All about Rwanda Safaris
All about Rwanda Safaris, Want to travel to Africa on luxurious vacation? Then Rwanda would be your next safari destination. Rwanda particularly known as a luxurious gorilla trekking destination. It’s one of the things which have made Rwanda safaris one of the thrilling on the continent. The small beautiful country, Rwanda is located on the edge of the central volcanic tropics. Seated within the Great Western Albertine Rift Valley that gives her a named of “A land of a thousand hills.”
Rwanda has only 4 parks National Parks of Akagera National Park, Volcanos National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park and Giswati-Mukara National Park. From these parks are amazing encounters topped by gorilla trekking, wildlife game watching, chimpanzee tracking, volcanic climbing, bird watching, canopy walks, wild boat drives and the genocide memorial museums.
Though it’s set as one of the luxurious destination to travel to in East Africa, but all groups of travelers have an ample moment to experience Rwanda. There are super luxurious accommodation offering world classic services. Rwanda right from the bloody 1994 massacre, the country has registered a process development more than any other country in East and central Africa.
Highlights of Rwanda Safari
There are various adventure selections as are discussed below.
Going on a gorilla trek
Gorilla trekking is Africa’s most tremendous tourist adventure. Rwanda is among the other unique countries blessed to host the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Volcanos National Park tropical steeps are home to half of the gorillas living in the Virunga Conservation Areas. The park has over 10 habituated gorilla families, meaning over 80 trekker trek gorilla in Rwanda’s volcanos National Park.
It’s the best place to trek gorillas, and gorilla are well habituated and trekkers. Rolling into the thick forest, walk through the swampy valleys and bamboos searching is all about gorilla trekking. Made in groups of 8 trekkers, well briefed and roll into the forest with a lead of an armed ranger guide. Spending hours of hiking, sloping you meet the gentle giant and have an hour in their presence.
Volcanos National Park a joint of the great Virunga Conservation Area is home to several gorillas. All gorillas available for trekking are well habituated, to allow an eased process of watching the gorillas in their natural habitat.
Golden monkey tracking
The golden monkeys are beautify endangered primates which are endemic to the Central African forests. Golden monkeys live in larger communities and tend to live in high places, however, these beautiful primates are habituated for the close-up encounter.
Chimpanzee tracking
Rwanda boosts over several primates and larger apes, also are well numbered. Chimpanzees likewise to gorilla trekking are undertaken on a rewarding safari to Rwanda. Chimpanzees are residents of Nyungwe Forest National Park and are habituated that travelers can have an ensured close up encounter.
Besides chimpanzee, Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to several primates species among which are the L’Hoesty monkeys which is endemic to the Albertine Rift.
Game viewing
Wildlife game viewing is Africa’s highlight of any adventure. The Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s center for game viewing with the highest number of adventure. A safari vacation to Rwanda without Akagera is an incomplete trip. The adventure is perfect with savannah parks on a game drive, it’s the moment that rewards with the highest concentration of wildlife species.
For adventures of game viewing include, game drives, boat cruise and nature walks all are possible at Akagera National Park. It’s an opportunity to watch Big Five games, herds of antelopes, zebras, giraffes, hippos, and many animals, also several bird species are perfect view on a game viewing adventure.
Visiting the Genocide museum
Rwanda faced the most miserable time of the 1994, where the massacre of the minority Hutu was declared by the Tutsi. After the peace was restored, several genocide museums were constructed to commemorate the innocent that lost lives in the Massacre. Right from Kigali to Musanze, and other en-routes there mass graves and museum that narrate the horrible time that once happened in Rwanda.
These stunning museums were constructed in the memories of over millions of people who are buried in a single mass grave. The museums farther explains much of how the world experience the unfolding naked and unfilm bloodshed of the 1994 genocide. No rush if decide to dedicate a time, this memorial site serves to educate about how the Genocide against the Tutsi took shape and examines genocide in the 20th century.
Museums include Kigali genocide museum, Nyanza genocide memorial, Camp Kigali Memorial, Eglise St Pierre, and Biserero Genocide Memorial. On a safari throughout Rwanda can have a time to one of the museum and memorial ground.
All National Parks in Rwanda
Rwanda has currently four national parks that are spread across this small edge of the central African region. The National Parks tops on the list of best tourist destinations in the country.
Volcanos National Park
Rwanda top tourist destination, the park is located in the northern side of Rwanda. It’s formed of dormant volcanos and rolling landscape that has statured Rwanda a land of a thousand hills. This beautiful rain tropical volcanic park is a continuation of the Virunga Conservation Areas. One of the most amazing volcanic tropics that harbors some of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas in the wild.
The park’s fame started earlier during the times of featured USA Zoologists Dian Fossey who strived to see that gorillas have a next generation. Volcanoes is a rich monatane eco-system and a UNESCO heritage site due to unique central African flora. The park was named after a chain of dormant volcanoes that brands it like the Karisimbi, Bisoke and the Sabinyo which overlooks all the three neighboring countries.
