How far in advance should I book a safari in Rwanda?

Are you planning on having a safari to Rwanda but are not exactly sure about when to start planning? We have got you covered in this article and will also provide you with a list of activities to do on your Rwanda safari. When planning a safari to Rwanda, there are a few things you have to tick off to be able to properly plan and these are transport, accommodation, choosing the destinations, and the different safari activities. So if you looking at having the ultimate Rwanda safari have to check all the above boxes and in time that is you have to book for the safari at least 9 to 15 months or more before the travel e for your safari.

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Rwanda is known as the land of a thousand hills and this is for a good reason. The country is hilly in most parts and this can be witnessed by tourists driving from Uganda because as you cross the border, you are welcomed by the vast green hills in the country. There are so many safaris that you can carry out while in Rwanda starting with gorilla trekking, hiking, chimp trekking, birding, game drives, and exploring the culture of the local people in the country. 

Rwanda is a popular destination for luxurious safaris and below are some of the best safaris that you shouldn’t miss out on while in Rwanda.

There are a few documents that you will need when it comes to organizing a Rwanda safari and these are a valid passport, Visa, vaccinations, and permits. Rwanda recently removed visas for all African citizens and as long as one has identification or a passport, they can freely enter Rwanda for a safari. For foreign non-residents, you can apply for the visa online or get it the moment you land in the country at the airport as you clear customs.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda

Hiking through the Volcanoes National Park in search of the endangered mountain gorillas is the most popular safari in Rwanda. Gorillas have 98% of the human DNA and some act like humans especially the females when protecting their young ones. These primates can only be found in three countries that is Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo which is why you should make it a point to go gorilla trekking while in Rwanda. Getting to the gorillas is a bit tricky and you will need a permit to gain access to them which is booked through the local tour operators. You get to spend an hour with the gorilla families after finding them. Gorilla trekking involves purchasing a gorilla permit which is $1500 for foreign non-residents, $250 for East African citizens, and $500 for African residents. 

Visit Dian Fossey’s tomb: she worked so hard to make sure that the Mountain gorillas that had been declared critically endangered were protected from poaching. Dian set up her camp in the Volcanoes National Park where she spent about 18 years studying the behaviors of the mountain gorillas, bringing their attention to the whole world before she was killed by a poacher. Her grave remains in the Volcanoes National Park where you can pay your last respects.

Explore the Gorilla Guardians village: This is a recent addition to the Gorilla community, and it was set up to provide work for locals who were poachers and to protect the culture of the Kinyarwanda people. Locals in this village will welcome you with Batwa traditional dance and songs, local food will be prepared, you get to dress up like the locals and join in the festivities and it is one place where you get to learn more about the Kinyarwanda culture and learn about the lives of the ex-poachers.

Visiting the Rwanda genocide memorial sites

Rwanda faced a tragedy in 1994 when the genocide took place and this saw many citizens lose their lives and there are several centres that you can visit to learn more about what happened during that period some of which include:

The Nyamata church: Nyamata church is one of the genocide sites where over 10,000 Tutsis were killed. The chapel is located about 30 kilometers away from Kigali. During the Rwanda genocide of 1994, many Tutsis ran to the church seeking refuge from the Interahamwe. Still, they were gunned down and killed brutally by the Hutus who invaded the church and killed everyone who was inside the church. Sticks were used to brutally pass through women’s private parts till they passed through their mouths, children were shot at and as you get to the church, grenades were thrown around, you will find many mass graves where over 50,000 people are buried, and inside the church, the gruesome reality that happened years ago is evident from the blood on the walls, clothes with blood stuck on them and bullet holes in the walls. All these show how the war affected the country and how they have moved on and lived together since then.

Kigali Genocide Memorial: walk through the memory lane of the Rwanda genocide with a visit to the Genocide Memorial located in the capital city of the country. There are over 300,000 people who are buried here and the tour will begin with a video explaining what happened many years ago, survivors talking about what you are bound to see and after the video, the real trip around the museum begins. There are photos, names, documents, and skulls of children and other people who lost their lives during the genocide, and these are protected by a glass wall. The mass graves that are found outside are surrounded by a rose garden and there are concrete plates with the names of some of the people who lost their lives and were identified.

The genocide is open from 8 am to 5 pm on a daily and entrance is free. There is however a donation box where all the money collected helps in preserving and running the site and we encourage you to put something there.

Hotel des Mille Collines: this is a five-star hotel where about 1550 people were saved by the manager during the genocide. It is the hotel that was depicted in the movie ‘Hotel Rwanda’. There is a lot of history here about the genocide and as you plan your trip to Rwanda, remember that there are enough rooms here to accommodate your stay while in Kigali.

