Places To Visit In Rwanda

Despite the horrific past, Rwanda has already put this dirty history behind and the land of a thousand hills is thriving in almost all sectors particularly in tourism. Today the country has more than enough to offer to her travelers ranging from wildlife safaris to hiking and local tours. Below, we are pointing out some of the major highlights of Rwanda’s tourist attractions that are worthy to be on your bucket list as you plan a trip this tiny and stunning country in the heart of Africa. Travelers on safaris to Rwanda are assured of exceptional experiences ranging from rare mountain gorilla, lakes, rivers, rolling hills, birds, forests and birds among others. Below are Rwanda’s top tourism destinations:

Volcanoes National Park – gorilla tracking and more 
Perhaps the best place to track the endangered mountain gorillas in the world. Volcanoes national park in the northwest of Rwanda offers breathtaking encounters to see these incredible primates as they move and relax in their respective families led by a giant male the silverback. Many trekkers have described gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park as the best wildlife experience in the world and it is the same story in Rwanda. Volcanoes national park has got much more to offer to her visitors than gorillas. The park is a home to other numerous primate species led by the Albertine Rift endemic, the golden monkey and many other monkey species. It is the headquarters of the famous primatologist Dian Fossey and her former camp and grave are situated along the forested slopes of the Karisoke summit. Lastly you can choose to take a day trek to the beautiful crater lake on the summit of Mount Bisoke in the park.

Akagera national park 
This is Rwanda’s representative park in East Africa’s famous savannah reserves. The park offers freedom to her visitors to drive through for hours without meeting another truck with high anticipation of encountering wildlife in the next corner. A game drive through the park takes you close to her amazing species including the big five that include the newly introduced lions and rhinos and many more big and small game. The roosting water birds and wallowing hippos of the park can be viewed while on a sunset boat cruise on Lake Ihema.

Nyungwe Forest National Park 
Visit this magnificent forested park and you will be greeted by its liberatingly primal presence even before you enter it. Your wildlife experience starts right away as you drive through the rural landscape with rolling tea plantations lying below the terraced hills before going through the dense tree cover that spouts out of the fringing cultivation. Once in the park, embark on chimpanzee tracking together with the numerous Rwenzori colobus monkeys. Other activities of Nyungwe include birding to watch her hundreds of bird species including the Albertine Rift endemics and hiking the park’s 130km network of trails that traverse East Africa’s largest Montane rainforest park.

Lake Kivu 
This beautiful lake offers a perfect weekend retreat for both locals and tourists. Surrounded by the stunning steeply terraced escarpments with several peaks that surpass 3,000m including the far north active volcano summit of Nyiragongo. A boat cruise to Napoleon’s Island leads you to several water birds together with thousands of fruit bats. Enjoy the evening supper from a lakeside restaurant where you can enjoy one of the tasty catches from the lake.