Rwanda Safari

Rwanda is a tiny land-locked country situated deep in the heart of East Africa, but don’t be fooled by its small size. Widely known as the Land of a Thousand Hills, as well as the birthplace of modern gorilla trekking, Rwanda is larger than life, offering a diverse range of landscapes, activities and experiences for every type of traveller. 

Most well known as being the home of famed Volcanoes National Park, which was the home for many years to the late primatologist Dian Fossey, Rwanda’s gorilla trekking tourism operations continue to be sustainable, animal-centered and considerate of the people who live in and around the park. Other than the endangered mountain gorilla, the park is also home to a variety of other primates, such as the golden, blue, and vervet monkeys, various antelope species and indeed, a few forest elephants! 

Rwanda’s spectacular landscapes include the Albertine Rift, which is a branch of the Great Rift Valley that so marks East Africa – home to a number of endemic species – as well as Nyungwe and Akagera National Parks, which are well-known as offering some of the most spectacular bird-watching in Rwanda. Nyungwe in fact, is incredibly biodiverse, and its habitats are filled with chimpanzees, brightly-colored butterflies and a host of other wildlife. 

Adventurous travellers will certainly enjoy a trip to Rwanda to experience an authentic gorilla and chimpanzee trek in the parks, but cultural buffs will also find enjoyment here.  Regular displays of cultural dance and dress can be enjoyed in the capital city, while the Rwandan Art Museum in Kanombe is just a few kilometers from Kigali International Airport, displaying contemporary artworks from local and international artists. If you are spending time in Kigali, it is worth visiting the Kigali Genocide Museum, which spotlights the enormous tragedy that once blighted this otherwise bright country’s landscape. 

Best Time to Visit Rwanda:

The drier period between June and September is the best time to visit Rwanda.  If you are interested in gorilla trekking, the dry season offers the best time when trekking through the normally otherwise wet rainforest. March to November is generally the rainier season, but is considered the ideal time for chimp trekking.