Rwanda is a hidden gem of flora and fauna as a few people know about it but whoever visits this amazing country only has special remarks for it. For starters, Rwanda is a home to the endangered species of mountain gorillas which are located in the forested Virunga ranges in the north eastern part.
Rwanda is known as the country with a thousand of hills and those numerous hills there are natural beauties that exist. This is why Rwanda has become an ideal tourism gem for many people around in the world. Thousands and thousands of people fly to Rwanda to experience its wildlife. Rwanda’s wildlife is not just common wildlife; it’s wildlife that cannot easily be found anywhere else. This why it has all the bragging rights to label itself the number one top tourism destination in the great lakes region.
Where to Go
Volcanoes National Park
Located in the northwestern part of Rwanda, Volcanoes national park is one of the best destinations for wildlife viewing in the country. The park covers a total surface area of 160 square kilometers of rainforest and encompasses five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga mountains – Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura. Gahinga and Sabyinyo. Bordering Virunga national park of Congo and Mgahinga gorilla national park of Uganda, Volcanoes is a home to the two unique and amazing wildlife species – Mountain gorillas and Golden monkeys.
Volcanoes National Park protects 12 gorilla families and these can be seen during gorilla trekking, an incredible experience where you can observe these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. It involves hiking through the park rainforests in search of the apes and once found, you will be allowed to spend a full hour in their presence learning and enjoying their daily lifestyles like feeding, playing and others.
In addition to mountain gorillas, Volcanoes national park also protects the golden monkeys, a rare and playful species that is fascinating to watch.
Nyungwe Forest National Park
In the southwestern region of Rwanda, Nyungwe forest national park is another destination in Rwanda where one can go for wildlife safaris. The park protects the most preserved montane rainforest in Africa located in the watershed between the basin of the Congo river to the west and the basin of the Congo river to the west and basin of the river Nile to the east. Nyungwe forest is one of the oldest rainforests on the African continent covering an area of approximately 1,019 square kilometers of rainforest, bamboo, grassland, swamps and bogs. The forest offers opportunities for chimpanzee tracking which involves trailing through the park rainforests in search of these apes and once found, the tourist is allowed to spend some precious time in their presence as he or she learn and enjoys their daily lifestyles like playing, feeding, protecting each other and others. During the search, one can also encounter other primate species like colobus monkeys, Ruwenzori colobus, L’hoest’s monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboon, vervet monkeys and others.
Apart from primate watching, the park also features a thrilling canopy walk that gives you a bird’s-eye view of the forest and its inhabitants.
Things to See in Rwanda
The Mountain Gorillas
The popular Volcanoes National Park Rwanda hosts almost a third of the population of mountain gorillas in the world. The world has less than 1060 mountain gorillas and Rwanda has about 350. The mountain gorillas are one of the most popular tourism products in the world due to the lifetime experience one cultivated on the encounter.
Other Primates
Moving away from the gorillas, Rwanda has the largest montane forest in East Africa Nyungwe forest. This a forest that inhabits 13 different species of primates the most notable ones are chimpanzees, red tailed monkey, black and white monkeys and grey cheeked mangabey.
In total, Rwanda is also a home to 15 different species of primates namely the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, golden monkeys, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked Mangabey and Vervet monkeys among the special ones. It is always wonderful to hang out with these playful primates as they jump from one tree canopy to another.
Culture
Rwanda’s authentic traditional culture is worth to experience. This can be encountered by visiting the different traditional and historical sites of Rwanda like the genocide memorial centre, the market place, the presidential palace, museums and also the cultural villages like Iby’iwacu. Getting to know more about Rwanda and mix and mingle with the traditional cultural of Rwanda gets one close to nature.
Things to Do in Rwanda
With a total surface area of 26,338 square kilometers, Rwanda not only conducts wildlife safaris but also other experiences in different destinations. Among these encounters include;
Primates Tracking
Rwanda’s primates are amazing to track as they are so playful and also very intelligent in the way they do their day to day activities the chimpanzees in particular. While in Nyungwe Forest, the visitor is able to encounter beautiful bird species and butterflies that color up the sky. Another unique attraction in this forest is the canopy walk, here the visitor trek around the forest on an 50 meter elevated trail from the ground and have the opportunity to have a good aerial view of the forest.
Scenic Viewing
Rwanda is a country with several hilly areas and this is why it is called a land of a thousand hills and among those hills, there are very magnificent ones with lashing green cover. They always give an onlooker a very beautiful scenic view that can make one forget all the worries and wonder how God is an amazing artist.
Hiking
Apart from scenic viewing, these mountains are good for hiking which is also a very competitive adventurous activity. Reaching at the peak of a mountain gives a traveler self satisfaction of overcoming a tough challenge of hiking a feature of such great heights like these mountains.
The mountains to hike in Rwanda are found in the Virunga ranges that is Karisimbi and Bisoke mountains. A four day trip to these amazing is adventure that can never forgotten. It takes two days to hike the Karisimbi range and the hiker sleeps at the peak of the range and then slopes back the following and Bisoke is a one day hike adventure.
Camping
On top of hiking, camping is also done at these amazing ranges. At camp sites one gets to read a novel around the fire, telling past interesting stories and also having Nyama Chomo. It feels so nice to camp on these mountains as it makes one forget all the problems in the world.
With meeting the mountain gorillas, the primates in Nyungwe and mixing and mingling with traditional culture one gets to know mama nature more.
Cultural Experiences
During your Rwanda safari, get a chance to explore the country’s cultural and traditional practices by engaging with the local people during the cultural encounters. Among the villages to visit include Gorilla Guardian village located closely to Volcanoes national park. The village exposes you to Rwandan culture, traditions, and crafts as you get a chance to be crowned the day’s king and queen.
Other places to visit for traditional experiences include the Kigali genocide monarchy site, a place of remembrance and learning dedicated to victims of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Bird Watching
Rwanda is home to over 700 bird species in different destinations, making it a paradise for bird watchers. Among the places to go for bird watching include, the Albertine eco region, the country’s wetlands and marshes, Akagera national park, Volcanoes national park and Nyungwe forest.
