Rwanda is a landlocked country which lies on the eastern rim of the Albertine Rift, a western arm of the Great Rift Valley. It is blessed with tremendous geographical and natural beauty. Part of this beauty is because of the unique flora and fauna that exists in the forests. The valleys and mountain peaks of the country combine with the skyline to produce captivating moods for travelers to Rwanda. Safari holidays in Rwanda and tours across the country lead visitors to see the majestic mountain gorillas in the wild at Pac National Des Volcanoes and Chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Travelers can view flocks of migratory birds in Nyungwe Forest, Albertine Rift basin, etc. Experience all this and more as you journey across the country on a Rwanda wildlife holiday.
Rwanda is the true gateway to Africa. Often referred to as the land of a thousand hills, Rwanda is an upcoming travel destination offering an amazing experience to travelers taking their holidays in Africa. Emerging from the tragedy of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, less is known about this country about the good side of this country to people from all over the world. Today Rwanda is a favorite to many travelers looking for an African safari.
Why choose Rwanda?
It’s a beautiful country with unique primate species and several mountain gorilla families that can be tracked at any time of the year. Rwanda has a conducive climate that easily caters for all individuals from different parts of the world with mountains which encourages hiking plus an equatorial forest with several bird species enabling birding activities to be carried out. Not only being a good place for sight seeing, Rwanda is also a home of beautiful people with unique cultures. There is also a well developed transportation network that eases movements across the country even in national parks.
Where to go on a safari?
Nyungwe national park
It’s located in south western Rwanda (Butare) and has one of Africa old rainforests with a large number of primates, over 300 bird species as well as mammals. The park is the best destination for chimpanzee tracking. Other tourist activities include canopy walks, birding, forest walks, hiking and visiting the community.
Volcanoes National Park
Located in Ruhengeri, the park is only a 3 hours drive from the airport. The park lies in the Virunga volcanoes area and has great scenic mountain views as well as unique features including the rare mountain gorillas. The park also has primates including the golden monkey as well as a large number of bird species. The Volcanoes national park has twelve habituated gorilla groups where gorilla treks are done. Today the Volcanoes National Park is the best place for mountain gorilla tracking in Africa.
Akagera National Park
This is the birders paradise harboring over 500 bird species located in the north eastern part of Rwanda near the Tanzanian border and was named after river Akagera. The park also has about 800 mammals including the zebra, giraffes, leopards, hyenas, Oribi and others. While at Akagera National Park, one can engage in various tourism activities which include game drives, birding, sport fishing and boat trips.
Things to Do in Rwanda
Over the past 10 years, Rwanda has been a favorite to travelers taking gorilla safaris into the wild and indeed there is no better place to watch the mountain gorillas and experience the true African culture than Rwanda. The country is home to a third of the world’s remaining population of the mountain gorillas which live in the north of the country within a protected nature reserve called the Volcanoes National Park (PNV).
Gorilla Trekking
A trip to see some of the largest populations of gorillas in Africa is possible with a short visit to the country – ranging from day hikes to longer trips. These popular safaris often called Rwanda Gorilla Safaris offers tourists a rewarding experience to see the mountain gorillas, exotic wildlife, unique cultural experience and majestic sightseeing in Africa. Gaze at exotic birds and take in other African wildlife in the African lowlands of Rwanda on carefully crafted trips into the wild. A true once in a lifetime experience for even the most traveled, a holiday in Rwanda today ranks among the top things to do while in Africa.
Cultural Tours
Also not to miss during your trip to Rwanda are the amazing cultural events such as the Ikwita Izina, a gorilla naming ceremony held once a year! Ikwita Izina is a cultural practice to give birth to young ones, and during this event names are given to all the new born gorillas in a year. The event is normally held in June and attracts thousands of travelers from all over the world including celebrities and dignitaries.
Nature Safari
There is no better trip in Africa than Rwanda safaris if you are looking to an ecosafari. Come enjoy Africa at its most impressive by taking a safari to Rwanda, an impressive land with a unique ecological heritage and tracts of unspoiled wilderness with still thriving wildlife populations. Rwanda safaris are a chance to see a country’s treasures as it rises from the ashes. Truly priced for any family a safari to Rwanda is a beautiful vacation idea.You will love how close to nature you get to be and watching all the wild animals in their natural habitat is amazing.
Game Viewing
There are all sorts of animals that you will get to see on your safari and it will make some of the most amazing memories that you have ever had. So start planning on this amazing trip today so that you and your love can go out and see some of the things others only get to dream about. This will be something that you can keep with you always and forever and you will love this memory. So get ready today so that you can go and do all the things you have always wanted in Africa.
