What Tour activities to Include in a Rwanda safari Itinerary

What Tour activities to Include in a Rwanda Holiday safari Itinerary

Rwanda is the Land of a Thousand Hills and she is situated in the central-Eastern Africa bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo on the west side, Tanzania on the East, Uganda on the North side and bordering Burundi on the southern side. Many people still think of Rwanda as a horror because of the 1994 Genocide that occurred in the country, but it’s never anything to think about any more.
Besides the renown Gorilla trekking activities in the Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park in the Virunga mountains, there are other several attractions you should put on your “to do list” while you visit Rwanda. From the cleanest city of Kigali, you will enjoy road trips through the green and mountainous landscapes, beautiful Rwandese people, magnificent lakes and mountains, clean roads, amazing food, incredible climate, museums, historical and cultural sites, memorial sites, wildlife and birds not forgetting that you will sleep in adorable accommodation.

Volcanoes National Park – Gorilla trekking & Golden Monkey Watching

As the majority know, that this is the major attraction in Rwanda it has to come first. These endangered apes live in the thick rain forests of the Virunga and are shared with Uganda and DR Congo. Lovers of adventure have gone too far to frequently visit Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and spend with the humble yet powerful giants only 1 magical hour. An encounter with these apes gives you a strong invigorating feeling which most tour operators love calling “A Lifetime Experience”.

Nyungwe Forest National Park – Chimpanzee Trekking

For all the lovers and researchers of primates, this is where you need to go. This park is natural and rewards you with beautiful scenic views. It is regarded as the largest lingering montane forest in Africa, besides the Chimpanzees, you will have an opportunity to see other 13 primate species including colobus monkeys, mangabey monkeys, blue monkeys, red tailed monkeys, 85 mammal species, 275 bird species, about 1067 plant species, 38 reptiles species, 32 amphibians. As if that’s not enough, you will enjoy the only East African Forest Canopy Walk which will further give you more views of rare birds, wild game, colorful butterflies and several colors of orchids.

Akagera National Park – Wildlife Viewing

This one will do well for the safari lovers, those people who love game viewings; the park is small but gives visitors that time-honored East African safari in a Rwandese way. The park is on the Tanzania’s border in the East and also situated within the Savannah Landscape. This place offers visitors great time with the large plains game species plus the unique birds like the sought after shoebill stork.
You will view African mammals in their African Savannah Vegetation including the huge buffaloes, African Elephants, giraffes and hippos, some few leopards and lions, topi, sitatunga, zebra, roan antelopes, elands, waterbucks among others.

lake Kivu – Spot Fishing & Relaxation

This one I ought to say that it is the largest fresh water body of Rwanda found within the Albertine rift and it is also an element of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Kivu borders DR Congo in the west and has magnificent beaches, sceneries and it provides beyond belief sunsets in the evenings. Here tourists should know they are safe to swim in these fresh waters with added advantages of viewing the Virunga Volcanoes.
After a lifetime thrilling experience of Gorilla trekking and game safaris, you can have yourself relaxing a bit on the shores of this lake at the beach of your own choice. Maybe you will be escaping the busy Kigali city too.

A visit to Rwanda Genocide Sites

The so called 1994 famous “100 days of blood sheds” in Rwanda was a big turmoil which caused several indiscriminating deaths and loss of property. The Genocide was between the Tutsis and Hutu people. The massacres took place in different spots of Rwanda especially places that collected masses of people like churches and schools.
After the horrible events, the remains of the killed people stayed untouched up to date and in these very places of massacres is where the memorial sites were set up just to comfort all those people who lost their loved ones. On your visit to any memorial site, you will need to sign in a visitor’s book. Among the sites there are churches of Ntarama and Nyamata which are on the south of Kigali, Murambi in the South of Rwanda, Gisozi memorial site outside Kigali among others.
It should be noted that most of these sites have historical literature in the libraries where you can read more about the horror.

Kigali City Tour

Kigali city is centrally located in Rwanda which makes it a beautiful firm foundation and start to something you may have on your safari list. In Kigali you must start with the museum, the African craft shops and the memorial sites. Kigali has no much to offer to the tourists but it will keep charming them up because it is a clean city with awesome accommodations, cafeterias, bars, restaurants where you can try to have the goats’ brochettes and night life. Additionally, Kigali has Nyarutarama Lake where you can spend a weekend stroll.

Rwanda Cultural Tours

Just like the words of the Rwandan president Kagame “Culture is glue, it holds us together”, culture is beautiful. Rwanda’s culture is firm and many visitors tend to have a high regard for it. While in Rwanda, you will be sure of personally experiencing the renowned “Intore Dance”, expect to learn about hand art and craft works.

Your visit to Iby’lwacu cultural village will thrill you; this place has beautiful Rwandese people who are dedicated to the ways of living plus traditional lifestyles and dances which tourists have to enjoy at any cost. This cultural village still rewards you with great meetings with the local people who teach visitors about more of the ancient culture of Rwanda.

A visit to Huve and Butare for a cultural adventure

This place is a south side city called Huye but was previously called Butare and it is Rwanda’s nucleus of culture. It is reportedly once the most significant city prior to 1965. Huye is where the Institute of Science Research and the National University are found. The National Museum is also found in this place where most of the Rwandan history and culture can be learnt about. Nearby to Huye is the Nyanza where visitors meet the Royal Palace of Rwanda’s monarchy.
Next time you plan a trip to Rwanda; do not forget to include some of the above activities in your itinerary for a guaranteed adventure experience.