Everything you need to know about your Rwanda holiday
Welcome to Discover Africa’s definitive Rwanda holiday guide. From the mountain gorillas in Virungas, to the volcanic peaks and endelss successions of steep cultivated mountains that have led to it being dubbed ‘The Switzerland of Africa’.

Highlights of Rwanda

Travelling to Rwanda
Western Rwanda
Rwanda’s main tourist attractions are concentrated in the far west of the country, and are mostly associated with the Albertine Rift, the well-watered arm of the Rift Valley that runs along the Congolese borders with Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. The dominant geographic features of western Rwanda are Lake Kivu, a vast inland sea set on the Rift Valley floor, and the range of magnificent volcanic mountains known as the Virungas. Further south lie two important relicts of the lush montane forest that once covered most of the Albertine Rift escarpment: the immense Nyungwe Forest National Park, which extends over an area of 1,015km², and the altogether more modestly proportioned Gishwati-Mukura National Park, which was gazetted in 2016.
The forests of the Albertine Rift are some of the most ancient anywhere in Africa, since they were unaffected by the drier conditions that afflicted many lower-lying forests during the last ice age. As a result they support a large number of species that occur nowhere else in the world and are generally referred to as Albertine Rift Endemics. The most celebrated of these local specials is of course the mountain gorilla, whose total global population of around 1,000 individuals is split between the Virungas and one other mountain range in the Albertine Rift. Other primates endemic to the Albertine Rift include golden monkey, L’Hoest’s monkey and Ruwenzori colobus, all of which are quite easily seen in western Rwanda. In addition, all but 10 of the 37 bird species regarded to be Albertine Rift Endemics can be seen in Nyungwe Forest.
Lake Kivu - Highlights of Western Rwanda
The spectacular Volcanoes National Park is Africa’s premier gorilla-tracking destination. It protects the Rwandan portion of the Virunga Mountains, a chain of steep forest-swathed volcanoes that run along the border with Uganda and the DR Congo. Home to a dozen habituated gorilla groups, for which a total of 96 tracking permits are issued daily, this scenic park also offers a range of other exciting activities. These include tracking golden monkeys in the bamboo zone, a morning walk to Dian Fossey’s tomb at the abandoned Karisoke Research Camp, a day hike up 3,711m Mount Bisoke to see its beautiful crater lake, and an overnight ascent to the 4,507m summit of Africa’s sixth highest mountain Karisimbi.
Separated from each other by an ancient 1km-wide lava flow, Lakes Burera and Ruhondo are both erratically-shaped freshwater bodies whose shores follows the contours of the tall steep hills that enclose them. The lakes and their environs offer some fine birdwatching, whether you explore by car or boat, and the setting is particularly dramatic at sunrise and sunset, with the perfect volcanic cones of the Virungas standing tall on the western horizon.
The main urban tourist hub in the northwest, the medium-sized town of Musanze (formerly Ruhengeri) is a popular base for gorilla tracking in nearby Volcanoes National Park and visits to Lakes Burera and Ruhondo. Other activities include canoe trips on the Mukungwa River, birding in the pretty Buhanga Eco-Park, and a two-hour guided tour through the impressive Musanze Caves.
Canopy Walk, Nyungwe Forest One of East Africa’s most important biodiversity hotspots, the 1,015km² Nyungwe Forest National Park offers visitors to track a habituated group of chimpanzees and hike to East Africa’s only suspended canopy walkway. A dozen other primate species are present, while a checklist of 310 bird species includes 27 Albertine Rift Endemics and numerous other rarities.
The closest thing to a seaside resort in landlocked Rwanda is the pretty port of Rubavu, which lies on the northern shore of Lake Kivu, 60km from Volcanoes National Park. Situated on the floor of the Albertine Rift, Kivu is one of the world’s 20 deepest and 20 most voluminous freshwater bodies, and the lovely lakeshore setting of Rubavu is overlooked by the the distinctive outline of Nyiragongo, the most active of the Virunga volcanoes.
The recently gazetted Gishwati-Mukura National Park protects two relict forest patches that support chimpanzee, L’Hoest’s monkey, golden monkey and 120 bird species.
