Rwanda

Commonly known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills,” Rwanda offers truly remarkable and unique safari experiences. From its breathtaking rolling hills and lush landscapes to its warm and welcoming people, Rwanda is a country rich in natural beauty and biodiversity. Visitors can explore a wide range of ecosystems—from the wildlife-rich savannahs of Akagera National Park to the untouched tropical rainforests of Nyungwe, a haven for birds and primates.

While Rwanda is perhaps best known for its endangered mountain gorillas, it also surprises travelers with its modern infrastructure and safety. Tourists often praise the country’s clean and vibrant capital city, Kigali, as well as its impressive road network, high internet penetration—including free Wi-Fi on public buses—and strong sense of security.

Despite being a small, landlocked country, Rwanda offers much more than meets the eye. Below are just a few of the many reasons why Rwanda should be your next travel destination.

The major activities while in on a Rwanda wildlife tour are: –

- 1. Visiting the capital Kigali in our 1 day Kigali city tour package

- 2. Mountain gorilla trekking at the Volcanoes National Park

- 3. Chimpanzee and golden monkey tracking

- 4. Game driving at the Akagera National Park

- 5. Biking along The Congo Nile Trail

- 6. Bird watching in Rwanda – Nyungwe forest and Lake Kivu

- 7. Cultural and community visits to places like the Iby’iwacu cultural village for traditional dances

- 8. Visiting the genocide memorial centers like Gisozi, Murambi, Nyamata, Bisesero and Ntarama

- 9. Hiking Mount Karisimbi and Bisoke.

- 10. Visiting the grave of Dian Fossey and her former Karisoke Research Centre

- 11. Sport fishing in Rwanda

Rwanda tour – Major attractions

Volcanoes National Park:

Located within the Virunga mountain range, Volcanoes National Park is home to around 400 mountain gorillas, including 10 habituated families that visitors can track. The park is characterized by dense forest and rugged mountainous terrain, making gorilla tracking both strenuous and adventurous. Since Dian Fossey established her research camp in the park, Rwanda has become a global leader in mountain gorilla conservation and research. Visitors can even tour Fossey’s former research station and grave.

While mountain gorilla tracking is the park’s main attraction, visitors may also encounter forest elephants, forest hogs, golden monkeys, buffaloes, a variety of birds, and numerous butterfly species during a Rwanda wildlife tour. The park also offers several volcanoes suitable for hiking, including Mount Bisoke, Mount Sabyinyo, and Mount Karisimbi. Combining a gorilla safari with a mountain hike is physically demanding but highly rewarding for adventurous travelers.

Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the most captivating destinations on a Rwanda wildlife tour. This expansive tropical rainforest is home to over 1,000 plant species and serves as a vibrant showcase of Rwanda’s rich biodiversity. Following a mountain gorilla trek, Nyungwe is the ideal location for tracking chimpanzees in Rwanda.

The park boasts over 240 bird species, making it a true paradise for birdwatchers. In addition to chimpanzee trekking and birding, visitors may encounter baboons, golden monkeys, colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and several other primates. A canopy walk through the treetops of Nyungwe is a must-do experience, especially for bird lovers and primate enthusiasts.

Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park is the premier destination for a classic safari experience in Rwanda. Located in the eastern part of the country, the park spans over 1,000 square kilometers of savanna landscapes reminiscent of those in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its proximity to Kigali makes it easily accessible for travelers.

Akagera is home to a diverse array of African wildlife, which congregates around its many water sources, including the Akagera River and Lake Shakani. The most popular activity in the park is a game drive, where visitors can spot hyenas, jackals, antelopes, giraffes, baboons, zebras, buffalos, leopards, and elephants, among others. Lions and black rhinos have recently been reintroduced, allowing visitors to witness all of Africa’s iconic Big Five.

Birdwatchers will also be thrilled—Akagera boasts over 500 bird species, including the rare and elusive shoebill stork. A 3-day wildlife safari in the park offers a perfect opportunity to experience Rwanda’s rich savanna biodiversity.

