Much as Kigali city is s first stop for all Rwanda safaris, the land of a thousand hills offers much more than you may think. Kigali city is a center for all shopping malls, markets, conference centers, and genocide museums, which together give you a highlight of what Rwanda offers. It’s therefore obvious that all travelers to Rwanda may have a stop to enjoy the beautiful, clean, organized and peaceful Kigali city since it is. However, Rwanda’s major attractions are in the far corners of the country. Volcanoes national park a stop center for all Rwanda gorilla tours is in the Northwestern province, Akagera national park in the east, Nyungwe forest national park in southwest and Gishwata national park make full safari package to Rwanda. The country is one of Africa’s leading tourism destinations that receive the highest population of luxury and budget travelers from all parts of the world. A complete safari package to Rwanda is an inclusion of Kigali city tour, mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, hiking of the Virunga volcanoes, bird watching, nature walks and local community visits among others. Rwanda’s leading tourism attractions outside Kigali include:
Mountain gorillas
These gentle giants reside in volcanoes national park and are a focus for 99% of all travelers to Rwanda. The national park is a home to over 300 mountain gorillas, which is quater of the world’s total mountain gorillas. In the Virunga conservation area, volcanoes national park shelters over 300 mountain gorillas is roughly quarters of the world’s total population alongside Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda and Virunga national park in the democratic republic of Congo. Rwanda is a home to 10 gorilla families which have been habituated for trekking and these are Titus group, Susa group, karisimbi group, Amahoro group, Sabyinyo group, Kwitonda group, Agashya group, Umubano group, Hirwa group and Bwenge group. Interestingly, Rwanda is also known for luxury gorilla trekking at a cost of 1500uad for a simple gorilla permit that allow travelers to interact with a gorilla family for an hour. The other national park that shelter the critically endangered mountain gorillas include Bwindi impenetrable forest national park with the highest population of mountain gorillas roughly 480 gorillas, Mgahinga gorilla national park and Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The procedures for gorilla trekking are similar in both national park where travelers attend a simple briefing at the start of every trek. Gorilla trekking rules and regulations such as seven-meter distance must be followed in every gorilla safari.
Big five game
Akagera national park is a home to the big five (elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos and Rhinos), which make it the best place for game viewing. Day and night game drives are done in the national park which expose travelers to a variety of wildlife life such as Deffassa waterbuck, reedbuck, sable, Bushbuck, elands, Oribi, roan antelopes, Masai giraffe, hyenas, zebras and kobs among others. Experienced guides help travelers in spotting these animals as well as explaining unique characters of each spotted animal. The reason for early morning game drives is to catch up animals grazing in the open savannahs before they go resting. Game drives herbivores are seen grazing while predators hunt down their preys. It’s such a memorable experience worth doing.
Chimpanzees
Besides mountain gorillas, Rwanda is a home for the famous chimpanzees also known as man’s closest relatives. The chimpanzees live in the tropical rain forest of Nyungwe forest national park, which is Africa’s oldest forest that has remained green during the time of ice age. Interestingly, chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is done at a relatively low cost of 100usd, which allow travelers to interact with these endangered species for an hour. Over 500 chimpanzees are believed to live in Nyungwe forest national park and these are split into two communities one of which lives in the main forest while the other one in Chamudongo forest. The trekking rules and regulations are similar as in Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park.
Virunga volcanoes
Rwanda is also known for the amazing volcano hiking being a home to three extinct volcanic mountains. These include Mount karismbi in the borders of Rwanda and DRC and are the highest volcano in the Virunga conservation area, Mount Bisoke bordering Rwanda and DRC, and Mount sabyinyo in the borders of Rwanda, Uganda, and DRC. These volcanoes share borders with the neighboring countries, hence hiking more interesting exposing you to the other attractions in other countries. The other volcanoes which make up the a chain of Virunga volcanoes include Mount Mikeno bordering Rwanda and Democratic republic of Congo, Mount Gahinga in the borders of Rwanda and Uganda, Mount Nyiragongo in Democratic republic of Congo, Mount Gahinga bordering Rwanda and Uganda and Mount Nyamuragira in the Democratic Republic of Congo. the slopes of these mountain shelters the critically endangered mountain gorillas which make a safari amazing that make travelers appreciate what nature offers.
Golden monkeys
Golden monkey trekking is yet another interesting activity not to miss out on a Rwanda safari. Golden monkeys also known as cercopithecus Kandti are rare species, which only reside in Rwanda’s volcanoes national park and Uganda’s Mgahinga gorilla national park. Interestingly, travelers have a close encounter with these playful and lively creatures at a cost of 100usd, which is surely worth the experience. In Rwanda. 2 groups of golden monkeys have been habituated for trekking.
Conclusively therefore, travel to Rwanda and enjoy the memorable gorilla and wildlife safaris.