- Practical information
All the main attractions in Western Rwanda are connected to the capital Kigali, and to each other, by a good network of surfaced roads. Most visitors arrange to be driven around in a 4x4 on what is effectively a private safari, but public transport is available. Either way, distances are not that great, so you can get between any two points of interest in less than a day.
Luxury lodges are available at Nyungwe ad in the vicinity of Musanze and Volcanoes National Park. Decent upmarket accommodation can also be found at Rubavu on Lake Kivu. At the budget to midrange end of the scale, there is a lot more choice at these places, as well as in Musanze Rusizi and Karongi.
- Most activities in Nyungwe and Volcanoes National Park can be arranged on the spot, but the number of chimpanzee and gorilla tracking permits is limited, so book as far in advance as possible.
- Highlights of Western Rwanda
Central and Eastern Rwanda
Characterised by rolling green hills terraced with cultivation, Eastern and Central Rwanda is not so scenically spectacular as the western part of the country and it supports far less endemic wildlife than the Albertine Rift. That said, the region does incorporate the national capital Kigali, the starting point of most extended explorations of Rwanda, as well as the important cultural sites of Nyanza and Huye. Fort many, the biggest drawcard of eastern Rwanda is the country’s only Big Five safari destination, the beautiful and increasingly well-stocked Akagera National Park.
- Highlights of the Central and Eastern Rwanda
The capital Kigali is a modern and well-tended city that sprawls across a series of hills and valley in the centre of Rwanda. It is the sole air gateway to this small country, and lies within a half-day drive of most sites of interest including Volcanoes, Nyungwe and Akagera national parks. Its outstanding point of interest for visitors is the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which commemorates the victims of the tragic events of 1994.
Kigali’s skyline | Credit: The Independent The Rwandan counterpart to the renowned safari reserves of Kenya and Tanzania, Akagera National Park offers the opportunity to see all the Big Five - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and black rhino - in a beautiful hilly landscape that slopes down an extensive network of wetlands fed by the Akagera River. In addition to offering great all-round game viewing, Akagera is a wonderful destination for birders, with a checklist of 480 species that includes the likes of shoebill, rufous-belled heron, Ross’s turaco, red-faced barbet and papyrus gonolek.
Situated to the south of Akagera National Park, Rusumo Falls is a voluminous rush of white water formed by the Akagera River as it surges below the bridge between the Rwandan and Tanzanian border posts. In 1994, the bridge at Rusumo was the funnel through which an estimated 500,000 Rwandans – half of them within one 24-hour period – fled from their home country to refugee camps in northwest Tanzania.
The small town of Nyakarambi lies in a part of Rwanda famed for its distinctively earthy geometric Imigongo (cow-dung) ‘paintings’, which are mostly used to decorate the interiors of houses. Most of the geometric Imigongo paintings and pottery you see in Kigali originate from the Cooperative Kakira, about 2km south of Nyakarambi, but it’s more fun, and cheaper, to purchase at source.
Lake Nyagafunzo is one of the few substantial expanses of open water in the Rugezi Wetlands, a swampy 80km² headwater of the Nile listed as both a Ramsar Wetland and an Important Bird Area. Boasting a scenic location offering distant views to Mount Muhabura, the lake is best explored by boat, with the main draw for dedicated birders being the rather nondescript Grauer’s rush warbler, a very localised Albertine Rift Endemic. For more generalist visitors, highlights might include grey crowned crane, great white pelican, African spoonbill and breeding colonies of several heron species.
Roughly 60km long but nowhere more than 5km wide, Lake Muhazi is a classic ‘flooded valley’ whose serpentine shape is broken by numerous tendrils along former tributaries. Lined with a few low-key resorts, it supports a rewarding birdlife and an unusually dense population of spotted-necked otter.
Akagera National Park The colonial-era capital of what is now Rwanda, Huye (formerly Butare) is an attractive highland town noted as the site if the country’s oldest university and the National Ethnographic Museum. Capital of the Rwandan monarchy from 1899 until its abolition in 1961, Nyanza Hill is now the site of an informative museum centred on an impressive reconstruction of a traditional thatched domed palace.
