Rwanda is one of the growing safari destinations in Africa exploiting all possible channel to promote tourism in terms of wildlife, cultural tourism, sports tourism and so much more. The effort Rwanda government is applying to support tourism explains why its one of the sought after African Primate Destinations.
This is one of the reasons for overrating Rwanda as a safari Destination.
Rwanda’s infrastructure to the destinations are well built creating a better access. Most roads in Africa to most natural destinations are bumpy and dusty which is not the case for Rwanda.
The road from Kigali Airport to Volcanoes National park is smooth although winding because Rwanda is a land of a thousand hills. The incredible views you enjoy and go through resemble the Alps of Switzerland. Time taken to access Rwanda gorilla trekking park is about 3 hours because of better road network and restricted road use policies. This is far better than most African safari destinations.
A Rwanda safari gives you memories to talk about your African Safari when you return home.
Having faced 100 days of genocide, Rwanda has learnt from those mistakes and is steadily recovering from this. Genocide memorials to remind the survivors and the new generations not to take this direction again.
Tourists add the genocide memorial visit to there to do Rwanda activities going through what happened. Names of some victims are crafted on the walls, there are sculptures to demonstrate what happened, some remains for victims are preserved and so much more. Such demonstrations are found in just those affected countries in the world.
Instead of Rwanda mourning over those days of terror, its using the genocide memorials to support the affected people. The country is steadily recovering and assisting the affected victims to rehabilitate them into a new life. This progress is attracting many tourists to Visit Rwanda.
Some of the renowned Rwanda Genocide memorials include Blue Beret memorial site, Gisozi Genocide Memorial, St Familie Church all within or close to Kigali City.
Rwanda political stability from the genocide period is inviting so tourists find it comfortable destination to add to there Africa safari Itineraries. You can do gorilla trekking in Rwanda and you are sure to return home safely or even spend more of your holidays days in Rwanda without being disturbed.
The political Atmosphere in Rwanda calls for rating it as one of the best destinations to visit in Africa.
The Rwanda Development Board and government are working together to advertise Rwanda through campaigns like Visit Rwanda. This is grafted on the Arsenal Football Club T shirts which is another way of advertising the country elsewhere in the world.
This campaign doesn’t come cheap and also calls for price increase for Rwanda safari activities like gorilla trekking which costs $1500 per person Per trek. Also service delivery for facilities like hotels in Rwanda have measures and standard to follow. This is to ensure that tourists get value for money during Rwanda safari
Although Rwanda is a small country, it is maximizing its unique attractions found nowhere else. The mountain gorillas are the major tourism attraction in Rwanda but most of the research about the life of the mountain gorillas in the world id done in Rwanda. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda may be costly but worth attending. The Kwita Izina “gorilla naming” ceremony is held with high esteem in Rwanda.
The Royal cultural institution of Rwanda may have perished decades back but it is still living in the museum like Huye (Butare). Here is the replications of King Rwabugiri’s retreate palace Urutare Rwa Ndala, the king’s bed, traditional handwoven crafts all formerly royal regalia are preserved.
Even Akagera National Park which had lost most of its former natural inhabitants like wild life, fauna is being rehabilitated. In 2009 the African Parks with Rwanda Development Board collaborated to renew the park. by 2015, lions were reintroduced to Akagera National Park, 2017 Rhinos rehabilitated into the park. More is being done to revamp the glory of Akagera National Park so more funds are needed
Kigali city’s orderliness and cleanness not found in most African cities makes its attractive to visit and spend part of your holiday in Africa here.
After the genocide in 1994, Many Rwandese resorted to depending on the forests for hunting, cultivation and so much more. These lucrative activities saw the death of many wild animals including mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.
Many were imprisoned for poaching and on return the former poachers set up a community based initiative called Gorilla Guardian Village. Here craft making is done, weaving, basketry, pottery and so much more. To support such a community, the funds accumulated from the regular visitors are used to do community activities. The government of Rwanda also supports these communities.
Revamping the Rwanda wildlife and cultural destinations is in high gears with support from the government and international organizations. Need for more money to fund this initiative is important that is why Rwanda is overrated as a destination. Some of the attractions under rehabilitation include the Akagera National park where wild animals are being reintroduced, former king’s palace in Butare and so much more.
Ensure you have the date when you wish to do gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking. When you send the enquiry, our safari consultant checks availability. If its positive, you are required to make payment for securing the gorilla or chimpanzee permits
The cost of Rwanda gorilla permit is $1500 per person per trek and the cost of Rwanda chimpanzee trekking permit is about $100 per person.
The gorilla permits in Rwanda are highly demanded yet a few are opened per day for tourists booking. Securing one is the only way to confirm your commitment to taking the Rwanda gorilla trekking safari.
Most Rwanda Safari Parks have accommodation facilities closer or within the park boundaries to book for overnight during gorilla trekking in Rwanda are available. They are graded according to Up-Market, Midrange or Budget facilities.
A few of the Volcanoes National Park facilities are within, close to the park or outside the park premises. Some of the facilities include Mountain Gorilla view Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Virunga Volcanoes Lodge, Hotel Mille Collines, Best View Hotel, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Village, Kinigi Guest House, Gorilla Volcanoes Hotel.
Akagera National Park Accommodation Facilities include Akagera game lodge, Vintage cottage, Ruzizi Tented lodge, Magashi Safari Camp, Akagera Resort and Country club and so many others.
Nyungwe National Park accommodation facilities include Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Gisaku Guest House, Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Nyungwe House, Gisaku Family Hostel and others
Kigali city has a variety of accommodation facilities which you can book. They range from luxury, mid-range and budget accomodations.
All Rwanda safari activities are open for booking all year round but you need to book gorilla permits in advance for anyone visiting Volcanoes National Park. The peak season of Rwanda tourism is mainly June to September and December to January. The shoulder seasons of Rwanda tourism is mainly March to May and November.
By Road
Driving from Kigali Airport to Volcanoes National park lasts about 3 hours going through winding curved from the foot hills of the land of a thousand hills. The way is fairly smooth with less bumpy surfaces on the roads. Look out for luxurious green vegetation cover on the hills that you go by.
Availability of Public transport from Kigali City center to Musaze is makes it possible to go to Volcanoes National park but you need to hire a private vehicle from Musaze because the that where public transport stops.
From Bwindi Impenetrable National park in Uganda you can take an alternative route crossing the Cyanika Border,
Driving to Nyungwe National park the home of chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda by road takes about 5 hours by passing Nyinza palace in Nyabisindu home for the former king of Rwanda, Gikongoro Genocide Memorial, National Museum, Arboretum, National Museum and so much more.
To get to Akagera National Park you drive for about 98km driving for 3 hours without stops through Rwamagaga to Kayonza to Kabarondo to Rinkwanvu.
Kigali city tour is just minutes from Kigali Airport but you must have an itinerary to beat up the traffic jam.
By Air
Charter flight services are available at Kigali Airport to these destinations but prior booking is a must.
Upon request domestic Rwanda Charter helicopter service can be booked through Akagera Aviation. Ensure all necessary procedures are cleared before your Rwanda safari.
Contact us for more information.