Unique Safari Activities to do in Rwanda 2025 : What tourism activities can a tourist do while in Rwanda in 2025? Rwanda offers a host of exciting activities to enjoy in 2025, from trekking mountain gorillas and chimpanzee to viewing the Big Five wildlife, walking through the Nyungwe canopy, hiking volcanoes, cycling, golden monkey tracking and experiencing local culture. It stands out as one of the liveliest destinations to safari in Africa for unique adventure. Here’s some of the tourism activities that a tourist can do while in Rwanda in 2025.
Gorilla trekking
One of the highlights and unique activity to do in Rwanda is gorilla trekking, which is a thrilling way to encounter these primates. During a gorilla trek, you’ll go on an adventure to see the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, which are fond in volcanoes national park. This experience allows you to observe these magnificent creatures up close, learn about their behavior, and take plenty of photos. Its a truly unforgettable experience that primate lovers cherish.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda can be enjoyed at anytime of the year, but the most rewarding time is during the dry seasons which runs from June to September and then December to February. Note that, trekking to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda and any other gorilla trekking destination needs your to perchance a valid gorilla permit. Obtaining a gorilla permit is possible through the local tour operator and each cost $1500 per visitor. Its a good ideal to plan and book your trek in advance, ideally 2-3 months before your desired date for an incredible gorilla adventure.
Chimpanzee trekking
Chimpanzee trekking is also another highlight and top activities to do in Rwanda in 2025. This guided experience lets you walk through the beautiful rainforest to search for habituated chimpanzee groups that are used to human presence. Chimpanzee trekking safari usually last for a bout 2-4 hours. Once you have allocated them, you can spend one hour observing and leaning about these fascinating creatures in their natural habitat. Rwanda is home to two great places where you can track to see the chimpanzees such as Nyungwe Forest National Park and Gishwati-Mukura National Park. But Nyungwe Forest National Park is the prominent chimpanzee trekking destination housing over 500 individuals. Note that, chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is conducted in groups of a maximum of 8 people just as it is with gorillas trekking.
Canopy walk
The canopy walk in Rwanda takes place in Nyungwe Forest National Park. This Canopy Walk is one of the highlights to do while in a safari in Rwanda. It is a unique experience that takes visitors on a suspended walkway about 60 meters from the forest floor and extends up to 200 meters. The canopy walk in Nyungwe gets you exposed to some of the stunning butterflies, orchids and colorful birds, including many endemics to the region. The view at the top of the trees gives you the eagle’s eye experience and great experience of Nyungwe forest National Park
Golden monkeys tracking
Golden monkeys tracking offers an amazing experience alongside the thrilling adventures of mountain gorilla trekking. You’ll spend around 2 to 4 hours on this trek, which includes an hour of getting up close with a group of golden monkeys in their natural environment.
Birdwatching
Birdwatching is another exciting activity to do while on a safari in Rwanda in 2025. The country is home to over 705 confirmed species of which 22 species are globally threatened, and 2 are introduced. Bird watching tours in Rwanda can be done in several part and sites in the country such as national park, swamps, lakes, and savannah grasslands. Some of these destinations includes Akagera National Park, Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Kigali, Lake Kivu, and Gishwati-Mukura National Park.
Birding in Akagera National Park involves exploring savanna, Lake Ihema, its islands, marshes and wetlands. During your birding safari in Akagera National Park, except to see the Carruthers’s Cisticola, Grey-crowned Cranes, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Papyrus Gonolek, White-collared Olive back and White-Winged Swamp Warbler.
Among the species to look out while in a birdwatching safari in volcanoes national park includes Archer’s ground robin, Cinnamon bracken warbler, Grauer’s rush warbler, Rwenzori batis, White-tailed blue-flycatcher, Black and white manikin among others.
Birding in Nyungwe National Park tales you to Bigugu Mountain forest where you can spot different birds such as Albertine owlet, Blue-headed sunbird, Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Handsome Francolin, Handsome spur fowls, Neumann’s Warbler, Purple Breasted Sunbirds, Regal sunbird, Rwenzori Batis, Rwenzori Nightjar, Rwenzori Turaco and the Red collared babblers among others.
Birds in Gishwati-Mukura National Park include Martial Eagle, Purple-breasted Sunbirds, Red-throated Alethe, Regal Sunbirds, Ruwenzori Batis, Ruwenzori Turaco among others
Volcano hiking
Hiking volcanoes in Rwanda offers an exciting trek through the beautiful Virunga Mountain range. The country is home to five stunning volcanoes in this area, with the most popular ones being Karisimbi, which stands at 4,507 meters, along with Bisoke, Muhabura, and Gahinga.
Game drives
Game drives in Rwanda are done in Akagera national park, this activity offers visitors a unique opportunity too encounters a wide variety of African wildlife natural habitat. Akagera national park is located in the eastern province of Rwanda, bordering with Tanzania, the park offers a captivating blend of diverse wildlife and magnificent landscapes. Game drives are typically conducted in open-top safari vehicles, giving visitors an unobstructed view of the surrounding wilderness. While on a game drive safari in Akagera national park, expect to spot different wildlife species such as big five exciting animals including the Elephants, buffaloes, lions, rhinos, leopards and other mammal species like, zebras, giraffes, warthogs, impalas, bushbucks’ others lions, hyenas, and several antelopes like the bushbucks, roan antelope, Topes, klipspringer, Oribis, Cape eland, water-buck, duikers and impalas.
Boat cruise
Rwanda is well-known for its enjoyable boat cruises. One of the best spots for a boat trip is Lake Ihema, located in Akagera National Park. Lake Ihema is famous and biggest lake situated in the south part of the park. Rwanda Boat cruise in lake Ihema is done in different schedules, the day trip that is the morning and the evening schedule. During the boat ride, you will have the chance to observe a large school of hippos and crocodiles in the waters, see other animals like buffaloes, waterbucks, elephant, and warthog’s drinking water at the shores, among others
