Gorilla tourism, bird watching, classic game drives, nature walks, cultural experiences, hiking, and lakeside relaxation are just some of the ways to spend your safari to Rwanda. The country has experienced a dynamic transformation since the tragic genocide that took place in 1994. Memorials are scattered throughout the country, but the people of the “Land of a Thousand Hills” do not let history control their destiny, and visitors have the opportunity to develop a deep appreciation for the growth and unity of the Rwandan people.

Conservation organizations, government agencies, and ordinary Rwandans have developed strategies to ensure long-term prosperity for the next generation, founded on the country’s many natural treasures, the best-known of which are the Virunga’s mountain gorillas of Rwanda.

The country also offers magnificent hiking and trekking through dense rain forests to the summits of volcanic peaks, and even high above the tree canopy. In Rwanda you are always near amazing wildlife, both large and small. The treetops are filled with the chatter of primates and the calls of birds. Butterflies drift along wind currents in search of the perfect wildflowers. As you explore the country’s outback, you sense the presence of the sovereigns who once ruled here, and you may even meet Rwandans who keep alive ancient traditions and crafts that go back many centuries.

The top adventure activities to do in Rwanda;

The Captivating Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda

Thanks to the incredible work of Dian Fossey and other global conservationists, Africa’s mountain gorillas have captured the hearts and minds of people around the world. If seeing these creatures in the wild is your ultimate dream, tour their natural habitat in Volcanoes Park. Efforts to protect mountain gorillas from the effects of habitat destruction, poaching, and other threats have led to the creation of an amazing infrastructure that provides the privacy and support the gorillas need to not only survive in the modern world, but thrive for generations to come.

The Rwandan government restricts the number of visitors who are allowed to view the gorillas, and this means that securing your premium spot for a mountain gorilla trek is a privilege few people experience. Estimates indicate that approximately half of the mountain gorillas in the world live in the Virunga Mountains that include the Rwandan Volcanoes National Park, so your primate trek through the montane forests will be rewarded with an hour of watching the gorillas engage in natural behaviors.

The heartwarming scene will highlight the close bonds between the members of the gorilla family, as well as the playful antics of gorilla infants. The presence of a powerful silverback will stir your emotions as he sits quietly, ever watchful of his family, with a gentle nature that makes human onlookers feel connected in an unexpected way. Participating in a mountain gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park requires a great deal of coordination, as relatively limited permits are issued each day.

World-Class Hiking & Trekking

If you daydream about climbing, hiking and trekking in the African highlands bush, Rwanda is the preeminent destination for your outdoor vacation. Both Nyungwe Forest and Volcanoes Park offer superb networks of trails that take you into some of the most breathtaking landscapes on the planet.

The most challenging of the treks takes you to an elevation of 4507 meters, to the snow-capped summit of Mount Karisimbi in Volcanoes National Park, the highest peak of the eight major volcanoes in the Virunga field. The two-day trek will challenge you physically and mentally while immersing you in the beauty of four distinct vegetation zones.

The 6-7 hour amatuer ascent hike takes you near agricultural fields, through a forest, and near the Dian Fossey gravesite before reaching the unexpected surprise of a crater lake at the summit.

Meet Other Primates

Mountain gorillas are the best-known of Rwanda’s primates, but the country offers many other scampering creatures to delight visitors, including chimpanzees, golden monkeys, blue monkeys, and black and white colobus. Chimpanzees are considered the most human-like of primates, and Nyungwe National Park is the premium destination in Rwanda for chimpanzee viewing experiences. Just before daylight, you start a journey into the forests where families of chimps live in a natural habitat.

The effort to find them makes for a wondrous combination of adventure and mystery as you follow the keen leadership of a professional guide, learning the nuances of tracking and locating these fast-moving animals. Each day the groups of chimps move through the forest in search of food before finding a secluded place to build their nests and rest for the night. Fortunately, our guides are experts in locating the chimpanzees, so your chances of seeing them are very good.

Another primate species that thrills our guests is the golden monkey, a colorful species that constantly scampers through the treetops, stopping only to dine upon fruits and leaves. The golden monkeys of Rwanda can be found in the incredible bamboo forests of Volcanoes Park, as well as Gishwati-Mukura Forest in the northwestern part of the country. Unconfirmed sightings have also been reported in Nyungwe Forest.

Experience the Culture of Rwandan People

The three cultures of Rwanda once clashed, largely over socio-economic differences, but today the Tutsi, Hutu, and Twa peoples represent a common commitment to the betterment of all Rwandan people. Through unity, collaboration, and absolute dedication, the people of Rwanda take every measure to ensure that the fabric of their country is never again torn by genocide and other crimes against humanity. Meeting some of the people from these three tribes allows you to see the value of each of their cultures and their pride in the homeland.

