Planning your first Rwanda safari adventure? Prepare to be amazed by lush landscapes and exhilarating safaris in Rwanda! From tracking majestic mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, considered some of the best gorilla safaris in Africa, to thrilling encounters with wildlife in Akagera National Park, home to the Big Five, a vacation in Rwanda offers unparalleled adventures. Immerse yourself in diverse Rwandan cultures that will enrich and fascinate you. Whether you dream of gorilla tours, wildlife safaris, or simply an unforgettable escape, this guide is your one-stop shop to plan the ultimate Rwanda vacation safari.
Highlights
- Extraordinary adventures trekking mountain gorillas in the dense forests of the Virunga Mountains.
- Picturesque landscapex of undulating hills, terraced farmlands, volcanic mountains, and untamed lush countryside.
- Nyungwe National Park, a haven for endangered primates; track wild chimpanzees and other primates; walk on the canopy walkway
- Classic safari in Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s only savannah park, and encounter the iconic Big Five.
- Immerse yourself in Rwanda’s vibrant culture, from the cosmopolitan city of Kigali, with its genocide memorials and museums, to the traditional countryside gatherings and annual events like the Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony.
- Tranquility of Lake Kivu’s coastline by kayaking, allowing you to fully appreciate the stunning mountainous backdrop from the serenity of the water.
What to carry as you go to trek the mountain gorillas.
When setting off for your trip, remember to carry the following things while you are going to hike to the volcanoes to trek the gorillas; un umbrella, a rain court, a hat, a jacket, long sleeved shirts, and the trousers to avoid coldness and the small branches in the jungle that may hurt you while trekking. We advise you to carry all the above because the weather changes and sometimes it is not conducive to the human beings.
What to expect on your gorilla safari in Rwanda?
Upon your arrival at the park entrance, you will be welcomed and checked in by the staff who will direct you to the lodge where to have an overnight. On this day, you will not do any activity since you will reach late. You will then have to rest as you wait for the next day.
You will have to wake up very early in the morning prepare yourselves, have morning tea and then you will be picked by a guide who will transfer you to the volcanoes national park which is just a two-hour drive from the kigali to the park. You will first be briefed by the ranger guide, you will be divided into groups of 8 and you will be given the rules and the regulations of trekking such as the do not mimic the gorillas, do not feed them do not come too close to them, do not make too much noise because they feel angry and end up attacking you.
From there you will be given guidelines on the dressing code while entering into the jungle for example,
Remember to wea long trousers, long sleeved shirts, cape, hat and so on. From there you will enter into the jungle and start the trekking. Once you get them, you are given ample time of over one hour as you are taking the photos.
Price and costs for the gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda.
The gorilla trekking in Rwanda costs 1500 dollars per person and it is a one-day trek, you should put this in your mind that part of your contribution goes to conserving these mountain gorillas.
Cultural Encounter
Iby’iwacu Cultural Center in Volcanoes National Park This simply means the interaction between two or more people who work according to different social norms. Originally,
Adventure Sports In Rwanda
These pursuits frequently require great physical effort, heights, speed, and specialized equipment. The following are specifics of adventure sports that are well-known around the world:
Birding in Rwanda
Rwanda has several birding destinations including forests in national parks, wetlands, shores. We have several bespoke Rwanda birding safaris you can choose from all offering the best
Hiking Mountain Bisoke
Are you considering visiting Rwanda and wondering what fun and fascinating things there are to do? Consider none other than one of the magnificent Virunga
Have you ever witnessed how it feels like when travelling and you get lost in the right direction? Wow here comes a journey that will make you experience the above situation. Travel to Rwanda in nyungwe forest to trek the beautiful golden monkey.
Golden monkey trekking refers to hiking and walking through the jungle of volcanoes national park to trek the golden monkey families and this activity is mostly done in Rwanda and Uganda.
What to know about golden monkey trekking and the characteristics of golden monkeys.
The golden monkeys are known of their distinctive and special characters that most of the monkeys do not have. Golden monkey trekking is mostly done in Uganda, Rwanda and the democratic republic of Congo. In Rwanda it is done in the Volcanoes national park and in sabinyo. Golden monkey trekking in Rwanda is divided mainly into two groups where by the first group is that located in sabinyo and the other group is located in the Volcanoes mountain
Sabinyo has the largest group of golden monkeys and they are over 80 to 100 monkeys. It is well known that this the most visited group in Rwanda and it at the same time attracts many tourists who enjoy seeing these monkeys .The other group is that in the volcanoes mountain , this group is said to have had slightly a smaller number of golden monkeys and therefore it attracts few tourists compared to the sabinyo .