Unique Imigongo patterning - Practical information
Kigali is the site of the country’s only international airport, and it is linked to most other attractions in central and eastern Rwanda by good surfaced roads. Public transport runs from Kigali to Huye, Nyanza and Rusumo, but not to Akagera National Park, which is best visited on an organised safari.
Kigali has an excellent selection of accommodation, including several five-star hotels. There is also a good tented camp and lodge in Akagera National Park. Huye has a few adequate midrange hotels. Accommodation elsewhere in the region is more budget oriented.
- Highlights of the Central and Eastern Rwanda

Rwanda’s Top Attractions
Big Five safari holidays in Rwanda
Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s only Big Five destination, which means that it hosts populations of lion, leopard, elephant, black rhino and buffalo. It is also at present a rather underrated safari destination, but rapidly recovering from years neglect following the reintroduction of lions in 2015 and black rhino in 2017. Big Five aside, the park offers great general wildlife viewing, with the likes of Maasai giraffe, Burchell’s zebra, warthog, olive baboon, vervet monkey and 11 species of antelope are all regularly seen on game drives. Easily explored by boat, the lakes of Akagera also host plenty of hippos and crocs, and a wide variety of waterbirds including the iconic shoebill.
Birding safari holiday in Rwanda
The wild expanses of Tanzania offers the ultimate paradise for birding enthusiasts. While there’s plenty of birdwatching opportunities in Tanzania, you will get a wonderful experience being guided by professionals. The huge list of bird species to be found here make bird watching safaris in Tanzania the most sought after activity among bird lovers.
Ruwenzori turaco | Credit: Rwanda Tourism Rwanda is one of Africa’s most alluring birding destinations, with in excess of 700 species recorded in an area half the size of Scotland. Birdwatching is rewarding everywhere in the country, and a well-planned two-week itinerary is likely to result in a trip list of 300-plus species.
A notable feature of its diverse avifauna is the presence of 27 of the 37 forest and swamp-associated species regarded to be endemic to the the eastern and western escarpments of the Albertine Rift, Many of these species can only otherwise be seen in logistically inaccessible parts if the DR Congo and one or two sites in Uganda.
Double-toothed barbet Outside of the Congo, Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park supports the world’s greatest diversity of Albertine Rift Endemics, a list that includes such stunners as handsome francolin, Ruwenzori turaco, red-faced woodland warbler, collared apalis, mountain masked apalis, regal sunbird, blue-headed sunbird, purple-breasted sunbird, dusky crimsonwing and strange weaver. With around 310 species recorded, Nyungwe is also strong when it comes to more widespread forest species (there’s no better place, for instance, to see the astonishing great blue turaco) and it is well serviced by birding trails and knowledgeable local guides.
The ideal complement to Nyungwe is Akagera National Park, whose checklist of 480 species includes most aquatic, savanna and grassland species that occur with Rwanda, along with a good variety of raptors. Boat trips on Akagera’s Lake Ihema often throw up the likes of African fish eagle, African darter, open-bill stork, African jacana, papyrus gonolek and rufous-bellied heron. Conspicuous savannah and woodland birds include Ross’s turaco, double-toothed barbet, lilac-breasted roller and red-faced barbet. Akagera’s Lake Birengero is also quite a reliable site for the enigmatic and eagerly sought shoebill.
A romantic getaway in Rwanda
Rwanda would have to rank as a pretty offbeat choice for a honeymoon or romantic holiday destination. That said, active outdoors-oriented couples might find it an ideal place to combine activities such as gorilla tracking, mountain hiking and game drives with the sort of exclusive luxury associated with Africa’s finest tented camps and game lodges. Lake Kivu is a passable and very pretty beach destination but at this stage it doesn’t really cater specifically to honeymooners and the like.
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge Walking safari holidays in Rwanda
Rwanda is well-suited to organised walking holidays as all the most popular and iconic activities are undertaken on foot. This includes gorilla tracking and hikes the 4,507m Mount Karisimbi and the 3,711m Mount Bisoke in the Virunga mountains, as well as chimp tracking and other forest walks in Nyungwe National Park. For dedicated walkers, the 227km Congo-Nile Trail, which runs roughly parallel to the eastern shore of Lake Kivu, and takes ten days to complete on foot, is highly recommended.
