A trip to Rwanda and things to do on your wedding anniversary

A trip to Rwanda and things to do on your wedding anniversary. Are you planning a wedding anniversary trip to Rwanda and looking at the different activities you can engage in? Look no further because we are going to help you choose the best activities to participate in while on your wedding anniversary celebrations. Rwanda is a country that has been blessed with different safari destinations that can be visited all year round, which makes it a good destination for anyone planning a celebratory safari. 

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Planning a trip to Rwanda is quite easy when you have the most suitable tour operator to help you plan it, and that is why we are here to help you plan a stress-free wedding anniversary safari for you. With the many things you get to enjoy while on a trip to Rwanda, there are a few that you should not miss out on, and these include:

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Gorilla trekking is Rwanda’s highest-fetching revenue safari activity and has attracted many tourists over the years. This is because mountain gorillas can only be trekked in their natural habitat, and this is only done in three countries: Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. Rwanda has about 400 Mountain gorillas with 12 gorilla families open for trekking to the public. You will need to purchase a gorilla trek permit in advance because of their high demand at least six months before the trek date to be able to participate in gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking can be carried out all year round, but the best time is during the dry season of June to September and December to February when the gorillas can easily be trekked. Nothing beats spending an hour surrounded by mountain gorillas, taking photos, recording videos, and studying their behavior.

Enjoy the Kwita Izina ceremony.

The Kwita Izina ceremony was started to preserve the gorillas. Since it was started in 2005, several baby gorillas have been named, and the trackers usually choose the names. The ceremony is attended by different dignitaries, both local and international, and the president of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, is always available for the naming of the baby gorillas.

Visit the Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park is the largest national park in Rwanda, located at the border of Rwanda and Tanzania. The National Park was greatly affected during the Rwanda genocide, with refugees returning and taking up the parkland and also poaching the animals, which forced many of the animals to flee from the national park. But after the Genocide, to rejuvenate the national park and promote tourism, it started re-introducing the animals that were not in the park. For example, lions were introduced in 2015, the black rhinos in 2017, and these joined the already existing animals like antelopes, hippos, hyenas, zebras, and primates like olive baboons, among others.

The day game drives start as early as 7:00 am and last about two to two hours and a half until you pause the drive for lunch before going for the afternoon drive. The morning drive is the best time to spot bird species and animals best seen early morning. Akagera National Park also offers night game drives, which start in the evening after dinners. This is the best time to see the nocturnal animals and other wildlife like lions, impalas, and leopards, among others. A spotlight will be provided so that you can spot the animals easily in the dark, but this activity comes at an extra cost of about $40.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe Forest National Park is filled with different primate species like chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, Grey-checked Mangabeys, Olive baboons, and Angola colobus monkeys, among others. Chimpanzee trekking is the main activity carried out in Nyungwe with two chimpanzee families trekking in Cyamudongo forest with 30 chimpanzee-habituated communities and 60 in Nyungwe forest. After purchasing the chimpanzee trek permit, you get to spend an hour with the chimpanzees, watching them go about their daily lives. Chimpanzee habituation is also carried out in Nyungwe, and this is the process where the chimps are trained to get used to the presence of humans. The habituation process can take the whole day and is carried out with researchers. 

Take a trip to Lake Kivu.

Lake Kivu, which is located along the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, is a tourist hub because of its location and the activities that are carried out on the Lake. It is an extremely small Lake found in the Great Rift Valley, and some of the activities you can engage in while on Lake Kivu include taking a cultural walk to the local communities, enjoying a boat ride along the Lake, going bird watching, and exploring the different small islands around Lake Kivu.

Canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park.

The canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park is the longest in East Africa, about 160 m long, making it the best place for a canopy walk. It is suspended 50 m above the forest, giving you the best views of the trees, wildlife, and its surroundings. Other activities that you can carry out while in Nyungwe include bird watching, primate walks, and guided nature walks. The canopy walk was introduced in 2010 and is considered one of the most exciting and best canopy walks on the African continent. The canopy trail is divided into three parts: the first part is 25 m long (the shortest walk), the second walk is about 45 m long, and the last one is 90 m long. 

The canopy walk is carried out in two sessions, one in the morning starting as early as 8:00 am and the second session at 3:00 pm. The walk is eligible for children above six years, but those below 15 need to be escorted by an adult to access the canopy. You will be required to pay a small fee of $60 for foreign residents, 5000 Francs for Rwandan citizens, and $150 for foreign non-residents.

Golden Monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park.

Golden monkeys, like the gorillas, are an endangered species and can be trekked in the Volcanoes National Park and Mgahinga in Uganda. They are uniquely different from the other monkeys with their gold coat on their face and back. They usually feed on bamboo shoots and leaves, and the easiest way to find them is by following the bamboo shoots on the ground. The gorilla trekking rules apply to golden monkey trekking, and this is one of the activities that can easily be joined with gorilla trekking because it is an all-year-round activity, and few tourists participate in it. You will need to purchase a permit of $100 per person to join the Golden Monkey Trek group, which is only valid for a day. Without the golden monkey trek permit, it is impossible to trek the primates and the best time to go for a golden monkey trek permit is during the dry season although it can be carried out all year round.

