Rwanda is an amazing destination. Home to a third of the Virunga population of the mountain gorillas, Rwanda is the best destination for gorilla trekking in Africa. Rwanda is a land- locked country in Central Africa. Also as the ‘land of a thousand hills’, Rwanda has five volcanoes, 23 lakes and numerous rivers. The country lies 1,270km west of the Indian Ocean and 2,000km east of the Atlantic- literally in the heart of Africa.
Rwanda is one of the top 100 green destinations in the world. Today the country is one of the best destination to experience an ecotour. Though the country is best known for its gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park, it has many other interesting attractions.
Places to Visit
- Volcanoes National Park, the best place to see gorillas in Africa
- Mountain Gorillas – The Unique Treasures of the Virungas
- Gishwati Mukura National Park: Home to Chimpanzees
- Akagera National Park
Rwanda is one of the teeming nature destinations in Africa from the hilly landscape to the tropical rainforest. The presence of different primates, wildlife, birds and many natural habitats makes Rwanda a major home of biodiversity. Besides the big thanks goes to the conservation organizations and the Rwanda government for the great work of protecting the species and habitats in different corners of the country hence making Rwanda a fine destinations for not only nature but also sustainable tourism. A few years back it was Uganda the Pearl of Africa on every one’s mind but its neighbor Rwanda is the spotlight for every Africa primate safari either to see gorillas, chimpanzees and golden monkeys. Rwanda may appear small in the region but its scenic natural attractions are dazzling each day. Visit Nyungwe Forest a fine chimpanzee playing ground open for tourists on chimpanzee trekking trips and walks found in southwestern corner of Rwanda.
The high dense canopy that becomes a national park in 2004 is one of the most visited natural Rwanda Park and one of the busiest in the country year round.The safe and sound Nyungwe forest is certainly worthy because of its fantastic biodiversity old giant trees, orchids, and green vegetation that house different primate species including chimpanzees, grey-cheeked mangabey, golden monkey, vervet monkeys, , olive baboons, Red tailed monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, Ruwenzori colobus, silver monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkey and many more. Colorful birds and butterflies also ride in every corner of the forest and usually cause exciting moments to every visitor on either morning or afternoon forest trek. Besides Nyungwe is the best place to see chimpanzees in Rwanda. The park also launched a new tourism activity “the Nyungwe canopy” which enables tourists to explore the entire forest in just a few hours. Other interesting park activities are Waterfall treks, Bird watching, photography, walks to Kamiranzovu marsh and the tea factory at Gisakura.
Next to Nyungwe is Volcanoes National park a home of endangered mountain gorillas that live in the dense bamboo forest of the virunga. Did you know the gorillas are the largest living primates on earth? And scientists say that they must be the last member of the apes family? They are indeed a great living example of beautiful unique primates in history that live in unreachable locations. Researchers say the gorillas live in Virunga volcanoes that run across the western Rift valley resulting into the border between Uganda and Democratic republic of Congo and Rwanda.
The impressive volcanoes are close to Bwindi Forest National Park in Uganda also a gorilla park in Africa. History reigns and primate fans find volcanoes a fine destination to see gorillas in a natural setting hence making it one of the must see natural attractions in Rwanda. The Rwanda locals also just added a new cultural tour project close to the park making tourists happy by exploring nature as well as the country’s social well being. The Rwanda gorilla tour has always been the most elegant way to experience nature in Africa and volcanoes national park has the wonderful hills and mountains for great hikes in either dry or wet season.
When to visit Rwanda
Rwanda can be visited any time of year. The long dry season, June to September, is the best time for tracking gorillas in the volcanoes National Park and for hiking in Nyungwe Forest, since the ground should be dry underfoot and the odds of being drenched are minimal. This should not be a major consideration for any reasonably fit and agile travellers unless they are planning to hike to Virunga peaks such as Visoke or Karisimbi, in which case the rainy season should definitely be avoided. The dry season is also the best time for travelling on dirt roads, and it is when the risk of malaria should be lowest.
There are two annual rainy seasons: the big rains which last from mid- February to the beginning of June, and the small rains from mid- September to mid- December. Rainfall, especially over the mountains, can be heavy during these two periods- particularly from March to May, although it is still perfectly feasible to obtain a gorilla permit at the last minute
An adventure of traveling during the rainy season is that the scenery is greener, and the sky less hazy (at least when it isn’t overcast), a factor that will be of particular significance to photographers. The wet season is also the best time to track chimps in Nyungwe (in the dry season they may wander further off in search of scarce food), while the months of November to march will hold the greatest appeal for birders, as resident birds are supplemented by flocks of Palearctic migrants.