If you plan on walking a lot, bring suitable footwear and a few pairs of thick socks. A walking stick can be useful on the steep slopes if the Virungas and Nyungwe.
A photography safari holiday in Rwanda
Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano has remarkably interesting magma formations Rwanda offers some superb opportunities for wildlife and scenic opportunities. The mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park are wonderful laidback photographic subject and the speeds attainable by modern cameras mean you would have to be very unlucky not to come back with some awesome pictures, even in gloomy conditions.
Photography is best done from either a private vehicle or at the very least a vehicle of like-minded individuals who won’t move around at critical moments and who are also happy to be out before sunrise and back after dark. Photographic safaris tend to be most successful when you have control over the vehicle and where it goes. A guide who is a photographer him- or herself and who has guided photographers before makes a big difference in terms of positioning the vehicle correctly, getting the light right, and not wanting to head back to the lodge or camp simply because it’s breakfast time. If you can afford it, then it is definitely worth booking a private vehicle – for you (and your fellow photographers) – to ensure that there is no conflict of interests and that you are the master of your own photographic destiny. Things are considerably easier outside of the parks and game reserves where dangerous wildlife and safety are less of an issue, allowing one to explore and photograph on foot and at your own pace.
The more restless chimpanzees of Nyungwe National Park tend to be less cooperative photographic subjects, but the same national park’s monkeys are often very easy to photograph in situ. Finally, a safari in Akagera National Park offers the opportunity to photograph the so-called Big Five (lion, leopard, black rhino, elephant and buffalo) along with the likes of giraffe, zebra, hippo and various antelope and birds.
Zebra always photograph so well against the backdrop of the African savannah Wildlife photography requires faster and higher-magnifications lenses than most other subjects. For gorillas, a 70-200 or similar lens should be more than adequate, possibly supplemented by a 28-70 or similar for wider angle pics. Elsewhere, a zoom that goes up to 300 is ideal, possibly supplemented by a a fixed 400 or 500 lens, with a fastest f-stop of 4 or better 2.8.
A tripod can be useful to stabilise your camera in forests and for scenic shot. If you visit Akagera, bring a beanbag upon which to rest your lens to minimise the risk of camera shake; to save weight you can carry it empty to Rwanda and fill up with rice, beans or a similar instance after you arrive.
Rwanda’s mountainous scenery makes for great scenic shots. The perfect volcanic outlines of the Virungas are highly photogenic, especially day dusk and dawn, as are lakes such as Kivu and Burera. If you want to photograph people in Rwanda, it is important culturally to ask permission first.
An adventure holiday in Rwanda
Credit: Bloomberg Rwanda is a great destination for adventurous travellers. Gorilla tracking in the Virunga mountains is one of the world’s most thrilling - and physically demanding - wildlife encounters. More hardcore still are the steep day or overnight hikes to four of the volcanic Virunga peaks, most notably the 4,507m Mount Karisimbi, which is not only the tallest point in Rwanda but also the sixth-highest mountain in Africa, and the 3,711m Mount Bisoke, which is topped by a beautiful crater lake and slopes swathed in giant lobelias. A diverse selection of hiking trails also traverses the densely forested slopes Nyungwe National Park, while Akagera National Park ranks among Africa’s least crowded Big Fave safari destinations.

When to visit Rwanda?
- January
Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.
Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.
January falls into the so-called short dry season and most parts of the country receives a medium precipitation (around 50-100mm).
January is a good month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, and for other hikes in Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, since conditions tend to dry out underfoot as the short rains subside, and the odds of being drenched by a shower are relatively low.
Because it falls into the short dry season, January is a good time to visit Akagera National Park.
For birdwatchers, resident species are boosted by a large number of Palaearctic migrants between November and April.
- February
Akagera National Park in Rwanda Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.
Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.
February falls towards the so-called short dry season and most parts of the country receives a medium to high precipitation (around 80-100mm).
February is one of the best months for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, and for other hikes in Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, since conditions tend to be dry underfoot and the odds of being drenched by a shower are relatively low.
For birdwatchers, resident species are boosted by a large number of Palaearctic migrants between November and April.
