Given the friendly and tranquil nature of its citizens, Rwanda is one of the most hospitable nations you will ever visit. When it comes to Rwanda Safaris, these hospitable people treat the tourists in a distinctive way. Road networks that are widely accessible and well maintained connect Rwanda’s national parks. The accessibility to parks from Kigali city and even neighboring counties like Uganda is made possible by the tiny size of the nation.
There are four fantastic national parks in Rwanda, which attract visitors who want to discover the diverse flora and animals. The most well-known national parks include Volcanoes, which gained popularity for gorilla trekking, Nyungwe national park which is recognized for chimpanzee trekking and canopy walks, and Akagera, which is well-known for game drives, boat cruises and sport fishing. A recently created park called Gishwati Mukura is also in Rwanda.
These national parks provide visitors on Rwanda safaris with a variety of exciting experiences. All of the country’s wildlife, including primates and birds, is tucked in specially selected places that are strategically located.
When to Visit Rwanda.
Knowing the ideal time to travel to a particular region is crucial. The best times to visit Rwanda are from June through August and from December through February. Beautiful views of the flora and landscape are only present during the rainy season, although they are available during these months. Reservations must be made in advance due to the intense competition during some months. The following is a list of some of the most popular tourist activities to partake in during a Rwanda safari.
Mountain Gorilla Trekking
To participate in this extremely popular tourist activity, thousands of visitors from around the world travel to Rwanda. Rwanda offers the most luxurious gorilla trekking options in all of East Africa. To obtain the entire mountain gorilla experience, we suggest doing a double gorilla trekking tour that enables you to track gorillas twice, in both Rwanda and Uganda. The famed Volcanoes National Park in Musanze area of Rwanda hosts this grand gorilla safari.
Primate trekking
There are 13 different kinds of primates that can be found in Rwanda, including golden monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabeys. Along with gorilla trekking, Volcanoes National Park is home to two groups of golden monkeys. Nyungwe and Gishwati Mukura National Parks in Cyangungu City offer outstanding chimpanzee tracking experiences among other primates in the wild.
Canopy walks.
This highlight takes place in Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda. Make sure to do this when visiting Rwanda. The canopy-walking safari in East and Central Africa provides a distinctive experience as you observe the jungle’s wild wildlife, such as chimpanzees, monkeys, and birds from above while spreading your arms widely. Your experience at the park will be special as a result.
Chimpanzee trekking
This is another enjoyable activity done in Rwanda’s Nyungwe forest national park. There are two habituated gorilla groups in the park of Cyamudongo and Uwinka. Finding these chimps allows the tourists an opportunity to observe them feeding, playing with breast-feeding, and comes with views of other primates like monkeys, birds, and others.
Big 5 Game Viewing
This is a worthwhile experience not to be missed while on a safari in Rwanda. Akagera National Park is home to the “Big Five” African animals: lions, leopards, buffaloes, rhinoceroses, and elephants. By taking a guided game-drive through Akagera National Park, you may get a true sense of the African environment. This is accompanied by reports of birds like the African Darter, Blue Cheeked Bee Eater and Great Egret.
Hiking safari
There are several routes within Nyungwe Forest National Park that can be used to fully explore the forest endowments, each with its distinctive vistas. These include, among others, the Bigugu, Isumo Waterfall, Irebero, Igishigishigi, Karamba Birding, and Kamiranzovu trails. Among other things, these provide vistas of the tallest peak, Isumo waterfalls, several bird species, and a canopy walk. So get ready for a fun on your safari in Rwanda.
Coffee Tours.
You can discover the wonder of coffee for yourself just outside Akagera National Park. The subtle flavors of Rwandan coffee are well-known. You will make the voyage to a prestigious coffee farm owned by female farmers and get a close-up look at each process involved in creating your morning beverage, including how the coffee beans are harvested, roasted, and more. In addition to this, you will get a chance to sip on some of the greatest organic coffee in the world right from the plantation. I am sure you won’t want to pass up this amazing opportunity.
Hiking Virunga mountains
In Volcanoes National Park, you can choose to climb the Virunga mountains as part of having an unforgettable safari. The five massifs that make up this mountain—Mount Muhabura, Gahinga, Sabinyo, Bisoke, and Karisimbi—offer spectacular vistas of the local flora and fauna. Primate species include golden monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, mountain gorillas, birds like the Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Bubbling Cisticola, Blue Turaco, Ruwenzori Tucacco, and forest elephants and bushbucks are among the wildlife species found in the area.
Unique Cultural encounters.
Any safari to see gorillas in Rwanda can be supplemented with a unique and fascinating cultural experience. By going to the Iby’Iwacu cultural hamlet on the fringes of Volcanoes Gorilla Park, you can encounter real Rwandese cultural customs and take part in routine tasks like preparing local cuisine, gathering produce, milking cows, and making local beer. Participating in native music and dance will make your gorilla safari in Rwanda more exciting.
Genocide Memorial Sites.
As a result of the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, some locations were gazetted and turned into museums. These draw many visitors to Rwanda from all around the world. The Kigali Museums, the Murambi Technical School, the Bisesero Genocide Memorial, the Nyamata Church, and Ntarama are a few of the most well known.
Historical sites and Galleries
The Ethnographic National Museum in Butare is a great stop on your journey from Nyungwe N.P. to Kigali. You should visit the Inema Art Center and the Nyiyo Art Gallery, among other art museums.
Rwanda City tour.
One of the most interesting city tours in Rwanda is the one that takes you to Kigali. It offers you a variety of eye-catching activities that will make your trip memorable. Visit the many marketplaces while on a city tour, including the largest market in Rwanda, Kimironko, and Lake Kivu, which also provides access to the Banda cultural hamlet in Nyungwe Forest National Park.