Places to Visit in Rwanda – Explore Nice Places to See in Rwanda
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Rwanda is a phenomenal African destination, often dubbed the “land of a thousand hills”.
This landlocked country carries stunning landscapes, a great history and rich and vibrant present.
With remarkable places to visit in Rwanda, the country is a gem hidden in East Africa, viciously protecting some of the last remaining and surviving wildlife in the world.
Rwanda is acclaimed internationally for tourist destinations such as Volcanoes National Park, a famous home for the critically endangered Mountain Gorillas and Golden Monkey species.
These can only be seen in the Virunga Conservation Area, that also spans other countries like Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, found in Central Africa.
Other common parks to visit in Rwanda are Akagera National Park, the only national park that has savannah plains in the country, Nyungwe Forest National Park, the renowned home for the Chimpanzees, and Gishwati Mukura National Park, which is Rwanda’s newest park.
Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city, also holds an exceptional position among the beautiful places to explore in Rwanda. You will get an up-close look at the beautiful city, its rich cultural heritage centers and the amazing people.
In this article, learn more about these special Rwandan destinations to visit on a Rwanda trip.
The renowned travel destinations and places to visit in Rwanda through your reputable tour operator include:
The amazing Rwandan nation is blessed to have 4 national parks, which are the most famous places to visit in Rwanda.
These are Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park and Giswati Mukura National Park.
Read below to find out more about these beautiful African national parks in Rwanda.
Although Volcanoes National Park is among the best places to visit in Rwanda, East Africa, it is a renowned destination for trekking the critically endangered Mountain Gorillas in their natural forest habitat.
Volcanoes National Park has over 300 Gorilla species out of the estimated total of 1063 mountain Gorillas remaining in the world. The park has about 18 Gorilla families and you are allowed to visit one of them.
The Mountain Gorillas at the park were made famous through the research of American conservationist Dian Fossey at the Karisoke Research Center.
The Gorilla trekking experience at Volcanoes National Park takes about 2 to 8 hours, depending on the movement of the primates. It can sometimes be challenging due to the topography or thickness of the forest.
A Gorilla permit at Volcanoes park costs $1500 for a foreign nonresident in the country.
Volcanoes National Park also has 8 Virunga mountain range volcanoes that tourists can additionally hike as part of their trip itinerary in this beautiful forest.
Alternatively, you may visit the Karisoke Research Center to discover more about the Gorilla research projects that were begun by Dian Fossey in 1967.
The gorilla trekking experience at Volcanoes NP is among the most remarkable adventures in this beautiful country. The Mountain Gorilla trekking adventure begins as early as 7 am with movement to the park headquarters, where you will have a briefing about the guidelines.
Mountain Gorilla trekking will then commence with the park ranger and guide leading your group of 8 visitors into the forest.
While walking through the beautiful forest for Mountain Gorilla trekking, you will pass through captivating wildlife like the beautiful trees, awe-inspiring views of the stunning landscapes, and numerous bird species.
Upon meeting a gorilla family, you will spend a maximum of one hour with them as you watch them play, groom, sleep, and feed. The similarities between the Gorillas and humans make Mountain Gorilla trekking at Volcanoes National Park one of the most beautiful experiences.
Located at Volcanoes NP, the Gorilla Guardians Village, also known as the Ibyiwacu Cultural Village, is a remarkable spot to learn more about Rwandan culture.
The Gorilla Guardians Village also offers a way in which the local communities contribute in preventing poaching.
At the Gorilla Guardians Village, you can discover and buy some of the handworks of the local artists in local communities, for example, baskets, arrows, and bracelets, or watch the locals as they weave, shoot an arrow and play or dance to their musical instruments.
Also found near the Volcanoes National Park, Buhanga Eco Park provides rich cultural heritage experiences for travelers in this beautiful country.
The destination reveals the beautiful cultural history of the kings, being a place where they were coronated from and where their bathing water was fetched from.
Along the beautiful walking trails at the Buhanga Eco Park are lava stones, beautiful trees, and various plant species.
