Main Tourist Attractions and destinations in Rwanda, Welcome to Rwanda! Murakaaza neza. Rwanda also known as the land of a thousand hills is one on top of travelers’ choice. Due to amazing attractions that leave visitors obsessed and excited, with everlasting memories to ever carry forever in their hearts. Covering an area of 26,338Sq Km, the East African smallest country is biodiversity country rich in culture and wildlife. These are the major destinations and attractions that visitors enjoy while exploring Rwanda
Mountain Gorilla Trekking in the Volcanoes National park
Gorillas are found only in three countries of Congo, Uganda and Rwanda. Located in the volcanic mountains or the Virunga mountains, the volcanoes if the only home of mountain gorillas in Rwanda. With more than 10 families and each can be visited by 8 people per day, this is the most visited national park in Rwanda. These families are habituated and all you need is to purchase a gorilla trekking permit and spend one hour with these amazing primates. Mountain gorillas are rare and endangered species of primates Rwanda happens to be one of the destinations to trek them.
The exercise of gorilla trekking starts with a briefing in the morning at 7 am and then set off with a ranger guide to search for gorillas. The exercise can take 4-8 hours depending on the location where these gorillas are feeding from. You will then spend one full hour with these habituates gorillas.
Trekking permit costs $1,500 for foreign nonresidents and is considered one of the unforgettable experience for tourist who visit East Africa.
Other attractions in the Volcanoes include; visiting Dian Fossey grave, climbing Mount Bisoke, hiking mount Karisimbi, visiting coffee and tea plantations, visiting Musanze caves and nature walk among others.
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park
Rwanda safari is complete without Chimpanzee trekking on your itinerary in Nyungwe national park. Nyungwe is the second visited national park in Rwanda. Chimpanzee trekking is different from gorillas especially in their nature and behaviors. Chimpanzees live in groups while gorillas live in families.
Canopy walk.
This is another common activity in Nyungwe national park. This 70 m high and 160 m long suspension bridge is a accessible along the Igishigishigi trail or Umuyove trail. And is an amazing activity where you can walk as you enjoy on the top of beautiful forests where you can sight some primates like Colobus or golden monkeys. There are other activities that take place like Golden monkey trekking and bird watching among others.
Main Tourist Attractions and destinations in Rwanda: The Big five and Akagera National park
Apart from primates, Rwanda is also a great destination for wildlife safaris of the savannah. Akagera national park is a home of the big five of buffalo, rhino, elephant, lion and leopard. Composed of swamps, woodlands, rivers, lakes, savannah, and terraced hills which favor the flourishing of the wildlife in this park.
Akagera national park is 1,085Sq Km and was established in 1934, however a lot of wildlife was lost in the genocide of 1994. However, with the efforts in conservation, it has been reestablished and now boost various animal species and birds.
A game drive in Akagera can be a thrilling experience in this park and you can sight olive baboons, vervet monkeys, and hippos and the big five. Other activities include boat cruise, sports fishing on lake Shakani, birding and nature walk among others.
There are other attractions in Rwanda such as bird watching and city tour in Kigali city. It should be noted that your trip to Rwanda is never complete without visiting the Kigali genocide memorial. This site that display the victims of 1994 genocide and the terrible blood shade and how the country is progressing with this history.
