Where can I have a photography safari in Rwanda

Where to have the photography safari in Rwanda depends on who your purpose for engaging in this safari is. It is best to identify the niche reason to embark on the photography tour in Rwanda. Where some clearance needs to be done, it is best to do it in advance. 

Most Popular Safaris

2 Day Bwindi Gorilla Safari through Kigali

4 Day Rwanda gorilla trekking & wildlife viewing safari

5 Day Gorilla Trekking Rwanda

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tracking Safari

4 day gorilla trekking & Dian Fossey tomb visit

4 Day Uganda Safari via Kigali

14 Day Uganda Safari via Kigali

3 Day Akagera National Park Safari

3 Day Bwindi Double trek via Kigali

Rwanda is the land of a thousand hills so for landscaping photography this may not be a bad choice. Other possible Rwanda safari destinations to choose from as photography locations include Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park, Nyungwe National Park, Museums, Rwanda cultural centers and others.

To plan the Rwanda photography safari, ensure to clear the necessary documents that offer permission to engage in commercial photography in Rwanda such as media cards, permits and others. At Encounter Africa Safaris, we can assist you do ground work to clear all the necessary documents that accredit you to do a photography safari in Rwanda. It is better to do the clearance in advance to avoid inconveniences

Where to Do Photography Safari in Rwanda.

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is a great location for nature photography in Rwanda from its outstanding forest covered to the terraced gardens that surround it. The topography of Volcanoes National Park, which is composed of several highlands, is a great location for landscaping photos. Some of the notable highlands of Volcanoes National Park include mountain Gahinga, Muhavura, Sabyinyo, Bisoke and Karisimbi.

Gorilla trekking is the main activities in Volcanoes National Park but others than the gorilla permit extra permission is required when on photography safari to these primates. This permission is from Rwanda Development Board.

No using flash photography when with the mountain gorillas because they are very sensitive to unfamiliar occurrences in there vicinity. Ensure to abide by the rules of gorilla safaris of Rwanda because violating them may push the mountain gorillas into hiding there forest denying you the chance to take as many photos and postures as you can.

Volcanoes National Park is home to other primates that may cross your way as you try to find the mountain gorillas including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons and others. More than 300 bird species have also been registered as residents of Volcanoes forest including Albertine rift endemics and some of them may show up.

Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe National Park is one of the few remnants of the ice age era and a biosphere reserve in Rwanda. Chimpanzee trekking is the main activity done in this park and a photographing safari to have a moment with these humans relatives is not a bad choice. Ensure to purchase a chimpanzee trekking permits for all those in the crew and clear other necessary permits in advance.

Uwinka is the headquarters of Nyungwe forest and its where most activities in the part start from and in case you need a porter to assist with lifting your photographing equipment it should done from this point.

The chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park are still semi-habituated so you need to abide by all the rules of this adventure in order to have all the necessary time to be with these primates and take as many photos of them as you can possibly have.

The forest hosts other primates that may cross your path includes Dent Mona Monkeys, olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabey, vervet monkeys and others. This may be a great opportunity to add there photos to your collection.

Over 365 bird species have been identified as residents of Nyungwe forest and why not take some of there photos in case they cross your way.  The forest also has a number of different feature includes the sparkling Usamo falls which offer a gorgeous background of a waterfall in photographs.

The Canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park

Capture the stunning view of Nyungwe forest from a more elevated point at the canopy walk. The Canopy walk in Nyungwe forest is on a suspension bridge of about 160 meters long and 70 meters high. It is so far the only one of its kind in East Africa. From the bridge, a photographer may capture better views of forest cover, a number of highlands and other features around the park.

The canopy walk over Nyungwe forest is not for the faint hearted but worth trying.

Akagera National Park

Although Akagera National Park is recovering from the tragedies that befell Rwanda during the civil wars and human interference from the returnees, the Park progress is steady. While on a game drive on the tracks within the park, some of the animals you may get chance to spot include zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, elephants and others. From the Safari vehicle with a pop up roof or open roof, you can capture photos of these animals

In case you need to get off track during the photography safari in Akagera National Park, seek permission from the park management before embarking on this safari. This is security in case tragedy befalls you or accidentally hurt an animal when you get off track. 

During the boat ride on Lake Ihema, you can pause for a moment to catch a better position of the animals on the shoreline that regularly move to here to quench thirst or enjoy a bath.

Ethnological Museum in Rwanda

The Ethnological museum in Rwanda is where tools and others items used by the Rwandese in the past are preserved for the new generations to see. This museum depicts the culture of the people of Rwanda. It is situated in Huye and from here many people get to learn about how people in the past used to survive in Rwanda.

In the museum, some of the items showcased include hunting tools, fishing tools, pottery, traditional dress code and much more. Before taking photographs in the museum, seek permission first. It is very interesting to pay a visit to the museum to get a glimpse of the way of life for the people who live in Rwanda before modernization.

