Rwanda Wild Safaris: Because of the government’s tremendous efforts, Rwanda Wildlife Safaris have grown in popularity. Known as the “land of a thousand hills,” Rwanda has come a long way from being a nation devastated by one of the greatest genocides in recent memory to being an African role model for optimism, peace, and responsible leadership. The countryside is made up of lovely rolling hills and verdant plantations, while the capital, Kigali, boasts clean city districts, five-star hotels, and excellent road networks.

Large organizations like the National Museum and the National University of Rwanda are located in Butare, the country’s second-largest city, which is known as “the intellectual capital of Rwanda.” Since embracing industrialization, mining, tourism, and agricultural modernization, the nation’s wealth has expanded.

Rwanda has a thriving tourism industry, with many upscale and midrange resorts located within its game parks. The nation has made significant efforts to promote its tourism assets. Although Rwanda has many fascinating facts, the chance to view mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park draws the majority of tourists on safari in Rwanda. Research work that culminated in the well-known drama “Gorillas in the Mist” brought fame to the park. The park itself is a vast area of breathtakingly lush foliage that is home to numerous mammals, birds, butterflies, and primates.

Although gorilla trekking is possible in both Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda is the preferred destination for gorilla tourism due to the high standard of care provided and the park’s close proximity to the country’s capital, Kigali. You may learn more about what to expect as a single traveler in Rwanda and how much a tour costs there.

Rwanda wildlife safari – Major activities

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

• Visiting the Genocide memorial. Here The Rwandan genocide of 1994 is remembered at the Kigali Genocide Memorial. There are more than 250,000 people’s remains interred.

 

 

• Mountain gorilla trekking at the Volcanoes National Park. Hiking through dense bamboo forests and up steep mountain slopes searching for Rwanda’s gorilla families is known as “gorilla trekking” in the Volcanoes National Park. One of the most thrilling and unforgettable wildlife experiences in Africa is thought to have occurred during the last interaction with the primates.
• Chimpanzee and golden monkey tracking. The Virunga Mountains are a volcanic series that spans Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. High altitude bamboo forests in these mountains are home to golden monkeys. These fascinating primates can be found in the Virunga National Park (DRC), Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Uganda), and Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda).
• Game driving at the Akagera National Park.

  

  Game Drives in Akagera National Park are the main safari activity that travelers engage in when they visit the park to explore Rwanda`s wildlife safaris. Wildlife. In the park, you can as well do birding, nature walks, boat cruise, sport fishing, cultural encounters among other activities that will enable you to have an amazing experience in the park as you get the chance to see the different species in the park. There are different game drives that can be carried out in the park which include the morning game drive, evening game drive to see zebras, impalas, topis, bushbucks, elephants, rhinos, giraffes among other herbivores in the park during the morning game drives you will also have the chance to see a number of bird species during the drives near the swamps lake like Lake Ihema, lake Shakani, where you will see different bird species like African fish Eagle, the open billed stork, the egrets, cormorants, Senegal lapwings, African darter, Hammerkop, Caruthers’s cisticola, pied crow, black-headed weaver, fan-tailed widow bird, violet’s black weaver, long-crested Eagle, like Pockefellers’s sunbird, Chapin’s flycatcher, Rwenzori Batis, strange weaver, red-throated alethe.

• Biking along the Congo Nile Trail. Perhaps the nicest bike trail in East Africa is the Congo Nile Trail. The Congo Nile Divide is the greatest place to take in Rwanda’s pure air and stunning scenery. Along the walk are views of the far-off Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda’s famed rolling hills, Lake Kivu’s crystal-clear waters, and the Nyungwe Forest National Park. In addition to the breathtaking surroundings, you can observe how the people live on their banana, tea, and coffee plantations.

