Rwanda Safaris to The Pearl of Africa – Rwanda Wildlife Safaris – Rwanda Gorilla Safaris – Bird Watching Tours in Rwanda
If you plan to undertake Rwanda safaris for either a wildlife safari in Rwanda / Gorilla Trekking tour in Rwanda, then this write-up is designed for you to equip you with the information needed by any traveler planning to go for Rwanda wildlife safari or Rwanda gorilla tour which is a must for travelers to the Pearl of Africa.
Rwanda has been one of the world’s top travel sites in Africa. Large numbers of tourists have chosen Rwanda as their next destination for the best, unforgettable, and unique adventure experiences. Rwanda is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley.
It is one of the smallest countries with the lowest population density of 12.6% in sub-Saharan Africa. Its capital city is Kigali which is located in the center of the country on the Ruganwa River bordering Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Rwanda is known for its breathtaking scenery and is referred to as a land of a thousand hills because it is highly elevated with its geography dominated by mountains in the west, savanna to the east with numerous lakes throughout the country.
Tourists from all over the world have made Rwanda their top priority destination because the land owns volcanoes, waterfalls, and rainforests that are home to many different African animals. It’s home to a hugely diverse population of animals including gentle mountain gorillas.
The gorilla trekking tour has been one of the interesting things to do at the Virunga volcanoes national park. Diversity of wildlife in the mighty Akagera National Park which contains large populations of Buffalos, Zebras, Impalas as well as baboons, warthogs, lions, and hippopotamuses. Rare species such as the giant Pangolins and Chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest national park.
Virunga Mountains (volcanoes), the mountain gorilla protected in Parc des Birungna, king’s palace museum, ethnographic museum, Kigali Genocide memorial, and many other National parks have made Rwanda a class tourism destination.
Most Visited Rwanda National Parks – Where to go on Rwanda Safaris Trip
Volcanoes National Park is one of the 4 most spectacular national parks in which visitors on a Rwanda safari should consider a must-visit. It is situated in Northwestern Rwanda, about 2-3 hours’ drive from Kigali capital city and it was established in 1925 mainly to protect the endangered mountain gorillas.
However, today the park is home to more than mountain gorillas. It sits in an area of 160sq.km, approximately 62sq.mi, consisting of rain-forest and hosting 5 of the 8 volcanoes that make up the Virunga Massif. Read More Here
Nyungwe Forest National Park is about 5-6 hours’ drive, approximately 230kms from Kigali capital city and it is by far a stunning primate destination worth exploring. Founded in 2004, the park occupies an area of about 1000sq.km, featuring largely a tropical rain-forest.
It sprawls between the elevation of 1600 and 2950m. Compared to most protected areas, Nyungwe Forest National Park is rated among the few best-preserved montane rain-forest parks in East-Central Africa thus offering authentic experiences to visitors. Read More Here
Sprawling in Eastern Rwanda, Akagera National Park is by far one of the magical parks travelers on Rwanda safari shouldn’t miss exploring. It was established in 1934 and features as the only savanna or big five parks in Rwanda.
The park derives its name from the Kagera River that flows through its Eastern borders emptying its water into Lake Ihema and many other small lakes. Akagera National Park expands up to 1122sq.kms and consists of savanna, montane and swamp habitats where diversity of wildlife species thrive. Read More Here
Tourist attractions of Rwanda – What to see on Rwanda Safaris Tour
Rwanda is home to mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, golden monkeys, hippopotamuses, giraffes, zebra, leopard, crocodiles, forest hogs, forest elephants, warthogs, bush pigs, buffalo, bushbucks, waterbucks, duikers, spotted hyenas, and mongooses.
- Birds.
Over 10% of Rwanda is designated as an important birding area with over 600 bird species. Birds like flamingos, grebes, guineafowls, ducks, geese, waterfowl, pigeons, doves, bustards, fin feet, plovers, lapwings, jacanas, stocks, pelicans, shoebills, hammerkop, herons, egrets, bitterns, ibises, spoonbills, ospreys, kites, eagles, hawks, owls and many more.
