7 Best Hiking Trails in Rwanda: Situated in Central Africa, Rwanda is famous for impressive terrains and a wonderful diversity of fauna and flora that will attract tourists who seek to trek through nature. The geography of the country is quite diverse, you will find lots of interesting trails for hiking that range from easy walking to the top of the mountains. Here, we look at some of the 7 Best Hiking Trails in Rwanda and highlight what you can expect, from glorious viewpoints to vibrant plant and wildlife, not to mention the unparalleled beauty of the ‘land of a thousand hills.
- Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the 7 Best Hiking Trails in Rwanda and is an unspoiled tropical rainforest covering over 1000 square kilometers. Well, known for the gigantic wealth of species in it, the park boasts of several chimpanzees and several bird species.
The park offers several hiking trails, each with its own unique experience:
– Canopy Walk Trail: Many tourists prefer this ride to the forest canopy trail that takes two hours after which you get to a suspension bridge that is 60 meters above the ground. The trail is not difficult and great for families which makes the hill a favorite destination for tourists.
– Chimpanzee Tracking Trail: To go an extra mile, join a chimpanzee tracking tour that will lead you through the park to meet the families of chimpanzees. The trek may take anything between 2 to 4 hours; relatively steep and it is worth every drop of sweat to be in proximity with these wonderful primates in their natural habitats.
– Waterfall Trail: This is a 3-hour hike that leads to beautiful waterfalls in Nyungwe with a vegetation cover. During this walk, they get a chance to see different bird species and other wildlife since this nature trail is considered popular among bird lovers.
- Volcanoes National Park
As the park hosts the famous mountain gorillas, Volcanoes National Park has great trekking opportunities with outstanding features of the volcanic floor and montane forest. The park is also a world heritage area and when hiking, one gets this close experience.
– Gorilla Trekking: This park’s top attraction is, however, the gorilla tracking activity. So, walks to observe the mountain gorillas range between 1 – 8 hours but some are relatively longer due to the geographic spread of the gorilla families. Tourists are afforded wonderful opportunities to catch these graceful animals in their natural environment – an unforgettable experience.
– Mount Karisimbi: Extremely challenging is a climb to the summit of Mount Karismimbi the highest volcanic large mountain in the park. This hike is normally done in two days, though hikers spend a night in a camp. The views are magnificent at the top and hikers are likely to meet different animals during the trekking exercise.
– Mount Bisoke: Another great trek is the one up Mount Bisoke; this mountain features a crater that has a natural lake. It takes about 6 hours in a round trip and tourists are able to get an incredible view of the area surrounding the mountain. The trail is moderate and recommended for hikers with some experience.
- Akagera National Park
Toward that end, although best known for its wildlife viewing, Akagera National Park is also a great destination for hiking. They provide sublime hiking terrains, which range from savannahs, wetlands, to the lakes underlying the park.
– Bamboo Trail: This stunning 3-hour hike will guide you through the bamboo groves of the park and you may see different birds and maybe monkeys. In terms of difficulty, the trail is easy, which is ideal for those willing to hike in the park without serious training.
– The Ruzizi Trail: This 4-hour hike takes one along the Ruzizi River and affords the opportunity to view the park’s wetlands and a variety of wildlife including hippos and birds. For people interested in birdwatching, it is a convenient opportunity since the territory of the trail has many exclusive species of birds.
- Gishwati-Mukura National Park
Gishwati Mukura is one of the youngest National parks in Rwanda with forests and several animals species. The park has various tracks through which the various organisms in the park can be viewed.
– Gishwati Trail: This is a 3-hour hike that gives you a tour through the natural forests of the park and offers you glimpses of highland primates: the golden monkeys. Relatively most of the climbs are moderate making the trail appealing to many hikers.
– Mukura Trail: Besides, Mukura Trail provides an abundant view for touring varying ecosystems within the park such as the wetland and montane forest. This hike normally takes approximately 4 hours and offers marvelous views of hills and valleys in different areas.
- Kigali Urban Hiking
There are some nature trails that start within the city if people do not want to go farther and if they would like to discover Kigali City there are lots of them.
– Kigali City Walk: This is a guided one-day tour where one gets a close view of the Rwandan neighborhoods in the city. The walk takes usually 2-3 hours, and it is organized to include visits to local markets and historical places.
– Nyarutarama Lake Trail: This was a nice walk by the lakeside that anyone would want to take. A trail that surrounds the lake is quite beautiful and provides acceptable views of the water and some hills in the background and is good for taking photos and that sort.
Things That You Need to Look for on Your Hiking Excursion
Before embarking on your hiking adventure in Rwanda, it’s essential to prepare adequately:
– Attire: The best thing to wear would be comfortable casual wear that will not make the hiker sweat too much, and good hiking shoes. Layer yourself up as the climate continues to change more often in the hilly areas.
– Guides: Many trails in national parks are obscure and can only be negotiated with a local guide, let alone gorilla trekking and chimp tracking. Tourist guides are well-informed about the area and its wildlife thereby improving the experience of a tourist.
– Permits: When going for gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking, book the permits in advance since the number is limited and people sell out very fast.
– Safety: Drink enough water, eat adequate food, and always heed the information given by your guide. Avoid going especially close to primates because they tend to attack when they are feeling threatened.
7 Best Hiking Trails in Rwanda: Conclusion
When you strap up your hiking shoes to follow this Rwanda tour guide, be ready for an exciting interconnection with Rwanda’s natural environment, interact with its wildlife, and feel the warmth of Rwandese people. Hiking in Rwanda becomes even more exciting with each single step to realizing that Rwanda is indeed the hiker’s paradise beckoning to explore the natural offer complemented with interaction with the cultural values of Rwandans.
