Rwanda has proved to be one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The country is also one of the most visited tourist destinations in east and central Africa. Despite it being a small country, there is a lot that one can see and do while on a safari in Rwanda. The Rwanda Safari Guide gives you an insight into the top destinations to visit, and among these include all the national parks in Rwanda, Lake Kivu, towns and Kigali city.
Safari Destinations in Rwanda.
Volcanoes Gorilla National Park.
Volcanoes Gorilla national park is the one of the most visited national parks in Rwanda. The national park is the only primate destination in the country where you can see the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The Park is home to over 300 mountain gorillas. There are currently about 12 habituated gorilla groups in Volcanoes national park and of these 10 gorilla families are available for tourists to track.
Volcanoes Gorilla national park in Rwanda offers tourists a number of activities such as; gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, guided forest walks, bird watching, hiking to Dian Fossey tomb, hiking mountains Karisimbi and Bisoke, Caving and community cultural tours.
There are also accommodation facilities within the park for visitors who wish to spend a night or two in the park. Recommended lodges in Volcanoes national park include; Bisate Lodge, Virunga Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Mountain gorilla view, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Kinigi guesthouse and Gorilla Volcanoes Lodge.
Akagera National Park.
Akagera Natonal park in Rwanda is the only savannah national park in the country. If you are looking to see the Big Five and other savannah wildlife animals during your Rwanda safari, Akagera national park is the place to be. Some of the stunning wildlife that you are likely to see in Akagera include; lions, leopards, hyenas, rhinos, elephants, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, hippos, crocodiles and so many more. Akagera national park has over 8000 large animals roaming its savannah lands.
Activities that you can do during your visit to Akagera national park include; day and evening guided game drives, boat cruise, sport fishing, camping, guide nature walks, cultural tours, and birding among others.
Accommodation in Akagera national park is widely available for visitors who wish to spend time a night in the park, some of the amazing lodging facilities in the park include; Akagera game lodge, Karenge Bush camp and Ruzizi Tented Camp to mention but a few.
Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the four national parks in Rwanda. The Park is part of the renowned Nyungwe forest, which is among the largest tropical rainforests on the African continent.
While visiting Nyungwe national park in Rwanda, you can engage in activities like; chimpanzee trekking, primate tracking, Nyungwe canopy walk, guide nature walks, birding and cultural tours among others.
Accommodation around the park include; Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Gisakura Guest House, Nyungwe Top View Hotel, One & Only Nyungwe House, and Nyungwe Nziza Eco LodGishwati-Mukura National Park.
Giswati-mukura National Park.
This Park is the smallest of four national parks in Rwanda, covering approximately 34 square kilometers. The national park was formed in 2015 and later opened to the general public in 2019.
The national park can easily be accessed by visitors travelling from Nyungwe forest National Park. The Park is located about 157 kilometers from Rwanda’s capital, Kigali. Among some of the activities that you can do during your visit to the national park include; chimpanzee trekking, golden monkey tracking, hiking, birding and guided nature walks. The Park has only one accommodation facility as of now; so if you are planning to stay in Gishwati-Mukura national park, you can book a night or two in Gishwati lodge. The lodge has 6 cottages which can take in a maximum of 12 guests per day.
Kigali City.
Kigali city is the capital of Rwanda and it is well-known for its clean streets and well paved roads. Kigali is also the main hub of Rwanda and also the holds the country’s main airport, Kigali International Airport. The city is the starting point for most Rwanda safari with lots of interesting historical and cultural sites to visit such as; Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, Camp Kigali, Kimironko market, Caplaki craft village, and Nyamirambo women’s center to mention but a few.
Rubavu town.
Rubavu town in Rwanda is one of the waterfront towns located along the shores of Lake Kivu. The town is located just an hour away from Volcanoes National Park, which makes it a great stopover point for visitors travelling from the park to Nyungwe forest National Park. The town makes a great stopover after gorilla and chimp trekking activities. While in the town, you can take a boat ride on Lake Kivu using one of the traditional canoes and explore the stunning birdlife around the lake. You can also pay a visit to some of the red sandy beaches along the lake shores, and enjoy various watersport activities.
Rubavu town also marks the start of the famous Congo Nile Trail, which extends about 227 kilometers south of Rusizi. You can choose to explore this trail on foot or on a mountain bike.
There are lots of tea and coffee plantations around Rubavu which one can visit. Aside from this, you can also pay a short visit to the newly formed Gishwati-Mukura national park and see lots of bird species and primates.
Gisenyi town.
Gisenyi town is located on the northern side of Lake Kivu. It is presently known as Rubavu town. The town is spread over quite a number of hills making it a beautiful sight to see for tourist visiting the area.
Gisenyi town is naturally gifted with beautiful lake shores that are characterized with a nice beach where both visitors and locals can engage in water sport activities like swimming and wind surfing.
While exploring Lake Kivu from Gisenyi town, you can also visit the Imbabazi Orphanage. The orphanage was founded by an American humanitarian called Rosamund Hasley Carr who returned to Rwanda after the genocide war.
The town also has nice, cozy and trendy bars which are ideal hangout spots for tourists to mingle with the locals in the town and enjoy a sundowner cocktail drink.
Accommodation in the town is readily available depending on one’s tastes and preferences. Some accommodation options to choose from include; Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, Kunda Gisenyi Guesthouse, Ubumwe Hotel, Stipp Hotel and Motel la Corniche.
Other interesting towns to visit during your trip to Rwanda include; Huye, Rusizi, Musanze, Nyanza and Karongi. There is a lot to see and do while visiting these towns such as; visiting the ethnographic museum in Huye, exploring caves in Musanze, and visiting the King’s Palace in Nyanza to mention but a few.
Best Time to Visit Rwanda.
If you are planning to go on a Rwanda safari, the best time for you to travel would be from mid-May to October when it is the dry season. During this time, it is very easy for you engage in lots of activities in the national parks like gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking and wildlife viewing among others.
In conclusion; Use this Rwanda Safari Guide always when planning your trip to Rwanda especially if you are travelling to the country for the first time. The travel guide will make it easy for you to properly plan and book your trip using a trusted tour operator.
