Looking for the best things to do in Rwanda? Rwanda’s tourism industry has grown quickly in recent years, making it a top destination for luxury safaris in East and Central Africa. Rwanda is known for its luxury safaris in Africa and is a top business center. Many international business summits and conferences are held in Kigali City, the country’s capital. So, whether in the “Land of a Thousand Hills” for business or pleasure, you’re sure to have a great time and remember it forever. Here are the best tourist attractions in Rwanda.
10 Unique Things to Do in Rwanda
1. Akagera National Park’s wildlife
Akagera National Park in Rwanda is home to elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, leopards, hyenas, and lions. It is home to many kinds of antelopes, such as bushbucks, Topis, Oribis, waterbuck, roan antelope, duiker, klipspringer, impala, and the Cape eland, which is the largest antelope in the world.
Near Lake Ihema, you can see groups of hippos and crocodiles lying in the sun. Primate species like olive baboons, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, and bush babies are often seen in Akagera National Park, especially on night drives during the Akagera National Park game drive.
For Akagera National Park prices, visit their official website.
2. Chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park
At least 25% of Africa’s primate species live in Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park, where most of the chimps are used by people. Chimpanzees Trekking is one of the best things to do in Nyungwe Forest National Park, which is home to about 500 chimpanzees.
In Rwanda, a permit-to-go chimpanzee trekking costs $60 per person and lasts between 2 and 6 hours. Tracking starts at 8 a.m. from Uwinka, Kitabi, and Gisakura, which are all important points.
3. Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre.
This memorial center has pictures and other things that remember the Rwandan genocide of 1994. When people go to the Kigali genocide memorial center, they learn about the horrendous events that occurred before and during the genocide. The center’s main goal is to teach people about the need for peace and harmony in any community and to show how the country has moved on from its terrible past.
Travelers can also go to the Nyamata Genocide Memorial Site, the Nyanza Memorial Site, the Ntarama, Gisenyi, Burambi, and Nyaruhuye Genocide Memorial Sites, which are in different parts of the country.
Also read: Things to do in Kigali
4. Volcanoes National Park’s gorillas
Rwanda’s safaris are made even more memorable by seeing the rare mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. For USD 1500, you can get a permit to trek with gorillas in Rwanda. In the national park, people can watch about ten groups of gorillas.
Most of Rwanda’s gorilla trekking safaris include traveling through forested areas with some steep and slick terrain, so tourists must be physically and mentally prepared for the often challenging and exhilarating activity.
The Volcanoes National Park Rwanda allows you to trek gorillas in eight-person groups. Once a family of gorillas has been found, hikers are only allowed to spend an hour with them.
5. Volcanoes’ golden monkeys
You can hike with golden monkeys at Volcanoes National Park, a unique experience. Most golden monkeys live in the bamboo forests of the Virunga Conservation Area. This area is shared by Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Two groups of golden monkeys, with a total of 80 individuals, live in Volcanoes National Park. The golden monkey trekking in the park starts at 7 a.m. at Kinigi, where the park’s headquarters are. Permission to go trekking with golden monkeys’ costs $100 USD and is good in Rwanda and Uganda.
6. Dian Fossey’s Burial Place
People who go to the national park can hike to where Dian Fossey is buried and see where she did her research at the Karisoke Research Centre. She was buried at Volcanoes National Park near Digit, her favorite gorilla.
7. Nyungwe Canopy Walk
In October 2010, the canopy walk was introduced as a new tourist attraction in Nyungwe Forest National Park. The canopy walkway is 200 feet long and 90 meters long. It is built 200 feet above the ground of the forest.
The two-hour canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest national park starts at the Uwinka headquarters and goes to the top of the trees. People who want to participate in this event will have to pay USD $60 per person. The canopy walk also lets people explore the forest’s upper canopy, which has amazing views of the forest’s surroundings.
8. Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu in Rwanda is the largest freshwater lake in the country. The lake is in both Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Volcanoes National Park and Gishwati Forest National Park make it easy to get to the lake. From the towns of Gisenyi, Cyangugu, and Kibuye, visitors can take a boat ride around the lake.
9. Village of Iby’ iwacu
Volcanoes National Park is only a few kilometers away from the traditional village of Iby’ iwacu. Tourists can see some of Rwanda’s interesting culture in the village. Tourists who visit this cultural hamlet are taught about Rwanda’s rich cultural history. They can also try to make traditional crafts and watch a local dance troupe perform. Most community performers are former poachers who have turned their lives around and now help protect wildlife in the national park.
10. Virunga Volcano Massif hiking
One of the most thrilling and risky hobbies offered at Volcanoes National Park is volcano climbing. Some mountains in the nature reserve that are part of the Virunga Massif and are no longer active volcanoes are Mount Karisimbi, Mount Bisoke, and Mount Sabyinyo. These mountains are used for trekking trips.