• Bird watching in Rwanda – Nyungwe forest and Lake Kivu. Rwanda is a unique destination for African Montane bird observation, with abundant ecotourism opportunities. As of November 2018, there were over 703 species of birds on the list, and since 2010, many new discoveries have been made. The 29 Albertine Rift Endemics and other Lake Victoria Basin Endemics are among the amazing resident species that ardent birdwatchers really must visit. There aren’t any bird species that are only found in Rwanda. Nonetheless, 29 Rift Valley Endemic birds call it home. These birds are found in Gishwati-Mukura and Volcanoes National Parks, as well as in the high-altitude forests around Nyungwe National Park. The nation is a fantastic travel destination for avian enthusiasts due to its superb road system, emphasis on safety, and diversity of ecosystems. Furthermore, because of Rwanda’s small size, birdwatchers may visit a lot of birding locations in a short amount of time, giving them access to some of the most sought-after bird species on the continent. Cultural and community visits to places like the Iby’iwacu cultural village for traditional dances.
• Community Tourism: The Iby’Iwacu cultural village: Iby’iwacu is loosely translated to treasure of our home in Kinyarwanda. This thrilling cultural village is a nonprofit project in Musanze, a town where volcanoes national park is located. Its major aim is to redefine the lives of ex-mountain gorilla poachers. This cultural initiative provides basic facilities like water and education benefits to the people within so that their next generation can stay away from poaching gorillas and instead stick to a formal career. Many tourists would love to stopover after trekking mountain gorillas or carrying out chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda. This is done to always provide a lifetime opportunity to meet and socialize with the locals within and get a taste of Rwandan traditions and culture.
• Visiting the genocide memorial centers like Gisozi, Murambi, Nyamata, Bisesero and Ntarama. A site of commemoration and education, the Kigali Genocide Memorial honors the victims of Rwanda’s Tutsi genocide. Genocide frequently leaves victims with feelings of hopelessness and depression in addition to death. While there is no charge to enter the Memorial, we offer the following to make your stay even more enjoyable: an audio guide to provide you with a more thorough overview of each location inside the Memorial. The memorial is one of Rwanda’s six national memorials. In Rwanda, there are currently over 250 officially recognized memorials honoring the 1994 genocide.

According to Rwandan officials, between 300,000 and 400,000 people have survived the genocide in their nation; forty thousand of them lack access to housing. Jacqueline is now well-known throughout the world for her humanitarian and youth leadership efforts. There is a peaceful area to reflect on the history of the Tutsi Genocide in the memorial gardens. They provide guests a chance to consider how every one of us bears a personal duty to stop prejudice and mass murder. Additionally, the Center offers assistance to survivors—particularly widows and orphans.

• Hiking Mount Karisimbi and Bisoke. Six to seven hours of hiking, including a two-hour descent, are allotted for novice hikers. Skilled trekkers can complete the hike and return to the base in less than 4 hours. It takes around an hour to get from the offices to the park, and it’s best to reserve a 4×4 to drive you up to the parking base. It is located in the Virunga National Park, 18 miles (29 km) northeast of Goma, Congo, on the border between the nations of Rwanda and Congo (Kinshasa). In addition to being home to gorillas, Karisimbi is renowned for its rare flora and features four distinct vegetation belts that extend from the lush forest at the base to the arid volcanic core. Walk Difficulty and Trail Specifics: The moderate to difficult walk to the summit of Mount Bisoke demands endurance and physical fitness. Depending on your fitness level and the time it takes to reach the summit, the complete hike may take four hours or longer.
• Visiting the grave of Dian Fossey and her former Karisoke Research Centre.

Rwanda tour – Major attractions

Volcanoes National Park is home to roughly 400 mountain gorillas and ten habituated gorilla families. It is situated within the Virunga mountain ranges. The park is known for its dense forest and rugged landscape, which may make gorilla tracking challenging yet exciting in Rwanda. Since Dian Fossy set up camp in the Volcanoes National Park, the nation has taken the lead in international efforts to conserve mountain gorillas and conduct study on them. Guests are welcome to see the former Dian Fossey research station and cemetery.

While monitoring mountain gorillas is the primary activity at the Volcanoes National Park, guests on a Rwanda Wildlife tour can also see buffalo, birds, hogs, elephants, golden monkeys, and various types of butterflies. Numerous mountains and volcanoes in the park, including Karisimbi, Sabyinyo, and Bisoke, are good places to go hiking. For those with an adventurous spirit, combining a gorilla safari in Rwanda with mountain mountaineering is an intense but worthwhile experience. Learn more about the things you should bring to Rwanda.

Nyungwe Forest National Park: When on a Rwanda wildlife tour, one of the most appealing places to visit is Nyungwe Forest National Park. With more than 1000 plant species, Nyungwe Forest is a huge tropical forest that serves as an excellent example of Rwanda’s remarkable biodiversity. When on a Rwanda tour, the greatest spot to track chimpanzees is the forest, following mountain gorilla tracking.

The woodland is a birder’s dream, home to approximately 240 different species of birds. In addition to hiking with chimpanzees and viewing birds, guests can anticipate seeing baboons, golden, colobus, blue, and other primates. For individuals who are visiting Rwanda to track chimpanzees, a stroll through the canopy of the Nyungwe forest is an essential experience.