Musanze is another perfect destination among the places to visit in Rwanda.
It is a small location near Volcanoes National Park with beautiful places like the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village. At the Cultural Village, you will experience amazing cultural encounters through their dance performances and way of life.
Musanze also has the Musanze Caves, where travelers can explore the various bats. These bats also used to be a hiding ground for different tribal groups, including the Batwa Pygmies.
At Muzanze, you can stay at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest and Tolireza Volcanoes Ecolodge. Some of these lodges come with incredible facilities like parking, laundry services, saunas and swimming pool, among others.
Akagera National Park is the only park that has savannah plains in Rwanda, located about 3 hours away from Kigali Airport.
It has a diversity of wildlife and tourist attractions in Rwanda, including the African big Five, which are the Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Rhinos and Buffaloes. Other animals to see at Akagera National Park include Zebras, Hippos, Giraffes and various numerous bird species in the endangered Shoebill, among others in Akagera National Park.
Therefore, Akagera National Park will offer you many unique safari experiences in Rwanda, for example game drives, nature walks, hot air ballooningand birding, among others.
Some of the remarkable features at Akagera National Park are Lake Shakani and Lake Ihema, where you can have an unforgettable boat cruise.
Akagera National Park has various lodges, including the Akagera Game Lodge and the Akagera Transit Lodge, among others.
You can enjoy a memorable experience as you relax and spend a night in one of the beautiful lodges at Akagera National Park.
The Nyungwe rainforest in Nyungwe Forest National Park boasts a remarkable adventure experience as you experience a closer look into the nature of the beautiful tree species.
Nyungwe National Park has about 1068 plant species, about 75 mammal species and over 322 bird species, portraying it as a natural beauty.
Nyungwe National Park is also one of the most famous primate territories in Africa, protecting species such as chimpanzees, Golden Monkey species, Baboons and-Gray Cheeked Mangabeys, among others.
This park will allow you the adventure of primate tours, birding, canopy walk on the suspended rail, and great scenic views in Nyungwe National Park.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is a beautiful place for not just nature lovers but also walking tours.
The Rwanda canopy walk occurs on a suspended 70-meter-high bridge that is 160-meter-long. The experience is so breathtaking, giving you a clearer view of the amazing wildlife species.
The Gishwati Mukura National Park is Rwanda’s newest park and was designated in 2015. Covering an area of 34 square kilometers, Giswati Mukura is home to gorillas, Primates and Chimpanzees, among others.
At Gishwati Mukura National Park, you can book your Chimpanzee tracking tours and also be able to spot different other primates like the Blue Monkeys, L’Hoest Monkeys, and Golden Monkey species, among others.
Gishwati Mukura National Park is also great for memorable nature walks that bring you closer to experiencing the beautiful nature.
The beautiful towns and cities make up part of the beautiful places to visit in Rwanda.
With various flights landing in Kigali, the city is by default an outstanding destination for your explorations in this beautiful country.
Kigali’s beauty will capture you through its cleanliness and organization, as it is known to be the cleanest city among all cities in African countries.
Exploring Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city, will take you to some of the most remarkable places destinations, as seen below.
Rwanda holds a tragic history of the genocide between the Hutu and the Tutsi. Therefore, Kigali Genocide Memorial remains with one of genocide memorial sites where visitors pay tribute to thousands of people who were ruthlessly slaughtered due to tribal differences.
Over 800,000 people were killed in a period of 100 days. By visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial site, you will get to pay tribute to those who perished as you see their photos and read about their information.
It is important to keep this past alive to teach the world and future generations about the tragic history and the importance of peace among the people.
The Umusambi village in Kabuga, in Kigali City, is also an amazing place to have your experiences in Rwanda. The place protects injured Grey Crowned Cranes that have been rescued and gives them another home in the wild.
Note that the Grey Crowned Crane is the Ugandan national bird that is also on the country’s flag.
Umusambi Village has beautiful walking trails for example, the birding and nature trails, to provide with the best views.
