Things to consider before booking a honeymoon safari to Rwanda in 2024-25

Things to consider before booking a honeymoon safari to Rwanda in 202425. Rwanda has excellent scenery for relaxing after the hassle of a wedding. It is called Africa's Switzerland, sometimes because of the Alps-like highlands that comprise its topography. Gorilla trekking is Rwanda's foremost safari activity, which you can book for the honeymoon. Booking the gorilla permit is required to confirm this Rwanda safari, but it must be done in advance. The demand for Rwanda gorilla permits is high, yet supply is restricted to a maximum of 8 per gorilla family daily.

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3 Day Bwindi Double trek via Kigali

Select other Rwanda safari activities during your honeymoon safari to spice up your moments in Rwanda. While in Rwanda, you can also do game drives and relax on a boat trip on Lake Ihema in Akagera National Park.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park gets you closer to man's closest relatives in the animal kingdom, the chimpanzees. One must first have a chimpanzee trekking permit from the Rwanda Development Board.

Spending quality time on the suspension bridge over Nyungwe National Park while on a canopy walk is epic. If you are not afraid of heights, you can dare the canopy walk with your spouse on this 90-meter-wide bridge over the Nyungwe rain forest. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of this forest covered in evergreen surroundings on stunning highlands.

Purchase the Rwanda visa in time to minimize your time at immigration on arrival. If you have a honeymoon segment in any other East African country, purchase the East African visa. This allows you entry into at least two East African countries without re-applying for a visa. Some of the East African countries in this community include Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, and others.

What To Consider Before Booking Honeymoon Safari in Rwanda

Select what to do and Where to go For Rwanda Honeymoon Safari

If gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is one of the Rwanda activities you wish to engage in, purchase your gorilla permits in advance. Rwanda currently opens about 96 gorilla permits to the public daily, but due to high demand, they sell out, especially during the peak season. The peak Rwanda tourism season usually is June, July, August, September, December, and January. Rwanda also gets a massive influx of tourists during the peak season so that you may need more privacy. 

If you prefer privacy, the low season may offer you this opportunity because fewer people are booking Rwanda safaris. Competition for gorilla permits is less, so chances of finding availability at the last minute may be open.

During the low season, you may get less interference from others during your honeymoon moments so that you can spend some quality time. Ranger guides focus on you two during the Rwanda gorilla trekking safaris, and chances of taking the trek just the two of you are more open if no other people are booked for the day.

Other Rwanda safari activities you can choose for the honeymoon experience include

 Rwanda Game drives in Akagera National Park.

A game drive in Akagera National Park allows you to enjoy Rwanda's wildlife. Akagera National Park is just recovering from the effects of the genocide. Still, there are animals you can spot while on game drives, like giraffes, waterbucks, bushbucks, elephants, zebras, cape buffaloes, and so many others.

A boat trip on Lake Ihema within Akagera National Park gives you peace and quiet as you watch swamp birds, green vegetation, and much more. The cool breeze from Lake Ihema makes every moment extraordinary.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park

Why not visit man's closest cousins, the chimpanzees, in Nyungwe National Park? You can book the early morning or afternoon chimpanzee trekking safari in Rwanda. The headquarters of Nyungwe National Park are in Uwinka, where all briefings happen. You need to secure your chimpanzee permit in advance because they sell out fast yet are restricted, too.

Cyamudondo, on the outskirts of Nyungwe National Park, is another point where you can do chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda. The chimpanzees in Cyamudondo may be quicker to spot since the forest is so vast, but they are semi-habituated, so expect them to showcase some odd behaviors.

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we can assist you in planning your honeymoon safari in Rwanda, secure all necessary logistics, and use our safari guides to lead the honeymoon safari so you can relax.

Rwanda cultural experience on honeymoon

Rwanda has a rich culture that you can enjoy while on a Rwanda safari. The Intore dance moves accompanied by an orchestra of long drums are irresistible, and you cannot refrain from joining the moves. You can visit the ethnological museum, where the history of Rwandan culture is exhibited in different forms.

Kigali city tour

The Kigali city tour is worth adding to the activities you can do while on Rwanda safari. You can visit the Rwanda market, Kandt house, and coffee shops to test the aromas of Rwanda coffee, and so much more.

Select the accommodation type for your honeymoon safari.

Before the Rwanda safari, you have to choose where to spend your nights according to the destinations you hope to visit, either luxury, mid-range, or budget facilities. When you select gorilla trekking or golden monkey safari as part of the activities while on a honeymoon safari in Rwanda, you need to overnight within or closer to Volcanoes National Park. Even when you choose chimpanzee safari in Nyungwe National Park, you must select accommodations within or at the periphery of this park. This is because you are required to be at the briefing point of these primate safaris very early in the morning. Briefing before the gorilla, golden monkey, or chimpanzee trekking is compulsory, and missing it may result in disqualification.

During the peak season of June, July, August, September, December, and January, accommodations in various safari destinations of Rwanda are sold out in advance. If you decide to enjoy your honeymoon Rwanda safari this season, you need advance accommodation booking.

