RWANDA THE THOUSAND HILLS LAND

Rwanda is a modern nation with a fast growing economy. It is ranked the third most competitive country in Africa by the World Economic Forum 2016 Competitiveness Report, and is rated one of the cleanest and safest countries in Africa.

Rwanda is located in the Central and Eastern Africa. Uganda is to its North, Tanzania to the East, Burundi to the South, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the West.

Kigali is within easy reach of our rich offering of cultural and natural treasures. Take advantage of a range of experiences in discovering Rwanda – venture into our national parks to track the endangered mountain gorilla on the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes, enjoy a ‘Big 5’ safari in Akagera, rated amongst the most scenic national parks in Africa, or learn about the rich biodiversity in Nyungwe, the largest protected mountain rainforest in Africa. Our Cultural Heritage Corridor, community tours, tea and coffee plantations, adventure experiences and the shores of Lake Kivu await you.

Our delicious local cuisine, unique culture and arts, combined with breathtaking natural beauty are waiting for you to come and experience a taste of Rwanda’s warm hospitality and wonderful people. You will quickly learn what makes Rwanda remarkable, and why we are becoming one of Africa’s most popular tourist destinations.

We invite you to take time to explore Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills and a million smiles.

Kigali

Ideally positioned in the center of Rwanda, Kigali extends across several hills and valleys, with good road links to the rest of the country. The verdant capital city is pleasantly low key yet dynamic and progressive, with just over one million inhabitants.

The city’s wide tree-lined boulevards and immaculate squares are safe to stroll, where outsiders are generally left to their own devices unless they need assistance, in which case they will be greeted with warm hospitality. Kigali is developing rapidly, with new shopping malls, office buildings and a world-class convention center built in the style of the King’s Palace of olden days, which lights up the night sky atop of one of the many hills.

No visit to Rwanda would be complete without a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which, through education and peace-building, honors the memory of the more than one million Tutsis killed in 1994. The three permanent exhibitions and burial gardens form part of a meaningful tribute to those who perished and provide a powerful educational tool for visitors.

Volcanoes national park

Situated in the far northwest of Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park protects the steep slopes of this magnificent mountain range – home of the endangered mountain gorilla and a rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, which embrace evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp, and heath.

Within the boundaries of Volcanoes National Park is Buhanga Eco-Park, an ancient forest holding Rwanda’s most intriguing folklore and Musanze Caves, formed 62 million years ago after the last estimated volcanic eruption. Hiking, canoeing, mountain biking, and village experiences offer something for everyone to enjoy.

Tracking endangered mountain gorillas through the mysterious intimacy of the rain forest, alive with the calls of 200 species of colorful birds and chattering of the rare golden monkey, is only one of the truly unique experiences in the area. 

Nyungwe forest national park

One of the oldest rainforests in Africa, Nyungwe is rich in biodiversity and spectacularly beautiful. The mountainous region is teaming with wildlife, including a small population of chimpanzees as well as 12 other species of primate, including the L’Hoest’s monkey endemic to the Albertine Rift.

With 15 trails, some of which are detailed here, along with various other activities, visitors can choose to sample the delights of the forest or indulge themselves for a week or more in one of Africa’s most stunning forests.

Primate tracking tops most visitor’s list, but it’s worth lingering a little longer for those with time to relax and take in the primal atmosphere.

There are 75 known mammals in Nyungwe, such as the serval cat, mongoose, congo clawless otter and leopard to name but a few. Many tend to be shy, so sightings are luck of the draw.

With plenty of rainfall, Nyungwe is also the major catchment area in Rwanda and supplies water to 70% of the country. Memorable and photogenic moments include walking up to the Isumo waterfall or along the Canopy Walk suspension bridge. Tea plantations border the edges of the park, with a habituated troop of Ruwenzori colobus monkeys at Gisakura as well as forest fringe birds.

Akagera national park

The relatively warm and low-lying plains of Akagera comprise savannah, woodland, wetland, and a dozen lakes. In partnership with African Parks, we aim to transform the National Park into a world-class location to experience a safari.

The largely open expanse is ideal for game viewing, and we are taking steps to ensure the Big Five roam the park in greater numbers over time.

A family of lions from South Africa is settling in well, and breeding successfully, and 18 eastern black rhinos have also been reintroduced.

Visitors can also encounter buffalo, elephant, antelope, zebra, giraffe, baboons, monkeys, an incredible 490 bird species, plus much more.

A boat trip on Lake Ihema is also a highlight of any visit to Akagera, with its large pods of hippos, Nile crocodiles and abundant water birds on the island in the middle of the lake.

The only way to explore the park is by vehicle, whether through a tour operator or self-drive. The National Park also has a vehicle to hire, with individual spaces available on night drives.

Gishwati mukura national park.

Rwanda’s fourth national park, Gishwati Mukura is made up of two separate forests – the larger Gishwati and small Mukura, forming a total of 34 square kilometers plus a buffer zone.

The forests sit on the ridge which divides the Congo and Nile water catchment areas, along the incredibly biodiverse Albertine Rift in the west of the country. It is made up of 60 species of trees, including indigenous hardwoods and bamboo. Gishwati is home to a group of 20 chimpanzees which live alongside golden monkeys, L’Hoest’s and Blue Monkeys. Birds are well represented too, 232 species have been seen at Gishwati and 163 at Mukura, among them Albertine Rift Endemic species and forest specialists.

The park is currently part of an ambitious landscape restoration program. Activities in the park are due to begin in 2019 and include a guided nature hike, guided chimp, and monkey tracking, bird watching and a visit to the waterfalls.

Community-based activities include a farm stay, a live cultural dance, making handicrafts, beekeeping, a tea plantation tour and the chance to learn from traditional healers, who use natural plants to support modern medicine and synthesized drugs.