Other beautiful places to visit in Rwanda Kigali include the Caplaki Crafts Village, Inema Arts Center, Kimironko Market, and Kigali City Tower.
Additionally, Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city, is a quiet city but you can enjoy night life in some of the restaurants and bars in the City Center.
Rwanda’s in Kigali was the former home of Rwanda’s presidents, Pasteur Bizimungu and Juvénal Habyarimana.
President Habyarimana died at the former presidential palace residence through a plane that crashed after being shot. This is what sparked off the Rwanda Genocide between the Hutu and the Tutsi.
Currently, the former presidential palace is a tourist attraction known as the state house museum.
At the former presidential palace, you may also explore the Rwanda Art Museum, which showcases various art pieces.
The Nyamirambo Women’s Center is a beautiful place in Nyamirambo District that makes up part of Kigali City.
The program was designed to train jobless women with skills that could help them create their own jobs.
Note that Kigali is a rich tour destination with other places to go in Rwanda and explore for example, the Inema Art Center, Caplaki Crafts Village, Kimironko Market, Kigali City Tower, etc.
Kigali City has various places to stay at during your trip and some of them include Kigali Serena Hotel, Kigali M Hotel, and Four Points Kigali, among others.
Nyanza is a historical destination that reveals the natural beauty of culture through the former Royal Palace, that now remains as one of the six major national museums in Rwanda.
In Nyanza, the Royal palace, which has a blend of Rwandan and European-style furniture, is one of the best places to visit in the country.
At the Nyanza, you will get to learn about the history Rwanda’s royal kingdom and their ways from the olden days at the King’s Palace Museum.
Other than the King’s Palace Museum, near Nyanza, also known as the Ethnographic Museum, there are a variety of local African collections of Rwandan culture. Some of the collections at the Ethnographic Museum that reveal some of Africa’s finest ethnographic collections include weavings, pottery, traditional clothes, hunting materials, and agricultural tools, among others.
Among the top tourist attractions in Rwanda at the King’s Palace Museum is the beehive-shaped formation of the King’s Palace that was designed in the 15th century.
Around Rwanda, there are a total of six museums, including the King’s Palace Museum/Ethnographic Museum of Rwanda, that form the Institute of National Museums in Rwanda.
Other than the national museums, there are also other ways to experience Rwanda’s culture for example, through the Red Ricks Rwanda.
Lake Kivu in western Rwanda is Rwanda’s largest lake and one of the most renowned tourist destinations in the beautiful country. This lake, Kivu is shared by both Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Central Africa and it has welcomed visitors who would like to relax and watch the natural beauty of the environment.
At Lake Kivu, you participate in various safari activities such as fishing, hiking, stand-up paddle boarding, and kayaking, among others.
Around Lake Kivu is also the Congo Nile Trail, which is used for scenic nature walks and cycling tours as you watch the coffee plantations, stunning landscapes, hills, and different local communities.
Lake Kivu offers a variety of accommodation options that will allow budget, midrange and luxury travelers to all have an amazing experience during their stay.
Some of these accommodation facilities include the Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel, Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel and Lake Kivu Serena Hotel found in the northern part of Lake Kivu at the resort town, among others.
In Africa, East Africa is a rich destination, harboring various tourist attractions in Rwanda that you can see in the various places to visit, including the country’s national parks.
Below, we look at the remarkable tourist attractions in Rwanda.
Rwanda is acclaimed internationally as a remarkable destination to watch one of man’s closest relatives, the Gorillas. These are one of the major tourist attractions in Rwanda, providing the best experiences for tourists who come to watch the endangered gorilla species in their natural habitat.
The Gorillas, one of the most remarkable tourist attractions in Rwanda, can only be seen at the hilly Volcanoes National Park.
However, the country also harbors other primate species for example, the Chimpanzees, Baboons, Red Colobus Monkeys, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, and Golden Monkeys, among others.
These prime tourist attractions in Rwanda can also be seen at the Nyungwe Forest National Park and the Gishwati Mukura National Park.