Our goal is to provide our guests with authentic cultural engagements with Rwandan people while ensuring the privacy and respect that villagers need to maintain their cultural traditions. The activities allow villagers to share their culture, arts, beliefs, and much more, while providing a source of income that supports education, medical care, and other valuable resources.

At Gorilla Guardians Village, outside Volcanoes National Park, guests are greeted by an amazing presentation featuring traditional drumming and dancing coupled with warm, heartfelt Rwandan hospitality. You visit a replica of the king’s house, learn about traditional medicine, meet children at the local school, and even sample some delicious food and banana beer.

During your visit to Nyungwe National Park, take some time to explore Banda Village, in the heart of the park, and Kitabi Cultural Village, on the eastern edge of the park. With advance preparation, you can even stay overnight in the villages to see another side of day-to-day life here. Families traveling with older children always find the cultural activities in Rwanda to be educational and interesting for the loved ones.

Unique & Unforgettable Beach Escape

Believe it or not, Rwanda is home to one of Central Africa’s best beach escapes! Lake Kivu is the 18th deepest lake on the planet, with a total surface area of 2700 square kilometers at an elevation of 1460 meters. Imagine spending a few days exploring Rwanda’s lush green rain forests, communing with mountain gorillas, tracking chimpanzees, and walking in the footsteps of Rwandan kings, and then traveling a short distance to a sparkling lake and lovely beach for some rejuvenation.

Lake Kivu offers endless possibilities for fun-filled beach days, including sailing, water sports, fishing, beachfront lounging, and much more! The splendid scenery does much to relax you. Explore the lake by way of a charter boat that will take you to one of the lakeside towns. Gisenyi is the most developed, with tranquil accommodations and post-colonial architecture nestled against sandy beaches dotted with swaying palm trees. Pine-covered hills invite guests to visit Kibuye, in the middle of the lakeshore, and Cyangugu, in the south.

Uganda is a magnet for primate enthusiasts. Located in the Eastern part of Africa, this prime destination is among the top countries with the highest numbers of primate species in Africa. Its lush habitats include tropical rain forests, montane forests and bamboo forests are one of the reasons for the wide range of primates.

Some of these species are chimpanzees, Golden monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, black and white Colobus monkeys, baboons, Vervet, blue monkeys to name but a few. Listed below are some of the places to go for primate encounters while on a safari in Uganda;

Kibale Forest National Park

There are other places that inhabit primates in Uganda, but Kibale Forest National Park is referred to as the country’s primate capital. Located in Western Uganda, this Park covers a total area of 560 square kilometers and was declared as a National Park in 1993. The biggest area of Kibale is occupied by the moist evergreen, Savannah grasslands, and semi-deciduous forests.

With its blend of evergreen trees and deciduous around Kanyanchu, Kibale’s vegetation rises up to 55m establishing a semi-closed canopy that protects more than 13 different species of primates. Moreover, Kibale Forest National Park is ranked to harbor the greatest concentration of primates in East Africa. Some of these are Chimpanzees, grey-cheeked Mangabey, Black and White Colobus, Blue monkeys, and Red-tailed monkeys.

The current population in this protected area is approximated to 1000 individuals and part is habituated for tourism in the Kanyanchu area. Actually, chimpanzee tracking is the main reason for most trips arranged to this Park in western Uganda.

Other than primates, this park plays host to over 325 bird species including forest and water birds. This makes it a perfect getaway for those who seek a mix of primate watching and birding. Some of the birds common in Kibale include green breasted pitta, white-bellied crested flycatchers, woodland warbler, and orange tufted sunbird.

Budongo Forest Reserve

Seated atop the Albertine Rift part of the Great Rift Valley, Budongo is simply described as a medium-altitude, semi-deciduous, and moist tropical rain forest. It is part of the Murchison Falls conservation area and covers a total area of 825 square kilometers of which 430 square kilometers is a continuous forest.

This forest was under strict protection by the King of Bunyoro until it was gazetted as a reserve in 1932. Budongo forest is currently one of the protected areas in Uganda that boast rich biodiversity that consists of nine primate species including chimpanzees, 280 butterflies, and 24 species of small mammals.

About 600 individuals of Chimpanzee primates call Budongo home although a small community is habituated for tracking excursions. The community for tracking is composed of 80 individuals and is common most of the days except in the dry season when they tend to move into the forest in search of food.

Other primates that breathe life in the Budongo forest are red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, Black and white colobus, grey checked mangabeys, and olive baboons.

Adding to primates, the reserve boasts over 360 birds and 465 plant species including the Mahogany trees that can grow up to 80 meters. Some of the common birds in this protected area are chestnut crowned Eremomera, Dusky long-tailed cuckoo, Black-headed paradise flycatcher and chocolate-backed kingfisher.

