THINGS TO DO IN RWANDA SAFARIS
Things to do In Rwanda Safaris : Rwanda is an excellent African safari destination situated in the East-Central region of Africa continent, Rwanda as a tourist destination consists of many tourist attractions including mountain gorillas the prime tourist attraction in the country, wildlife species such as lions, leopards, and cape buffaloes among others. Most of the tourist attraction in Rwanda are protected and conserved in 4 protected areas including volcanoes national park, Akagera national park, Nyungwe Forest national park and Gishwati-Mukura national park.
Rwanda offers many rewarding safari activities to do during a Rwanda safari and these include
MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING
Mountain gorilla trekking is the most popular safari activity offered in Rwanda, Rwanda is the few African safari destinations as well as the world offering the remarkable mountain gorilla trekking experience. Mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda is offered and done in Volcanoes national park situated in the northwest of Rwanda in only 2 hours drive from Kigali the capital of Rwanda, the park is named after the chain of dormant volcanoes found in the park including Karisimbi volcano, Bisoke Volcano, Sabinyo volcano, Gahinga and Muhabura volcano.
Mountain gorillas are the prime tourist attraction in Volcanoes national park living in the thick forests of the park, mountain gorillas in the park are recorded to be over 100 individuals living in groups which are headed by a silverback. Mountain gorillas trekked during the mountain gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda were habituated so as to make them less hostile to human presence, in Volcanoes national park there are many mountain gorillas groups which are trekked and these include
- Bwenge gorilla group
- Titus gorilla group
- Karisimbi/ Susa B gorilla group
- Susa A gorilla group
- Ugenda gorilla group
- Group 13/ Agashya gorilla group
- Kwitonda gorilla group
- Sabyinyo gorilla group
- Hirwa gorilla group
- Amahoro gorilla group
Mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda (volcanoes national park) is done by tourists only in possession of a mountain gorilla trekking permit which currently consist US$ 1500 per person, Rwanda mountain gorilla trekking starts as early as 07:00 am with briefing at the park’s headquarters where a guide takes you through rules and regulations to follow while in the presence of mountain gorillas. Mountain trekking experience takes approximately 5-6 hours of searching for the gorillas in the thick forests of volcanoes national park and one hour of staying in the presence of the gorillas. While in the presence gorillas you are allowed to take pictures as long as your flashlight is off and remember to a bid by the rules and regulations.
GAME DRIVES
Game viewing/ game drive is another exciting and remarkable safari activity in Rwanda offering an opportunity to encounter any watch a variety of wildlife species living in the savannah plains of Rwanda, game drives in Rwanda are offered only in Akagera national park the only savannah national park in Rwanda.
Akagera national park is the only savannah park in Rwanda and the largest protected wetland in Central Africa located in the Eastern region of Rwanda stretching along the border of Rwanda and Tanzania and is named after the Kagera River crossing through the plains of the park. Akagera national park is a home to the big 5 that is lions, leopards, elephants, cape buffaloes and rhinos. There are also other animals living in the savannah plains of the park such as hippos, bushbucks, giraffes, zebras, Topi’s and many more. Akagera national park is also a great bird habitat hosting approximately 500 bird species such as shoebill, papyrus Gonolek, African Wattled Plover, Giant Kingfisher, Senegal Lapwings, Squacco Herons, African Open bill stock, Grey Crowned Crane, African Darter, Long-toed, Water Thick-knee among others.
Game drives in Rwanda and Akagera national park are done on custom made safari vehicles most preferably 4X4 wheel vehicles such as land cruisers, this Rwanda safari experience is done only demarcated trails running through the park offering an opportunity to explore the park from the comfort of the vehicle and enough scenic views of the park and watch many animals as possible.
BIRD WATCHING
Rwanda is a very rewarding African safari destination for bird watching safaris, Rwanda is a birding paradise and a birder’s haven with over 700 bird species which are found in numerous areas in Rwanda including protected areas, swamps, towns and agricultural lands.
Rwanda birding safaris offers an opportunity to watch many colorful bird species which are found in areas such as Akagera national park, Nyungwe national park, Volcanoes national park, Akanyaru wetland, the Rugezi marsh, Nyabarongo river wetlands, Kigali city among others.
During Rwanda birding safari you get an opportunity to spot many colorful birds such as
Carruthers’s cisticola, Dimorphic egret, Dusky crimsonwing, Dwarf honey guide, Eleonora’s falcon, Grasshopper buzzard, Grauer’s swamp warbler, Handsome francolin, Kivu ground thrush, Mountain masked apalis, Neumann’s warbler, Northern brown-throated weaver, Papyrus canary, Papyrus gonolek, Papyrus yellow warbler, Purple-breasted sunbird, Red-collared babbler, Red-faced barbet, Red-faced woodland warbler, Red-throated alethe, Red-winged francolin, Regal sunbird, Ring-necked francolin, Ruwenzori apalis, Ruwenzori batis, Ruwenzori nightjar, Ruwenzori turaco, Shelley’s crimsonwing, Yellow-eyed black flycatcher among others
BOAT SAFARIS
Rwanda is a best African safari destination for boat safaris offered at Lake Kivu, Lake Ihema and rivers such as River Nyabarongo and River Akagera. Boat safaris are very exciting Rwanda safari experience offering a chance to enjoy the calm waters and many water creatures such as crocodiles and many water birds such as shoe bills among others. Lake Kivu is the largest lake in Rwanda and one of the African great lakes lieing along the border of Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, the lake covers an area of 90 kilometers long, 50 kilometers at its width and covers an area of 2,700 square kilometers. Lake Ihema is found in the Akagera national park, the only savannah national park in Rwanda.
Boat safaris in Rwanda usually last about 1-2 hours.
RWANDA COMMUNITY TOURS
Rwanda is one of the perfect African safari destinations for community visits in which travelers get a chance to visit and meet the local people in their various communities, visiting schools, market centers and participating in various local activities. Rwanda community walks are very beneficial are they contribute a lot into the development of the local communities. Rwanda community tours take about 3 hours and offer an excellent with the locals and learning more about their lifestyle, taste local foods, visit schools and a chance to buy beautiful souvenirs.
Rwanda cultural tours
Rwanda cultural tours are fascinating Rwanda safari activity offering travelers an opportunity to experience the cultural, traditions and norms of the local Rwanda people. Rwanda local people are of two categories that are pastoralists and cultivators, nomadic pastoralists in Rwanda depend on grazing livestock as cattle, sheep and goats as a way of life. The cultivators depend on farming and hunting as a way of life, they carry out agricultural practices in which they grow different types of crops eaten as food.
Rwanda cultural tours offer an opportunity to enjoy local music, dance, drama and folktale, taste traditional foods (freshly cooked meals) among others.
Rwanda is a very rewarding African safari destination you should visit once in a life time
