Presentation
Rwanda owns an impressive nature many adventure travelers will appreciate and have great remembers about adventure travels in this country. Rwanda is also an access to the jungle. We’re also amazed by Kigali and its sophistication and safety.
Geography
Rwanda is an East African country, and easily accessible from Kenya and Uganda. It is relatively easy, safe and simple to travel around. It is landlocked, surrounded by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south, and Congo-Kinshasa to the west.
The equatorial climate is tempered by altitude (Kigali 1,500 m) and significant rainfall during the rainy season (September to December and March – end of May).
Why visit Rwanda ?
Rwanda is not only the land of a thousand hills, but also a country rich in flora and fauna and stunning natural beauty in its scenic rolling and breathtaking green savannah. The country hosts some rare species of animals like the silverback mountain gorillas as well as unique birds and insects in the tropical forest of Nyungwe.
Rwanda has built its reputation thanks to mountain gorillas and golden monkeys which are found in Volcanoes National Park.
Rwanda’s National Parks
- Akagera National Park
- Volcanoes National Park
- Nyungwe National Park
Main attractions in Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park
This park is Rwanda‘s most famous park and lies in the Virunga Massif area that is found in Rwanda, Uganda and Congo-Kinshasa also. The park is found in the Northwestern part of the country in Musanze town commonly known as Ruhengeri that is a 2 hours drive from Kigali the capital of Rwanda.
The major attraction in this park is the Mountain Gorilla and the Golden monkeys, so one can do this amazing activity of tracking gorillas. Other activities to do in this park are nature walks, birding, hiking such as a hike to the Bisoke volcano and other animals can be seen in the park are bush pigs, elephants, spotted hyenas, buffaloes, bushbucks, over 200 bird species among others.
Nyungwe forest National Park
This is a forest National Park located in the Southwestern part of Rwanda at the border of Burundi. The park covers approximately 1,019 km2 and has a lot to offer being a home to 13 primate species such as Chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, 87 mammals, over 300 bird species, 1,067 plant species and many more.
The park is approximately 4-5 hours drive away from Kigali on a well tarmacked road. On your way to the park, you could have a visit to the Nyanza king’s palace where by you will learn about the history and culture in this place.
Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park is one of those other suitable parks one can opt for to add on the gorilla experience from Volcanoes National Park. The park a 2 hours drive away from Kigali and is located in the Northeastern part of Rwanda on the Tanzanian border. It’s characterized by highlands, savanna vegetation, papyrus swamps, woodland and forest fringed lakes.
The park derived its name “Akagera” from the Akagera River that flows in the east of the park pouring in Lake Ihema. Having such a diverse landscape, the park is a home to wildlife such as buffaloes, elephants, zebras, hyenas, lions, giraffes, bush babies, topis, antelopes, crocodiles, elands, hippos, and a variety of bird species such as the shoebill stork.
Kigali Genocide memorial centre
This is a memorial centre that is a final resting place to over 250,000 Tutsi victims of the genocide that occurred in 1994. This centre is among the 6 main memorial centers in Rwanda that are there in remembrance of the terrible 1994 Rwanda Genocide.
The memorial centre was opened in 1999 whereby the different remains of people that where around the city, in lakes and rivers where transferred to this place to be buried. The major aim for this place was to provide a dignified resting place for victims from the Genocide and also to provide support to the widows, orphans and survivors of the genocide.
Visit Kigali city
Kigali is Rwanda‘s capital, with a great view surrounded by hills and awesome vegetation. It was established in 1907 and given a name “Kigali” by the first colonial governor Richard Kandt. Kigali is among the cleanest cities in Africa and it has a lot offer which one wouldn’t like to miss out while on an adventure travel in Rwanda safari.
Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is Rwanda’s largest lake located on Rwanda and Congo-Kinshasa border; it is approximately 90 km long and 50 km wide and covers an area of 2,700 km2. The main activities for adventure travelers include biking, swimming, riding by boat, kayaking, trekking, gorilla tracking, sailing, fishing, surfing and hiking in places near the lake.