Kalinzu Wildlife Reserve

With its large communities of Chimpanzee primates, Kalinzu forest is ranked to be the second-best place to meet with Chimps if not Kibale Forest National Park. It is a great stopover for those who are heading to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You can as well connect to Kalinzu from Queen and the drive takes about 40 minutes.

Over 320 chimps are recorded in the reserve, but only 50 are habituated and fully approved for tracking. The session usually takes about 3-4 hours and includes walks through steep slopes and valleys, therefore physical fitness is highly required. There are two sessions on offer (morning and afternoon sessions).

The morning session starts at 8:00 am and the afternoon session starts at 3:00 pm. Sometimes these chimps are not welcoming to strangers, that’s why a ranger guide is assigned to lead the group of trackers. During the tracking, you are also exposed to other primates and various species of birds.

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Established to provide a home to the rescued and orphaned chimpanzees, Ngamba is a paradise for primate lovers. It is located on an island that is part of the Koome group of Islands.

Ngamba Chimp Sanctuary covers a large part that consists of tropical rainforests, grasslands, and swamps. Since it is located on an island, you can only get there by boat or plane. This notable locality treats visitors with a number of captivating activities such as chimpanzee feeding, caregiving, and bird watching.

Kyambura gorge

With its inviting scenery, the Kyambura gorge is amongst the best places to see Chimpanzees in Uganda. It is home to a plethora of primate species although most travelers visit this area for Chimps. Kyambura gorge is part of Queen and a stunning spot that is rarely anywhere else in Uganda.

It was established mainly to act as a buffer zone for animals that come to the gorge for water in the dry season. Chimpanzees in this area tend to hide and a deep walk into the forest reveals more of other wildlife species that inhabit the gorge. Some of these species are birds, primates like baboons, vervet, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and more.

Are you planning for your budget gorilla tours in Rwanda the land of thousand hills and thinking of mountain gorillas? We are here to help you to have a very affordable tour in this country even though the Rwanda Development Board has increased the gorilla permit from US$750 to US$1500 per person. We help our travelers to either go on wildlife tours in Akagera National Park with chimpanzee trekking in the Nyungwe Forest National Park and also if you travel during low season in November every year we can secure for you a discounted gorilla permit, and for those coming before in Rwanda for conference and seminars we can to acquire for you a discounted permit.

This safari trip takes you to Nyungwe National Park a primate capital in Rwanda located south west of Kigali to trek the cheerful chimpanzees and then we move to the most two attractive parks in Democratic Republic of Congo in Virunga National Park and Kahuzi Biega National Park for mountain and Eastern lowland gorilla experience and climbing mount Nyiragongo.

On arrival in Kigali, you are met and then drive south to Nyungwe Forest. The drive can take around 6-7 hours on roads that vary in quality. Traditional villages and rolling hills form the backdrop of this drive and as you enter Nyungwe Forest, the scenery changes again as you enter what many consider to be one of the most beautiful forests in the country and the largest single tract of montane forest remaining anywhere in East or Central Africa.

With over 13 different species of primates found here, including L’Hoest’s monkey and vervet monkey, it is still the chimpanzees who take the starring role. The birding here is also beautiful, with over 300 species and 26 endemics, along with 120 species of butterfly and the occasional, ever-changing chameleon hiding in the bushes. The forest is also home to Rwenzori Colobus monkeys including a four hundred-strong semi-habituated group thought to be the largest troop of arboreal primates in Africa.

Head out today to search for Rwanda’s other famous cousins, the chimpanzee, in the beautiful Nyungwe forest. After a short briefing from your guide on how to behave when you’re with the chimps, walk through stunning tea plantations, before entering the forest. Nyungwe itself is considered to be one of the most beautiful parks in Rwanda and whilst lying at a lower altitude, it can be very steep and challenging in places.

With an estimated 500 chimpanzees in the forest, the chances of seeing them is 95% and you will hear them shout before you see them, but trekking can take anything from one to four hours. The on-going habituation process gives you a good chance of seeing them but nothing is guaranteed. If you are lucky enough to find them, you will spend one hour watching them play, fight and eat in the atmospheric forest, before retracing your steps back to the lodge.

We then drive from Nyungwe Forest National Park we can to drive towards the Volcanoes National Park via the Gisenyi Lake Kivu and you can relax at the shores of this Lake staying at Discover Guest House and you can enjoy the Dancing Pots of the local communities of Rwanda and after transfer to Volcanoes and here if you cannot afford the $ 1500 USD per person please you can experience the golden monkey tracking, Hike mount Visoke & Karisimbi, Dian Fossey trek, Iby’wacu cultural village and after back to Kigali for your city tour visiting  the Kigali genocide memorials and craft shops like Caplaki shopping villages marking the end of your safari in Rwanda.