A safari in Rwanda is one of the most treasured travel destinations on the African continent. Spanning over 26,338sq.km, Rwanda is a compact and landlocked country. This remarkable tourist destination boasts of its myriad attractions which include wildlife, mountain ranges, unique cultures and traditions, water bodies, historical sites and more.
National Parks
National Parks make up the top attractions in Rwanda. They are the major reason why most nature enthusiasts consider this magical destination a must-visit. In each of Rwanda National Parks, there is something exceptional for tourists to explore and experience from fauna, flora to avifaunal species. The country’s leading safari parks worth exploring on Rwanda safaris include Volcanoes National Park, Akagera, Nyungwe and Gishwati-Mukura National Parks.
On a visit to Rwandan National Parks, expect to explore not only fauna but also the scenic water bodies like rivers, lakes and mountains plus several other landforms.
Volcanoes National Park –located in Ruhengeri, Northwestern Rwanda, Volcanoes N/Park is most visited thanks to its thrilling adventures. It is a favorite adventure destination worth exploring for primate experiences like golden monkey tracking, gorilla trekking and other activities such as birding, nature walking, volcano hiking or climbing and more.
Akagera National Park –This is the only savanna wildlife protected area, home to all the renowned big 5 game. The park lies in the Eastern Province and is with no doubt the country’s largest park measuring the land area of 1122sq.km.
Within Akagera, expect to encounter myriad of fauna including giraffes, leopards, zebras, lions, hyenas, cape buffaloes, elephants, rhinos and antelopes like bohor reedbucks, klipspringers, duikers, oribis, bushbucks, roan antelopes, waterbucks, cape elands and more. The key experiences enjoyed in Akagera include hot air balloon, game drives, birding, nature walks, sport fishing, boat cruise on Lake Ihema, and others.
Nyungwe Forest National Park –A preferred location to find myriad of primate species, especially chimpanzees, silver monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, owl-faced monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys and these live peacefully with over 310 species of birds. The key safari activities to expect to engage in while on Rwanda safaris in Nyungwe include birding, chimpanzee tracking, canopy walking and community/tea estate walks, etc.
Genocide memorials plus other historical sites
There are various genocide memorials located in Rwanda and they offer a deep insight about the 1994 Rwanda genocide that claimed lives of about a million people and left several homeless. The key genocide sites worth exploring include Kigali/Gisozi memorial, Murambi genocide site, Bisesero, Nyamata and more. Other historical sites include the King’s palace museum –this provides the unique history of Rwanda. The site lies in Nyanza town on Nyungwe National Park route, about 2 hours’ drive off from Kigali capital.
A visit to the King’s palace is a great opportunity for you to discover some of the unique cultures and traditions of Rwandese as showcased at the museum.
The ethnographic museum –originally referred to as the National Museum lies in Butare/Huye town. This was constructed with assistance from the Belgian government back in 1989. Today, it serves as a significant source of information on the cultural history of Rwanda and region at large. It is among the 8 remarkable museums that form the Institute of National Museums of Rwanda which also protects some of the finest ethnographic collections in Africa.
About 7 galleries showcase historical, artistic, ethnographic and archaeological artifacts plus visual aids –all offering guests deep insight about the country’s distinct cultures and traditions. This museum is best explored on en-route to the scenic Nyungwe Forest National Park for chimpanzee tracking or canopy walking tours.
Lake Kivu
Situated in the Republic of Rwanda and also shared by the D.R. Congo, Lake Kivu is a charming freshwater lake and makes up part of the scenic Great Rift Valley. Lake Kivu comes with several resort towns with beautiful beaches along Kibuye and Gisenyi. It is one area that is worth considering for relaxation. At Lake Kivu, visitors have plenty of experiences to be part of including boat ride/canoeing, Kayaking, coffee and tea plantation tours, community visits, sunbathing, hiking and cycling along the Congo Nile trail.
Cultural Sites
Rwanda offers not only memorable wildlife experiences, but also exceptional cultural experiences. There are myriad of cultural sites worth considering a must-visit on a safari in Rwanda. They include Iby’Iwacu cultural village, an ideal place to visit before or after trekking Rwanda gorillas.
At Iby’Iwacu, expect not only great entertainment from local’s dances but also hands-on experiences, especially basket weaving etc. The other cultural sites include museums especially the king’s palace and ethnographic museum.
Lakes
There are many beautiful lakes within Rwanda and they are among the unique features you should expect exploring. The top water lakes to visit on Rwanda safari include the Twin Lakes (Ruhondo & Burera), Lake Muhazi, Lake Kivu, Lake Ihema, Lake Mugesera, Lake Cyohoha South, and more.
Congo Nile trail
The Congo Nile trail is a preferred spot for enthusiastic cyclists or hikers on Rwanda safaris. Cycling/hiking through the Congo Nile trail means conquering the 227km long route which also connects up to Lake Kivu and several areas with breathtaking landscapes and rolling hills plus scenic tea/coffee plantations.
Volcanoes & other mountains
Rwanda offers not only mesmerizing gorilla trekking adventures but also exhilarating Virunga volcano hikes. There are 5 volcanoes within Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and include Muhabura, Gahinga, Sabyinyo, Karisimbi and Bisoke/Visoke. Some of these volcanoes are explored on hiking safaris, especially Karisimbi, Visoke, Gahinga and Muhabura.
Fauna & avifauna
Rwanda protects small and big mammal species, which make it a preferred destination for game viewing or primate tracking. The big five animals are all distributed in the spectacular Akagera National Park in Eastern Rwanda, while most primates are concentrated in the Nyungwe Forest National Park, Gishwati-Mukura and Volcanoes National Parks.
Primates such as mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in Volcanoes NP are the among the country’s key attractions. Chimpanzees are best explored while in Nyungwe or Gishwati-Mukura National Park- the best parks to enjoy chimpanzee trekking adventure in Rwanda.
Birds of Rwanda comprise of endemic rift species and several resident species. About 703 species of birds are distributed across Rwanda and range in the different habitats including parks, wetlands and forests. Some of the birds to identify on birding tour in Rwanda include black-headed weaver, African jacana, Kivu ground thrush, African fish eagle, red-chested sunbird, speckled pigeon, dusky turtle doves, lemon doves and more.