Visit the Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park is a top tourist attraction in the country with a wide range of animals including the big five. The park had recently been threatened by the constant encroachment from human settlements, but the Rwandan government has evicted thousands of encroachers to protect the ecosystem of the Akagera National Park. 

An Akagera safari should be on your buckets list and some of the activities that you can see while on a game drive or guided nature walk here include lions, elephants, buffalos, giraffes, baboons, leopards, hippos, warthogs, crocodiles, and zebras among others. The best time for visiting the Akagera National Park is during the dry season.

Coffee plantations visit

Rwanda has large coffee plantations and locally processes its coffee when it is still wet. If you have an infinite love for coffee, then a trip to one of Rwanda’s coffee plantations in the country. Rwanda produces traditionally processed wet coffee known as bourbon coffee that has different sweet flavours. You can find Bourbon coffee in different parts of the country but the best places where you can get a good fix of Bourbon coffee include the Bourbon café, Question Coffee, and Inzora rooftop café. The Bourbon café serves its coffee with lots of flavors and overtones of cinnamon, cloves, and caramel and as you taste the coffee, you can taste the blueberries, cherries, lemon, oranges, and raspberry flavors. Question coffee on the other hand roasts its coffee beans and it is not as sweet as the coffee that is served at the Bourbon café.

Explore the Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe National Park is located in the south-western part of Kigali about 137 miles away. Several activities are carried out in Nyungwe National Park and these include chimpanzee trekking which takes about 3 hours, birding, and enjoying the canopy ride among others. This is one of the best experiences that you shouldn’t forego while in Rwanda and below is what you should expect when you get to Nyungwe Forest National Park. 

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe: Nyungwe has two habituated chimpanzee families that were set apart for trekking. Trekking is done on foot and with the help of an experienced tour guide and an armed ranger, you will be able to trek the forest in search of the chimpanzees that have similar characteristics to humans in one of the 13 hiking trails. Chimpanzee trekking will also require a chimpanzee permit and you get to spend a few hours with the primates. Even though they are the top attraction within Nyungwe, you also get to see other primates like colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, forest elephants, and several bird species. Chimpanzee trekking permits can be purchased through the Rwanda Development Board or a tour operator and it has to be booked at least 6 months before to avoid inconveniences. 

Nyungwe Forest canopy walk: the Nyungwe canopy walk is the longest in East Africa rising to about 50 meters. The walkway is not for the faint-hearted as it sways from left to right but once you are through to the other side, you will realize that it was all worth it. The breathtaking sites that are seen from above are worth taking the canopy walk and you do not need to worry about falling because you will have protective gear that is thoroughly checked before it is used.

Food safaris in Rwanda

Food safaris are one of the best ways in which you can experience the beautiful culture of the Rwandan people. There are several markets, food stalls, and restaurants where you can get a taste of the different cuisines that are prepared in the country. Join the locals and try out a new food if possible. Some of the dishes you should try out include spicy baked beans, Rolex (chapattis with an omelet in the middle), samosa, peas, grilled bananas, and taste their milk in the milk bars, Umufa (a mixture of beans and vegetables), Sombwe (cassava leaves)and other dishes. Many of the dishes that are prepared in the restaurants are got fresh from the gardens since the chef works hand in hand with the farmers to get the best products.

Milk bars: You cannot visit Rwanda without checking out the milk bars around the country. Milk is an important beverage in the country and it is believed to heighten the beauty of Rwandan women since they take it when it is still fresh. The milk bars provide both hot and fresh milk to the consumers and we advise that when you get time to visit Rwanda, check out the bars for a glass of milk.

Explore museums in Rwanda.

The King’s Palace in Nyanza Museum: This is one of the best places where you get to divulge into the country’s rich history. The palace was constructed during Belgian rule and it was the residence of King Rudahigwa Mutara III. A visit to the palace will show you a glimpse into the past with the different traditional exhibitions placed in the different corners of the palace.

The National Museum in Kigali: also known as the Ethnographic Museum, opened in 1989 and is home to relics that are dated back over 500 years. The National Museum is located in Butare which is about 80 kilometers from Kigali the capital city of Rwanda. Guests to the museum get to see traditional dances performed by the locals, cultural relics, and photographs among other things. 

