Rwanda’s Travel Guide for safaris in 2025 : Rwanda – the Land of a thousand hills have evolved from its tragic social collapse of the 1994 genocide and rose like a phoenix, this tragic epoch is a big part of its modern history.
Going to Rwanda for a safari will leave you with an overwhelming sense of admiration for its people’s hope and determination and the remarkable unity of the country.
Today, Rwanda is one of Africa’s fastest growing economics and one of the cleanest, friendliest and safest places you can visit in Africa.
Rwanda boasts a well-organized tourism infrastructure with good roads and high-end accommodations well as advanced conservation initiatives like the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
If you are thinking about visiting Rwanda for the first time, this article offers first-hand knowledge of travelling in Rwanda as a first timer.
Location Of Rwanda
Rwanda crowned as the Land of a thousand hills is a landlocked country located in the East – Central Africa covering an area of 26,338 sq.km. Rwanda borders Uganda in the North, Tanzania in the East, Burundi in the south and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the west and northwest.
Rwanda lies on the great East Africa Plateau, between the water systems of the Nile and Congo rivers. To the west of the divide, the land drops sharply to Lake Kivu in the Great Valley, to the east, the land falls gradually across the central plateaus, to the swamps and lakes on the eastern border of the country.
Best Places To Visit
- Volcanoes National Park
Located in Northwestern region of Rwanda in Musanze district, Volcanoes National Park is the most famous travel destination in Rwanda renowned for its excitingly adventurous gorilla trekking adventures and golden monkey trekking.
The park stretches over an area of approximately 160 square meters of rainforest and Five of the Eight Virunga Volcanoes including Karisimbi, Bisoke, Gahinga, Muhabura, and Sabyinyo. Volcanoes National Park is part of the Greater Virunga Conservation Area comprising of other gorilla parks that is Virunga National Park of Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. the park comprises of thickets, marshes, swamps, meadows and small lakes.
Volcanoes National Park is listed among the best places to do gorilla trekking in the world and is credited for its tremendous efforts towards the conservation of the endangered gorillas, the park was also a base of the famous American primatologist Diani who championed the conservation and protecting with the gorillas through her extensive research.
Volcanoes National Park was established in 1925 and was mainly gazetted to protected the mountain gorillas from the poachers and stands as the first national parks to be created in Africa.
Gorilla trekking is the main safari activity to do in Volcanoes National Park offering visitors a chance to stay for 1 hour interacting with these endangered species, the park has 10 habituated gorilla families open for gorilla tourism.
The rainforests of Volcanoes National Park is also home to the endangered golden monkeys encountered on golden monkey trekking experience.
- Lake Kivu
The beautiful Lake Kivu is a great relaxing spot in Rwanda lying on the border of Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo, the lake is one of the Great Lakes in Africa and it is geographically located in the Albertine Rift, the western branch of East African Rift.
At an estimated total surface area of about 2,700 square kilometers, Lake Kivu stands as one of the eighth largest lakes in Africa, it stands at the height of 1,460 meters above the sea level with a maximum depth of 475 meters and mean depth of 220 meters thus making it the twentieth deepest lake by maximum depth and thirteenth deepest by mean death.
Lake Kivu is situated about 100km south of Gisenyi, Kibuye
Lake Kivu is a haven of amazing activities including Kayaking, boat cruises, sport fishing, Island Hopping and visit to coffee plantations, mountain biking and hiking and birding.
- Nyungwe Forest National Park
Tucked away in the southwest corner of Rwanda near the border of Burundi, lies Nyungwe Forest National Park – Home to Primates in Rwanda. This ancient forest is the largest mountain rainforest in Africa and is thought to be one of the best preserved and oldest forests on the continent.
Sprawling for over 1,000 square kilometers, Nyungwe Forest National Park protects remarkable biodiversity containing 13 different primate species including chimpanzees, blue monkey, golden monkeys and owl-faced monkeys among others.
The wildlife diversity in Nyungwe Forest National Park includes 13 species of primates, 85 mammals, over 300 bird species, 200 different tree species and 248 species of orchids.
Chimpanzee trekking is the main activity done in Nyungwe Forest National Park, the forest protects two chimpanzee communities that have been partially habituated for chimpanzee tourism and visited by tourists who get to spend a maximum of one hour interacting with the chimpanzee and watching how they spend their life in the forest.
