Rwanda Safaris are sensational and worthwhile with opportunities of experiencing the outstanding wildlife, beautiful sights and sounds of prolific bird species and magnificent landscapes. These safaris introduce visitors to the country’s iconic attraction-mountain gorillas roaming across the dense rainforests of Virunga Mountain slopes. These tender creatures with complex personalities can be trekked and leave with unforgettable memories. No amount of words can describe the thrill of watching huge silverbacks putting up with infants falling over and playing around him or a nursing mother carrying the weight of her baby and infants jumping up in excitement through the trees.
While the endangered mountain gorillas are the stars of the show during Rwanda Safaris, there is more that the land of a thousand hills (as Rwanda is popularly known) offers. Before even leaving Volcanoes National Park, there are options of tracking the frisky golden monkeys, hiking to the Dian Fossey Gravesite and Karisoke Research Center, hiking the Virunga Mountains, watching bird species and many others.
When you drive south-westwards of the country on tarmac switchback roads, you are ushered to Nyungwe Forest National Park to track the incredible chimpanzees, undertaking the thrilling canopy walk and watch plethora of bird species in the verdant Afro-montane rainforest. Additionally, you can venture East of the country to the vast savannah plains as well as pristine Lakes of Akagera National Park where big five animals (lions, leopards, Rhinos, buffaloes and Elephants), Masai giraffes, Kobs, Topis, olive baboons, Common elands, Defassa waterbucks, warthogs and spotted hyenas can be spotted along with other 500 species of birds including the rare shoebill storks.
Swim, take a boat ride (Island hop) or kayak in the calm and clean waters of Lake Kivu or just sunbathe or relax along the white sandy beaches along the shores of this African Great Lake. You cannot talk of Rwanda safaris without mentioning the tragic 1994 Rwandan Genocide, whose wounds are still fresh in hearts of the people even 27 years later. Several monuments and Genocide Memorial Sites/Centers are distributed across the country to document this painful past and take visitors through what shaped the country’s present.
Best time to undertake Rwanda Safaris
The best time for Rwanda Safaris is from late May to September as well as December to February. This is the dry season when forest floors are drier and hiking trails not muddy/slippery hence making chimpanzee, Gorilla Trekking, Volcano climbing and golden monkey tracking tours easier/less challenging. These months also being dry months mean most wildlife species congregate around waterholes, Lakes and Rivers hence offering the best photogenic game viewing opportunities.
Where to stay during Rwanda Safaris
There are a wide range of accommodation facilities offering sumptuous meals and comfortable sleeping options for visitors on Rwanda safaris. From Kigali City to Nyungwe Forest, Akagera and Volcanoes National Park, there are comfortable places offering unmatched views, mouth-watering foods and cozy bedrooms. These places include One & Only Gorilla’s Nest, Magashi Camp, Bisate Lodge, Kigali Serena Hotel, Virunga Lodge, Singita Kataza House, One & Only Nyungwe House, Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, The Retreat, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Nyungwe Top Hill View Hotel and Akagera Game Lodge among others.
