Rwanda has over the years been branding and positioning itself as a leading tourism destination in the region. This has yielded greatly as a number of Rwanda Tour activities now top the bucket lists of travelers. Rwanda is landlocked but among the most developed economies in East Africa. The tourism industry is among the top revenue contributor thanks to the Rwanda safari tour adventures one engages in while.
There are several Rwanda tour activities you can engage while on a visit to the country. Below are our most recommended based on traveler’s choice.
Kigali City Tour
Kigali City is Rwanda’s biggest and capital city. It is well organized and the cleanest city in Africa. Beyond the city’s cleanliness are a number of attractions that you can explore on Rwanda safari Tours. The Kigali Genocide memorial tops the list of the Must-Visit Kigali city tour destinations.
It was set up to commemorate the lives of the Rwandans who were killed in the 1994 Rwandan genocide against the Tutsis. A visit to the Kigali Genocide memorial makes you appreciate the reconciliation, resilience, and reconstruction Rwanda has undergone.
Nyandungu Eco Park is another iconic place to explore while on a Kigali City Tour. The 121-hectare Eco Park comprises a wetland, trees, catchment ponds, a garden, walkways, and a restaurant. It is a great birding destination within Kigali and a great place to relax enjoying the greenery and fresh air.
A visit to the Local markets is recommended for those interested in local people’s ways of life. Kimironko is Kigali’s biggest local market and a great place to buy a variety of foodstuffs, especially fruits. There are a number of craft shops where you can buy locally and hand-made African crafts.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is located in southwestern Rwanda about a 5 hours drive from Kigali. The forest is believed to be one of Africa’s oldest forests that survived the last ice age. It is home to a number of wildlife species but is most famous for its 13 primate species including chimpanzees. Chimpanzee trekking is therefore a commonly done Rwanda Tour activity in the forested park.
Other notable wildlife species in Nyungwe include tree and plant species, small wildlife species including amphibians and reptiles. Nyungwe waterfalls hike is incredible as you hike through the forest amidst sightings of wildlife species.
The canopy walk is another great walk to do while on a Rwanda Tour to Nyungwe Forest. Nyungwe Forests’ canopy walk is East Africa’s only canopy walkway that is suspended in the top canopy layers. While on the canopy walk you get to see the vast forest and some few birds that prefer the top canopy layers of the forest.
Nyungwe forest is Rwanda’s Important birding area and birding opportunities are many here. The forest has over 300 bird species including Albertine Rift Valley endemics. Notable Albertine endemics include the Albertine owlet, red-collared babbler, and Rockefeller’s sunbird. These three bird species are only found in Nyungwe and have not been recorded elsewhere on the eastern arm of the Great Rift Valley. Rwanda Tour adventures to Nyungwe Forest are incredible and we highly recommend them.
Singing Fishermen Experience on Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is Rwanda’s largest waterbody located in the western part and is shared with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The lake is one of the great Rift Valley lakes and covers a land area of 2700 square kilometers. There are about 28 fish species in the Lake and the local Rwandans living along the lake engage in fishing activities. Notable fish species here include Amphilius catfish, Nile Tilapia, Lake Rukwa minnow, and Barb among others.
Fishing in Lake Kivu is done early morning and in the evening. While on a Rwanda Tour along Lake Kivu in the Giesnyi area, you can enjoy the Singing fishermen experience. Fishermen using local canoes sing joyous and moral boosting songs while fishing. This experience takes you back in time and gives you a glimpse of the life of the fishing communities in Africa. Apart from the great company, and the great canoe ride adventures on the lake you also enjoy the whole fishing experience.
Mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda is currently the most famous tourist and wildlife activity in Rwanda. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park has the highest mountain gorilla population in the Virunga Massif and conservation area. There are 12 fully habituated gorilla families here that are open to tourists. Only 8 tourists are allowed to visit a mountain gorilla family a day for sustainability.
A Rwanda Tour without mountain gorilla trekking is often considered incomplete as hiking the Virunga mountains to meet these rare apes is incomparable.
Big Five Safari experiences are possible and among the most recommended Rwanda Tour Activities. These are done in Akagera National Park the only savanna national park in Rwanda. The park is located in Eastern Rwanda about a 3 hours drive from Kigali Rwanda’s capital city. Notable wildlife species in Akagera national park include lions, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, leopards, zebras, giraffes, and the Topi most of which are seen on game drives in the different trails in the park.
Akagera National Park has a diverse ecosystem that also includes swamp vegetation and it is actually the region’s largest protected wetland. The wetland and open savannas therefore boost a number of bird life making the park Rwanda’s second most important birding area after Nyungwe Forest. Even the rare shoebill stork is sometimes sighted on a Rwanda Tour and birding safari adventure to Akagera.
The African fish eagle, Black-headed gonolek, grey-crowned cranes, Ross’ Turaco, crested barbet, and Martial eagle are some of the bird species you can spot in the park.
Rwanda Discovery Journeys
Our Discovery Journeys gorilla trekking adventure in Rwanda starts with a 1 Day Gorilla Tour for those with limited time in the country. The 2 Days Rwanda Tour is a bit relaxed and features an overnight near the park. On the 2 Days tour you start with a Kigali City Tour and a community visit. It ends with the most anticipated gorilla trekking adventures.
For those interested in more primate adventures can book a 3 Days Rwanda Tour. The 5 Days Tour and a 10 Days Rwanda Safari features a visit to Nyungwe Forest National Park for Chimpanzee Trekking.
Rwanda Tour Activities are well rounded and rich adventures to be part of. You can join our other excursions in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Each of these destinations offers a unique safari adventure. You can for example have a Romantic Safari Holiday in Kenya to Masai Mara and end with a beach holiday.
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