Rwanda Photography Safari Adventures

Rwanda Wildlife Photography!

Rwanda photography safari adventures are incredible for those interested in capturing the land of a thousand hills through lenses. The country is among the fastest-growing tourism destinations in East Africa because of its diversity. Rwanda has Over the years improved its hospitality sector which has seen an increase in lodge and hotel investments. With this, all kinds of Journeys of discovery including Rwanda photography safari adventures are more feasible.

Rwanda is a small landlocked country that is easy to explore. It has four national parks that are the top leading photography safari destinations. Many other places of interest in Rwanda can be featured on photography safari adventures.

Below are our top and most recommended Rwanda photography safari adventures for first-time visitors to the country.

Gorilla Trekking Photography Safaris

Mountain gorillas are rare primates of the apes family. They live in forested mountains in East Africa in two ecosystems that include the Virunga Mountains and the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and adjacent Sarambwe Reserve. The Virunga mountains lie along the Rwanda, Uganda, and DRC border. It has 3 Mountain gorilla parks including Volcanoes National Park Rwanda.

Volcanoes National Park has the highest mountain gorilla population in the Virunga massif. It is currently the best place for Mountain gorilla trekking and photography safaris. The park has 12 gorilla families open to tourism. Each gorilla family can be visited by only 8 tourists a day. The gorilla trekking experience starts with a briefing at the park headquarters after which you are led to the forested park. It takes 1 to 4 hours of hiking to get to the gorillas. This is adventurous as you encounter several other wildlife species in the park.

You are allowed to stay in the presence of the gorillas for an hour taking photos and getting to know more about them. This time is enough for gorilla photography and an up-close encounter with the rare primates. You can opt for a double gorilla trekking tour if you prefer more time with the gorillas. Our 4-day double gorilla trekking features this and a golden monkey trek.

Birding Safari Adventures

Rwanda is among the best birding destinations in East Africa. The country’s diverse ecosystem is home to several bird species including endemics. Nyungwe forest in southwestern Rwanda is the country’s most important birding area. It lies in the Albertine Rift Valley and is home to birds endemic to the Albertine Rift. Notable ones include the Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Appalis, Great Blue Turaco, and Regal Sunbird among others.

Akagera National Park is another incredible Rwanda Birding safari destination. The park protects the region’s largest wetland ecosystem. This is home to several wetland birds including the shoebill stork. Birding Photography safaris in Akagera are rewarding as you get to explore the open savanna bird species as well.

Birding in Rwanda is possible any time of the year. In Nyungwe it is however best enjoyed from March to April when the birds are most vocal. Migratory birds are present in the region from November to May which increases the bird diversity. For the best birding adventure we recommend a 10-day Rwanda safari that features a visit to Nyungwe, Volcanoes, and Akagera National Parks. Birding is among the most rewarding Rwanda Photography safari adventures and we highly recommend it.

Nyungwe Primates Adventures

Nyungwe forest has one of the highest primates concentrations in East Africa. It has 13 primates including chimpanzees which is highly of any one protected area. The park is most famous for chimpanzee trekking and the newly established chimpanzee habituation experience. Nyungwe has 3 habituated communities each with over 20 individual chimpanzees.

Other major primates in Nyungwe include l’hoest monkeys, colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and olive baboons. These can be trekked to in exclusive primate and photography safari adventures. The primate treks take 2 to 4 hours depending on their movement. Nyungwe primates and overall adventures are incredible as you get to fully explore the jungle.

The park is Rwanda’s only natural World Heritage Site listed because of its diverse ecosystem. Any Rwanda Photography safari adventures are worth the time and experience. We recommend a 3 to 4-night stay if you are to fully explore the primates in the park. Our 5-day Rwanda tour features chimpanzee trekking and a canopy walk in the park as well as gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.

Akagera Big Five expeditions

Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s only Savanna national park located in the Eastern part about a 3-hour drive from Kigali. The park is home to the Big Five Mammals that include Elephants, Rhinos, Lions, leopards and Buffaloes. Rhinos and leopards were just reintroduced after years of extinction. Akagera is among the region’s conservation success stories and it’s amazing to capture this on Rwanda photography safari adventures.

Other safari animals in the park include giraffes, zebras, the topi, and elands. These are best seen on game drives following the different trails in the park. Akagera recently opened up balloon safari adventures that are also ideal for photography. Balloon safaris offer a panoramic view of the ecosystem bringing a unique photography perspective.

Akagera can best be explored on a 3 to 4-night excursion. The Park has several accommodation options for all tourist categories. The 6-day Rwanda tour features a visit to Akagera for a safari and Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.

You can check out our other East African Journeys of Discovery for the ultimate photography safari adventures. These include Uganda tour adventures, Kenya wildlife holidays, Tanzania tours, and more.