Best Places to Visit in Rwanda – Where to go for safaris in Rwanda?
Rwanda, also sometimes referred to as ‘‘the Land of a thousand Hills’’ is a popular safari destination, especially for primate tracking safaris (Gorilla Trekking tours). Rwanda is located in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. It is bordered by countries like Uganda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. When planning safaris, most travelers wonder Where to go for Safaris in Rwanda, this complete guide will take you through all the Best Places to Visit in Rwanda. There are several safari destinations in Rwanda including national Parks, Museums cities & towns among others.
Some of the Best Places to Visit in Rwanda include Volcanoes National Park home to mountain gorillas, Nyungwe Forest National Park for chimpanzee trekking & canopy walk, Museums like Kigali Genocide Memorial, King Palace, and various cultural villages. Rwanda also never disappoints when it comes to wildlife viewing, the Akagera National Park is home to diverse wildlife species including the famous African Big Five Animals (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant) among others. If you are fantasizing about going on a Rwanda Safari/Rwanda Holiday, here are the Best Places to Visit in Rwanda/ Beautiful places to visit in Rwanda.
Best Places to Visit in Rwanda (Top places to visit in Rwanda)
Volcanoes National Park (Parc des Volcans)
Located in the northwest of Rwanda on the border with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Volcanoes National Park is one of Rwanda’s most popular and visited National Park. Volcanoes National Park is home to the endangered mountain gorillas, attracting hundreds of thousands each year who come to witness these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. The National Park protects the steep slopes of the magnificent mountain range with a rich mosaic of montane ecosystems (evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp, and heath) making it one of the most beautiful safari destinations in Rwanda.
Mountain Gorilla trekking is the major draw of travelers to this National Park although there are also other safari activities on offer here including bird watching, hiking & climbing, Cultural experiences, and nature walks among others. While on your Rwanda Safari holiday tour or Rwanda Vacation, Volcanoes National Park must be on the top of your Best Places to Visit in Rwanda.
Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park promises an unforgettable experience as you encounter the majestic gorillas in their natural habitat. Gorilla trekking is one of Africa’s most transformative experiences – also sometimes referred to as life changing. Gorillas share DNA with humans and you are likely to see them mimic human behaviors during your encounter. If your are for where to go for Safaris in Rwanda? Then surely, Volcanoes National Park should top your list of Best Places to Visit in Rwanda.
Nyungwe Forest National Park – Best Places to Visit in Rwanda
The Nyungwe National Park is another popular Safari destination in Rwanda, renowned for its impressive population of Chimpanzees and other 12 primate species including L’Hoest’s monkey, Owl-faced monkey, Blue monkeys, Golden monkeys, Angola colobus, and Velvet monkeys among others. The primary attraction at Nyungwe Forest National Park is Chimpanzee Trekking/Chimpanzee Tracking where visitors get an opportunity to explore the tropical rainforests to search for the elusive chimpanzees. Although Chimpanzee Trekking is the main draw of travelers to Nyungwe, there are also other top safari activities on offer here including the unique canopy walk, Bird watching in Nyungwe, and Guided Nature walks among others. Nyungwe is surely one of the Best Places to Visit in Rwanda for a memorable adventure experience.
Gishwati Mukura National Park
The Gishwati-Mukura National Park, created in 2015 is another best place to visit in Rwanda. This small safari park covers about 34 square kilometers and covers both the Mukura Forest and the Gishwati Forest. The aim of its establishment was to protect the endangered population of chimpanzees that live in the region. Although unpopular for chimpanzee trekking safaris in Rwanda, Gishwati-Mukura National Park is a great destination for safari. This National Park is situated on the ridges of the Congo-Nile strange, is renowned for its endemic species, especially the Albertine Endemics.
Besides chimpanzees, this National Park is also home to other primate species like Golden monkeys, L’hoest Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Olive Baboons, Vervet Monkeys, Black and White Colobus monkeys among others. Explore Gishwati Mukura National Park during your Rwanda Safari holiday Tour.
Akagera National Park – Best Places to Visit in Rwanda
Nestled in the far North Eastern Rwanda, at the country’s border with Tanzania, Akagera National Park is one of the Best Places to Visit in Rwanda. Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s only Savanna National Park, dominated by swamps and small lakes which flow in the wake of River Kagera. Akagera National Park has a unique network of water sources and landscapes that together create very spectacular scenery that you won’t want to miss During a Rwanda Safari Tour/ Rwanda Holiday Tour. This remarkable ecosystem supports various wildlife species including lions, leopards, rhinos, buffalos, and elephants among others. Akagera National Park derives its name from the River Kagera which feeds different water bodies including Lake Ihema.
This National Park is one of the Best Places to Visit in Rwanda – it is surrounded by cultivated hills, that are so much a part of Rwanda’s scenery. The National Park also encompasses wide plains dominated by grass, cactus-like Euphorbia candelabra shrub and both thick and thin forests – with a generally rugged terrain, so much a characteristic of Rwanda. If you are planning foe a wildlife viewing safari in Rwanda or Rwanda Adventure tour, one of the Best Places to Visit in Rwanda for wildlife viewing is Akagera National Park.
King’s Palace Museum
Located in Nyanza, the King’s Palace Museum is a traditional royal residence that is a beautifully-crafted thatched dwelling shaped like a beehive. Nyanza used to be the heart of Rwanda and holds great history of this Nation. For a long time, the monarchy was mobile, moving the court between various locations however when settlement was considered, there was no better choice than Nyanza. This area became a capital of the kingdom and had as many as 2,000 inhabitants, and huts built in the same way as the palace. This place is one of the best places to visit in Rwanda for educational and cultural experiences.
Kigali Genocide Memorial
Another top place to visit in Rwanda is the Kigali Genocide Memorial which commemorates the 1994 Rwandan genocide. This place preserves over 250,000 remains of Rwanda people who were victims of the 1994 Genocide. This place is a great place to visit for opportunities to learn about the events leading up to the Rwanda genocide against the Tutsi in 1994. This Genocide Memorial is a place where the bereaved could bury their family and friends.
Ethnographic Museum
The Ethnographic Museum was a gift from Belgium’s King Badouin in the late 1980s. This place now houses one of Africa’s finest ethnographic collections. There are seven galleries that display historical, ethnographic, artistic, and archaeological artifacts accompanied by visual aides, giving visitors a rich insight into the Rwandan culture.