Rwanda Safari Tours, Things To Do & Places To Visit

Why you must Visit Rwanda?

Imagine visiting the

Volcanoes National Park

as for

mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda

,  meeting nice people, visiting the rain forests to see the chimpanzees and golden monkeys, stopping to see the

Intore dancers and drummers

, listening to the

birds

sing in forests and lake shores, visiting cultural villages and

genocide museum

in a peaceful country with a perfect road system and modern farms! This is just a hint of the real Rwanda that you can experience when you decide to go for a

Rwanda safari adventure

.

Where To Go On a Safari in Rwanda?

Volcanoes National Park For Gorilla Trekking

The Star attraction is definitely the mountain gorillas. A visit to Volcanoes NP or PARC Des Volcanoes (PNV) will  expose you to the mountain gorillas of Rwanda, there are many

gorilla groups

for you to visit. As of 2018, a permit costs $ 1500 per person per  hour. Besides

gorilla safaris in Rwanda

, you can encounter over

70 mammal species

with the elephants, buffalo, bush back and giant hogs seen here. A unique visit to the

Dian Fossey’s

grave is a humbling experience.

Golden monkey trekking

can also be done in this park. The cute

“Golden” colored monkeys

go for $ 100.

Nyungwe Forest Rwanda

-In

Nyungwe forest

, you will see the other primates, the

Chimpanzees

and in addition you can go for the canopy walk, the only trail of such a kind that you will find in East Africa. In Nyungwe  you will see the troops of colobus monkeys, the highest number in the world is found here. Nyungwe NP named among Top 10 Trips for 2014 by National Geographic Traveler. You will see over

275 bird species

including the clown headed

Rwenzori Turaco

. The mammal list is 75 species . Over

120 butterflies

and

100 orchid

variety found here.-Visit

Lake Kivu

for a boat ride, or visit the fishing villages and while in Gisenyi you can tour coffee plantations.

Akagera Rwanda

Game viewing

opportunities are available at Akagera National Park. Its a home to over

800 animals

and about

500 bird species

. Animal list include, the

Cape Eland

, elephants, bushbuck, Oribi, Zebra, giraffe, hippo, spotted hyena, lion and leopard. Over

525 bird species

within Akagera makes it a birders paradise.

Which Rwanda Safari Company?

Very important!  Almost every company offers gorilla trekking and other

wildlife and cultural experiences

.  As you do your research, its important not to just consider the price quote that the

Rwanda safari tour operator

or travel agent sends through mail. See what it includes and does not. One time a tourist asked for the price and the company quoted less the gorilla permit which alone costs $1500.  A 3 day gorilla trek  should cost you over 1700. Find out the company reviews online, see how many Facebook followers  and likes they have, ask for former clients and write to them or chat with the on Facebook and twitter. Does the company belong to a certain professional organization such as Rwanda Tour Operators Association , Rwanda Tourism, Africa Tour Operators, Africa Travel And Travel Association? Get all these details. The most tricky part is that most companies charge their prices from the first day of the safari. You may need to pay for the extra hotel nights/day that are not part of your

safari package

. Your flights determine this.

What is the Best Time To Visit Rwanda ? / When To Go ?

Its always advisable to visit Rwanda during the months of June to August. Since most of the activities are done in the rain forests of

Volcanoes National Park

and Nyungwe, its normal to experience rain. Carrry a

rain jacket

, it often rains though not so much to scare tourists away. For

birders

, December to March is the best time. What to wear on a safari largely depends on the destination. For

gorilla trekking clothing or what to wear

, boots or water proof shoes, walking stick and jackets  is a must.

What Else To Do after a  Safari Holiday?

The Kigali Genocide Memorial In Gisozi is a common place to visit after a gorilla safari in Rwanda. Outside Kigali, you can visit Ntarama and Nyamata.

Kimironko Market

specializes in crafts which you can use as souvenirs. In Musanze, you can engage in tourist activities such as brick making and basket weaving.

Where To Stay While On A Rwandan Tour?

Being a tourist destination, Rwanda  has almost all options for your stay, from the budget and backpackers accommodation to the

luxury hotels

and lodges. In every safari destination within Rwanda you will find over 4 choices of

accommodation

and they are often enough for the discerning traveler. The price of your safari will most likely depend on where you choose to stay.

Getting Around

With the excellent transport network around Rwanda, its easy to travel safely and comfortable to almost any tourist destination. You

can hire a car

.

 

Visiting Rwanda With Kids

Family safari 

is possible. Children below 16 years are not allowed to track the mountain gorillas, but they can visit the

chimpanzees in Nyungwe Park

as well as track the golden monkeys in addition to visits to Lake Kivu and so much more.

Which other East African Destinations?

You can visit the

mountain gorillas in Uganda

in what most tour companies refer to as the double gorilla trek.  Other safari destinations include Kenya where you visit

Masai Mara

and then Tanzania for

Kilimanjaro trekking

and wildlife safaris in

Ngorongoro Crater

, Serengeti, Tarangire and so much more. The neighbouring Burundi offers a different variety all together, cultural tours and relaxing holidays are part of the fun.

 

Useful Links

Rwanda Tourism

Lonely Planet

 

Conclusion:

Rwanda is an exciting destination to visit. Besides the prominent

mountain gorillas

, the land of a

thousand hills

has much potential as  a tourist destination. With infrastructure and peace, Rwanda is increasingly becoming a popular country to visit in Africa.