At the savannah Akagera National Park, you can find various wildlife species among the major tourist attractions in Rwanda. Akagera National Park harbors over 8,000 large mammals, including the African big five species.
Discover the big five, that include the Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Rhinos and buffaloes. Other major wildlife species to see in Rwanda are the Zebras, Giraffes, and wild Wild Dogs, among others.
This is a great opportunity for any wildlife enthusiasts as they prepare to visit Rwanda for unforgettable wildlife experiences.
The unique and beautiful birds are also one of the main tourist attractions in Rwanda. The country harbors over 703 species of birds, 29 of which are Albertine Rift Endemics.
You will find these beautiful creatures in almost every part of the country in the forests, savannahs, around lakes and even by some streets.
Some of the bird species that are important tourist attractions in Rwanda include the African Green Broadbill, Francolins, African Fish Eagle, Turacos, Egrets, and Bustards, among others.
The vegetation in Rwanda is also one of the fascinating tourist attractions in Rwanda. This is responsible for some safari activities like the Nyungwe Forest Canopy Walk, that exposes participants to the dense and extensive Afro-Montane forests.
As Rwanda is referred to as the land of a thousand hills, these hills are covered in the richest vegetation, that includes hundreds of different tree species for travelers to study or explore for adventure.
The Rwandan government preserves much of the vegetation, not just to promote tourism but to also preserve it for future generations.
Rwanda is home to 3 major tribes, the Hutu, Tutsi and the Batwa, as another example of its renown tourist attractions. Being unique, each tribe provides special experiences that travelers marvel at as they discover it as one of the most overlooked tourist attractions in Rwanda.
The Batwa for example, regard themselves as the guardians of the forest and once lived inside these East African forests before they were evicted.
By exploring the markets, museums, homesteads, local fishermen and community projects, for example, the tea plantation tours, you get to learn a thing or two about the marvelous people and their vibrant culture.
Rwanda safari tours are great all year round, that is, in both the dry season and the rainy season. Nonetheless, the best time to visit Rwanda for your safaris and tours is in the dry season, as the tracks are dry. This is from around December through February and from June to September.
The African parks in Rwanda are some of the places recommended to visit in the dry season for example, Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe Forest National Park, among others.
However, the rainy season also offers amazing experiences for travelers who visit Rwanda. Additionally, costs can be manageable since there are few people. You can thus bargain on costs, especially for accommodation in some of the lodges.
Additionally, nature lovers will get the chance to awe at the beauty of the green natural vegetation as they sprouts brightly in the rainy season.
There are various important things to carry and wear for your Rwanda tour, as seen below.
Rwanda has grown to be one of the best places for tourists traveling in Africa. As you pass through clean and beautiful cities, you will be exposed to the amazing wildlife and people in the different protected areas.
Most tourists visit Rwanda to have a close encounter with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat at Volcanoes National Park.
However, Rwanda is more than just the gorillas. Therefore, some tourists will come to participate in different safari activities such as wildlife viewing, birding, city tours, and relaxation at Lake Kivu.
Rwanda is best known for the endangered mountain gorillas that were made famous by researcher and conservationist Diane Fossey.
Kigali is the most beautiful city and among the top places to visit in Rwanda, with various tourist destinations for travelers to explore.
The major destinations promoting dark tourism in Rwanda are the genocide memorial sites. Common examples include the Kigali Genocide Memorial site, the Nyanza Genocide Memorial, the Murambi Genocide Memorial, and the Ntarama Genocide Memorial, among others.
The Camp Kigali Belgium Movement, which is a small national museum, is also another dark tourism site in Rwanda.
Conclusively, Rwanda in East Africa boasts a wealth of beautiful places for tourists to visit and enjoy a lovely African experience. The unique African parks in Rwanda, cities and towns, cultural heritage sites, and memorial sites are all set to provide unforgettable African experiences in this land of a thousand hills.
As a reputable tour operator, inquire with us and book your Rwanda safari trip today or have an amazing experience with other African countries!
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