- March
March marks the start of the main rainy season and most parts of the country Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.
Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.
March marks the start of the main rainy season and most parts of the country receive rainfall in excess of 100mm precipitation.
March is not an optimum month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, since conditions tend to be wet underfoot and there are frequent showers. That said, plenty of people do track gorillas in March and you’ve a better chance of a last-minute permit. Climbing the volcanic peaks of the Virungas will be tough at this time of year.
For birdwatchers, March and April are probably the best months to visit Rwanda, partly because resident birds are boosted by a large number of Palaearctic migrants, but also because it is the main breeding season, and several species are at their most colourful and conspicuous.
- April
April is the middle of the main rainy season and the wettest month in many parts of the country. Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.
Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.
April is the middle of the main rainy season and the wettest month in many parts of the country. Monthly rainfall is around 150-200mm.
April is possibly the worst month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, since conditions tend to be very wet underfoot and there are showers most days. That said, plenty of people do track gorillas in April and you’ve a better chance of a last-minute permit. Climbing the volcanic peaks of the Virungas will be tough at this time of year.
For birdwatchers, March and April are probably the best months to visit Rwanda, partly because resident birds are boosted by a large number of passage migrants, but also because it is the main breeding season, and several species are at their most colourful and conspicuous.
- May
May falls within the main rainy season and monthly rainfall in most parts of the country is in excess of 150-200mm Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.
Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.
May falls within the main rainy season and monthly rainfall in most parts of the country is in excess of 150-200mm.
May ranks among the worst month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, since conditions tend to be very wet underfoot and there are showers most days. That said, plenty of people do track gorillas in April and you’ve a better chance of a last-minute permit. Climbing the volcanic peaks of the Virungas will be tough at this time of year.
For birdwatchers whose main interest is non-migrant species, May is a good month to visit Rwanda, because it falls into the main breeding season, and several species are at their most colourful and conspicuous.
The Kigali International Peace Marathon is held every May and starts and ends at Kigali’s Amahoro National Stadium.
- June
Wildlife in Rwanda is incredible Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.
Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.
June marks the start of the long dry season and monthly rainfall in most parts of the country is relatively low (below 50mm).
June is an excellent month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, and for other hikes in Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, since conditions tend to be dry underfoot and the odds of being drenched by a shower are as low as it gets in a rainforest.
Because it falls into the long dry season, June to August is the best time to visit Akagera National Park.
A highlight of the calendar at Volcanoes National Park is the annual Kwita Izina (Gorilla Naming) Ceremony held every June, when all baby gorillas born over the previous 12 months are given names.
- July
Highlands and medium-altitude regions are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night. Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.
Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.
July falls within the long dry season and monthly rainfall in most parts of the country is low (well below 50mm).
July is an excellent month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, and for other hikes in Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, since conditions tend to be dry underfoot and the odds of being drenched by a shower are as low as it gets in a rainforest.
Because it falls into the long dry season, June to August is the best time to visit Akagera National Park.
First held in 2014, the Ubumuntu Arts Festival is a music and dance dominated four-day event held in the amphitheatre at Kigali Genocide Memorial every July 2018. It attracts acts from all over Africa and further afield.
- August
August is a dry month but the short rains may start towards the end of the month. Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.
Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.
August is a dry month but the short rains may start towards the end of the month. Monthly rainfall in most parts of the country is low (under 50mm).
August is an excellent month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, and for other hikes in Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, since conditions tend to be dry underfoot and the odds of being drenched by a shower are as low as it gets in a rainforest.
Because it falls into the long dry season, June to August is the best time to visit Akagera National Park.
- September
September falls within the short rainy season Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.
Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.
September falls within the short rainy season and monthly rainfall in most parts of the country is moderate to high (above 100mm).
September is a good month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, and for other hikes in Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, since conditions still tend to be relatively dry underfoot at the start of the short rains, but expect frequent showers.
One of Kigali’s premier cultural events since its inauguration in 2005 is the Rwanda Film Festival, which is now held every September and features the work of promising local filmmakers as well an international selection of Africa-themed movies.
- October
October falls within the short rainy season Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.
Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.
October falls within the short rainy season and monthly rainfall in most parts of the country is high (100mm or higher).