- Most people can easily identify the golden monkeys by their yellow patches filled all over their bodies.
- These golden monkeys have their noses different from others
- They have their nostrils pointing upwards. This is a very unique character because no other primate has the same character.
- The golden monkeys have golden orange spots on their fur coats
- They feed on bamboo trees, shoots and their branches
- They always look for ripe fruits in the forest and the insects on the ground.
- The monkeys are very playful and active in the jungle and therefore this makes it very easy to find them once you come for trekking.
- These golden monkeys are too curious and like jumping from one tree to another and therefore this makes it difficult to take photos once you find them.
Golden monkey trekking
The trekking of gorillas starts at exactly 7 am in the morning in the volcanoes mountain. It starts with a briefing at the headquarters with your tour guide who will brief you about the way how you will trek and find out the monkeys in a shortest time without being disturbed. From their the journey will begin to the jungle with the help of your trained guide to help you find these primates. These golden monkeys are difficult to find because they are too small and they are always playing within the trees. Therefore, to get these primates easily, you will follow the fresh bamboo shoots that were left behind when they were eating. This will help you to easily find these primates. Once you find these golden monkeys, you are allowed to stay with them for over one hour.
Cost of permit for golden monkey trekking
When trekking golden monkeys, the number of people is not limited as that of gorilla trekking. There fore if you at one time decide to go trekking in the sabinyo or in the volcanoes mountain, the golden monkey permit is at 100 US dollars per person. For one to get the permits, you are recommended to pay at the Uganda wild life authority and Rwanda development board. The golden monkey permit does not need to be booked in advance. Rather you can even decide to pay or book on the day of trekking. The permit for golden monkey trekking includes all the park entries, ranger guide fees and the time to be spent with the primates once you get them.
NOTE; You have got high chances for spotting the golden monkeys unlike the gorillas which is luck to allocate them.
NOTE; once you start trekking and you don’t find the monkeys, you are refunded back your money with immediate effect.
What to carry when going for golden monkey trekking
- Carry Insect repellent net to help you be safe from the mosquitoes, tsetse flies and other dangerous insects
- Put on Shirts with long arms or long-sleeved clothes to help you from the insects biting you in the jungle.
- Carry a rain you start your journey to the trekking jungle, the condition there may not be favorable for most of the clients, therefore you need to prepare early enough and carry some of the things to help you during your journey and these include;
- Carry a jacket to help you from direct rain fall
- A stick to help in giving you support while hiking to look for the golden monkeys
- Carry a hat on your head to help you from direct sunlight which can make your trekking stop
- Remember to carry a camera and take photos of the golden monkeys
- Come along with your porter to help you carry your luggage long the way.
- Pack your simple snacks to help you once you feel hungry during your journey
- Carry your boots and good shoes that will help you to pass though the slippery slopes of the jungle and avoid falling.
Have you tried to wake up one day and feel like travelling to see and trek some chimpanzees but un fortunately u have not got a place where to trek them? well there is no more worry again here I bring you the common country and area where the chimpanzees are trekked and that is non other than Rwanda and specifically it is done in nyungwe forest.
Chimpanzee trekking is an activity where travelers with the help of the trained tour guide will lead you in to the jungle following the trail left by a habituated chimpanzee family and when you find them, you are allowed to spend some time with them experiencing their behavior for almost one hour. Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda is mostly done in the nyungwe forest which is the largest, long stretch montane rainforest in Africa at the moment. This forest has attracted many tourists, researchers and scientists who have come to see the primates found in this forest and get to know more about them. such as the chimpanzees, gorillas and monkeys. This forest is also part of the wider nyungwe national park which includes cyamudongo forest. The nyungwe forest does not only have primates but it also has some other attractions like the bird species which are over 310 species in the sanctuary, these birds include, purple breasted sun birds, Rockefellers sunbird, red collared mountain babblers and the Ruwenzori turacos.
Chimpanzee trekking in nyungwe forest.
This is so amazing, the trekking starts very early in the morning at 5 ; am after taking breakfast. It begins with a briefing at the headquarters at uwinka with the help of the trained tour guide. Then from there the journey begins to the jungle following the foot prints of the chimpanzees, this will help you to get the chimpanzees in a very short time. Once you get these primates you are allowed to stay with them for over an hour getting used to their culture .The chimpanzees are man’s closest friends , they almost share everything in common, and they have many of our traits , they are intelligent apes and humans at the same time.
