Main tourist attractions in Rwanda
Main tourist attractions in Rwanda : Rwanda is one of the small landlocked countries found in East Africa with area coverage of about 26,338 square kilometres. Rwanda shares borders with Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Tanzania. Rwanda is known for her beautiful rolling hills, Volcanoes, Mountain gorillas, beautiful people but sadly for also enduring one of the worst genocides in recent history in 1994. After the genocide, the government of President Kagame who is also still the serving president of Rwanda embarked on the difficult task of healing the Rwanda people, teaching reconciliation and bringing people together to rebuild their country. Rwanda is now considered a yardstick for how other African countries can organize their people, curb corruption and set efficient systems even with few resources. One of the greatest achievements of this government in Rwanda has been seen in the tourism sector.
The Rwanda government has gone to great lengths in promoting tourism infrastructure like roads and hotels are of very high standards while tourist attractions the national parks are managed by dedicated and patriotic authority that is Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Rwanda has so much to offer travellers and below are some of the tourist attractions to visit in Rwanda.
Gorilla Trekking in the Volcanoes National Park
Rwanda is one of the3 countries where to only find the mountain gorillas including Uganda, the democratic republic of Congo and Rwanda herself. Volcanoes national park is located in the Volcanic mountains and home to the only remaining mountain gorillas in the world thus Volcanoes national park is the most visited wildlife conservation site in Rwanda. Rwanda records over 1,000 international tourists each year who go to the park to mainly see mountain gorillas alongside other popular activities in the park. Volcanoes national park has about 10 habituated gorilla groups and only 8 people may track a group on a daily, so plan your Rwanda gorilla trekking safari well by purchasing your permit in advance to avoid missing out.
Gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes national park starts with a briefing at 7am from the park office in Kinigi head office. From there visitors are taken out to track one of the gorilla groups in the company of armed ranger guides. Gorilla trekking is one of the most unforgettable and memorable experiences while visiting Africa because it involves an encounter with creatures that resembles us humans. A gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda goes for US $1500 per person however there are incentives provided for particular categories of people, contact us for more details about the Gorilla trekking incentives for visitors.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe National Park
Nyungwe forest national park is home to the primates in Rwanda given that it is oldest afro-montane forests in Africa. Nyungwe is the second best visited national park in Rwanda and it is found in the South Western part of Rwanda. Nyungwe forest is home to 13 species of primates including chimpanzees and also one of the last strongholds of the Angola Colobus and Golden Monkeys.
There are over 15 trails to choose from for a nature walk when exploring the forest. If nature walks are not your things, you can choose chimpanzee tracking or the very popular canopy walk which is the largest in East Africa. Regardless of which particular activity you register for, you will be rewarded with amazing sites of about 310 different bird species, 13 species primates, 120 butterflies’ 120 species, plants over 1,000 species, 32 species amphibians, 38 reptiles’ species and ancient trees.
Canopy Walk in Nyungwe forest – Apart from chimpanzee trekking and nature walks, one of the best canopy walk trails are organized in Nyungwe Forest. This activity was introduced in 2010 in an effort to diversify tourism activities in the country. The canopy walkway is 50 meters high hence offering an aerial view of the forest and the creatures therein. The walkways left and right as one move from one point to another hence requiring some confidence to complete the walk. You need to be warned in advance if you have a fear for heights.
Golden Monkey Tracking
Rwanda is one of the last headlocks for golden monkeys in Rwanda. These beautiful monkeys thrive in the Virunga ranges of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Golden monkeys are endangered and because of that are highly protected. Although eagles prey on them as their natural prey, humans are their greatest threat. Tourists love golden monkeys because of their beautiful gold coats and playful nature. Golden monkey tracking experience in Rwanda – Volcanoes national park starts with a briefing at 7:30am. It is less tiring than gorilla trekking because the monkeys don’t move too far off in the forest. Golden monkey permits cost $100 in Rwanda.
Visiting the Tomb of Dian Fossey
Dian Fossey is one of the greatest primatologists of the 20th Century of Rwanda. Dian Fossey was a pioneer in gorilla research and conservation having received funding from the National Geographic. Dian Fossey studied the behaviour of mountain gorillas extensively for 18 years and discovered many things about them including how to habituate them. Without her findings, what we now know as gorilla trekking and habituation would not be possible. As time went on, Dian Fossey changed focus from research to gorilla conservation in order to protect the primates from extensive poaching from both Congo and Rwanda. For this she was hated and later murdered while at her camp Mount Karisimbi where she was found dead in her room, one morning in 1985.
After gorilla trekking, visitors can stay for an extra day to visit the home of the former research centre and tomb on the slopes of two volcanoes that is Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke. Getting to the tomb requires some level of fitness because it involves hiking up to the highest volcanic mountains. You also need to prepare to deal with muddy trails especially during the wet season. The hike to Dian Fossey costs US $80 per person. One of the advantages of going for the Dian Fossey hike is that you might get lucky and encounter the mountain gorillas without spending extra. After visiting her tomb and former Karisoke Centre, you can also visit the new Karisoke Research Centre found in the town of Musanze. This is where the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund offices are also located and where her work continues.
Birdwatching experience
Rwanda is an excellent birding destination with over 640 species of birds of which 30 are endemic to the country. Birdwatching can be done in all the 3 national parks of Rwanda including the Akagera National Park, Nyungwe National Park, and the Volcanoes National Park, Lake Kivu. Other birding spots include the suburbs in Kigali and the various smaller waterbodies, wetlands/swamps, marshlands and agricultural plantations. The main species to look out for are those endemic to the Albertine Rift and the Virunga ranges. The intriguing Shoebill stork can also be sighted in wetlands and marshes of Akagera.
