Rwanda Wildlife Safaris
Rwanda Wildlife Safaris: Wildlife safaris in Rwanda are one of the most thrilling experiences to incorporate into your next Rwanda vacation. This East African country is endowed with a plethora of wild creatures, some of which are unique to Rwanda. They can only be found in Akagera National Park, where a game drive in Rwanda is possible. Rwanda Parks allows you to enjoy the beauty of wildlife while providing you with all the information you need and guiding you to the profound natural discoveries in this little country. Elephants, giraffes, lions, antelopes, zebras, and other wild species may be seen during your Rwanda wildlife Safari Tour.
Because of the short distance between Kigali International Airport and Akagera National Park, wildlife safaris in Rwanda are considered the most convenient and least tiring journeys compared to other nations. A visitor arrives in the park in approximately 2 hours, which means he or she may enjoy the game drive without feeling tired, unlike in other nations where the distance between the parks and the airport is 55 hours or more.
Best Time to Book Your Rwanda Wildlife Safaris.
The dry seasons are ideal for booking a Rwanda wildlife safari (June to September and December to February). This is because the roads to Rwanda’s parks are in better shape and easier to use during the dry season, as opposed to the rainy season when they are muddy and treacherous. Additionally, a game drive in Akagera National Park during the dry season is simple, and wild animals are easy to spot as they come out in the sun to drink and enjoy the day.
Places to Visit During Your Rwanda Wildlife Safari.
Akagera National Park
This national park is a protected region in eastern Rwanda that spans 1,122 square kilometers near the country’s border with Tanzania. It was established in 1934 and has savannah, montane, and swamp ecosystems. The Kagera River flows along the park’s eastern perimeter, feeding Lake Ihema and many smaller lakes. Around a third of the park is made up of a complex system of lakes and linked papyrus swamps, making it the biggest protected wetland in Eastern-Central Africa.
The Belgian government, which controlled Rwanda at the time, established Akagera National Park in 1934. The park had a total area of 2,500 square kilometers and was well-known for its biodiversity. The greatest area to go on a safari in Rwanda is Akagera National Park.
The park is near Kigali and is home to a diverse range of African species that congregate at its several watering holes, including the Akagera River and Lake Shakani. A game drive is the most popular activity in Akagera National Park, where you may see hyenas, jackals, antelopes, giraffes, baboons, zebras, buffalos, leopards, and elephants, among other animals.
Lions and black rhinos are being brought into the park to provide tourists with a complete picture of Africa’s big five. Bird watchers may expect to see around 500 species on a three-day wildlife tour in Akagera, including shoebill storks.
Nyungwe Forest National Park
One of the most appealing sites on a Rwanda wildlife trip is Nyungwe Forest National Park. Nyungwe forest is a huge tropical forest with over 1000 plant species, reflecting Rwanda’s diverse biodiversity. The woodland is the finest area to monitor chimps after tracking mountain gorillas on a Rwanda tour. The woodland is home to approximately 240 bird species, making it a birder’s delight. Visitors may expect to see baboons, golden monkeys, colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and other primates in addition to chimp trekking and birdwatching. A Nyungwe forest canopy hike is a must-do for bird watchers and anyone visiting Rwanda to do chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe or Cyamudongo forests.
Volcanoes National Park
The park is located inside the Virunga mountain ranges and is home to around 400 mountain gorillas as well as ten habituated gorilla families. The park is distinguished by dense woodland and rocky terrain, which may make gorilla tracking difficult but Rwanda excursions are exciting. Since Dian Fossey set up camp at Volcanoes National Park, the country has emerged as a global leader in mountain gorilla protection and study – visitors may arrange to see Dian Fossey’s former research station and tomb.
While mountain gorilla trekking is the major activity at the volcanoes national park, tourists may also see forest elephants, forest pigs, golden monkeys, buffalo, birds, and various types of butterflies while on a Rwanda Wildlife trip. The park has numerous hiking-friendly volcanoes and mountains, including Bisoke, Sabyinyo, and Karisimbi. Pairing a gorilla safari in Rwanda with a mountain hike is exhausting but worthwhile for the daring.
Rwanda Genocide Memorial Centres
While on safari, visiting one of the genocide memorial places is strongly suggested to appreciate the present progress achieved by the people of Rwanda. Hundreds of thousands of Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered during the three-month genocide in 1994, and sites like those located in Kigali serve as a continual reminder of that horrific past.
The mass graves, pictures, video footage, and other exhibits provide visitors with a look into the country’s horrific past. Visiting the genocide memorial site allows you to pay tribute to the victims, mourn loved ones, and confront the truth of what happened in Rwanda.
Another site worth seeing is the Nyamata church, which is home to about 50,000 genocide victims. The church is still standing, and human clothing, bones, and blood stains may be seen on the church pews. The Gisozi genocide war memorial monument is erected over the remains of nearly 250000 genocide victims.
Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu, located on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is one of Rwanda’s natural wonders, encompassing an area of approximately 2,600 km2. The lake is the highest in Africa, flowing at around 1450m above sea level. It is one of the only three lakes in the world that occasionally suffers eruptions of carbon dioxide from its depths – A phenomenon known as an “exploding lake”. There have been no recent volcanic eruptions, and tourists may expect to witness beautiful beaches, lush greenery, islands, fishing settlements, and ports like Rubavu. A Rwanda wildlife safari tour to Lake Kivu includes options for hiking, bird viewing, nature hikes, monkey tracking, and boat rides.
How to Book Your Rwanda Wildlife Safaris.
If you wish to go on a wildlife safari trip in Rwanda, simply contact any of the tour companies in the nation and let them know your travel dates and the number of days. We have created a list of Rwanda travel agents from which you can choose the finest to travel with. Contact Explore Rwanda Tours to plan your next Rwanda wildlife safari to any of the national parks; Akagera National Park, Volcanoes National Park, or Nyungwe National Park.