Rwanda has three places where these chimpanzees are found for example nyungwe national park [nyungwe and cyamudongo forests] and the gishwati mukura national park. The chimpanzees here have been kept for captivity for over 60 years. The park almost has 400 individual chimpanzees and 13 primate species in total. Two chimpanzee communities have been partially habituated in nyungwe national park where by many of them have gone to nyungwe forest [60 individuals] while the rest have gone to cyamudongo forest and those are 3o individuals. However, you have to put in mind that its not a guarantee that you have to see the chimpanzees in the nyungwe forest, but once you don’t see them, you are advised to take it easy. Nyungwe forest has other animal species like the faced vervet monkeys, Rwenzori colobus, black and white colobus monkeys to mention but a few.
Characteristics of chimpanzees.
- They are too noisy
- They are very mobile
- They are too stubborn for life in that they like playing all the time.
Travelling to the volcanoes national park in Rwanda to trek for the gorillas will leave you speechless then turn you into a story teller to other people after seeing the gorillas in their natural habitats. Volcanoes national park does not only have gorillas but it also has other primates like the golden monkeys, chimpanzees these also make many tourists to travel and trek them. Country wide, the mountain gorillas are found in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. When it comes to Rwanda specifically, we find the mountain gorillas in the volcanoes national park which is 2hrs and 18 minutes without traffic jam from Kigali to the volcanoes where the mountain gorillas are trekked
The volcanoes national park in Rwanda was first gazzeted as a national park in 1925 and is the oldest national park on the African continent .It was gazzeted in order to protect the mountain gorillas from poachers .In 1925 , the volcanoes national park was extended from Rwanda into Congo .This park is found in northwestern Rwanda ,it covers 160km2 of the rain forest and encompasses five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga mountains ,namely kirisimbi ,bisoke ,muhabura gahinga and sabinyo .It boarders Virunga national park in Congo and mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda .It is a home to the mountain gorillas and the golden monkey and was a base for the primatologist dian fossey .
Trekking mountain gorillas in the volcanoes national park
Volcanoes national park in Rwanda has got over twenty families of the mountain gorillas comprised of around 280 individual gorillas living on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes, and of the twenty families, twelve families are visited with the ten being visited each day. It is also known that Rwanda gorillas are divided into 2 groups that is those for study purposes and researchers only. These groups include the Beets me and the Pablo’s shidas which have the highest n3umber of the gorillas. There are also ten gorilla’s families where by these are for tourism purposes only. Among these groups are; ugenda umubano, Susa group, karisimbi, sabinyo, hirwa, amahoro, bwengye, the agasha group and the kwitonda.
NOTE; As Adventure in the wild safaris, we always recommend our clients who are interested in trekking the mountain gorillas in their natural habitats to book sabinyo silver back lodge for their stay because it is just a 15-minute drive from the volcanoes national park headquarter which is the starting point for the gorilla trek.
The trekking of mountain gorillas in the volcanoes starts very early at 7 am at the headquarters with a short briefing about the rules and the regulations of how to trek the gorillas. From there you will be divided into a group of 8 members who will be allowed to enter into the jungle. While in the jungle you will be helped by a trained ranger who will help you tress the gorillas since they sometimes graze from far in the jungle. Once you start the trekking put it at the back of your mind that it is not a guarantee that you will find these primates. If you find them well and good, if you don’t then is fine. Do not blame anyone for not having seen the gorillas. The trek takes something like 1 to 5 hours looking for the gorillas. Once you find these primates, you will be allowed to stay with them for over an hour relaxing with them and taking photos.
The Fantastic Weather In Rwanda
Planning the ideal trip to Rwanda, a small landlocked nation in the East African region, requires knowledge of the country’s environment and weather throughout the
The Location Of Rwanda.
The Location Of Rwanda. Rwanda is a landlocked nation in east-central Africa that is located south of the equator. Rwanda is frequently referred to as
Wildlife In Their Natural Habitats In Rwanda
Wildlife In Their Natural Habitats In Rwanda Rwanda is a success story in wildlife protection, and there are many opportunities to see wildlife and explore
The Undeniable Beauty of Rwanda
Mountainous, culturally complex, and absolutely stunning describes the Undeniable beauty of Rwanda. Just a few hours apart, this tiny country contains jungles, savannas, volcanoes, lakes,
January through February is a good time to visit Rwanda. It is a relatively hot season with clear skies, minimal rains, and more sunshine, great conditions for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and walking with chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
March marks the beginning of the rainy season in Rwanda. It a perfect time to watch the countryside morph into emerald shades and great great landscape photos. It is also a perfect bird-watching season; many colorful winged creatures fly through the countryside.