Visit the Virunga region

The Virunga volcanoes consist of five volcanic Mountains that are home to some of the endangered gorilla trekking among others. Species like mountain gorillas and golden monkeys with the tallest rising to 4507 meters above sea level. Hike up the Bisoke Mountain or the Karisimbi Mountain and get to see great views of the National Park and the surrounding areas. Some of the activities that can be carried out here include hiking, golden monkey trekking, and gorilla trekking.

Golden monkey trekking in Rwanda:

Rwanda is home to the endangered golden monkeys that are found in the Virunga region. The monkeys have a distinguished golden coating covering part of their faces and other parts of their body. They can be trekked in Rwanda, Uganda, and DRC in the Kahuzi Biega National Park. Golden monkey tracking starts as early as 7 am and since they are extremely playful primates, they keep on moving from one place to the next looking for bamboo shoots to feed on.

Mountain Bisoke: this is one of the Virunga Mountains that is popular with tourists for hiking. As you hike up the Mountain, you will be able to see a few Mountain gorillas and other primates but you should prepare for the hike since it takes roughly a day for it to be completed.

Mountain Karisimbi: hiking up the Karisimbi is a lifetime experience that every tourist should check out. It is found in the Virunga region and has great views of the Volcanoes National Park and the surrounding volcanoes like the Nyiragongo volcano.

Join the Kwita Izina festival

This is carried out every year and it is the ceremony where many of the young gorillas are given names. This is held annually in September and the naming of the baby gorillas takes place a few weeks after they have been born and the president of Rwanda also makes an appearance on this day. The festival was set up to protect the gorillas and expand the habitat for the endangered species. Some of the activities that you get to enjoy while here include traditional dances, songs, the actual gorilla naming ceremony and not forgetting the food afterward.

A safari to Rwanda’s markets 

Rwanda’s markets are always buzzing with color, unique antiques, and everything that you can think about. Visit the best markets in Kigali and get to see the difference between African markets and European markets.

Kigali cultural village: this is found in the capital city of Rwanda where locals exhibit different local fabrics and food and you can buy a few souvenirs from the different stalls. There are several workshops, musical festivals, and events that are also organized at the cultural village.

Kimironko market: this is one of the best markets that you should visit while in Rwanda. Kimironko is a market filled with many stalls that sell different things ranging from bags, shoes, food, fruits, vegetables, utensils local fabric known as the Kitenge. A visit to the market will give you an insight into the day-to-day life of the local people and you get to bargain your way out of buying different things while in the market.

Join the Umuganda festival.

The Umuganda activity that is carried out every month is one of the many safari activities that you should engage in while in Rwanda. When the genocide ended, Rwanda as a country underwent several changes and this included keeping the country and that is why the Umuganda was set up to clean the city and also join the people irrelevant of their status. The activity begins very early in the morning and it is flagged off by the president where all citizens including tourists if they want to join in participating in cleaning the city, and ditches, picking up rubbish and the best that you can do is to show up and volunteer to be part of the program. Umuganda activity is carried out every last Saturday of the month.

Explore Lake Kivu

Lake Kivu is the best destination for all Lake Activities in Rwanda. Some of the activities that are carried out around Lake Kivu include birding, riding along the Congo Nile trail, and boat rides, among others.

Congo Nile trail: The Congo Nile trail is about 227 kilometers long and runs through forests and fields, and it will take you about 10 days before it is completed. You can ride in some sections and walk in others and you will still have the best time of your life as you trail the Congo Nile. There are beaches, coffee washing stations, villages, 3 cities, waterfalls, and valleys found along the trail that will keep you entertained as you cycle. Some campsites were set up along the trail where you can spend the night and freshen up before cycling again.

There are so many safaris that you can enjoy while in Rwanda besides the ones mentioned in this article and these include staying in some of the most luxurious lodges in Rwanda, exploring the tea plantations and getting to taste the locally made tea, taking a helicopter ride around the country and this is mainly done by the Akagera Aviation, exploring Mountain Kigali and visiting other National Parks that are found in the country. 

When to go for a safari in Rwanda

There are two seasons of travel in Rwanda that is the dry (June to September and December to February) and the wet season (March to May and October to November) and the best time is during the dry months. The dry months attract lots of tourists to the country with a wide range of tourists and the wet season on the other hand is best for photo safaris and bird watching. Each season has activities that are best carried out in it that is why you need to first identify the activities you are willing to participate in before deciding on when to go for the safari.

Encounter Africa Safaris is the best tour operator to help you book and organize your safari to Rwanda at any time of the year. Our experienced staff is ready to answer any questions that you might have about Rwanda safaris and advise you on what to avoid when planning a safari to Rwanda.