10 Things to Do in Rwanda

10 Things to Do in Rwanda: Rwanda is located in the East African region within the Great Rift Valley and Great Lakes region. Uganda Burundi, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo neighbor the country. This country is usually tagged as a land of a thousand hills since it has several highlands. Kigali is the main capital city of the country. Rwanda has several destinations that travelers can visit during their safaris and some of these destinations include;

Akagera national park

This is the only savannah park in the northeastern part of Rwanda at the border of Rwanda and Tanzania. This park was established as a national park in 1934 and the fore it is among the oldest national parks in Africa. The park is home to several wildlife like lions, leopards, elephants, cheetahs, rhinos, antelopes, and many others. Most of the park’s land was encroached on by humans during the 1994 Rwanda genocide.

Volcanoes National Park

Located at the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in northwestern Rwanda. The park is home to several primates like mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, vervet monkeys, and many others. Volcanoes National Park is within the Virunga region with several ranges surrounding the park. This park is forested throughout and is one of the oldest parks in Africa. It holds the history of the gorilla conservation works which were done by Dian Fossey who was killed by poachers.

Nyungwe Forest National park

Nyungwe Forest National Park is located in southwestern Rwanda at the border of Rwanda and Burundi. It is the largest national park in Rwanda and is vast with the montane rain forests. It is also near Lake Kivu where it shares also border with the democratic republic of Congo. The park is home to several wildlife like chimpanzees, owl faces, vervet monkeys, and many others.

Kigali city

Kigali city is the main capital city of Rwanda with several histories about the country. While in the city you visit several museums, genocide sites, and many others.

10 things to do in Rwanda

1. Gorilla trekking

Gorilla trekking is only done in the Volcanoes National Park and takes through the park in search of the large and powerful primates in the park. Gorilla trekking takes to the search of the habituated gorilla families that are within the park. The habituation of these gorillas takes about 2 years and gorillas are trained to get used to human interference during their visit.

Tracking of these mountain gorillas requires travelers to always have acquired the trekking permits. Travelers are supposed to use tour operators to book the gorilla trekking permit to ensure availability during the tracking dates. The gorilla trekking permits cost about 1500 dollars for foreign nonresidents, 500 dollars for foreign residents, and 200 dollars for East African residents.

2. Chimpanzee trekking

Chimpanzee trekking is the search of the large habituated chimpanzee in the forested areas. In Rwanda, chimpanzee trekking is done in the Nyungwe Forest National Park. Tracking of the chimpanzee starts early in the morning at about 0400 hours with the briefing about the chimpanzee trekking. In this briefing, travelers are highlighted the dos and don’ts about the gorilla trekking. Chimpanzee trekking in the Nyungwe Forest National Park costs about 150 dollars for foreign nonresidents, 75 dollars for foreign residents, and 25 dollars for East African citizens. During this safari, travelers are supposed to pay for the park entrance.

3. Game drive

Game driving is one of the savannah activities that travelers on their safaris engage in. This activity is done in the savannah park of Rwanda which is Akagera National Park at the border of Rwanda and Tanzania. It is done in the gazette trails of the park in sessions of the morning, afternoon, and evening. The wildlife spotted in the park includes lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffaloes, rhinos, giraffes, and many others.

4. Boat cruise

Boat cruise is one of the activities that is done in the several water bodies of Rwanda. Travelers cruise using motorized boats that will take them through different water bodies like Lake Kivu, lake Ihema, and many others. During the boat cruise, travelers see several wildlife like buffaloes, crocodiles, hippos, and many others will be sited during the safari.

5. Birding

Rwanda is a great destination for travelers to engage in during their birding safaris. In Rwanda, there are several bird species and they about 703 bird species where 29 of which are only found in Rwanda. In Rwanda, the birding destinations include Nyungwe Forest National Park, Akagera National Park, and many others.

6. City tours

City tours are among the top 10 activities that travelers on their safaris can engage in in Rwanda. City tours take you to several sites in Kigali city which include the Kigali genocide, the Belgium monument, the president’s museum, and many others.

7. Cultural encounters

Rwanda is made up of several cultural communities that travelers can engage in during the safari. With the visit to these communities, travelers will have more to learn about the lifestyle of the Rwandese. The cultural communities in Rwanda include guardian gorilla village, Banda community village, Nyamirambo community, and many others.

8. Golden monkey trekking

In Rwanda, the golden monkeys live with the mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park. Golden monkey trekking starts with a briefing about the activity. The activity takes about 2 to 5 hours of the day and the monkeys are sited in the bamboo forests of the park. The golden monkey trekking costs about 100 USD for foreign nonresidents, 65 USD for foreign residents, and RWF 4000 for East African residents.

9. Canopy walk

This activity is done in Nyungwe Forest National Park where travelers engage during the safari in the park. A canopy walk is done on the high bridge that is raised about 50 meters above the mainland.

10. Nature walks

Nature walks or safari walks are also among the top 10 things that travelers can engage in during a safari in Rwanda where travelers encounter the destinations on foot. Travelers usually move with the local guides or armed rangers to ensure safety during the safari. Nature walks are done in the Nyungwe Forest National Park, Akagera National Park, volcanoes National Park, and many others.