Rwanda Safaris

Rwanda is one of the smallest countries in East Africa. Located just below the equator, Rwanda is one of the amazing destinations visited by tourists most especially those interested in primates safaris.

Rwanda is a mountainous country and thus the reason as to why it is known as the land of thousand hills! There are lots of rolling hills all over its part enchanted with green cover! In the northern part of the country are the Virunga Volcanoes, one of the richest biodiversity areas in East Africa.

Rwanda has become a very popular tourism destination in East Africa due to being a habitat of one of the sought after animals in Africa the endangered mountain gorillas that live in the Virunga Mountains. Rwanda is one of the few organised destinations where the visitor can have an exciting experience of meeting the silverback in a very organized manner. This is supplemented by the visiting the dian Fossey’s Karisoke research centre and her tombs and also the golden monkeys at the basement of the volcanoes national park. Diana Fossey was a German female primatologist who fought tooth and nail to save the mountain gorillas from extinction in the 1940s.

Rwanda has spiced up its tourism world by reserving Nyungwe forests for primates tracking where you can also meet the chimpanzees the closest cousin of man with a 98.5% DNA similar to mankind.

With Rwanda being a small country, it is an ideal stopover for a short trip to sum up a big five safari trip in Uganda.

Highlights

  • Watching the mountain gorillas in their natural setting at the Volcanoes national park.
  • Touring Dian Fossey’s Karisoke research centre
  •  Exploring Kigali city as you visit different historical, cultural and political establishments.
  •  Having a picnic at the beaches of Lake Kivu. Trekking the common primates in Nyungwe forest.

Why Visit Rwanda?

Rwanda is one of the few tourist destinations where travelers visit the mountain gorillas. Located in Central Africa, Rwanda has immense attractions ranging from the endangered mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, wildlife and more. Here are the most popular 10 things that attract tourists to Rwanda;

Scenic Splendor and Serenity

Rwanda is blessed with spectacular scenery and natural landscapes – mountain peaks and passes, dense and ancient forests, miles of unspoiled Lake Kivu shoreline, rivers to sooth or thrill you, and rolling flower fields and grasslands of every hue. Places to inspire you, places to explore or to simply revel in the joyous gift of nature

Five-star Safari

A luxury Rwanda safari cannot end without staying at some of the award-winning safari lodges in Volcanoes National park, Nyungwe, Lake Kivu and Akagera national park, the bush equals bliss. Luxury, impeccable service and cuisine, soothing spa’s and superlative wildlife encounters add up to safari adventures that will exceed your wildest expectations.

Cultural Encounters

Experience the cultural interactions that are real and awe-inspiring. Whether you spend a day in Iby’Iwacu cultural village or a city township; a week in Bugesera reconciliation village or escape to a typical Rwanda farm, you’ll find Rwandese friendly and their day-to-day lifestyles and customs accessible. Short or long stay – you’re welcome!

Outdoor Rush

Beautiful weather in Rwanda, spectacular locations, awesome scenery, and record-breaking, mega-thrill adventure mixed in – that’s how we’ve earned the title the Adventure Capital of the World.

Urban Rhythm

Feel the energy of our towns, catch the beat of Afro-pop, hip-hop or jazz in Kigali’s night club, play in our casino’s, visit our museums, be entertained in our theatres. Shop, dine and follow the pulse of our rhythm to your next urban African adventure.

Your Rwandan Feast

From traditional comfort food to star dining; a hearty buffet or a gourmet banquet beneath a star-strewn African sky, let your taste buds take you on a journey of discovery with mouth-watering Rwandan soul food.

Indulge your senses

Relax and rejuvenate the Rwandan way. Cocoon yourself in calming treatments and soothing therapies. Scented traditional balms made with indigenous oils and ingredients will have you stress-free and feeling like African royalty in no time—all happening in Rwandan capital-Kigali.

