Top places to visit in Rwanda
Top places to visit in Rwanda : Rwanda is a small landlocked country with a number of great tour points thus the big numbers of tourists it attracts on a daily. Rwanda is sitted on an area of about 10,160 square miles which is equivalent to 26,338 square kilometers and this is a really small country almost a third of the total land area of Belgium as a whole. Rwanda is located in Africa and bordered by Uganda in the North, Burundi in the south, the Democratic republic of Congo in the west and Tanzania in the north east.
The Kigali international airport is built to receive up to 400,000 travellers on a yearly basis and has recorded up to 710,000 travellers both international and the local people at the airport in 2016. The Kigali International airport lands up to 400 flights on a weekly basis. Arrivals at the Kigali International airport have risen year after year and a big number of these international travellers are coming into Rwanda for tourism purposes and investment interests.
This small landlocked country has a lot to tell starting with the historical background, the tourism hot spots, the Rwandan culture, the architectural side and all can be blended well into a Rwanda safari. Are you interested in a Rwanda safari and you do not want to miss out on the ideal destinations to visit? Then this is your article.
Kigali city. The Kigali city is the capital city of Rwanda and this is also the business hub for the country. On landing in Rwanda, you will land at the Kigali International airport as it the currently only international airport. You may have to spend a mandatory quarantine night in Kigali as you wait for your test results however you can consider spending some time in this city. While in Kigali city, be sure to check out the Kigali Genocide memorial grounds for an insight of the 1994 genocide that claimed a number of Rwandan lives. These grounds are a tribute to the fallen individuals whose names you will see inscribed on a wall.
You may also visit the Kandt House Museum which is the city’s oldest building, the Ihema Arts center and the Ivuka Arts Center or even the Miyo Art Gallery to get a taste of the Rwandan art work mixed with some contemporary art works. There are also 2 museums in Kigali that are part of the 7 museums of the country and these are the Museum of National history and the Presidential Museum where the ruins of the Presidential plane that was bombed at the start of the genocide lies. This city also has a number of modern architectural buildings that you should not miss out on like the Kigali Conventional center.
Volcanoes national park. One of Rwanda’s most treasured and most visited points is the Volcanoes national park. Rwanda however small it is, is still a home to last remaining mountain gorillas of the world. The mountain gorillas of Rwanda can be visited in the Volcanoes national park and this park has 10 habituated gorilla families that one can get a permit for. Each mountain gorilla family is only accepted 8 visitors that means there are over 80 gorillas permits available for booking on a daily basis in the Volcanoes national park. The Volcanoes national park offers a gorilla trekking experience for all the interested and a gorilla permit for the International visitors goes for 1,500 USD.
This national park is located in the north western part of the country and is a 2 hour road transfer from Kigali city. The volcanoes national park is sitted on an area of 160 square kilometers and has much more than only mountain gorillas to offer.
After your mountain gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes national park, you can top it up with a golden monkey visit, or a hike up one of the volcanoes in the park that is the Mount Bisoke, Mount Muhabura or Mount Karisimbi. The grave of the famous primatologist Dian Fossey who dedicated a big part of her life to the conservation of the mountain gorillas can also be visited and respect paid. This park also has activities that can engage the younger visitors like the Buhanga Eco park or the Twin lake visit that have no age restriction. Please note all treks in the Volcanoes national park have an age limit of only individuals aged 16 and above can be issued permits.
Birders can also book a visit to the Volcanoes national park as it is a home to over 170 different bird species and 26 of the recorded bird species in the Volcanoes national park are endemic species to the Virunga and Rwenzori region. Do not forget to check out the Iby’iwachu cultural center for a touch of the Rwandan people culture.
Nyungwe forest national park. The Nyungwe forest national park is one of the 3 national parks located in the south of Rwanda. The Nyungwe forest national park is a home to up to 13 primates and also where one can take on a chimpanzee trek. A chimpanzee trekking permit goes for 90 USD and this park has much more to offer. You can trek the other primates like the black and white colobus monkeys.
You can also take on a birding safari in Nyungwe for a chance with the 300 bird species in the forest. Take on a canopy walk in the Nyungwe forest or a nature walk on one of the trails of Nyungwe forest.
Akagera national park. Rwanda’s only savannah park is the Akagera national park. The Akagera national park is located just 2 hours away from the Kigali city, the base of the Kigali International airport. This national park offers both day and night game drives to see the big 5 animals that is the lions, leopards, elephants, the rhino and the buffalo.
Akagera national park is also a great destination for birders as it has over 500 bird species to look out for. You may also have a community visit or cultural experience while in Akagera national park. Take on a boat ride on Lake Ihema one of the lakes in Akagera national park.
Reach out to us and let us take you on your Rwanda safari to the best tour sites.