Volcanoes national park.
This park was gazetted in 1925 and it is a stop center for all Rwanda gorilla safaris encompassing 5 of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga mountains.it shelters the highest number of endangered mountain gorillas in the Virunga conservation area and a rich mosaic of the montane ecosystem.
- How to get there?
It’s only 2hours from Kigali international airport which makes it the most accessible national park in the world. Experts estimate that there are around 600 gorillas in the park.
Trekking gorillas here take over 4-8 hours in the mystical bamboo forests and swampy areas. Volcanoes national park is also a home for golden monkeys, a variety of birds, reptiles, and amphibians among others and when combined together it makes Rwanda the best safari destination.
Nyungwe Forest National park.
Nyungwe is the largest remaining tract of montane rainforests in East Africa. The park is spectacularly beautiful and reaches in biodiversity with a lot of plant species, butterflies, over 32 amphibians, 38reptiles, a lot of mammals and bird species.
Most Tourists come to this forest to truck chimpanzees which starts in the morning and it’s best to carry a day pack where you have a couple of liters of water, having long trousers, a long-sleeved shirt, rain jacket, hiking boots, and a hat. Nyungwe forest canopy walk is another activity you don’t have to miss, other activities in this park include; birding, hiking, and monkey tracking.
The mighty Akagera National park.
On a tour to Africa, Akagera National park is one you don’t have to miss adventuring.
- Location.
It is located in eastern Rwanda characterized by woodland, swamps, low mountains, and savannah. It is the largest protected wetland in central Africa named after the Kagera River that flows along Rwanda’s eastern border with Tanzania.
It protects the African savanna landscape of acacia, bush with grassland, and dozens of swampy lakes. Due to the presence of Lake Ihema in the south of the park, thousands of hippos and crocodiles have been recorded basking in the sun. The park also shelters zebras, giraffes, elephants, lions, and hundreds of bird species.
- Lake Kivu.
Kivu is Rwanda’s largest lake and the sixth-largest in Africa with waterfront beaches and stunning resorts. Steep terraced hills lead down to the lakeshore and three resort towns- Kisenyi, Kibuye, and Cyangugu.
These towns welcome tourists for hiking, trekking gorilla, and chimpanzees in surrounding volcanoes and Nyungwe forest national park. For adventurous tourists, an exciting way to explore Rwanda is a Kayaking tour on Lake Kivu or mountain biking and hiking.
- Kings palace museum.
A beautifully-crafted thatched dwelling shaped like a beehive construction is a royal residence. In old times, Nyanza, the base of the palace was the heart of Rwanda 88km south of Kigali which was a site of battles and power struggles. The palace offers a detailed look into the Rwandan monarchial system and its abolition due to colonialism.
You can’t miss the story of Inyambo’s long-horned cattle which are up-to-date reared in Rwanda when you visit this traditional palace of Rwanda. Visitors are always fascinated by the procession of these royal cows and their famous impressive longhorns, height gentle nature, and traditional poems.
- Kigali Genocide memorial.
On an adventure in Rwanda, the genocide memorial is a very important place to visit because it contains over 250000 remains of people who died in Rwanda tribal wars. Very many tourists and students wish to understand the events which lead to the Genocide.
- Location.
It’s located in Kisozi which is 10minute from Kigali the capital. Rwandan people visit this memorial to be near their relatives and it can also prevent future mass atrocities and genocide.
Adventuring Rwanda is one you don’t have to miss. From the time of the genocide, Rwanda has emerged as one of Africa’s travel destinations.
