Rwanda Gorilla Safari Tours
Rwanda is a tiny landlocked country in the Equatorila Africa, bordered by the Congo to the west, Tanzania to the east, Uganda to the north and Burundi to the south. The capital city is Kigali.
Rwanda is one of three countries in Africa where you can find mountain gorillas.There are 10 habituated gorilla families in Rwanda, all found on the slopes of the Virunga Mountains. Gorilla tracking in Rwanda is one of those things you need to do at least once in your lifetime. And many people believe that given the hundreds upon hundreds of people who have taken on this adventure in the Virungas.
You can plan a gorilla trekking trip with a few other activities thrown in for variety and more excitement. This is one activity you cannot possibly regret signing up for.
Kigali City Tour – A Day Trip
Early in the morning, our professional local tour guide will meet you at your hotel for a briefing about your city tour in Rwanda. Proceed for a city tour in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city which was named in 1907 by Dr. Richard Kandt, the first colonial resident governor of Ruanda. Kigali city is surrounded by lush hills of green. On the tour through the city, you will have a chance to visit:
Gisozi Genocide Memorial site, an artisan shopping centre to view and purchase local arts and crafts, Kigali Museum and learn the history of city and country’s pre-colonial and colonial period as well as the colonial masters in Rwanda.
Tour around Kigali city to see first hand, the post-genocide development and expansion of the city,
Visit the Juru Park for a fantastic view of the city, surrounding hillside and countryside. It is one of the highest points in Kigali city.
Later in the evening, proceed to the Crystal View Cocktail Lounge on the eighth floor of the Top Tower Hotel for panoramic views overlooking the entire city of Kigali! As striking at night as it is during the day. At the end of the tour, one is reminded exactly why Rwanda is known as “The Land of a Thousand Hills”.
The Genocide Memorials of Rwanda
Rwanda has a tragic history. In 1994, there genocide that lasted 100 days and thousands of lives were taken in a brutal “ethnic cleansing”. The genocide tore the small nation into shreds but it has managed to rise from the ashes. No one ever wants to see such days again and the slogan “never again” can be seen in various places across the country.
There are a number of memorial sites across the country, monuments and reminders of those dark days, and of the victims who were killed in those 100 days.
In most cases memorials are not tourist attractions but what happened to Rwanda is a message and a reminder of what happens to innocents if the world stands by and chooses not to intervene and help when they see a people destroyed.
Some of the memorial Rwanda safari sites include: the Murambi Genocide Memorial Site, Nyamata church genocide memorial site, Gisenyi genocide Memorial Site, Ntarama Church Genocide Memorial Site, Bisesero Genocide Memorial Site and many others.
Rwanda is generally an exciting place to visit. It has a rich history and culture, a variety of wildlife, is home to mountain gorillas and the famous Virunga Mountains and has very friendly people.
Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes is probably the most popular park in Rwanda. There are so many things to see and enjoy in this park. You can go gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, volcano climbing, volcano climbing and hiking, birding, nature walks, cave exploration, visiting Diane Fossey’s research camp and so much more.
Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s only Savannah Wildlife Park. It is found on the Rwanda border with Tanzania. Everyone expects to have a savannah wildlife experience when they visit Africa, Akagera gives you this experience in Rwanda.
Akagera is an amazingly, scenic park where you have the opportunity to go on day and night game drives, boat safaris, nature walks, hikes, fishing, birding, village visits and stay in one of two lodges within the park.
The simply amazing Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu in Rwanda is just the perfect place to wind down and relax after a full day or days of Rwanda safari activity. After mountain climbing, hiking, gorilla trekking, biking the Nile –Congo trail, exploring Nyungwe forest and all the other activities you can possibly do while on Rwanda tours, you will need a good place to chill and relax and come down from the adrenaline highs. It is Rwanda’s very own inland beach and it doesn’t disappoint. While Kenya and Tanzania have beaches on the shores of the Indian Ocean, Rwanda has Lake Kivu. Lake Kivu offers you sandy beaches, swimming, fishing, boating, wind-surfing, sail-boating, biking, nature-walks, cultural visits on, along or near Lake Kivu, you will not even miss the ocean beaches.
Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe is a large track of Montane Forest with all so many wonders. It is an exciting place to explore. Nyungwe forest national park has a canopy walk through the forest; one of only three in Africa. This canopy walk is 50 meters above the ground and is even above the tree tops. In addition to the canopy walk, you can also enjoy hikes, chimpanzee tracking, nature walks, monkey tracking and birding- some of the best birding in Africa. Nyungwe forest should be a must on your Rwanda safari itinerary.