A list of popular Rwanda safari activities and things to do
A list of popular Rwanda safari activities and things to do
Rwanda is one of the growing African safaris destinations, and its astounding gorilla trekking activities hold the first position when you visit Rwanda.
The country is recovering from the ashes of the f 1994 Rwanda genocide, and so far, there are lessons that Rwanda has learned from its horrible history. But unfortunately, Rwanda has limited resources, which has kept it from advertising and promoting its safari activities locally and internationally.
Most Popular Safaris
3 day chimp habituation in Kibale
3 day fly in gorilla habituation
5 days chimp and gorilla habituation
3 days Rwanda gorilla tracking
4 days gorillas and golden monkeys
5 day Uganda gorillas and wildlife
5 day gorilla habituation and chimps
5 days gorillas and game safari
5 days gorilla trekking Rwanda
What To Do During Rwanda Safari
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
Rwanda is one of the gorilla trekking destinations in the world, hosting some of the leftover endangered mountain gorillas. The Virunga area, which Rwanda is part of, currently has about 605 mountain gorillas.
Volcanoes National Park is the only home of the mountain gorillas which live in families. A dominant silverback leads each gorilla family, and other family members obey his rule.
Rwanda has about 12 gorilla families fully habituated and open for tourism. Each person must purchase a gorilla permit for Volcanoes National Park to be allowed entry into Volcanoes National Park for a gorilla trekking safari.
What is The Cost Of Rwanda Gorilla Permit?
The Rwanda gorilla permits currently cost $1500 per person per trek. This includes park fees for the day, ranger guide fees, security, gorilla conservation fund support, and local community support.
The cost of a Rwanda gorilla permit excludes tipping, transport, and any other personal nature items.
Can I Book A Rwanda Gorilla permit in Instalments?
You can book the Rwanda gorilla permits in installments, depending on when you purchase the permit. A percentage of 30% and 70 % of the total cost is allowed when buying a Rwanda gorilla permit in installments.
To apply, you must purchase the gorilla permit 90 days before the trekking date and remember to top up 90 days before the trekking date.
Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda
Rwanda chimpanzee trekking is done in Nyungwe National Park. Nyungwe National Park lies in the southwestern part of Rwanda. The park was established in 2004 and fully instituted as a Rwanda National Park in 2005. Nyungwe National Park is about 230 kilometers from Kigali airport, and you may use a 5hours drive to get there.
The chimpanzees in this park are semi-habituated but very exciting to follow while in this stage. Two chimpanzee communities live in Nyungwe National Park. One of the locations where one gathering is resident is called Cyamdongo. This is situated at the periphery of Nyungwe National Park, hosting part of the Rwanda chimpanzees communities.
Uwinka is the main park headquarters for Nyungwe National Park, where briefing before chimpanzee trekking takes place then you follow several trails.
You must purchase a chimpanzee trekking permit for Rwanda, and at the moment, the cost of Rwanda gorilla permits is about $90 per person per trek.
What is Included in The cost Of Rwanda Chimpanzee Permit?
The chimpanzee permits the cost of Rwanda includes ranger guide fees, chimpanzee conservation fund support, security, one hour with the chimpanzee, and others.
This cost excludes tipping, logistics, transport to Nyungwe National Park, porters, and any other personal nature items.
How To Buy Chimpanzee Trekking Permit for Rwanda
Select the date you wish to do chimpanzee trekking and the number of permits you want to purchase. Ensure all participants are aged 15 years and above because of several factors, like the topography of the destination, which is ragged, and the time taken to locate the chimpanzees and others.
You may contact the Rwanda Development Board or Encounter Africa Safaris to check the availability of Rwanda chimpanzee permits as per your date of preference. Two chimpanzee trekking sessions are conducted in Nyungwe National Park in the morning and afternoon.
Only ten tourists can do chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda, so you must book your permit in advance.
Canopy Walk over Nyungwe National Park
The canopy walks over Nyungwe National Park are a thrilling experience on a suspension bridge of about 90 meters long. You get to enjoy the beautiful views of Nyungwe National Park and its surroundings from the top.
To start this adventure, you are briefed from Uwinka, then follow the igishigishigi trail. Look for various monkeys like black and white colobus, red-tailed, grey-cheeked mangabey, olive baboons, and others.
Several birds flock to this forest, so enjoy their presence too.
Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Golden monkeys are some of the endangered primates in the world, of which worldwide about 20000 to about 40000 golden monkeys exist.
They are charming primates to watch and have a larger body structure than normal monkeys. In addition, they have golden brown hairs on the lower back.
While in the forest, golden monkeys are charming and exciting to watch as they hop from one tree to another; although they have been habituated to human presence, they still bare their natural characteristics.
What is The cost of Rwanda Golden Monkey permits
The golden monkeys permit cost in Rwanda is currently $100 per person per trek for foreign nonresidents, $65 for foreign residents in Rwanda, $65 per person, $ 80 for foreign residents in East Africa, and Rwandese citizens RWF 4000 per person per trek.
What Is Included In The Golden Monkey Permit For Rwanda
Rwanda’s golden monkeys permit cost includes ranger guide fees, security, one hour with the golden monkeys, golden monkeys conservation support, local community support, and others.
This golden monkey permit cost excludes tips, snacks, porter payment, drinks, packed lunch, and other personal nature items.
