Top Safari Activities in Rwanda – What to do in Rwanda

Top Safari Activities in Rwanda – What to do in Rwanda. A very scenic and beautiful land of a thousand hills, Rwanda is one of the increasingly popular African safari destinations. Known as a small and beautiful country formed of several scenic hills, the country may not be that typical African safari destination but still home to several wild species that can be spotted on safari.

Gorilla trekking, wildlife viewing, chimpanzee trekking, birding, and cultural tours are the top safari activities in Rwanda. Here is a detail of each of the best activities to be involved in when you choose to take a Rwanda safari;

Mountain Gorilla Trekking

Trekking gorillas in Rwanda is truly rewarding. An easy-to-trek and close mountain Gorilla Park from the country’s national airport is Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.

Rwanda gorilla safaris are the major drawcard for tours in Rwanda due to the fact that this was the base of the popular primatologist, Dian Fossey. When Dian Fossey decided to stay in Virunga and interact with the mountain gorillas, she was definitely the first human to closely relate with these species in the wild.

A gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda costs US$ 1500 for each trek and 80 permits are available each day to enable 8 tourists to trek a single family of the 10 habituated gorilla families in the park. Rwanda gorilla tour permits are the most expensive but still, travelers have opted to visit the country and leaving out the cheaper permits in Uganda and Congo because it’s said to be easier to trek the gorilla in Rwanda than any other destination.

Wildlife viewing/game drives

Rwanda may not be the ultimate Africa safari destination for wildlife tours but if you want a scenic tour within a beautiful setting, Akagera National Park should be on your list. The park is home to the big five wildlife African game which are the Buffaloes, Rhinos, Leopards, Lions, and Elephants.

Akagera is a much preferable East African destination since it is one of the closest wildlife parks to the country’s national Airport-Kigali International Airport. It is just about a 3 hours drive to the park from the Airport. You also spot other wild animals like giraffes, zebras, and hippos.

Birding – Top Safari Activities in Rwanda – What to do in Rwanda

Birding Rwanda is one perfect choice for any ardent birder. Rwanda has 703 bird species recorded within her boundaries, 510 species known to be resident and 183 being seasonal and migrant birds.

The best spots for birding in Rwanda are Nyungwe Forest National Park, Akagera National Park, Volcanoes National Park, and several other spots outside the parks. With a much vegetated large area, Rwanda arguably offers the best montane birding experiences in Africa.

Other factors that make birding in Rwanda much referable is that the country hosts 29 Albertine Rift bird species, there’s a very good road network and as well as good security.

Canopy walk

The best canopy walk experience in East Africa is in Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park. A canopy walk can literally be explained as a walk above within the tree canopies of the ancient Nyungwe Forest on a suspension bridge rising 70m high and covering 60m long.

A canopy walk is one of a kind as you see the forest from above whereas sighting several bird and primate species. The walk starts from any of the three trailheads where you will walk from the Uwinka visitor center. If you need a unique safari activity then the canopy walk is a preferable option with experiences like no other.

Cultural tours – Top Safari Activities in Rwanda – What to do in Rwanda

Rwanda was largely affected by the 1994 genocide which took the country several years to recover from. With the new government, Rwanda has decided to share her story with the world and therefore several museums in the country describe events that unfolded in the genocide period.

The Rwandan Genocide Memorial Museum has all the details of the genocide. Other museums offer the chance to learn about the traditions of Rwanda. A better way of taking a cultural tour is also by visiting the communities and learning from local guides.

Rwanda is a beautiful country with high-end tourism. The Rwanda Development Board has invested a lot to ensure that the tourism industry is one of the best. Take time to visit Rwanda at least on a 2-3 days safari and enjoy this scenic country.

Top Safari Activities in Rwanda – What to do in Rwanda

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