TOP ATTRACTIONS AND SAFARIS

Rwanda has many attractions that catch your eye as you tend to explore various destinations. For a memorable and unforgettable experience in Rwanda, you will have to participate in various safari national parks and other attractions.  These include

WILDLIFE SAFARIS

Rwanda as a country has 3 major national parks and all these offer different experiences while on a safari within the country. As the country was named as the land of 1000 hills, there is a lot to explore. While on a wildlife safari, you will be able to explore the endangered primates such as the mountain gorillas which are Rwanda’s most visited creatures, red tailed monkeys, golden monkeys among others. Besides the primates, you will explore animal species such as elephants, rhinos, antelopes, impalas, leopards among others as well as bird species.

Rwanda is made up of 3 national parks that’s Akagera national park, nyungwe national park and volcanoes national park. While at these national parks, you can take part in these activities.

Game drives

Game drives are carried out in Akagera national park and while on this safari. You will be able to spot wildlife species such as leopards, lions, rhinos, impalas, elephants, buffalos among others. The park offers two game drives that’s I the morning and evening. The nocturnal game drives help to spot nocturnal animals. Besides the wildlife species, you will as well spot bird species such as African Darter, blue-cheeked bee-eater, eastern grey plantain-eater among others

Birding

Akagera national park is a habitat for over 400 bird species and these can be spotted while on a wildlife safari in the park. You will spot birds such as black headed weaver, hammer kop, long crested eagle, African fish eagle and open billed stork among other species.

Chimpanzee trekking

Chimpanzee trekking is carried out in Nyungwe national park and this involves hiking through the forest in search of the primates. Nyungwe national park has only 2 habituated chimpanzee troops in Cyamudongo forest and within the park.  Once chimpanzees are spotted, you will spend an hour with them as you learn more about their ways as well as take pictures. Besides the chimpanzees you will spot other primates such as the vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkeys and so much more. The trekking of chimpanzees is rewarding as a certificate is rewarded after the trekking.

Other primate trekking

While on a Rwandan safari, you can trek other primates such as the golden monkey trekking, L’hoest monkey, vervet monkeys and Mona monkes among others. While on the trekking safari, you will learn how they feed, observe their ways of living and co-existing with one another.

Hiking safaris

Tourists can take part in the virunga mountain hike within the volcanoes.  The national park comprises of 5 virunga mountains and all offer rewarding experiences. These include; karisimbi, gahinga, muhabura, bisoke and sabyinyo. The hike to the top of these mountains can be tiresome but rewarding.

Besides the mountains there are trails that can be hiked within Nyungwe national park and these include; Bigugu trail, Irebero trail, kamiranzovu and Igishigishigi trail. All these offer different and unique experiences while on a Rwanda safari.

Gorilla trekking

Gorilla trekking is the major activity and the main reasons as to why people visit Rwanda. The trekking of gorilla s takes place in volcanoes national park and this can be combined with any other activity within the parks. The national park has 12 habituated families and each has a unique character that makes the safari an amazing one.

The trekking of gorillas takes 2-6hours depending on the movement of the gorillas in their natural habitat. When a family is spotted, you will spend an hour with them as you learn their feeding patterns, play and relate with each other. After the trek, a certificate is awarded which makes the trekking process an enjoyable one.

Canopy walks

Canopy walks in Rwanda are carried out in Nyungwe national park where you can have a chance to spot a number of animal species, birds, primate species such as Mona monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, dents among others in the tree branches.  While on the walk, you will as well have an aerial view of the park and appreciate its beauty.

CULTURAL SAFARIS

Tourists interested in cultural safaris in Rwanda can visit cultural sites such as the ibyiwacu cultural centre, humure refugee village and katabi cultural group. This helps in knowing the different ways of the banyarwanda such as way of dressing, how they cook their local foods and their relations with each other.

Iby’iwacu cultural village

The Ibyiwacu cultural village is found in the volcanoes national park and while at the cultural village, you will engage in community walks which will help you understand the way people carry out their day to day lives. At the entrance, you will be welcomed by the guard who will take you through the kingdom and give you a proper insight of how organised the people were under the kingdom ship. You will even be dressed in their cultural wear. This cultural safari is so interesting and rewarding.

Humura refugee village

The refugee village is a community of people from Tanzania that settled in Rwanda as they were running away from a crisis which led to a loss of people’s lives. While at the village you will take part in activities such as poetry, cultural plays, beer making such as banana brew, milking and taking care of cows as well as cultural dances among others.

Katabi cultural village

The kitabi cultural village is located close to the entrance of Nyungwe national park. The village gives a chance to the tourists to understand the culture of the Rwanda people by getting involved in touring around the village as you explore their ways of living. The village show cases the huts that were constructed and a variety of activities that were carried out to promote peace and harmony.

RWANDA GENOCIDE

The Rwanda genocide safari is one of the most educative, hopeful and emotional safari anyone can embark on while on a Rwanda safari. Despite the fact that many people lost their lives during the genocide of 1994, Rwanda is considered as the most safest and peaceful countries in Africa.

The Hutu extremists spearheaded the 1994 Rwanda genocide and this was because they wanted to wipe out the Tutsis. After colonialism the Tutsis occupied most positions in the country which angered the Hutus.

A series of events are led to the genocide but the major was the death of president Juvenal Habyarimana who was considered a dictator. Many people were killed, lost their families, and others were separated from their families. While on the city tour can visit the Kigali genocide memorial, Nyamata genocide memorial and Gisozi genocide memorial.

RWANDA CITY TOURS

While on a Rwanda safari, one shouldn’t miss on the city tours in the country. Therefore one can take part in the Kigali city tour which is Rwanda’s capital city. While on the visit, you will explore kimironko market which is the largest market, visit restaurants that offer local cuisines, visit Lake Muhazi, hike mountain Kigali which offers amazing views of the capital city among others

Cyagungu city

Cyagungu city offers a chance to tourists to visit Nyungwe national park and spot the chimpanzees since it’s a home to over 1000 chimpanzees. While on a visit to this city, you will hike a number of trails and attractions such as the isumo waterfalls, canopy walk among others.

Rusumo city

The rusumo city offers an opportunity to the tourists to visit the rusumo waterfall and its historical attachment. The waterfalls were important in the colonial era where they were used as an entry point to the Belgians and Germans from Tanzania during the early time of the European exploration of the east.

Kayonza city

The city is a home to the Akagera national park which is a home to the big five animals. While in Rwanda, tourists can take part in the game drives where they will have an encounter with the animals.

Ruhengeri city

The ruhengeri city boosts with the famous park in Rwanda which is the volcanoes national park a home to half of the worlds endangered mountain gorillas. While on a city tour, you will have the opportunity to trek one of the 12 habituated gorilla families and learn more about its behaviours. You will as well visit the Virunga Mountains as well as the breath taking views of the twin lakes of Burera and ruhondo.  This makes your city tour a memorable one while on a Rwanda safari.