The Forest Canopy Walks is another exciting Rwanda Safari activity in Nyungwe Forest National Park, this is one of the new additions to the experience in the park and is done on a 200 meters long trail suspended at over 50 meters above the forest canopy and is an exhilarating activity offering stunning panoramic views over the lush rainforest.
- Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park is the only safari in Rwanda where you will see wildlife species, the park is the only savannah park, situated in eastern Rwanda.
Akagera National Park is Central Agrica’s largest protected weland and the last remaining refuge for adpted species in Rwanda, at 2500 sq km the park is mainly savannah land is named after Kagera River that flows along the Rwanda’s eastern boundary with Tanzania. This river feeds into Lake Ihema and other smaller lakes in and around the park.
Akagera National Park protects an African landscape of acacia and bush with patches of open grassland and a dozen swampy lakes, the park is home to a variety of wildlife which include elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, leopards, hyenas, lions, hippos, crocodiles and antelope species like bushbucks, Topis, Oribis, water-buck, roan antelope and duiker, klipspringer, impala and world largest antelope – the Cape eland.
Game viewing is the main Rwanda safari activity to do in k, from your safari vehicle you will explore the park’s savannah plains using various trails/route offering you amazing sights of various animals. Game drives in Akagera NaAkagera National Partional Park are offered and done as morning game drives, afternoon game drives and night game drives.
Akagera National Park is also a great place to visit for birding adventures as it is home to over 550 bird species, boat safaris on Lake Ihema, sporting fishing done on Lake Shakani and Cultural encounters to the local communities
Best Time To Visit Rwanda
Rwanda as a country has a pleasant, tropical – highland climate. And it is situated close to the Equator.
Though it is warm throughout most of the country, the high altitude mountains are cool and pleasant with a fair amount of frost. Temperatures in Rwanda vary considerably from region to region because of the variations in attitude, ranging between 70 – 80 °F during day and 60 – 70 °F at night. In the high mountains, expect frost.
Though Rwanda is good to visit through the year, best time to visit Rwanda is during the two dry seasons that is May – October (Long dry season) and December – March (short dry season). These drier periods provides ideal trekking conditions for tracking mountain gorillas and chimpanzees with little to no mud especially on steep paths. It is also good time for wildlife safaris in Akagera National Park as animals congregate in large numbers at watering holes to quench their thirsty and cool off in the waters.
Things To Do In Rwanda
From the thick forests to volcanoes and the endangered mountain gorillas, museums that document the country’s horrific past, and the indigenous cultures in its remote villages. There are so many incredible things to see and do in Rwanda, here is a list of the top things you should definitely do as part of your tour.
Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
With no doubt, gorilla trekking at Volcanoes National Park is one of the top things to do in Rwanda. Sharing a border with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and part of the Great Virunga Conservation Area, Volcanoes National Park is the best place to see the endangered mountain gorillas thanks to its growing numbers.
The misty forests of Volcanoes National Park host approximately over 400 gorillas with 10 mountain gorilla families, on gorilla trekking experience you get to visit one of these habituated gorilla families and you need to obtain a gorilla trekking permit for $1,500.
The trekking experience typically lasts between four and eight hours, most of which is spent hiking through the mystical forests, wild meadows and swamp areas. You will spend an hour observing the gentle creatures as they eat, care for their babies and interact with one another.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Chimpanzee trekking is an entertaining primate safari activity in Rwanda done in Nyungwe Forest National Park – one of the world’s most beautiful and pristine rainforests. The park is dominated by a series of mountains, originating in northern Uganda and Congo, running south through the Rwenzori Mountains, western Rwanda and Burundi, to the shores of Lake Tanganyika.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to 13 recorded primate species including a huge population of chimpanzees, other primates include Chimpanzees,Silver monkey, Golden monkey, Owl-faced monkey/ Hamlyn’s monkey, Grey-cheeked mangabey, Red-tailed monkey, L’Hoest’s monkey, Vervet monkey, baboon, Dent’s Mona Monkey, Blue Monkey and Angolan Colobus Monkeys.
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park is done in two chimpanzee communities that are habituated to human presence, one of the groups is in Cyamudongo section of Nyungwe Forest and the other around the Uwika area of the forest. The forest is home to about 400 chimpanzees and during the trek which takes 3 to 6 hours, expect to encounter other primate species and spend one hour with the chimpanzees.