Akagera National Park: In Rwanda, the greatest site to go on a safari is the Akagera National Park. Situated in the eastern region of the nation, the park spans more than a thousand square kilometers and resembles the savannas of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The park, which lies near Kigali, is home to a sizable population of African mammals that congregate around the park’s many water features, including Lake Shakani and the Akagera River.

Taking a game drive to see animals including hyenas, jackals, antelopes, giraffes, baboons, zebras, buffalos, leopards, and elephants is the most well-liked activity in Akagera National Park. The park is working to include both lions and black rhinos so that tourists can see all five of Africa’s big five. On a three-day wildlife safari in Akagera, birdwatchers can expect to see around 500 species, including shoebill storks. An article regarding the price of a safari in Akagera National Park might be of interest to you if you intend to visit the park.

Other important places while on Rwanda Wildlife tour

Gishwati Forest: With more than 250,000 acres of land, the Gishwati Forest is one of Rwanda’s most popular tourist destinations. The more than 400 resident species in the forest will impress birdwatchers, and also offers a stunning perspective of Lake Kivu. Huge deforestation has occurred in the forest as a result of ranchers, pastoralists, and refugees who sought safety in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide. The entire stretch of property will be covered with forest once again, according to plans in the works.

Note: Gishwati forest was recently merged with the nearby Mukura to form what is now known as Gishwati-Mukura National Park. The national parks in Rwanda are now four.

Genocide Memorial Centers: In order to appreciate the current progress made by the people of Rwanda, visiting one of the genocide memorial centers is highly recommended while on a safari. The Three months genocide saw hundreds of thousands of Tutsis and moderate Hutus massacred in 1994 and sites like those found in Kigali are a constant reminder of that dark past. The mass graves, photographs, film footage and other exhibitions provide a glimpse of the country’s traumatic past. Visiting the genocide memorial site is an opportunity show respect to the victims, remember lost ones and also face the reality of what happened in Rwanda.

The Nyamata church, which houses the remains of roughly 50,000 genocide victims, is another location well worth seeing. The church is still standing, and human remains, bones, and bloodstains are still visible on the pews. The Gisozi Genocide War Memorial Site is situated on the graves of more than a quarter of a million victims of the genocide.

Congo-Nile Trail: The Rwanda Development Board has worked hard to establish Rwanda as one of Africa’s top travel destinations. With the Congo Nile Trail’s launch, the government of Rwanda has expanded the country’s tourist attractions. These days, one of the most fascinating activities to undertake on a Rwandan safari is hiking the Congo Nile Trail. The well-known trail passes around Lake Kivu and offers hikers the chance to take in the breathtaking scenery of the surrounding highlands as well as the verdant hills, lakes, and greenery.

Lake Kivu: One of Rwanda’s natural wonders, Lake Kivu spans an area of more than 2,600 km2 and is situated at the country’s border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Situated approximately 1450 meters above sea level, this lake is the highest in Africa. It is one of just three lakes worldwide that periodically sees “exploding lakes,” or eruptions of carbon dioxide from their depths. There hasn’t been any recent evidence of a concerning eruption, so tourists may anticipate seeing gorgeous beaches, verdant flora, islands, fishing communities, and ports like Rubavu. Hiking, bird watching, nature walks, chimpanzee tracking, and boat rides are all available while on a safari around Lake Kivu.

Mount Karisimbi: One of the tallest mountains in Africa, Mount Karisimbi is a component of the Virunga mountain range. While in Musanze, hiking Mount Karisimbi is highly recommended. Those who can make the six-hour climb to the peak will be rewarded with opportunity to see a variety of birds as well as a breathtaking view of the national park made up of volcanoes. Hiking Mount Karisimbi and going mountain gorilla tracking at the Volcanoes National Park are two options available to visitors. Combining a Rwanda safari with a trip up Mount Karisimbi and gorilla trekking is an exhausting experience that needs a high level of endurance if it is to be completed in a few days.

Mount Bisoke: DR Congo and Rwanda are separated by the active volcano known as Mount Bisoke. Trekking up Mount Bisoke could be the perfect option for those looking to take a Rwanda trip and enjoy the stunning surroundings. A 6-hour trek up Mount Bisoke includes some rough terrain here and there, but the payoff is breathtaking views of the Volcanoes National Park. Hiking in Bisoke also gives guests the opportunity to take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding greenery and Crater Lake.