Cultural experience Of Rwanda
Rwanda is one of the African countries proud of its unique culture. Whatever you wish to know about the Rwandese culture, you need to do prearrangement. You may watch the rhythmic Intore dance coupled with loud drums and moves that cannot keep you seated.
You may visit the ancient palace of Rwanda’s king and learn more about the fallen monarchy of the Rwandese.
Visit the Genocide memorials in Rwanda.
Rwanda went through a horrific period of 100 days where local people died from ignorance. In addition, several victims suffered at the hands of their people.
In memory of this, several centers with remains of the victims have been placed in different regions of the country for remaining Rwandese and those who wish to disrupt their freedom not to try genocide.
Some Rwandese genocide memorials include the Blue Beret Memorial site, Gisozi Genocide Memorial, St Famille Church, and others.
Birding In Rwanda
Rwanda has excellent bird habitats that you can add to the birding destinations to visit on the Rwanda safari. Some recognized Rwanda birding destinations include Volcanoes National Park, with over 200 bird species, Nyungwe National Park, Akagera National Park, and others.
Some of the birds you may get to spot on Rwanda Birding safari include Albertine rift endemics. In addition, some birds living in different destinations of Rwanda have Blue Turaco, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Barred long-tailed Cuckoo, White-bellied Robin-Chat, Banded Prinia Apalis, Handsome Francolin, and others.
Kigali City Tour
Kigali is one of the lovely cities to visit in Africa, with a clean environment governed by strict laws. No dumping anyhow garbage in Kigali city.
You may tour the genocide memorials and visit the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, Kadit House, and Kwita Izina Function. However, having a well-structured itinerary to drive through the jam time would be best.
Visit Dian Fossey Grave
A guided walk in the steps of the fallen mountain gorilla heroin called Dian Fossey is worth every effort. Dian Fossey was an American primatologist who scooped the mountain gorillas from the rim of extinction.
She staged her mountain gorilla research work in Rwanda in 1967 and set up the Karisoke Research Station. Most of the current findings about mountain gorillas are based on her results.
In 1985, unknown assailants brutally murdered her, and her remains were buried amongst the gorillas she defended to her last breath.
When Is the Best Time To Book Rwanda Safari?
Rwanda safari activities are open all year, but most people prefer the dry season, which is June to September and December to January.
Rwanda’s tourism season is at its peak during this season too. This is because most Rwanda safari activities are done in Natural settings, that is, in the wild.
Most forest dwellers are active in the dry season, so there is life in the forest. Since Rwanda is a land of a thousand hills, expect some hiking during some activities.
The wet season also has advantages during Rwanda safari because there are limited tourists, so you have the activities to yourself. There is little distraction and obstruction from taking great wildlife photos.
Chances of getting discounted prices on some Rwanda safari activities and service providers are more available in the low season, usually the wet season.
If you have a limited budget, you may also use the low Rwanda safari period.
How Safe Is Rwanda For an African Safari?
After the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the country has learned from its past mistakes and is not ready to repeat them.
The Rwanda security operatives are vigilant and ready to combat anything returning Rwanda to this tyranny.
No matter where you go during the Rwanda safari, you are safe. You need to follow the laws of Rwanda and not violate any, or else you end up in one of the local prisons.
Ensure you do not dump garbage carelessly on the streets; wearing narcotics and other drugs is forbidden in Rwanda and others.
What is the cost of a Rwanda safari?
The cost of a Rwanda safari depends on several factors like
The number of days to spend on the Rwanda safari holiday
The more days on the Rwanda safari, the higher the gross cost. This is because most activities and service providers charge per-day prices in Rwanda.
It would be best if you worked with a professional and experienced tour operator to put together a great itinerary to maximize your stay in Rwanda.
The number of people traveling with for Rwanda safari
The more people are joining you for the Rwanda safari, the less the cost per person. You get to share some costs like vehicle hire, gas, driver guide, and others
The number of activities included in the Rwanda safari package
A combo of the above Rwanda safari activities requires you to have the most significant budget. Each activity is charged differently. You can arrange a gorilla trekking and a chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda.
The Budget package you select for the Rwanda safari
Rwanda safari packages are charged according to luxury, midrange, or budget packages. Whatever choice you make, each has different inclusions and exclusions, so the more inclusions in a Rwanda safari package, the higher the gross cost. The fewer inclusions, the lower price per safari package.
Timing for booking A Rwanda safari
Rwanda safari packages for the peak season, generally June to September and December to January, are usually high. During the low season, which is usually March to May and November, Rwanda safari packages may attract discounts from some service providers like accommodation, vehicle higher, and others.
What Are The Rwanda Safari Requirements?
- Fully immunizing for Covid-19 or carrying a document to show negative results using a PCR test of Covid-19 takes 72 hours.
- Sunscreen because Rwanda is a tropical country
- Insect repellant in case you have the Rwanda safari in the jungle.
- A sweater or warmers as Rwanda is a country a land of a thousand hills and an environment cold most of the day.
- First aid kit with emergency medication.
- Passport and other required Rwanda travel documents that can quickly identify you.
- Safari hat
- Extra clean safari attire for the Rwanda safari activity you may attend.
- Duffel bag to carry with your safari travel items, just enough for you to bring in case you get no help
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