Participate in the Umuganda

Umuganda is ‘coming together,’ the activity is carried out every last Saturday of the month with all communities coming together to clean the community. The Umuganda is compulsory for all ages 18 to 65 years, and it is not intended for only keeping the country clean but creating a togetherness among the community members. The activity starts early morning and till midday, and during this period, no cars are allowed on the road, and all offices are closed. Tourists and expatriates are exempted from the Umuganda, but you can still join in to meet and interact with the locals.

 Visit the Genocide memorial sites

The 1994 Rwanda genocide was a very bad time for Rwanda as a country, with millions of people losing their lives during the war and others exiled. To remember the people that lost their lives, different Genocide memorial sites have been set up, and these are a learning lesson for the tourists who wish to learn more about the history of Rwanda. and they are also a place where the affected go to remember their loved ones.

The Kigali Genocide Memorial Center, located within the city center, is part of the history of Rwanda. It was constructed in 2014, and it has different sections showing the world what happened years ago, with photos and bones of the deceased and a mass grave where many people who were not identified were buried. There is also a list of the names of the people who lost their lives, and to date, more names are being added to the list. Other genocide Centres that you can visit include the Nyamata Memorial site, where over 250,000 people lost their lives; the Ntarama Memorial site, where over 5,000 people were killed; the Gisozi Memorial site, where about 300,000 people were killed; and the Murambi Genocide Memorial site. The centers are open throughout the year, and memorial celebrations are held each year in April to remember all those who lost their lives.

Explore the tea plantations

Tea is the second cash group in Rwanda after coffee and was introduced into the country in the 1950s. There are so many tea plantations that are owned by individuals but the most visited are the Gisakura estate and Gisovu estate tea plantations which are easy to get to and access and it will take about 3 to 4 hours to explore them.

Gisovu tea estate, located on the northern side of Nyungwe National Park, is a perfect place to learn more about the different stages of growing tea how it is harvested, and you get to participate in some of the activities like picking coffee and then finally get a taste of the tea after the tour.

Gisakura tea estate is the most visited in Rwanda, and it is located along the western side of Nyungwe Forest National Park, and a visit to the estate will give you an insight into how the tea is grown, the different stages of growth, harvest, and you also get a chance to taste the tea straight from the factory near the plantation.

 Pfunda tea estate: located below the Virunga volcano, Pfunda is the largest tea estate in Rwanda, producing the largest tea productions in the country. The highest percentage of the tea production is exported and from the Pfunda. A trip through the tea estate shows you the whole process of growing the tea to the final process in production.

Take on the Congo Nile Trail

The Congo Nile is the best cycling and biking trail in East Africa, located along the shores of Lake Kivu. The trail is not for the faint-hearted due to the different terrains you will find along the way, but there are four ways in which you can access it that is by driving, walking, cycling, and use of motorcycles. Cycling is the best way to take on the Congo trail and it takes five days to get complete the 227-kilometer route. The trail takes you through the beaches along Lake Kivu, the dense forests of Nyungwe Forest National Park, the Kiziba refugee camp, and several hills that have views of the Democratic Republic of Congo. You need to pack efficiently for the cycling experience, and some of the things that shouldn’t miss out on your list include headlamps, toiletries, snacks, helmets, sunglasses and masks for the dust, and drinking water, among others.

Enjoy the hot springs in Rwanda

Rwanda has three main hot springs that are frequently visited by tourists, and you can decide to spend your honeymoon at one of the three springs. The water is always boiling at 100 degrees Celsius, and one can even boil an egg. The locals believe that the springs have magical healing of various diseases and are sacred. The springs that you can visit on your wedding anniversary in Rwanda include:

Bugarama hot springs: These are located in Rusizi district in Cyangugu district, and from a distance, they will look like normal water, but the closer you get to them, the more heat you feel. They have beautiful scenery and the water here is believed to cure diseases, improve in circulation, and remove curses.

Nyamyumba hot springs: the hot springs, which are referred to as magical waters, are located in the Rubavu district and are believed to have a spiritual connection. One can swim in one part of the springs that is not hot whereas the other part of the springs is too hot and you can boil an egg in them. The locals around the springs also believe that the water heals infections and diseases.

Gisenyi and Kinigi hot springs: These two are located around Lake Kivu and the water cures several diseases and infections, joint pains, and wounds, and locals use it to heal ailments.

Plan your wedding anniversary trip to Rwanda with us and enjoy the country’s numerous things. You can contact us to help you choose the things you wish to do while on a trip to Rwanda.

Contact us for more information to plan your anniversary trip to Rwanda.