Why Consider Visiting The Community While On Your  Rwanda Safari

A visit to the Rwanda communities when on Rwanda safari gives you a glimpse into the life of the locals beyond your imaginations. To date the Rwandese are trying to recover from the trauma of the 1994 genocide and it is by visiting their communities that you get to erase the mentality that people have about the country. There is great progress that the Rwandese are taking on to rebuild their image to match with the outside world.

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

A visit to the communities close to the National Parks is one way to participate in community sensitization which is still along way to go. Many locals in Rwanda still take conserving wildlife as a wastage of resources from which they need to benefit. By visiting the community and supporting them it is one way to help them understand the importance of having wildlife conservation in their midst.

When in the Rwanda communities and you may purchase some items they locally produce especially those sold in the crafts shops like at Nyakarimbi, you support their day today life.  Some of the beneficiaries of the community based projects are serving victims of the 1994 Rwanda genocide but did not get the chance to pursue education and can only depend on income acquired from selling crafts.

Some notable communities you can visit in Rwanda include;

Nyange community

For an experience of crafts making in Rwanda, a visit to the Nyange community is apt for this. A number of handmade sculptures, ceramics, basketry and more are made around this area. Some of the makers are former poachers that have reformed and are earning a living from selling these crafts.

While here, you can try crafts making, pottery, basket weaving and more.

Iby’iwacu cultural village

In a bid to continue sensitizing the community about the relevancy of wildlife and this cultural village is spear headed by ex-poacher who have resorted to benefiting from the forest in a sustainable manner.

While on the community visit at Iby’iwacu village, you may participate in local food preparations, bow and arrow making, pottery and more. The members of this community have resorted to using nature to better their lives sustainably.

Nyakarimbi Cultural Village

In Rwanda, Nyakarimbi cultural village id the home of unique crafts. It is the main source of crafts and enjoy the dung paint process first hand. The cow dung paint is called Imigongo. Other crafts available too to purchase as souvenirs.

While at Nyakarimbi, you can do basketry, ceramics, traditional wood carving and more.

Contact us for more information.

 What to Expect on a Rwanda Community Visit

During the walk in the Rwanda community the people are friendly and hospitable. While on the walk in the community, do use help from a local ranger guide to lead you through.

Expect to experience language barrier in Rwanda because the country is transitioning as initially French was the official language but English is slowly picking momentum. It is best to be in company of an interpreter all the way for you to get the necessary information.

Note that most Rwanda restaurants especially those in community serve local cuisines and a few can avail continental cuisines so get ready to taste local food. Do not expect to find fine dining in the community because most restaurants are planned for local consumption.

Hiking in Rwanda is unavoidable because the country’s topography is generally composed of highlands. In case you have to traverse the forest, get ready to hike in order to get where most people in the community live.

Do not expect a smooth ride while driving through the communities or villages especially in the countryside because the roads and quite bumpy. The roads are winding too as they were curved at the bottom of the highlands.

Seek permission from the local authorities in the communities for your safety and to do better engagements with the locals.

Try not to engage in unlawful activities when in the community because the authorities of Rwanda are very strict when implementing the law. No one is excluded from punishment as long as you break the laws in Rwanda. Do not dump garbage anywhere in Rwanda but in designated areas because this is illegal.

What Activities to Do on Rwanda Safari

Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

On the top tire of Rwanda safaris is gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park in northwestern part of the country. Rwanda is one of the only three countries in the world that host mountain gorillas a specie that is recognized as endangered.

Every tourists destined to do gorilla trekking in Rwanda must book a gorilla permit first from Rwanda Development Board. The number of gorilla permits open for Rwanda safaris is maximum 8 per gorilla family. On gorilla trekking day, every participant for the day is expected to be at the ranger station to attend a compulsory briefing.

Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National park Rwanda is amazing with so far one chimpanzee community open to the public and another in Cyamudondo on the outskirts of the park.

One can do chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda on the morning or afternoon session but attending briefing is compulsory. There are several trails that tourists can use to get around the park including Igishigishigi trail, Usamo trails and others. Beyond the chimpanzees, other primates are residents of Nyungwe forest too including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey and more.

Golden monkey trekking in Rwanda

Golden monkeys are a special monkey species with a body larger than normal monkeys and golden brown hairs on the lower body. The golden monkeys may be habituated first before opening their communities but they still show off the charming characters.

One must book a permit before being accepted to engage in golden monkey trekking adventure. Get ready to stay on your toes when around the golden monkeys because they can never settle in one position.

 Birding in Rwanda

More than 700 bird species are residents of various destinations in Rwanda including Albertine rift endemics. When interested in birding safari in Rwanda, you may visit areas including Nyungwe forest, Volcanoes forest, Buhanga sacred forest, Akagera National Park and more.

