Rwanda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari Holidays

Located in northwestern Rwanda, Volcanoes National Parkis a hot spot for biodiversity and the only place to see Mountain Gorillas in the country. The park sits at the edge of the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, and entails five volcanoes of the Virunga Mountain range.

At 160 square kilometers, the biggest attraction at Volcanoes National Park is trekking Mountain Gorillas on your Rwanda trips. The park is home to an increasing number of Gorillas, and each year, thousands of tourists come to Rwanda to trek Gorillas in the high bamboo of the Virunga Mastiff.

Owing to the fact that there are fewer Gorilla families here than in Uganda, Gorilla permits are on higher demand for Rwanda safari holidays. You need to book and purchase one at $1,500 USD before spending at least 1 hour within the presence of the apes. Ensure to observe all the guidelines set by your guide during the Gorilla trekking process.

Apart from Mountain Gorilla trekking, other safari activities you can do in Volcanoes National Park for your safari trips Rwanda include; volcano/ mountain hiking, game drives, cultural encounters and birding with a touch of Albertine Rift endemics and Congo-biome species.

Walking the streets on your Rwanda safari holidays, it would be quite hard to believe that this very land was a witness to one of the most gruesome moments of African history and yet it was! The 1994 Rwanda genocide would claim more than 800,000 people in just a span of 100 days.

Although it is now more than twenty-seven years since the genocide, many citizens remember it like it was yesterday. Stories of how they lost their loved ones or how they survived the terror themselves still linger around many households, especially in the rural areas.

For the greatest history adventure of your life, we recommend a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial. Several photographs and artifacts line the exhibition halls, beckoning visitors to a walk in the history of Rwanda. Some possessions of the victims such as shoes can also be seen at display in the building.

Please note that visiting the Kigali Genocide memorial, although phenomenal can be quite emotional; especially when viewing the children’s room that contains pictures and information on the children who were killed. Other sites dedicated to remembering the victims of the genocide are; Nyanza Genocide memorial and camp Kigali Belgian Monument among others.

Nyungwe National Park is located in south western Rwanda near its border with Burundi and Uganda. It is nestled between the Nile and River Rusizi basin. Nyungwe is the perfect destination to see the afro montane ecosystem on your Rwanda safari trips.

Chimpanzee tracking is one of the activities carried out at Nyungwe National Park for Rwanda safari tours and holidays. The park is home to a satisfactory Chimpanzee population, of which two families have been habituated. The most tracked family comprises of 60 individuals while the smaller family of 30 individuals can be tracked in Cyamudongo forest at the edge of Nyungwe.

Chimpanzee in Nyungwe National Park Forest FeedingNothing beats spending the morning of your Rwanda safari tracking Chimpanzees in the moist deep green of Nyungwe National Park. This thrilling experience follows a short briefing before setting out into the wild. After an hour of unforgettablewild experiences with the Chimps, you are now ready to call it a day.

Other Rwanda safari tours and holidays activities at Nyungwe National Park include; Golden Monkey trekking, birding, game viewing, hiking and nature walks, cultural encounters and the canopy walk that gives the feel of walking through the afro montane forest at 70 metres off the ground.

When you arrive in Rwanda, you are suddenly aware of all the things you have read or havebeen told about this small country; the dark history, the amazing culture and the tidy streets. But we guarantee that the best stories are those that you experience for yourself on our Rwanda safari tours. Have a go at some delicious local cuisines and meet the people all at your pace.

Exploring Kigali city is best reserved for the start or end of your Rwanda safari tours. The vibrance of the art and culture of this place deserves to be enjoyed for atleast three days. Kimoko Market, the largest in the city is great for purchasing souvenirs such as brightly coloured cloths and crafts.

Visitors can also see more art and learn more about Rwanda’s culture at the Inema Arts Center and the Rwanda Art Museum. Other places to see on safari trips Rwanda during a city tour are the presidential palace, Nyamata genocide memorial and the Kandt house of natural history among others.

Without the work of re-known primatologist Dian Fossey, trekking Gorillas today would not be possible. Perhaps their population would have dwindled or become non-existent all together. The centre was established in September 1967 as merely a Gorilla poaching patrol site operating in two tents.

With funding from National Geographic, Dian Fossey went on to study, observe and research about Mountain Gorillas and their behavior. Her passion for these gentle apes pushed her into Gorilla conservation and habituation. Although she was murdered, her work has continued to this day and fostered the multiplication of Mountain Gorilla numbers.

At Karisoke Research Centre, you get to learn about Dian Fossey’s work, the passion that drove her to save Gorillas and the life she left behind as she decided to live in the wild. The centre can be visited before going for Rwanda safari tours Gorilla trekking to better appreciate her effort.  

Akagera National Park covers 1,122 square kilometers in the furthermost part of Rwanda, along its border with Tanzania. It is one of the largest protected wetlands in East and Central Africa. Consequentially, most of the landscape in Akagera is made up of savannah woodland and grassland, swamps and low lying mountains.

You want to experience a Rwanda safari tours game drive in Akagera National Park.  Its diverse habitat makes it a refuge for a number of wildlife, most especially savannah dwelling species. Animals to see here include; Lions, Crocodiles, Zebra, Elephants, Hyenas, Hippos, Buffalos, Giraffes, Civets, Olive baboons and Vervet Monkeys.

Among others, some Antelope species found here are bushbuck, roan antelope, Topi, Klipspringer, Oribi, Cape Eland, duikers, Impalas and waterbuck. Akagera National Park is an equally great Rwanda trips birding destination with about 500 species such as; Shoebill stork, papyrus gonolek, red faced barbet and swamp fly catcher among others.

Other Rwanda safari tours activities to enjoy in Akagera National Park are; boat cruises on Lake Ihema, Sport fishing at Lake Shakani, hiking and nature walks. Moreover, Akagera is a great place to enjoy site seeing and even indulge in a little community activities such as local beer brewing, preparing local food and crafts.

Within the Albertine rift of the East African rift valley system, at the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo lies Lake Kivu; a fresh water Lake covering an area of 2,700 square kilometers. Lake Kivu is one of the African Great Lakes and it is drained by River Ruzizi into Lake Tanganyika.

Lake Kivu is a perfect destination to close up your safari trips Rwanda. This vast lake allows for boat safaris, fishing, biking, swimming and even surfing! The hills surrounding it are a great starting point for your hiking and nature walk trails while you keep an eye out for some bird life.

Ibyi’wacu is one of many cultural centres that offer visitors on safari trips Rwanda a chance to learn about and participate in the rich and vibrant culture of the people of Rwanda. Although divided into different tribes, the Rwandese people have continually found vibrant ways to showcase and preserve their culture.

At the centre, visitors are treated to a gallant union of traditional dances, songs and even folk tales for the perfect blend of Rwanda safari tours and holidays cultural encounters. You are taken through local food processing techniques to make products such as ghee and brewed beer.

Artifacts made by the locals are displayed at the center and visitors can purchase these as souvenirs to take back home after Rwanda tours. Another cultural centre to look into when on your Rwanda trips is the King’s palace; a replica of a typical traditional King’s palace in memory of kingdoms in Rwanda.