Rwanda is known for her beautiful hills, mountains, volcanoes, mountain gorillas, beautiful and handsome people. Rwanda is often referred to the land of a thousand hills. While visiting this country, everywhere you look you see beautiful green hills.
Rwanda is a land locked country located in East Africa covering and covers an area of 26,338 square kilometers. Rwanda shares a border with Uganda in the north, Tanzania in the east, Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi in the west.
Rwanda is known for her beautiful hills, mountains, volcanoes, mountain gorillas, beautiful and handsome people. Rwanda is often referred to the land of a thousand hills. While visiting this country, everywhere you look you see beautiful green hills.
Rwanda was evoked by the worst genocide in the recent history, after the genocide, the government embarked on the difficult task of healing the nation, reconciliation and bring people together to rebuild their country. One of the greatest achievements of the government can be seen in the tourism sector. Possessing natural beauty, excellent weather, endless hills, volcanoes, wildlife, lakes and rivers, a rich cultural heritage and many more.
With its varied ecosystems and abundance of wildlife and National parks, Rwanda offers many unique things to see and do by the travelers that visit. These include;
Go Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National park.
If you are planning to visit Rwanda, gorilla trekking is one of those activities that cannot be missed among the things to see in Rwanda. Rwanda is automatically the best place to see mountain gorillas in the world. Gorilla trekking is certainly the biggest draw of Rwanda. Each year thousands of international visitors go to the park to see mountain gorillas alongside other popular activities in the park. Volcanoes National park has 10 habituated gorilla groups and only 8 people are allowed to trek each group per day. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National park starts with briefing by the rangers at the park headquarters in Kinigi about the rules and regulations of trekking these endangered primates. The visitors are allowed to spent only one hour in the presence of the gorillas. Gorilla trekking is one of the most unforgettable experiences while visiting Rwanda.
Visit Kigali Genocide memorial center.
The people of Kigali embrace peace and reconciliation. They are committed to fight the ideology of the genocide in the whole world. The memorials found throughout the country are moving testimonies in the memory of the 1994 genocide. It is located 10 minutes’ drive from the city Centre of Gisozi. Visit the final resting place of about 250000 people killed in the genocide.
The Centre has different exhibit places with space of skulls of survivors and their personal belongings like shoes, clothes, photographs of survivors, reconciliation efforts and genocide perpetrators.
Another space has photographs of other survivors from different countries in the world to show that this was not Rwanda’s problem but for the whole world that should never happen again. This is one of the many genocide centres that you can not miss on your self drive safari to Rwanda.
Experience the only canopy walk in East Africa.
Hiking on the ground of Nyungwe forest is rewarding but walking on the bridge suspended 200 feet above the park’s treetops is breathtaking. The canopy walk is 60-90 minutes’ walk from Uwinka visitor’s centre along Igishigishigi trail with incredible umbrella trees.
During your canopy walk, listen carefully you many hear the sweet melodies of the song birds and calls from the 13 primate species that live in the Nyungwe forest. The views change once you reach the series of three suspension bridge that compose the canopy walk way. The views of the tree canopy and the Uwinka ridge at sunset make your heart soar.
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest National park.
Chimpanzee trekking is specifically the most popular activity carried out in Rwanda in Cyamudongo in Nyungwe. Nyungwe forest National park is a high-altitude mountainous rain forest found in the southern part of Rwanda home to the chimpanzees and other primate species.
Chimpanzee trekking is a park activity that allows you to follow trails that lead you to a point where you are near and close to the chimpanzees in their natural habitats. This activity allows you to learn about the behaviors of the chimpanzees, feeding, characters and how the associate generally. During the trekking experience, you also have a chance to see other primates like red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, many bird species for the bird lovers, reptiles and many more.
Golden monkey trekking
Trekking to see the Golden monkeys is another highlight for Volcanoes National park besides the famous mountain gorilla trekking.
The golden monkey is a local subspecies of the blue monkeys and is endemic to the high-altitude forests of the Virunga ranges. Golden monkey trekking is an exciting activity adventure that offers an encounter with this rare species of monkeys.
Uganda and Rwanda are the only countries with the opportunity to view these beautiful endangered species up close. The golden monkeys live in the bamboo forests and vegetation at the base of volcanic mountains. The monkeys mostly feed on bamboo shoot, bamboo branches and young bamboo leaves. Enjoy the golden monkey trekking experience while in Rwanda.
Visit the Diana Fossy tomb.
Diana Fossy tomb is one of the most sought-after activity carried out while visiting volcanoes National park for your gorilla trekking safari. The walk from the park headquarters to Karisoke research Centre where Dian Fossy was buried is about one to one and a half hours. With good views of the forest hogs, forest elephants, primates and many bird species.
This hike is an incredible experience physically, emotionally and intellectually. It is so inspiring to learn about a person who was so dedicated to conserving mountain gorillas and left a legacy that still exists. Diana Fossy was murdered by the angry poachers in 1985