Tourist attractions in Rwanda: Rwanda is a landlocked country in East Africa, sharing its border with Tanzania to the east, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, Uganda to the north, and Burundi to the south. With a history that spans thousands of years, Rwanda has experienced numerous sociopolitical changes and challenges that have significantly shaped the country. The most tragic one is the recent 1994 Rwanda genocide against the Tutsis by the Hutus. This genocide is considered the most horrific event in the history of mankind.
The 1994 Rwanda genocide is a period of 100 days that was characterized by mass killings, massacres, rapes, and many other atrocities. This period saw more than 800,000 Tutsis and a few Hutus who sympathized with the Tutsi killed by the Hutu militias. Some sources say up to a million people died during this period.
The Hutus after the death of President Juvenal Habyarimana saw a power and administrative vacuum and used it with the neglect propaganda against the Tutsi to wipe them out. The Hutu militias were on a mission of ethnic cleansing of the Tutsi race. The genocide ended with the overthrow of the genocide regime in July 1994 by a Tutsi rebel group called the Rwandan Patriotic Front.
The “Land of a Thousand Hills,” Rwanda, is among Africa’s prime tourist destinations that attract millions of people to explore its fabulous landscapes, rich cultures, and biodiversity. The country is among the best gorilla trekking destinations in the world. Rwanda is also a country renowned for highly hospitable and delightful people, with a high affinity toward sharing their cultures and traditions through music, dance, drama, folklore, etc. Below are some of the attractions that the country offers.
Mountain Gorillas
Rwanda is among the countries that host the endangered mountain gorillas in its vast Volcanoes National Park. The park is part of the Virunga massif an area that harbors the remaining population of mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas are the major tourist attractions in Rwanda hence making it a popular gorilla destination in the world. The mountain gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park can be encountered while on a gorilla trekking experience. These primates are fascinating creatures that share with us humans over 98% of DNA, no wonder they have human-like features like their social ways of living in groups known as gorilla families.
Genocide memorial sites
These are memorial sites that commemorate the 1994 tragedy that claimed the lives of more than 800,000 people in just 100 days. These memorials hold chilling objects and weapons and shed light on the extreme brutality that was inflicted on the Tutsis by the Hutu serving as stark reminders for future generations. They therefore display Rwanda’s history as well as offering lessons in conflict prevention and building a brighter future free from abhors.
The notable sites include the Kigali genocide memorial, Nyamata genocide memorial, Murambi genocide memorial, Bisensero genocide memorial, Nyange genocide memorial, Gisenyi, Ntarama, and many others. Group safaris can easily be made to these memorial sites for an insight into Rwanda’s history which can also be complemented with a city tour to Kigali.
Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu in western Rwanda is the country’s largest lake covering a total land surface of approximately 2,700 square kilometers. Situated only an hour on the road from Volcanoes National Park, this is an ideal destination for much-needed relaxation after the thrilling gorilla-tracking expedition. Besides, there are plenty of tourist activities visitors can enjoy while in this enchanting place. These include cycling, kayaking, boat rides, Island tours, swimming, and sport fishing among others. With over 400 bird species, including the Albertine endemics, birders can enjoy visiting Lake Kivu for birdwatching tours. Birds include African grey parrots, pied kingfishers, African pygmy geese, and bronze sunbirds among others.
Chimpanzee
Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park is the country’s hotspot for encountering chimpanzees. These primate species unlike their giant cousin the mountain gorillas who stay in highland areas, chimpanzees live in tropical forests that are usually in relatively flat landscapes. The chimpanzees are agile and spend most of their time high up in the forest canopies feeding on leaves, fruits, and shoots. Nyungwe Forest National Park offers chimpanzee tracking safaris that offer visitors an opportunity to encounter these playful primates in their natural habitat.
Wildlife
Rwanda also offers wildlife attractions in its only savannah national park Akagera. The park is home to several wildlife species that harbor the different ecological systems of the park. The savannah plains of the park are home to thousands of wildlife species such as the Big 5 lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, and rhinos. The park also harbors other species like zebras, antelopes, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, hyenas, waterbucks, reedbucks, and ostriches. Encountering these wildlife species in their natural habitats can be through a game drive adventure experience or during guided nature walks in the park.
What are some of the tourist activities in Rwanda?
With the many tourist attractions in Rwanda, the country offers incredible activities that will entertain visitors from far and wide. These tourist activities include the following.
Game drives
Game drives involve navigation and exploring the country’s savannah park, and Akagera National Park in the comfort and safety of your vehicle. Game drives are a great deal for visitors who wish to explore the whole park. Game drives take about 2-3 hours offering two sessions of day and night. The day game drives begin at 6 am when the animals are actively feeding and the night drives begin at 6 pm as the dusk kicks in and nocturnal prepare for the hunt.
Boat cruise
This is also a major activity in Rwanda taking place in various areas like Lake Ihema of Akagera National Park and Lake Kivu. Lake Ihema harbors various aquatic wildlife species including crocodiles and hippos. While on a boat cruise experience, you will spot other animals on the shores such as antelopes, waterbucks, elephants, and buffaloes. A boat cruise on Lake Kivu’s calm water is the perfect way to explore this scenic and tranquil Lake while capturing several bird species and many others.
Birding
Rwanda is a popular birding country as it hosts over 702 bird species. These species harbor the various landscapes and vegetation areas of the country. Birding can be done in various places in the country including Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park, and Nyungwe Forest National Park. These popular birding destinations in Rwanda have various birding trails that are used by birders to track down various bird species as they lead to the bird habitats. Some of the birds in Rwanda include the Painted-snipe, Bushshrike, Ring-necked francolin, Monarch flycatcher, Wattle-eye, Lagden’s Bush-shrike, African Green Broadbill, Kivu Ground Thrush, Ruwenzori Batis, Black Cuckoo, Brown-chested lapwing, and Blue-headed coucal among others.
