-year agreement signed in 2020.
Rwanda’s World Heritage sites
The memorial sites
| Site | Province |
|---|---|
| Nyamata | Eastern (Bugesera) |
| Murambi | Southern (Nyamagabe) |
| Gisozi, the Kigali Genocide Memorial | City of Kigali |
| Bisesero | Western (Karongi) |
- What the listing recognises: the four sites stand for the more than 200 memorials across the country to the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
- Gisozi: the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where more than 250,000 victims are buried.
- Bisesero: the hills where people resisted the killers for more than two months.
The memorials are places of remembrance. Visitors are asked to follow the rules set at each site.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many World Heritage sites does Rwanda have?
Two, both inscribed by UNESCO in 2023.
What is the natural site?
Nyungwe National Park, one of the oldest montane rainforests in Africa. The property covers 101,964 ha.
What is the cultural site?
The memorial sites of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi at Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi and Bisesero, kept as places of remembrance.
The sites
Nyungwe National Park
Montane rainforest in the south-west, a natural World Heritage site since 2023.
101,964 ha World Heritage property
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Nyamata
The former Catholic church in Bugesera, Eastern Province.
1980 The church is built
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Murambi
The former technical school in Nyamagabe, Southern Province.
1990 The school is built
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Gisozi
The final resting place of 250,000 victims, on Gisozi hill in Kigali.
250,000 Victims buried at Gisozi
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Bisesero
The hills of resistance in Karongi, Western Province.
1998 The memorial is built
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Sources
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Rwanda
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Nyungwe National Park
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Memorial sites of the Genocide: Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi and Bisesero
- Rwanda Development Board: Rwanda, African Parks commit to long-term protection of Nyungwe National Park
Figures checked 9 November 2026. Prepared by InvestRwanda.com for general information. Figures come from the sources listed.
