Top Safari Experiences in Rwanda for your Bucket list. The best safari experience in Rwanda is following monkeys on the volcanic slopes of the northwest, which is complemented by gorgeous rural scenery, a rich cultural legacy, and a pleasant population. Rwanda has some of the top tourist destinations on the African continent. In this piece, we will investigate the seven top safari experiences in Rwanda.
Top Safari Experiences in Rwanda for your Bucket List.
Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
Volcanoes National Park gorilla trekking unquestionably outperforms other safari experiences in Rwanda. The park is located on the high slopes of the Virunga Mountains on the far northwestern Rwandan border. It safeguards the country’s most valuable tourist gems, the endangered mountain gorillas, as well as a diverse mosaic of vegetation that includes montane habitats, bamboo forests, open grasslands, and swamps. Volcanoes National Park is a naturalist’s paradise.
One of Rwanda’s genuinely remarkable safari experiences is tracking endangered mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park’s misty woodland, which is home to hundreds of colorful butterflies, exotic birds, and golden monkeys.
To gorilla trekking in Volcanoes, you must stay near the park entrance and join the early morning gorilla trekking teams at the park headquarters in Kinigi. Small groups led by local guides depart from the park centre at 7:30 a.m. and spend nearly half the day in the forest. Visitors can only spend one hour with a habituated gorilla troop while keeping a 10-meter distance and wearing a facemask.
Permits to accompany hiking guides in Volcanoes are expensive ($1500 per person) and in great demand, therefore you must reserve one 3-6 months (or even a year) in advance. To minimize the hassle of local logistics, you might choose a tour operator like Explore Rwanda Tours.
The dry seasons of June to September are ideal for planning a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda. Rain should not fall on a frequent basis throughout the dry seasons, as this would ruin your woodland experience. It is when you have the highest chance of encountering mountain gorillas.
Golden Monkey Trekking in Rwanda
Spend an additional night in Volcanoes National Park and join the golden monkey trekking groups in the early morning. It’s a thrilling experience akin to gorilla trekking, but this time with little endangered primates native to the Virunga region.
The golden monkey walk is a fantastic complement to the gorilla adventure in the same location. Most visitors consider it to be one of the best safari experiences in Rwanda. The activity provides guests with another intimate encounter with the wild on Mount Karisimbi’s slopes and the bamboo forest on Mount Sabyinyo.
Treks begin at 7:00 a.m. at the Kinigi tourist centre and run around half a day in the jungle. Hiking through this steep forest will demand some physical power, so don’t expect the golden monkey experience to be light.
Tickets for the Golden Monkeys are $100 per person and include a local guide, ranger security, and an hour close to the monkeys. You can book your permission in advance with the RDB or on the morning of the hike at the park gate.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Humans have had a great curiosity with apes like chimpanzees since we learned that they are socially and genetically similar to humans. One of the finest safari experiences in Rwanda is spending time in Nyungwe watching chimps. When you join the daily early morning chimp trekking expeditions, you can anticipate to stroll into the untamed wild in one of Africa’s oldest rainforests.
Tourists can see two habituated chimp groups at Nyungwe Forest National Park from the park’s headquarters. Small groups of hikers leave at 5:00 a.m. and spend nearly half the day in the woods with a professional guide and armed guides.
Chimpanzee permits in Rwanda’s Nyungwe forest national park cost $150 per person and include at least an hour of intimate encounter with chimps. The trip might be difficult on rough, rainy ground, so prepare your physical fitness before embarking on the safari adventure, Top Safari Experiences in Rwanda for your Bucket list
Nyungwe Forest, in addition to monitoring chimps, provides a variety of appealing safari activities. The most well-known is the Igishigishigi Trail. The 2.1-kilometer woodland route leads to breathtaking views of the Canopy Walkway. You can see the forest canopy from here and sense oneself being one with the vast jungle, with monkeys hopping between trees to amplify your reality.
Game Drive Safaris in Akagera National Park.
Rwanda could not host wildlife game drives until recently. Because of the country’s vigorous wildlife conservation efforts, the large animals that previously inhabited Akagera National Area have returned, making game drives in the park one of the greatest safari experiences in Rwanda.
The Big Five viewing experience is promised by game drives in Akagera. It will get you up close to the lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo that inhabit the park’s marshes, woods, and savannah grasslands studded with a dozen lakes.
Akagera national park is also a magnificent environment popular with bird lovers, with over 450 bird species to be seen. You may also see giraffes, zebras, and topis wandering the Kilala plain. Akagera national park in Rwanda is a relaxing complement to a gorilla trekking safari in Volcanoes National Park or a chimpanzee trekking tours in Nyungwe forest national park. You will have explored Rwanda’s safari adventures in a single trip if you stay an additional night in Kigali and drive up northeast for another night.
Hiking Tours in Rwanda.
Rwanda’s northeastern area is home to a diverse range of natural magnificence. From mist-covered volcanoes to lush rainforests home to some of the world’s most famous endangered species, such as mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and chimpanzees. Hiking in the Virungas is one of Rwanda’s most wonderful safari experiences.
The Virungas include various hiking pathways for different types of walkers, including Bisoke Mountain, Mount Karisimbi, Karisimbi, Muhabura, and the hike to the first Karisoke Research Center.
The volcanic depression on Mount Bisoke, where Lake Ngezi, a picturesque tiny lake, gives spectacular landscape views, is the shortest hiking trek. It’s a three-hour picturesque hike that’s pretty simple. Those who can make it to the 3,700-meter summit receive the views from the crater lake at the top, and the return trek takes 6-10 hours.
Mount Karisimbi, Rwanda’s highest mountain, sits at 4,507 m and is Rwanda’s most difficult climbing experience. The hake takes roughly two days to complete, with a night spent in camp along the way. Karisimbi is also ideal for birdwatching, and lucky hikers may come see endangered mountain gorillas along the way.
Another picturesque walk is Mount Muhabura, which requires a whole day to climb the 4,127-meter top. It is one of Rwanda’s most stunning safari experiences.
Diane Fossey, a pioneer in gorilla conservation, established the Karisoke Research Centre in 1967 in the saddle area between Mount Bisoke and Mount Karisimbi. Tourists come to pay their respects to the late environmentalist, her efforts, and to visit her tomb. Include the Karisoke hiking track in your Volcanoes gorilla trekking tours. The trek lasts around two hours, plus an hour in the centre.