Popular Rwanda Safari Ideas to Rwanda’s National Parks
On the 3 Days Rwanda Bird Watching Safari, you will visit Nyarutarama for bird watching and you will be transferred to Akagaera National Park for bird watching and wildlife viewing. You will also visit Mt. Kigali for birding. Read More Here
This 5 Days Akagera Wildlife Safari Rwanda Adventures will enable you to do game viewing, birding, nature walks, and boat cruises at Akagera National Park. This attractive park of rolling hills and open grassy valleys are interspersed with thickets. Book This Trip
On the 7 Days Uganda Gorilla Tour Rwanda Wildlife Safari, You will visit Bwindi Impenetrable Park in Uganda which is a home to Mountain Gorillas. The Park lies in southwestern Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley. Read More Here
The 3 Days Wildlife Safari Rwanda Primates Tour to Akagera National Park (Big Five Tour) and Nyungwe Rain Forest National Park (Chimpanzee Trekking Tour) will take you to Akagera National Park, a home for wild mammals, big five, and varieties of bird species. We will have a day game drive crossing the park as well as sightseeing the amazing animals along the way. Book This Trip
3 Days Rwanda Chimpanzee Tour & Gorilla Trekking Safari is a short Rwanda primate tour organized in Nyungwe forest national park for chimpanzee trekking and volcanoes national park for mountain gorilla trekking activity. The 3 Days Rwanda Chimpanzee Tour & Gorilla Trekking Safari will give you a unique experience with Rwanda’s primates. Book This Trip
3 Days Akagera Wildlife Safari Rwanda will offer you beautiful and ultimate game drive experiences that will introduce to you numerous wild animals such as African elephants, zebras, buffaloes, warthogs, waterbucks, bushbucks, lions, topis, oribis, leopards, hippopotamuses, and among others. You will have an opportunity to enjoy a boat ride. Book This Trip
Rwanda’s landscape.
Rwanda is dominated by a chain of rugged beautiful mountains which form valleys yielding to a low-lying depression west of the Congo Nile divide along the shores of Lake Kivu. Then the volcanoes of the Virunga (Birunga) mountains in the northwest to the swampy savanna plains of Kagera river valley in the east.
The interior highlands have hills and valleys yielding to a low-lying depression west of the Congo Nile divide. Most of the Country Rivers are found on the eastern side of the Congo Nile with the Kagera, the major eastern river, forming much of the boundary between Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. Rwanda’s climate is temperate tropical highland climate because of the mountains.
Rwanda’s history.
Rwanda was colonized by Germany in 1884 followed by Belgium which invaded Rwanda in 1916 during World War 1. Both European nations ruled through the kings and perpetuated apro-Tutsi policy.
When did Rwanda become a republic? Rwanda Hutu based troops responded to the European rule and thousands of people were killed in the clashes. In 1962, Belgium with the UN oversight granted full independence. Rwanda was created a republic governed by the majority Tutu, which had gained full control of National politics. Kinship came through grassroots Hutu-led upheaval that occurred before the country independence.
Rwanda’s genocide 1994. It was a systematic campaign by the Hutu ethnic which was the majority aiming at wiping out each and every member of the minority Tutsi group. This Ethnic strife left Rwanda’s economy and social fabric shaking and the years that followed were characterized by reconstruction and ethnic reconciliation. Thousands of people died in this ethnic war which was triggered by religious and political differences between the two groups.
Rwanda’s culture.
Rwanda has been a unified state populated by only the Banyarwanda people who share a single language and cultural heritage unlike many other African countries. Rwanda’s ethnic groups, Tutsi, Hutu and Twa all speak the same language, practice same religion, share common culture despite deep political and historical differences.
Music and dancing is an essential part of Rwandan ceremonies, social gatherings and storytelling with the most traditional dance Umushagiriro or cow dance performed by women, the or dance of heroes, performed by men and the drumming also traditionally performed by men. The drums known as Ingoma.
Rwanda’s most known dance group is the National Ballet which is performed during the nationally and internationally traditions. Religion. The majority of people around Rwanda about 65% are Roman Catholics, 9% being Protestants, 1% being Muslims and the rest are adherents of indigenous beliefs. Food. Rwandan food is quite simple with beans, bananas, sweat potatoes, and sorghum.
Latest Rwanda Travel News – Star Wilderness Safaris
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