Best Safaris in Rwanda
There are several different packages that you can choose from for your Rwanda safari so you should get on the internet and try to find one that will work for you and your family. You will want to bring along a camera since there is a good chance that you will get to see things that you need to capture on film for showing to your friends and family.
Bird Watching Tours
If you are a curious bird watcher, bird watching tours in Rwanda are the best way for you to get close to the most amazing and stunning bird species of the country. Carry your camera with you and click some rare pictures of these colorful species amidst their melodious chirping. Bird sanctuaries such Nyungwe Forest and the Albertine Rift are some of the famous bird reserves which you must visit on a bird watching tour in Rwanda. Visitors cannot also miss to catch a glimpse of the rare acacia species including the Tabora Cisticola, Red-Faced Barbet, Black and Familiar Chats, Bennett`S Woodpecker, White-Headed, White-Winged and Broad-Tailed Warbler and Miombo Wren-Warbler.
Gorilla Safaris
The mountain gorillas are perhaps the top safari attraction of Rwanda. Tracking of these rare primates is done within Nyungwe Forest and the Pac National Des Volcanoes. Gorilla tracking can take up to eight hours because; you will have to walk through dense forest, swamps and hills. The mountain gorillas are one of the most endangered species in the world with a number shrinking to 700 mountain gorillas. The long dry season from June to September presents the best moment to go on Gorilla tracking safari. During this time, the ground is dry enabling easy walks in the dense forest. 40 permits are issued a day for tracking the primates and each permit goes for USD 500 @ person.
Photographic Safaris
Photographic safaris in Rwanda are special types of safari led by professional photographers who are well acquainted with the best shooting spots in their area. Life all types of photography you’ll need patience and a little luck to get those images of a lifetime. But having an expert along will certainly help your chances. Wildlife photography requires special skills so if you’re serious about your photography, you should opt for one of these safaris.
Wildlife Safaris
Wildlife safaris in Rwanda offer an extremely captivating opportunity to savor wildlife tour with various national parks in the country. The best national parks in Rwanda for wildlife safari tours are Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park and Pac National Des Volcanoes. You will not only love these tailor-made wildlife holidays in Rwanda but will also keep coming back to Rwanda to re-visit these places. After all wildlife in Rwanda has a class of its own.
Cultural Tours
Rwanda is one country that is teeming with unique vibrancy cultures. This diversity in culture has made the country a very popular cultural tourist destination. Cultural tourism in Rwanda has always attracted travelers from all over the world. It includes various facets like architectural heritage, food, festivals, religion, languages, fashion, dance, and music. Traditional dances and music are amazing in their unique style and movement of the performers.
Plan Your Safari
Safari / tour Company to Use?
Most companies have gorilla tracking and other wild expedition packages. It’s important to have enough information about the safari company you intend to use in order not to be conned by fake tour companies. Check whether the company is registered with any tourism related organization like Rwanda Tours and Travel Association (RTTA), Africa Tour Operators, information of park entry fees and any other vital information. All this information can be got on the safari companies’ websites, by asking those who have ever visited Rwanda, or by visiting the offices of Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
When to visit Rwanda?
For those interested in gorilla tracking, hiking and birding, the country can be best visited during the dry seasons December- march and around June –September. This is because it’s easy to hike and track mountain gorillas during these months of the year since there are limited chances of raining. However you are advised to carry a rain coat or jacket, boots, boots and walking sticks especially while going for tracking and birding because the weather of the equatorial forests is unpredictable meaning it can rain at any time of the day even when it has been seriously shining.
Accommodation facilities
Rwanda has accommodation facilities that can cater for all tourist categories from high income to back packers. All national parks in Rwanda have standard hotels, lodges and campsites which prepare local and international food dishes. A tourist there fore has a chance to choose an accommodation facility of his/her choice depending on the budget. The most known accommodation facilities in national parks include Virunga lodge, volcanoes lodge, mountain gorilla nest lodge, Sabyinyo silverback lodge, mountain gorilla view lodge, hotel Muhabura, Garr hotel, villa gorilla, Kinigi guest house, Akagera lodge, Ruzizi tented lodge, Ninzi hill hotel, The Manor Hotel, Nyungwe forest lodge, Nyungwe top view hill hotel and many others.
Possibility of Family safaris
They are very possible however kids are not allowed to go for gorilla tracking. Gorilla permits are only sold to individuals who are 16 years and above. Those below 16 can however go for primate tracking or taken to leisure parks around the capital city or visit any other tourist destination around.
Rwanda is now among the most visited countries in Africa because of her stunning scenery, unique wild life species especially the rare mountain gorillas and chimpanzees plus a large number of bird species. The people are also very welcoming and therefore any one who decides to visit Rwanda can never regret his decision.