Rwanda Wildlife tour – Other important places while on

Gishwati Forest

Gishwati Forest is one of Rwanda’s most visited natural attractions, covering over 250,000 acres and offering breathtaking views of Lake Kivu. It is especially popular among birdwatchers, with more than 400 resident bird species recorded in the area.

In recent decades, the forest suffered extensive deforestation due to activities by ranchers, pastoralists, and refugees who sought refuge there after the 1994 genocide. However, significant restoration efforts are now underway to return the forest to its original state.

Notably, Gishwati Forest was recently merged with the neighboring Mukura Forest to form Gishwati-Mukura National Park, officially becoming Rwanda’s fourth national park. This merger is a major step forward in Rwanda’s ongoing commitment to environmental conservation and biodiversity protection.

Genocide Memorial Centers

To fully appreciate the resilience and progress of the Rwandan people, a visit to one of the genocide memorial centers is highly recommended during a safari or cultural tour. The 1994 genocide, which lasted just over three months, resulted in the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Memorial sites, such as those in Kigali, serve as powerful reminders of this tragic chapter in Rwanda’s history.

These memorials feature mass graves, photographs, video footage, personal testimonies, and artifacts that offer a sobering glimpse into the country’s traumatic past. Visiting these sites is not only an act of remembrance and respect for the victims, but also an opportunity to confront the reality of what happened and reflect on the importance of peace and unity.

Among the most significant memorials is the Nyamata Church, where approximately 50,000 victims are buried. The church remains preserved, with visible bloodstains, clothing, and even bones left on the benches as chilling evidence of the atrocities committed. Another key site is the Kigali Genocide Memorial at Gisozi, which is built on the graves of more than 250,000 victims and serves as a national center for education and remembrance.

The Congo-Nile Trail

The Rwanda Development Board has made significant strides in positioning Rwanda as a leading tourism destination in Africa. One of the key initiatives has been the diversification of tourism experiences, including the introduction of the Congo Nile Trail. Today, hiking the Congo Nile Trail is considered one of the most exciting activities to enjoy while on a safari in Rwanda.

The renowned trail winds along the shores of Lake Kivu, offering hikers breathtaking views of Rwanda’s lush green landscapes, terraced hillsides, and sparkling lake waters. Along the way, adventurers can also take in panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and experience the serene beauty that defines Rwanda’s natural charm.

Lake Kivu

Lake Kivu is located at the border between Rwanda and DR Congo and is one of the natural wonders of Rwanda covering an area over 2,600 km2. Flowing at about 1450m above ground, the lake is the highest in Africa. It is one of the only three lakes in the world that occasionally experiences eruptions of carbon dioxide from its depths – A phenomenon known as “exploding lake”. No worrying eruption has been recorded recently and visitors should expect to see the stunning beaches, green vegetation, islands, fishing villages and ports like Rubavu. Touring Lake Kivu on a safari comes with opportunities to go hiking, bird watching, nature walks, chimpanzee tracking or boat riding.

Mount Karisimbi

Mount Karisimbi, one of the highest peaks in Africa, is part of the majestic Virunga mountain range. Hiking Mount Karisimbi is among the top activities for visitors to Musanze and a must-do for adventure seekers. The challenging 6-hour ascent to the summit rewards hikers with sweeping views of Volcanoes National Park and the chance to spot a variety of bird species along the way.

For an unforgettable experience, many visitors choose to combine a Mount Karisimbi hike with mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. While this combination offers a unique and immersive safari adventure in Rwanda, it is physically demanding and best suited for travelers with a good level of fitness, especially if both activities are to be completed within a few days.

Mount Bisoke

Mount Bisoke is an active volcano located on the border between Rwanda and DR Congo. For those wishing to explore the beautiful countryside while on a Rwanda tour, trekking up Mount Bisoke may just be the thing for you. Trekking mount Bisoke lasts about 6 hours with steep sections here and there, after which one is rewarded with stunning views of the Volcanoes national park. Bisoke hiking also offers visitors a chance to marvel at the Crater Lake and the beautiful green scenery surrounding the mountain.