Kigali to Lake Kivu

Head on to the place of beaches and relaxation—All the way, magnificent scenery and small towns filled with history and character beckon. From spectacular landscapes and lush farmlands keep you company until you arrive in Lake Kivu – one of the East Africa’s most beautiful Places.

Kigali to Volcanoes National park

The green hills and spectacular scenery here leads you to home of world’s rarest mountain gorillas and your final destination: Volcanoes Rwanda – the country’s Golden Mile of landscapes and Beauty.

Lush with evergreen vegetation, beaches, rivers, lakes and friendly towns, Rwanda is a region of extraordinary natural beauty. Play golf, dine, sunbathe and experience one-of-a kind marine, nature and adrenaline sports activities amid its dramatic mountain scenery and ancient rain forests.

Go Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Rwanda is becoming one of the very popular destinations for safaris in Africa. In this rather small country we find a large variety of landscapes and natural diversity. We can choose among the many options of touring around the country and gorilla trekking safaris are the most popular of all safari adventures that you can engage in during your holiday in this mountainous country that has been dubbed “the land of a thousand hills”!

Rwanda is one of the best places to visit for gorilla trekking. Being a habitat for a large population of these precious wild apes, many travelers visit Rwanda to meet the mountain gorillas. There are as few as 900 mountain gorillas left in the whole world. Rwanda is glad to host almost a third of this population in its Volcanoes National Park in Northern Rwanda. Apart from the gorillas, Rwanda also hosts other unique animals that include wild chimpanzees, antelopes, elephants, rhinos etc. You can also engage in other adventures such as bird watching safaris and cultural tours to touring specific and picturesque places that are important for people who live in Rwanda. On your safari, you can learn a few things about the past and the present of this nation including the horrible 1994 Rwanda Genocide, one of the most well documented genocides in the world.

Planning Your Safari

There are many options to choose among in Rwanda! You can get our safari the way you want – choose from day trips to long safaris that include other unique experiences such as chimpanzee tracking, game viewing, birding, volcano hiking etc. Get in touch with a local tour operator and get started with booking your trip in advance.

The gorilla safaris are among the most popular in this country as well as the chimpanzee tracking tours. Also, the cultural tours will take us deep inside the country and let us now the best of this culture. We can get our trip both ways budget and luxury trips. The only difference is the category of the accommodation, being the luxury class of a higher and most comfortable condition.

Mountain gorillas have made Rwanda famous worldwide because this species is not found in many countries of the African continent but only in specific spots such us Rwanda, Uganda and Congo, adding up less than 800 gorillas currently.

Where to Go

Parc Nationale des Volcans is the place we come to see these unique animals that live in bamboo-covered slopes near the Virunga Volcanoes. Situated in the northern part of the country, the Volcanoes National Park is one of the three gazetted national parks that are found in the larger Virunga conservation area. The larger Virunga Region stretches over three countries; Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mountain gorillas are known to roam freely within the region and the rest of the parks are Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park of Uganda.

The Volcanoes National Park is the place where documentaries have been recorded and scientists have come to study this endangered species. One of the most popular documentaries is the Gorillas in the Mist film that tells the story of Dian Fossey, the American Iron Lady who devoted her time to save the plight of the mountain gorillas. On a gorilla safari in the Volcanoes National Park, you can take the Dian Fossey Hike and learn more about the plight of the mountain gorillas!

There are about half a hundred of birds that can only be found in this country, having a huge diversity of species in the conservation areas, up to more than 600 different species. The best spots to go bird watching are Akagera, Volcanoes and Nyungwe.

The Volcanoes National Park is one of the most recommended places to visit in a safari, located in the northern zone of Rwanda. In addition, the Akagera National Park, which is located in the east, s the habitat for elephant, buffaloes, giraffes and zebras, as well as many other savannah species.

Among the destinations suitable for cultural tours we have Ikwita Izina Yearly Ceremony which is the best occasion to know a bit more about African culture, norms and traditions. In this kind of tours is when we will have the chance to know how people live and think within Africa.