Wildlife safaris in Akagera National Park
With all talk focused on mountain gorillas, it is easy to forget that Rwanda is also excellent place for savannah wildlife safaris that is game drives and standard wildlife safaris. Akagera is Rwanda’s only savannah park covering an area of 1,085 square kilometres. It was established in 1934 but the park lost a significant number of wildlife during the 1994 genocide whereby thousands of fleeing citizens used the park as an escape route to seek safety in neighbouring countries. When the genocide ended, many people chose to settle in parts of the park leading to uncontrolled poaching and encroachments. When the African Parks Network which is currently managing the park teamed up with the government to manage the park, the number of wildlife increased and species that had been lost were re-introduced.
Akagera national park is composed of swamps, savannah plains, woodlands, lakes, rivers and terraced hills. It is now home to all the Big 5 animals Lions, Rhinos, elephants, Buffaloes and Leopards hence offering tourists a chance to experience wildlife safaris in Rwanda, taking into consideration other activities like gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, cultural encounters and mountain climbing).
Akagera is also home to olive baboons, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, hyenas, leopards and hippos to mention a few. Apart from standard game drives, Akagera is excellent for birding, nature walks and sport fishing in Lake Shakani. The afternoon boat cruise along Lake Ihema is very popular too and rewards tourists with beautiful scenery and encounters with aquatic birds, crocodiles, hippos and antelopes drinking by the Lake shores.
Visit Coffee and Tea Plantations
Rwanda is known for exporting some of the finest tea and coffee in Africa. In fact, tea is the leading export of the country while the quality of the coffee has won many international awards. Coffee and tea farming is aided in part by the fertile volcanic soils, high altitude and good weather in the country. Coffee and Tea plantation tours can be organized for tourists who are interested in learning about how the two cash crops are grown and processed. The tours involve observing how the workers plant the crop, pick, select, wash, dry and turn them into final products ready for consumption. Every tour should end with tasting locally prepared coffee. Coffee is also known as African tea – coffee or tea mixed with milk and other flavours.
Musanze Caves
The Musanze caves are popular attraction for those interested in geology or adventure. These ancient caves are found in Musanze district, outside the Volcanoes National Park. The caves were opened to tourism in 2013 after undergoing rehabilitation which involved building staircases and paved trails/paths. The caves are about 2 kilometres long and where formed from lava flows over 60 million years ago that the time when the East African Rift Valley formation. There are about 32 entrances with main entrance about 10 kilometres wide. The bat-filled caves were once hiding grounds for the Batwa people and other tribal groups in the area.
Hiking Mount Karisimbi
Mount Karisimbi is one of the tallest mountains in Africa. It is over 4,500 meters high and is found in the Volcanoes National Park. The mountain is one of the 8 volcanoes within the wider Virunga ranges of mountains in Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. Hiking Mount Karisimbi takes two days. Though challenging, the hike rewards participants with beautiful views of the Virunga ranges, the lava-spewing Nyiragongo volcano, national parks in Uganda and Congo. Hiking mount Karisimbi is usually combing with gorilla and golden monkey trekking in the Volcanoes National Park.
Climbing Mount Bisoke
Mount Bisoke is one of the volcanic mountain ranges rising at about 3,711 meters high. What makes Mount Bisoke is the most popular volcano that is an easier climb. It takes only one day to get to the summit and back. Getting to the summit rewards hikers with an opportunity to explore a giant crater and also gaze at the other Virunga volcanoes and the volcanoes National Park. If you are lucky, you might encounter a gorilla or golden monkey group as you climb the lower slopes of the mountain.
The Congo Nile Trail
The Congo Nile trail is a new addition by the government of Rwanda as it diversifies the tourism attractions in the country. The Congo Nile trail is 140 miles long and can be traversed by a motorcycle, bike or on foot. If one decided to walk, it may take 10 days to cover the entire trail. The Congo Nile Trail is one of the best biking trails in East Africa. The trail rewards bikers with amazing scenery and all that is good about the Rwanda countryside, beautiful rolling hills, tea plantations, rural villages, Lake Kivu and Nyungwe National Park. By the time one completes the trail, they would have got an understanding of how the locals go about with their lives. Accommodation is not a problem along the way as there are many campsites and hotels to choose from. You could even move with your own tent and set it up outside churches or schools. You can hire a bike and someone to accompany you from a tour operator.
Relaxation along the shores of Lake Kivu
With a surface area of over 2,700 square kilometres, Lake Kivu is the largest water body in Rwanda. It is the 6th largest lake in Africa and spreads all the way to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tourists enjoy exploring the lake because of the beautiful shorelines, resorts and islands. Lake Kivu is excellent for swimming, birdwatching, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing, windsurfing, paddle boarding other water sports. The Congo Nile trail was built along the shores of the lake hence offering bikers a chance to explore the Rwanda countryside on a mountain bike or on foot. There are no hippos or crocodiles in Lake Kivu.
Lake Burera and Ruhondo
These beautiful twin lakes are found in the Volcanoes National Park. Most tourists visit the lake in the afternoon/evening hours and after completing activities within the park. The lush landscape is home to birds and an amazing plant collection. One can go for nature walks, canoeing, birding, camping or visiting the local fishermen. Honeymooners and couples will find the beautiful scenery very calming and refreshing especially after the tiring activities at the Volcanoes National Park.
Ibywacu cultural village
This is cultural tour is also called the Gorilla Guardians Village, a cultural village founded to showcase all that is great about the Kinyarwanda Culture while also providing employment for ex-poachers. Visitors are first taken for a tour of the Centre before settling down to watch cultural dances, learn how to prepare local food or hunt like the Batwa people. You may be invited to wear traditional royal clothes and experience what it was like to be a cultural leader.
