Rwanda popularly known as the land of a thousand hills is one of the most extraordinary and fast growing safari destinations. A Rwanda safari provides an ideal mixture of breathtaking scenery, wildlife encounters and a rich cultural experiences. The safari ranges from tracking the mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park to exploring the savannah plains and the serene lakes, Rwanda as the country delivers a perfect and memorable African safari.
Tourists come from all over the world in search of peace, relaxation and thrilling wildlife. Rwanda as the country obtained its independence on July 1st, 1962. The Rwandan people are among the welcoming, offering beautiful performances and service from the arrival to departure. The safaris start as soon as you get off the plane at the Kigali international airport with amazing landscapes of rolling hills, rich foliage and beautiful infrastructure. Kigali is the largest and most famous capital city of Rwanda.
Why select Rwanda for a safari?
A Rwanda safari stands out as one of the persistent and most rewarding ways to experience a true and genuine african safari. Besides Rwanda being small in size, it offers a striking variety of landscapes, wildlife and cultural experiences thus making it perfect for tourists who are searching for a rich and compact safari adventure without having long distances of travelling.
The most biggest advantage of a Rwanda safari is the accessibility and efficiency. Starting from the capital city of Kigali, the major safari destinations are just a few meters drive away. This makes it easy to combine other safari activities such as gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking and wildlife safaris in one itinerary which is not common with other african safari destinations.
Gorilla trekking; Rwanda is widely popular for gorilla trekking within the volcanoes national park and its taken as the major highlight of a Rwanda safari. the gorilla trekking experience is properly organised with skilled guides and managed groups to make sure that tourists are safe as well as the wildlife.
Variety of safari experiences in a small safari destination; A Rwanda safari is exceptional because it blends with many safari types just on one safari. these include primate safaris within Nyungwe forest national park where tourists can trek the chimpanzees, wildlife safaris within the akagera which is home of the big five, birding safaris all over the forests, wetlands and lakes and cultural safaris where tourists can explore Rwanda’s traditions and history. This variety makes sure each tourists enjoys a full african safari experience without moving to various countries.
TYPES OF RWANDA SAFARIS
A Rwanda safari provides tourists with the opportunity to experience primates, wildlife, birds and culture within a small and organised safari destination. Each of the safari adds depth to the journey thus making the country one of the most rewarding safari destination.
Gorilla trekking safari
Gorilla trekking within the volcanoes national park and it’s the major treasure of any rwanda safari. the experience is one of a life time experiences which requires tourists to hike in the mist covered forests as well as the volcanic slopes to see endangered mountain gorillas within their natural habitat.
The gorilla trekking experience is so intimate and exclusive with a small group making sure there is no disturbance. Therefore, gorilla trekking contributes directly to the community development and preservation of the park thus making it an important part of your african safari.
Wildlife safaris
Rwanda as a country provides extraordinary experiences within akagera national park. the national park displays a classic savannah scenery, rolling plains, lakes and acacia woodlands. While on a wildlife safari, tourists can enjoy game drives where they will spot the big five that is lions, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos, boat cruise safari on lake ihema for an encounter with the aquatic wildlife.
Therefore, akagera national park offers the ideal classic wildlife safari thus offering a traditional african safari.
Birding safari
Rwanda is a treasure for the birding safari and it boosts with over 700 bird species all over the different ecosystems. With the dense rainforests to the wetlands and the lakes. The major birding destinations include;
Therefore, bird lovers on a Rwanda safari can observe species such as sunbirds, great blue turaco and hornbills.
Cultural safari
Rwanda is not only about the wildlife and primate safaris but it’s a journey through Africa’s enchanting cultural and historical sceneries. The major cultural and historical experiences include;
All these experiences form a more deep and emotional connection thus making your african safari into a memorable one.
Primate safari
Besides the gorillas, Rwanda provides an amazing primate experience in nyungwe forest national park. chimpanzee trekking is the major highlight and a complement to the gorilla trekking. while on a chimpanzee trekking, tourists can encounter the colobus monkeys, L’hoests monkeys and other forest primates.
The chimpanzee trekking adds depth to the Rwanda safari thus making it one of the best safari destinations for primate african safaris.
TOP SAFARI DESTINATION WHILE ON A RWANDA SAFARI
Volcanoes national park
Volcanoes national park is the treasure of any Rwanda safari and its located in the northwestern region and thus form part of the Virunga mountain range. The national park is popular for its population of the endangered mountain gorillas.
Gorilla trekking is the most activity that offers a life changing experience as tourists hike in the bamboo forests and mist covered slopes. Besides the gorillas, tourists can spot golden monkeys as well hike mount bisoke and have a cultural visit at the iby’iwacu cultural village.
Akagera national park
Akagera national park is home to the bigfive thus making it a full african safari destination in Rwanda. While in akagera tourists can enjoy game drives where they will spot lions, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos, boat safaris on lake ihema where tourists can see hippos and crocodiles, birdwatching mostly the wetland and savannah species.
Tourists searching for a more traditional wildlife safari, akagera national park provides the best. Akagera restoration and successful conservation story has made it to be one of the ideal safari destinations.
Nyungwe national park
Nyungwe national park is among the oldest and diverse rainforests. Situated in the southwestern part of Rwanda, it’s a home to 13 primate species.
The national park is famous for chimpanzee trekking and offers a thrilling encounter with the primates. Besides the gorillas, chimpanzees are most active thus making the trekking experience so fascinating.
Nyungwe national park provides tourists with an amazing birding safari, famous canopy walk and 13 primate species including colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, L’hoests monkey, dents mona monkey, vervet monkeys and blue monkeys among others.
Lake Kivu
After many days of wildlife safaris and trekking, lake Kivu provides the ideal place for a relaxation and loosen up. Lake Kivu is one of the great lakes, it offers a calm and peaceful escape which completes the adventure of a Rwanda safari.
While at lake Kivu, tourists can take part in bota cruises and visiting the island, kayaking and swimming as well as relaxation at the lakeside.