Nyungwe Forest National Park – One of the oldest rain forests in Africa, Nyungwe is rich in biodiversity and spectacularly beautiful. The mountainous region is teaming with wildlife, including a small population of chimpanzees as well as 12 other species of primate, including the L’Hoest’s monkey endemic to the Albertine Rift.
Primate tracking tops most visitors’ list, but it’s worth lingering a little longer for those with time to relax and take in the primal atmosphere. An estimated 500 chimpanzees live throughout the forest, making fresh nests in the treetops each evening.
The bird watching is among the best in Africa with 322 birds’ species including Red-collared Babbler and 29 other Albertine Rift Endemic species. Butterflies are also a common sight, with at least 120 species.
Memorable and photogenic moments include walking up to the Isumo waterfall or along the Canopy Walk suspension bridge. Tea plantations border the edges of the park, with a habituated troop of Ruwenzori colobus monkeys at Gisakura as well as forest fringe birds.
Akagera National Park
The relatively warm and low-lying plains of Akagera comprise Savannah, woodland, wetland and a dozen lakes. In partnership with African Parks, aim is to transform the National Park into a world-class location to experience a safari.
The largely open expanse is ideal for game viewing, and we are taking steps to ensure the Big Five roam the park in greater numbers over the course of time. This is through game drives either in the morning or afternoon.
A family of lions from South Africa is settling in well, and breeding successfully, and 18 eastern black rhinos have also been reintroduced. Visitors can also encounter buffalo, elephant, antelope, zebra, giraffe, baboons, monkeys, an incredible 490 bird species, plus much more.
A boat trip on Lake Ihema is also a highlight of any visit to Akagera, with its large pods of hippos, Nile crocodiles and abundant water birds on the island in the middle of the lake.
Volcanoes National Park is a national park in north-western Rwanda. It covers 160 km² of rain forest and encompasses five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains, namely Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo.
With just a 2 hour drive on road from Kigali is Volcanoes National Park Located in north-western Rwanda bordering Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, this park is part of the Virunga Mountain Range and home to the World’s Endangered Mountain Gorillas, 5 of the 8 beautiful Virunga Volcanoes, the rare Golden monkeys, numerous bird species, and having a historic connection to the American primatologist Diane Fossey who grave yard is in between Mount Karisimbi & Mount Bisoke at her originally established Karisoke Research Centre where she could do her gorilla studies from.
There are twelve habituated mountain gorilla groups that tourists encounter with. Apart from visiting the gorillas, there are Volcano Hikes, Diane Fossey Tomb Hike, Bird Watching, Golden Monkey Trekking and other after trekking activities such as Cave Exploration specifically the Musanze Caves, Cultural encounters around the park like visiting the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
Rwanda gorilla trekking permit cost is around US$1,500 per person. They book out well in advance as numbers are strictly limited, and so if you are keen to go gorilla trekking during peak season you sometimes need to book as early as 04 months in advance.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is possible throughout the year but there are particular months that present the best time to visit Rwanda for trekking through the forest and seeing the gorillas. A time to avoid would be March to May as this is the long, rainy season in Rwanda.
The heavy and persistent rains are intensified in the rain forest and as a result, the terrain becomes extremely wet and muddy, making the hikes particularly challenging. The positive of heading this time of year is that the gorillas usually reside lower on the slopes of the forest, so although the hike can be tough, the actual distance you walk may be much shorter than other times of the year.
Lake Kivu is one of the popular Tourist Attractions in Rwanda and the biggest watershed in Rwanda surrounded by different resort towns with treasured beaches specifically Gisenyi and Kibuye. These resort towns have plentiful guesthouses/hotels, restaurants, and waterside sandy spacious grounds for visitors who wish to have a little rest and relaxation.
Whether your pleasure is found in sunbathing in the sand or getting wet and wild swimming in the water, visiting different islands on the lake in a Boat or Canoe, undertaking water sport activities like Kayaking – Lake Kivu is a perfect place in Rwanda to unwind.
Hiking some of the steep hills as you interact with the local community, Picnicking, Coffee & Tea Plantation Tours and Cycling on the Congo Nile Trail are just a few of the other activities available when paying a visit to Rwanda’s Lake Kivu.
Kigali Genocide Memorial Grounds
A place of remembrance and learning! This Genocide Memorial site is located in Kigali city the capital of Rwanda in Gisozi just ten minutes’ drive from the centre of the town, Kigali Genocide Memorial Grounds commemorates and acts as the final resting place for more than 250,000 victims of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsi.
The museum features exhibitions with archives of video testimonies from Genocide survivors and rescuers, perpetrator testimonies from court proceedings, footage from annual remembrance ceremonies (Kwibuka), archival photographs for the fallen victims hanged on walls, colonial documents, identification records, maps, foreign serials and propaganda publications and you can visit the Museum for educative, personal and research purposes to know detailed information about this horrific incident through events and historical implications of the Genocide.
King’s Palace Museum
visiting one of the country’s museums, the King’s Palace Museum as the museum is strategically located in Nyanza Town along the road to Nyungwe National Park just two hours’ drive from Kigali city.
Aside from discovering memorial sites in Kigali and outside the city areas, a visit to this museum is an interesting Tourist Attraction in Rwanda that will give you an insight into the deep culture and colonial & traditional ruler ship of kings of Rwanda starting from showcases such as the star attraction at the Museum which is the Inyambo (sacred cows) and their staggeringly large curved horns, the replica of a King’s Palace from the 15th century with a thatched roof, royal hut, and fresh milk hut, locally made beer hut traditionally run by an unmarried virgin girl and boy respectively.
The colonial-style home that was once the royal residence of King Mutara III Rudahigwa in the mid-20th century featuring portraits of the different reigning kings and queens plus the interior design which is particularly striking, blending Rwandan patterns with European-style furniture (some of which was actually owned by the king).
Your visit will be spiced up with traditional performances of traditional singers lulling the Inyambo Cows into a mellow state through poems – a ritual that’s unique to the country of Rwanda alone. The King’s Palace Museum is definitely one of the top Tourist Attractions in Rwanda.
Kigali City is well known as the cleanest city in Africa and has thus quickly transformed into a vibrant and exciting city with a mix of both tradition and modernity offering a lot of markets to visit, Art Galleries, Museums and Memorial centres, night meander fascinating places to keep you out of your hotel room boredom before or after your safari. Explore this exciting but yet calm city as you take off some few days around to indulge into the vibrant cultures, cuisines and fascinating sceneries that Rwanda’s capital city has to offer.
Check out tailor made fabrics from swirling patterned textiles and experience the energetic atmosphere as you interact with local vendors about how they go about their daily business as well undertake the bargaining power tactics used to win your favourite price for all your shopping items at Kimironko Market the largest market place with anything you may need around its every corner.
There are many art craft shops if you are interested in artefacts such as Inema Arts Centre, Rwanda Art Museum at the former Presidential Palace to get creative scenes of local arts made by the local artists and as well get to see the remains of debris from the presidential aircraft that crashed in 1994 at the former Presidential palace.
