Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is renowned for sheltering over half of the world’s Mountain Gorilla population, and tracking them in Rwanda is generally easier than in Uganda. Walk through thick forests before encountering the huge and powerful, yet extremely gentle Mountain gorillas to watch them feed and socialize within their family groups. The park is also home to protected Golden Monkeys, which are delightfully tinted with the same rich, coppery tones as the fertile soils that color the hills around the country.
Chimpanzees and Angola Colobus monkeys can be tracked at the Nyungwe Forest found in the south of the country. The forest is one of the oldest rain forests in the world, and is famous for having 13 different primate species, tiny DikDik antelopes.
There are several walking and hiking trails, including the famous Nile Congo Trail, offering everyone a chance to explore the expansive rain forest on foot. Nyungwe Forest has a fun and exciting Canopy Walk, a bridge suspended 90m above the forest floor that offers a bird’s eye view of the trees and streams, sightings of the forest birds, and to the distance, the blue waters of Lake Kivu.
Fun water sports can be done on Lake Kivu including swimming, kayaking, or taking a speedboat to visit one of the islands in the lake. There is a small sandy beach at Gisenyi, providing for an inland beach experience. To the east of Rwanda lies the Akagera National Park, which is one of the few places in the country with a seemingly savannah landscape interspaced by lakes on which sunset boat rides are an added attraction. The park is home to hundreds of antelopes such as the rare Sitatunga, Sables and Roans, zebras, buffalos and giraffes, and hundreds of birds. Seven lions were recently introduced into the park, providing for more Big Cat-spotting at Akagera. A visit to the park offers you an exceptional chance to see yet another facet of a country otherwise know only for its hills and gorillas.
Culturally, Rwanda offers the chance to visit the old King’s Palace at Nyanza, the National Museum at Huye, and the old traditional lifestyles are showcased at various cultural villages around the country. The renowned traditional Indore dancers perform at several locations. Visits not only support the livelihoods of the local communities, but also offer the chance to learn about Rwandese culture, past and present.