The Rwanda Ancient History Museum

Rwanda has a kingdom in the past but was antagonized by the colonial era and it has never recovered by the presence of the Rwanda ancient history Museum preserves so of the few remains of this cultural representation.

At Nyanza there is the traditional palace for the Rwanda king, Inyambo which is a representation of the royal traditional cows. This palace has the former residence of king Mutara III Rudahigwa built in 1932. You may choose this as museum as a location for cultural site photography during Rwanda Safari.

Crafts Villages During Photography Safari In Rwanda

Rwandese have mastered the art of making arts and crafts from mainly the materials they locally collect. In Nyakarimbi there is a crafts village where unique craft are made and is referred to as the crafts center of Rwanda. From centers like this tourists may get chance to pick some souvenirs to return home with or physically get to see the famous imigongo cow dung painting first hand.

This may be a great location to photos of some of the traditional crafts made by the people of Rwanda. In the Kigali city, there are other craft shops you can also choose as the photographing locations in the country.

Genocide memorials

The genocide memorials in Rwanda are a representation of how far ignorance can destroy a nation so you may choose to take photos of the outside. Note that some of the remains of the victims of the 1994 Rwanda genocide are preserved in these memorials but to take photos, you must get permission. The managers of these memorials in Rwanda love to preserve the dignity of the fallen victims. Some of the genocide memorials in Rwanda include Blue Beret, Gisozi genocide memorials, St Famille Church and others.

Shopping Centers in Kigali City

In case you wish to take photos of the shopping centers and market places during a safari in Rwanda, seek permission from the concerned authorities. Within the city center there are different market centers but make sure not to dump garbage anywhere that is not the designated spots. The law enforcement of Rwanda is very keen with environmental pollution and violating it is punishable. Do not even carry plastic bags to Rwanda because it is very illegal having containers that are decomposable is recommended for the time you are within Rwanda.

When is the best time to do a photography safari in Rwanda

Rwanda is open for safaris any time including the photography safaris but the dry season is most preferred for outdoor photography. The dry season in Rwanda is normally June to October and December to January all factor remaining constant.

This allows tourists to traverse the safari destination in Rwanda more easily since even the tract or trails are drier. Most of the year Rwanda has quite low temperatures because of the several highlands around the country but it is the temperatures may slightly increase in the dry season so providing great environment to take photographs. 

Note that this is the peak tourism season of Rwanda too so expect more people in most of the Rwanda safari destinations. Even competition for permits to activities like gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking and chimpanzee trekking is high so it’s best to reserve them in advance. Even purchase other permits that you must have before heading for the photography safaris in Rwanda.

Expect disturbance as you try to capture a better photo of especially the wild animals or birds from other tourists vehicles on ground especially in Akagera National Park.

The wet season may not be bad for organizing a photographing safari in Rwanda that is normally March, April, May and November. There is chance to have most safari destinations in Rwanda to yourself and the crew traveled with. Chances of interruption while on safari are less in this season because it is normally the low tourism season in Rwanda.

The wild animals tend to keep in hiding during a rainy day as they seek shelter so finding them may get quite tough. For the mountain gorillas , chimpanzees or other primates in Rwanda, most of the time during the rainy season is spent up in the trees or on the slopes of the highlands in the National Parks. Tourists have to hike to find these primates which may get quite tough

Carry waterproof jackets with which to cover the cameras with in case the rain intensifies while in the wilderness during the photography safari in Rwanda. Sometimes the rain may fall almost the entire day so carry rainproof gears too for yourself

What are the Requirements For Photography Safari in Rwanda

Depending on the location you choose and the theme for your photography safari in Rwanda, Some of the below may be the necessary requirements.

Permits

For most primates photography safari in Rwanda, you may need to have permits first that is gorilla , chimpanzee ,golden monkey permits. Get accreditation permits from the Rwanda Authorities too especially the media accreditation. In case you hope to go off track during game safari, seek permission from the Rwanda Development Board.

Pack the Right Rwanda safari Gears

While on any Rwanda safari, you need to pack the relevant gears so that you are comfortable while on ground. For gorilla or chimpanzee safaris in Rwanda some of the necessary gears to pack include safari boots, safari hat, rain poor gears, garden gloves and others.

Be eligible For the Rwanda safari activity

For Rwanda safari activities like gorilla trekking, the age limit is 15 years and beyond, chimpanzee trekking age limit is 12 years and beyond. Tourists are requested to abide by there rule to avoid being disqualified at the last minute when the gorilla permit is not even refundable at this point.

Be in good health . Some Rwanda safari destinations pay attention the health status of the visitors especially those destined to be in company of the primates. The mountain gorillas and chimpanzees are highly susceptible to human infections and so in case you have a communicable infection, volunteer to stay behind.

For more information, please contact our team.