Chimpanzee trekking experience starts as early as 5.00 am in the morning with briefing.
Game Viewing in Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park found in eastern Rwanda is the only savannah park in Rwanda and it is where game viewing safaris are only done, the park covering an area of 2500 sq km protects an African savannah landscape of acacia and bush with patches of open grassland and a dozen of swampy lakes.
Akagera National Park has exceptional levels of biodiversity and forms a large protected wetland.
Being the only place to sight large mammals while on a Rwanda Safari, Akagera National Park is to a variety of wildlife which include elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, leopards, hyenas, lions and several antelope species like bushbucks, Topis, Oribis, water-buck, roan antelope and duiker, klipspringer, impala and world largest antelope – the Cape eland.
Game drives in Akagera National Park are done in safari vehicles and normally start early morning in search of the leopards, hyenas and the lions, this is so because predators prefer to hunt at night or early morning and usually go into hiding as it starts to heat up.
In addition to day game drive, there is also night game drives in Akagera National Park. These normally start at 6 pm and last for about 2 hours, on night game drives you will have an opportunity of sighting the leopards as they hunt and even lions.
Boat Safaris
Boat safaris is the best way to spend your day in Rwanda and they are done on Lake Kivu and Akagera National Park’s Lake Ihema. These boat safaris normally lasts between 1-2 hours scheduled only in the morning and afternoon times of the day, boat safaris offers great birding opportunities and sights of hippos and crocodiles in the water.
Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Golden monkeys are other beautiful endangered primate species found in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, these beautiful little creatures are found only in the high-altitude forests of the Volcanoes National Park.
Golden monkeys are active, slightly little creatures. They are incredible entertaining as they amuse themselves swinging through the bamboo or racing after one another in circles around and above you. They are very pretty, with shiny reddish – gold backs, blending in perfect with the golden bamboo.
On golden monkey trekking experience you will spend the morning search the lush vegetation at the foot of Mount Sabyinyo for one of the two habituated groups of golden monkeys, one of these troops has more than 80 members. When you locate the group, you will spend an enchanted hour watching them as they leap among the slender shoots of bamboo or tumble among the dense foliage on the forest floor.
Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest
Nyungwe Forest Canopy Walk is one of the best walk trails in Africa found in Nyungwe Forest National Park, this forest walk was introduced in 2010 and is a 50 meters high bridge offering an aerial view of the forest and the creatures hosted in the forest.
The canopy walk way is suspended above a ravine in the lush montane rainforest of Nyungwe providing an exhilarating perspective on the ancient treetops and wildlife
Safety
Rwanda is a safe destination to visit, since the 1994 genocide the country has greatly stabilized. It is relatively easy, safe and simple to travel around this beautiful country. With some basic safety guides, you will enjoy a seamless and stress-fee Rwanda safari.
Rwanda: Essential information
Visa and Entry
Citizens of all countries can get a visa by applying online or receive it upon arrival at a cost of USD 50 for single entry visa or 70 USD for multiple entry.
Health information
Visitors to Rwanda arriving from any country with risk of yellow fever are required to carry proof of yellow fever vaccination, there is risk of malaria throughout the year so we advise that you carry a mosquito repellent and wear clothes that cover most parts of your body, especially if you are traveling during the rainy months.
Language and religion
The official languages in Rwanda are Kinyarwanda, French and English. Kinyarwanda is a Bantu language and is widely spoken. Kirundi – spoken in the neighboring country of Burundi and Kinyarwanda are similar languages and have formed a wider dialect continuum called Rwanda – Rundi. Other languages like Swahili are also spoken in Rwanda.
The use of English is most common in larger cities and in popular tourist destinations only, the further you travel in to the interior of Rwanda, the lesser chances of finding locals who can converse in English.
Religion
The majority of Rwandans are Roman Catholic (about 65%) and 9% are Protestant. Only about 1% of the population is Muslim. About a fourth of Rwandans adhere to indigenous beliefs. Many of them practice both their traditional religion and Christianity at the same time.
Currency and Cards
US dollars are the most accepted currently in larger cities in Rwanda, although smaller shops will only accept local currency. If you are carrying dollar bills, make sure they were printed in 2013 or later or you may be refused service.
International credit cards mainly Visa and Mastercard are accepted at most establishments. Amex cards however, are not accepted in most areas. Reach out and let us plan for your Rwanda safari tailored to your taste and preference.
