Naturally occurring ecosystems are now mostly restricted to three National Parks, with terraced agriculture dominating the rest of the country. 

Vegetation in the Volcanoes National Park is mostly bamboo and moorland, with small areas of forest. By contrast, Akagera National Park has a savanna ecosystem in which acacia dominates the flora.

The greatest diversity of large mammals are found within these designated conservation areas. Akagera contains typical savanna animals such as giraffes and elephants, while Volcanoes is home to an estimated one-third of the worldwide mountain gorilla population.