April is the wettest month in Rwanda, parks are quieter, and roads to the gorillas can be impassable. On the other hand, it’s low season, perfect for for taking advanced of the discounted hotel and lodge rates.
May ends the first rainy season of the year with lesser downpours and incredible greenery in the countryside.
June marks the begining of the peak season because of its favourable dry weather, extending into August. It’s the best time to visit Rwanda on vacation, and it attracts a high number of travelers to see gorillas in Rwanda. Gorilla trekking permits and lodges are in high demand during this time; book well in advance to avoid tiring logistics.
July is also excellent for gorilla trekking expeditions in the Virungas and wildlife game drives in Akagera. Its asier to spot lions and leopards during this time.
August is fantastic for game-viewing safaris in Akagera and chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest.
September usually marks the end of the dry season and the beginning of the last rainy season of the year. However, your visit to Rwanda may experience heavy downpours depending on when the rains arrive. September is not ideal for gorilla trekking in Rwanda. However, first-time visitors who brave the downpours will undoubtedly save on travel costs. Also, September is when the Kwita Izina, the gorilla naming festival happens, attracting thousands of travelers.
October is not a busy month for a safari in Rwanda. Holiday costs are reasonable, and it is a good time of year for specials on accommodation. Akagera National Park is still accessible at this time, but the rainfall can be a little unpredictable.
The heavy rains continue into November, turning Rwanda’s rugged countryside into a vibrant green perfect for photography. The November rains hold back many travelers, so the low season extends into December.
December ends the wet season with relatively short rains paving the way for the peak season in January. It is a good time for bird-watching, with a wide variety of migratory birds making their way into the Albertine region.
Amakoro Songa Lodge
All the cottages at Amakoro Songa Lodge are intentionally furnished with rustic elegance, fusing local and modern pieces that create a good warmth and comfort. The spacious rooms, each equipped with a fireplace, allow guests to opt for a post-trekking massage. Our ‘must-experience’ outdoor fireplace is not to be missed
Magashi Akagera
Wilderness Magashi Intimate. Luxurious. Wilderness. Witness the abundance of Akagera National Park from Wilderness Magashi. Home once more to an abundance of apex predators and their prey. Marvel at lion, white and black rhino, buffalo and elephant roaming its hills and vast savannah. This is the quintessential East African safari
Sabinyo Silverback Lodge.
The Sabinyo Silverback Lodge is situated not far from the Volcanoes National Park’s administrative center, from which visitors can walk to observe the majestic Mountain Gorillas. The first community-owned lodge in Rwanda is called Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge. Governors’ Camp Collection built and runs the lodge, while SACOLA (Sabinyo Community Livelihood
Mountain Gorillas Nest Lodge
Rwanda’s volcanoes national park is not far from the 3-star Mountain Gorilla Nest Lodge. As one of the intermediate options, this mountain gorillas nest lodge is a lodging option provided to visitors seeking a reasonable lodging with star quality services. In the northern region of Rwanda, in the Musanze district,
Ugende Gorilla Family
The Ugende Gorilla Family’s name ugenda means being on the move since the family was constantly moving from one place to another. Therefore, this would make it very difficult for the visitors to track this family because it would not
Hirwa Gorilla group trek
This simply means being a lucky one. Hirwa group has nine individuals, one being silverback, three adult females, two sub adult females as well as 3 babies. However, it is the newest gorilla group but still it is strong and
The sabinyo gorilla group.
This group can be easily reached and it is known that has the strong silverback called guhonda. This silverback is very massive big and impressive. In comparison to other gorilla families, sabyino has the smallest number of members. Sabyino derived
Amahoro gorilla group.
This name amahoro simply means peace, therefore this means that the amahoro gorilla tours is a peace full group. It has seventeen members that is the silver back, two adult females, 2 juveniles, 2 sub adult males and 5 babies.
Bwenge Gorilla Family Group
This family consists of 11 members with a silver back .it is found in the slopes of karisoke volcano, this group has faced a lot of challenging times which included the death of six infants .However this group is becoming
The Susa gorilla trek.
This group was researched by dian fossey, it derived its name from the river Susa which used to flow in the home range of these mountain gorillas. This is a very beautiful family that every visitor may want see once
Lake Kivu
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Volcanoes National Park
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Nyungwe national Park
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Akagera National Park
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Kigali
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