Highlights Of Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is a national park in northwestern Rwanda and is home to five of the eight majestic volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains. Covered in thick rainforest and bamboo this dramatic landscape unsurprisingly offers the opportunity for some thrilling hiking. Volcanoes National Park is also famous for its endangered gorillas which are found in just a few pockets of highland rainforest and coming face to face with a mountain gorilla is arguably one of the most epic and sought-after wildlife encounters in the world.

Akagera National Park

Comprised of savannah, woodland, wetland and a dozen lakes, Akagera National Park is home to the Big 5 and unlike the more popular safari parks in Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa, Akagera’s large surface area and sparse traffic means visitors never have to queue to see the wildlife and can delight in being completely alone in the bush like the early pioneers of safari exploration. Expect to encounter buffalo, elephant, antelope, zebra, giraffe, baboons, monkeys, and an incredible 490 bird species. A boat trip on Lake Ihema is another highlight of a visit to Akagera, where visitors can view large pods of hippos, Nile crocodiles and abundant waterbirds that frequent the island in the middle of the lake.

Lake Kivu

Despite being a landlocked country, there is actually a gorgeous beach in Rubavu, Rwanda’s resort town nestled on the shores of Lake Kivu. Lake Kivu is one of the African Great Lakes where visitors can spend long, lazy days under the sun on the sandy beach on the lakeshore which is a popular spot for fishing, swimming, and water sports.

Rubavu

Rubavu is the starting point of the Congo Nile Trail, which is a stunning hiking trail that runs along the shores of Lake Kivu through eye popping landscapes, remote villages, and dense forests. There are several museums and cultural centres in Rubavu where visitors can learn about the local culture, music, dance, art, and even sample some of the local cuisine. For those who are looking for relaxation and rejuvenation, Rubavu is also known for its hot springs, which is situated in the nearby Nyamyumba village.

Nyungwe Forest

As well as mountain gorillas, Rwanda protects other primates like the wild chimpanzees found in Nyungwe Forest. The forest is one of the oldest and most diverse rainforests in Africa and is home to around 500 chimpanzees, which live in troops of varying sizes. Tracking the chimps is completely different from the mountain gorilla experience, as gorillas are usually found sitting eating quietly within the forest clearings, while the chimps move around at high speeds, whooping and jumping from tree to tree within the dense canopy of trees that dominate Nyungwe Forest. The rainforest environment – with its array of birds and other wildlife – is captivating and the engaging playfulness of these primates is a highly prized experience that will make the trek worthwhile.