The volcanic tropical rainforest is home to the endangered mountain gorillas, endemic to the golden monkeys, and as well hosts over 400 bird species, alongside several primate species. Volcanos National Park is a luxury gorilla trekking destination. Other adventures done here are; golden monkey tracking, volcanic hiking, visiting Dian Fossey’s tombs among others.
Nyungwe National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park is rated to be among the Africa’s oldest forests, this is attributed to its biodiversity and spectacular beauty. Besides the beauty, it’s the Rwanda’s primate capital with about 13 primate species recorded and chimpanzees are prime. Chimpanzee tracking may seem one of the best attraction at the park, however, chimpanzees here are not fully habituated and a close up encounter may not be a guarantee.
The tallest forests, but a walkway on the canopy for the forest was established beyond several forest encounters. Among the encounters here include, about 1,068 plant species and 140 orchids, at least 120 butterfly species and almost 75 mammals are recorded at Nyungwe forest.
Major tourist activities at Nyungwe Forest National Park are chimpanzee tracking, forest walks, canopy walks, and bird watching.
Akagera National Park
The Akagera National Park is a point where the East African savannah stretches to the Central African tropics. The largest and only savannah park in Rwanda located in eastern region bordering Tanzania. The Akagera National Park is a low-lying plain decorated with Savanah, Woodlands, wetlands and several lakes.
Real savannah safari are experienced in areas, Akagera National Park is a perfect idea for game viewing. And chance to watch some of the Big Five Games is only the Akarega savannah plain. One of the richest parks in terms of accommodating several of the species.
This rich eco-system ranges from savannah, woodlands, swamps, several lakes and rivers, and montane forests. Among the water bodies is the Kagera River where the park instigates its name and the Lake Ihema known for several unique adventures in Rwanda.
The best time to visit Rwanda
Rwanda being placed in the tropical-savannah position where the Central African tropics meets with the East African savannah makes Rwanda a country that has a warm climate. The country mainly has two weather conditions drier and wet seasons. Rwanda’s best time for safaris is always the drier season that happens between June to September. The drier season is fittest for watching the mountain gorillas, as trekkers forgo the muddy struggles. However, the country being a warm country into the equatorial realms can be visited all year around.
Uniqueness about Rwanda Safaris
Africa’s Luxury destination
Rwanda was position a luxury gorilla tracking destination considering various factors. Though, gorilla trekking is Rwanda’s most selling adventure activity, it’s important to note that gorilla trekking in Rwanda is not any ones wish. The rates of a permit to trek in Rwanda sometimes is the full budget to some traveler. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda a permit costs $1,500 to trek per day. It’s over doubles the counterparts like Uganda and DR Congo. Rwanda has over 10 habituated gorilla families, meaning a reasonable number of trekkers have a chance to find the gorillas than any other destination with the Virunga Conservation Area.
World class canopy walks
The world’s best canopy walkway, it’s set above one of the Central African misty tropical rainforest. Nyungwe scoops a position on the top 5 best tourist destinations in Rwanda. Looking out for the best places to enjoy your relished safari trip in Rwanda, then think of walking on the swinging 70m suspension. The old fashioned hyped bridge is a point to watch the hovering mist, over 13 primate species and feeling the melodies of birds under tree branches. The Nyungwe Forest National Park is the perfect destination of watching the endangered chimpanzee species. The all canopy walk starts with hiking down within the sticky grounds for a walk of about an hour, to reach the swinging canopy.
Kwita Izina
Meeting Rwanda’s newly born baby gorilla which are named every year. The Kwita Izina is the brought from the traditional naming custom of the Rwandans children in the presence of families and friends. This is a global event which is organized annually and attracting several iconic ruling, political, and influencing figures. The gorilla Naming event is a unique feature only for Rwanda that celebrates nature. Several iconic features lead the naming session. For example, the Kwita Izina 2022 was led by King Charles III, who by then was a prince.
Gisozi Genocide Memorial
Rwanda’s largest holocaust museum and the largest in East Africa located in the Kigali city, Rwanda’s capital. In 1994, about 500,000 to one million people were killed in a red blood human massacre. The Rwanda holocaust genocide happened when the extremist Hutu government launched a massacre against the minority Tutsi.
This devilish mass killing occurred openly throughout the land of Rwanda in church, schools, government buildings, homes, roads and any gathering places. After this kind of violence, and the set stability. Several museums demonstrating the evil act built among which is the Gisozi genocide museum. The museum contains several of historical artefacts from the genocide.
One language
Rwanda almost the only African country in the sub-Sahara region which uses one local language. Not like other African countries that have several languages spoken from different ethnic groups. The Twa, Hutu and Tutsi people all use Kinyarwanda language as their traditional language of communication. However, Rwanda uses two foreign languages, French and English which was added recently.