Consider transport means to your Rwanda honeymoon destination

Road transport is the primary means to get around Rwanda, so during your honeymoon safari in Rwanda, you need a vehicle in good mechanical condition, and using 4x4 wheel drive is a great decision.

Hiring a professional, experienced driver guide makes your Rwanda safari adventure more enjoyable. The roads in Rwanda are winding because of the many hills where Rwanda gets its name, the land of a thousand hills, but stunning because of the lush vegetation along the slopes.

Charter flight services to different Rwanda safari destinations are available at Kigali International Airport, but booking is required to make all necessary clearances.

Pack the Right Rwanda Safari Honeymoon gears.

Rwanda's tourism is eco-based, but you need to know what to wear during these safaris. If a gorilla safari is part of your honeymoon to do activities, you need to pack the right gorilla trekking gear. Some items you may pack for gorilla trekking include safari clothes in wilderness-friendly colors, safari boots, long, sleeved safari shirts and trousers, rainproof gear, garden gloves, insect repellent, a safari hat, and others.

You need to know the weather forecast in Rwanda to pack right for your honeymoon. Still, you must fill warmers because Rwanda is very cold in the early morning and late afternoon. There is no need to over-pack, just what is necessary for your honeymoon in Rwanda.

Do pre-Rwanda safari exercises where necessary.

If you have to hike during your Rwanda honeymoon safari, like gorilla trekking, you need to bear some fitness level. Finding the mountain gorillas is quite steep because of the influence of the five Virunga Volcanoes that form the most significant part of Volcanoes National Park.

You do not need to be in the gym constantly, but start with simple exercises to keep your muscles fit and ready if you have to hike.

Book Rwanda Visa in advance

If you possess a visa before entering Rwanda, you must apply for it in advance. This is to reduce the long hours you may spend at immigration. If you have a segment of your honeymoon trip in another East African country and you must possess a visa for that country, too, you need to purchase the East African Visa. The East African visa allows you entry into at least two East African countries, some of which include Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, and others.

Consider carrying some hard cash for your honeymoon

When traveling to Africa for a safari, you need to have some hard cash for on-ground purchases because credit cards are not commonly used because of the lengthy process of obtaining money from them. Even people who can operate credit card machines are few.

Some lodges and hotels offer accommodation plans that exclude services like Bed and Breakfast plans, Half Board plans, Bed Only, and others. If you are booked on this plan, purchase other services.

Immunize for COVID-19 or travel with PCR-negative results taken before 72 hours of travel into Rwanda.

 Before traveling to Rwanda, you need to be covid-19 free. At immigration in Rwanda, you are checked for any of these traces. After the Coronavirus pandemic, Rwanda made it compulsory for visitors to have negative results or move with COVID-19 immunization documents. Inoculate for other necessary diseases, too, and required by the Rwandan government. Ensure you do not possess any cocaine or other unauthorized drugs, or you may end up in jail in Rwanda or get a hefty penalty as per the Rwandese authorities. 

What is the best time to book a Rwanda honeymoon safari?

Rwanda safaris are open all year, but the dry season is most preferred as the wild animals are more active and the length of the grassland is shorter, creating better visibility. This season is the peak Uganda tourism season, too, so any bookings must be done in advance. If you wish for quiet time with less disturbance during your honeymoon in Rwanda, the peak season may not offer you this opportunity.

The wet seasons, March, April, May, and November, commonly attract fewer visitors to Rwanda safaris. You get less disturbance and sometimes have the lodge to yourselves and the lodge staff. You received more attention, too. If you have a limited budget for your honeymoon in Rwanda, the low season may offer you discounts. 

If you must possess gorilla, chimpanzee, or golden monkey permits, it's best to book them in advance regardless of season because they are all limited yet restricted.

What is the cost of the Rwanda honeymoon safari?

At Encounter Africa Safaris, we package our safari packages according to upscale, mid-range, or budget. The expected Rwanda safari costs are gorilla permits, chimpanzee permits, golden monkey permits, and Park entrance fees. The rest of the safari costs vary with the safari package.

When costing Rwanda safaris, we consider several days on safari, Rwanda safari activities to participate in during your honeymoon, several days on safari, time of doing your honeymoon safari, and others.

It is best to book your honeymoon logistics in advance before options run out because this is a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Where you spend your honeymoon and what you do shape your marriage celebrations and will be discussed for the rest of your life.

Is Rwanda safe as a Honeymoon destination?

Rwanda is safe for any safari, including honeymoon, because the government supports the security and safety of everybody in the country. Most destinations have well-trained ranger guides who often patrol safari destinations and ensure that fauna and flora are safe from poachers. They do these operations in conjunction with other Rwandese security agencies. Rwanda is slowly trying to change its image from the 1994 era ( Rwanda genocide) to portray a better picture of the country beyond this terror.

Come visit Rwanda for your honeymoon adventure. Contact us for more information.