Having a professional birding guide and a birding guide book would give you the opportunity to gather a long list of bird photos and identify a number of them.

Mountaineering in Rwanda

A number of highlands in Rwanda can be hiked to enjoy a better experience of amazing features above the ground. Planning the mountain adventure in Rwanda requires advance booking. Some of the notable mountains you can hike while on Rwanda safari include Mountain Gahinga, Muhavura, Sabyinyo, Bisoke and Karisimbi.

These mountains are situated in Volcanoes National Park and are part of the six famous Virunga Volcanoes.

Canopy walks in Rwanda

The grand canopy walk over Nyungwe forest is exceptional and it is a different way to experience the beauty of nature from a different point. The canopy walk over Nyungwe forest is on the 160 meters long bridge and 70 meters high. By taking a walk on this suspension bridge, you get to enjoy nature and amazing features surrounding the forested park.

While at the bridge, you may spot birds emerging from the dense forest, butterflies, monkeys hoping from branch to branch and more. You may take the chance to mark some life changing moments while at the bridge.

Game safaris in Rwanda

Akagera National park in Rwanda is the only game park in the country. As the park is still recovering from the ashes of civil unrest that affected Rwanda, its recovery is amazing as per now. The Rwanda Development Board is working with African Parks to revamp the glory of Akagera National park and so far progress is great.

While on a game drive in Akagera National Park, you may spot elephants, water bucks, giraffes, zebras, elands, impalas, cape buffaloes, lions, leopards, hyenas and more.

Boat trips on Rwanda safari

The presence of Lake Ihema as one of the lakes in the park is amazing. When relaxing by the boat, you may spot a number of birds that flock the shores, an array of animals that move down to quench thirst and a bath especially on a hot day.

Enjoy the ambience around Akagera National Park punctuated with amazing green shade especially along the slopes of several close by highlands.

Kigali City Tour

Kigali is where the heart of Rwanda beats with a number of items to visit during the tour. Do move around the business centers in the city, have a taste of Rwanda coffee at a café of your choice, visit a genocide memorial and more.

How Much Is The Cost Of Rwanda Community Visit

The cost of a community walk in Rwanda may vary with your intended reason and possible destinations to visit. Note that you need to carry some hard cash a long with you during this community visit and some of which you can use for personal purchases or tipping.

When making the cost of community visit in Rwanda, do not forget to include transport inclusive of driver guide cost, vehicle hire, gas or fuel, vehicle maintenance and more. Accommodation to stay at is important too especially if you are to stay for more days.

We encourage our tourists to generously tip the local guide who assist with taking you around the community especially at the end of the activity. This is a token of appreciation and not a compulsory expenditure.

How Safe Is Rwanda When On A Community Visit

Rwanda is enjoying peace for a long time since the last civil unrest is 1994 and safe to visit for any lawful activity. While hoping to take a Rwanda community visit, do introduce your activities to the local authority who will later acknowledge your presence and let the people under their governance know about you.

Drive well in Rwanda at a recommended speed because of the winding roads the country. Do maintain the traffic rules to avoid getting in trouble with the law.

Do not take photos or film without permission from the people in the community because they need to be notified.

Try not to engage in unlawful activities while in Rwanda because the law will catch up with you.

You may experience some cultural shock but try not to distance yourself from the community because they will sideline you. People in Rwanda are welcoming and ready to interact with strangers as long as you are harmless.

Do take some antimalarials before travelling for Rwanda safari and sleep under a mosquito net day and night. Rwanda is a tropical country where mosquitoes are expected to roam.

Rwanda is very cold early morning and afternoon so carry some warmers no matter the season.

When is the best time to do a Community visit and Rwanda Safari

The dry season is better timing to do a community visit in Rwanda and safari. The dry season which is normally June to September and December to January provides great season to do a number of Rwanda safaris.

Since the topography of Rwanda is generally mountainous, you need to hike to get to some communities but you can only move faster when the weather is drier.

Rwanda is busier as a safari destination in the dry season so the more the merrier making it quicker and fun to get around different communities in the country. Note that competition for services including accommodation booking, permit booking and more is over the top in the dry season.

A combo of the community visit with Rwanda safaris is better planned in the dry season when there is less precipitation in the safari destinations of Rwanda and grass lower. In the forested safari destination of Rwanda like Nyungwe forest, Volcanoes forest, there is more sunlight filtering through the dense leaves in the forest creating a beautiful environment to take photos.

The wet season should not be avoided when booking Rwanda safaris with a community visit. Rwanda is not affected by extreme weather this makes it an all year round open destination. The wet season which is March to May and November is normally known to have discounted costs on some safari logistics as the service providers try to break even.

For more information about visiting the community while on safari in Rwanda, please get in touch with our team.