October is not an optimum month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, since conditions tend to be quite wet underfoot and there are frequent showers. That said, plenty of people do track gorillas in October and you’ve a better chance of a last-minute permit. Climbing the volcanic peaks of the Virungas will be tough at this time of year.
- November
Rwanda is a great birding destination Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.
Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.
November is the peak of the short rainy season and monthly rainfall in most parts of the country is high (100mm or higher).
November is not an optimum month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, since conditions tend to be quite wet underfoot and there are frequent showers. That said, plenty of people do track gorillas in November and you’ve a better chance of a last-minute permit. Climbing the volcanic peaks of the Virungas will be tough at this time of year.
For birdwatchers, resident species are boosted by a large number of Palaearctic migrants between November and April.
- December
December is not an optimum month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees Highlands and medium-altitude regions, for instance Kigali, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, are warm to hot by day, and comfortably cool by night.
Low-lying Akagera National Park is hot by day, and warm by night.
December falls within the short rainy season and monthly rainfall in most parts of the country is high (100mm or higher).
December is not an optimum month for tracking gorillas and chimpanzees, since conditions tend to be quite wet underfoot and there are frequent showers, though this is less of a risk towards the end of the month. That said, plenty of people do track gorillas in December and you’ve a better chance of a last-minute permit. Climbing the volcanic peaks of the Virungas will be tough at this time of year.
For birdwatchers, resident species are boosted by a large number of Palaearctic migrants between November and April.

What type of traveller are you?
A honeymoon in Rwanda
Comoran Lodge, Lake Kivu Rwanda is well suited to active couples whose idea of shared quality time entails forest hikes, game drives, engaging in cultural activities, and so on. It is not particularly suited to quiet romantic beach getaways, though lovely Lake Kivu provides a fair substitute for a bona fide beach resort.
- Highlights
The top highlight for couples - as with most other travellers to Rwanda - is tracking gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. Other highlights include chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe National Park and safari activities in Akagera. For very active travellers, the hikes up Mount Bisoke and the other Virunga Peaks in Volcanoes National Park are fantastic, but hard work. The beaches of Lake Kivu offer couples the opportunity to unwind for a few days after all the hiking and safari activity.
Most couples are happy to spend plenty of time alone together, but it can be fun to break things up with the odd night at a more sociable venue such as a backpacker hostel or intimate private lodge.
- Highlights
Solo travelling through Rwanda
Rwanda is well suited to solo travel. Independent travellers using public transport will find that locals are very friendly and keen to engage in conversation with single foreigners. On more upmarket visits, all the national parks are serviced by the sort of small exclusive tented camps and lodges that encourage interaction between guests and offers a hand-on personalised service.
- Highlights
The top highlight for solo travellers is tracking gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. This is undertaken in groups of up to eight people, none of whom might necessarily know each other in advance, so it is straightforward for solo travellers to participate. Other highlights include chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe National Park and safari activities in Akagera.
Sociable solo travellers might think about joining a group tours, Failing that, try to stay at lodges and camps that offer all-inclusive packages with group activities and encourage guests to eat together at one large table.
For younger or more adventurous travellers, there are backpacker hostel in Kigali and outside Musanze (near Volcanoes National Park) with communal areas where it is easy to meet other travellers, and to put together groups to go on activities together.
There are no risks specific to travelling in Rwanda, but single women should apply the usual commonsense precautions - i.e. don’t walk alone after dark - when exploring cities and larger towns such as Kigali.
- Highlights
A family holiday in Rwanda
Credit: Mini Travellers Rwanda is not a particularly family-friendly destination. It has no attraction that caters specifically to youngsters, and gorilla tracking, the most popular activity for adults, is off-limits to children aged less than 15. In addition, the threat of malaria might be deterrent for families with young children. Most children will enjoy a few days on safari in Akagera National Park or hanging around the beaches of Lake Kivu.
- Highlights
The highlight for most travellers is tracking gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, followed by chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe National Park. This is true for families too, provided that all members are aged 15 or older, and reasonably fit and outdoorsy. Children will enjoy safaris in Akagera National Park, which hosts all the Big Five and offers boat trips as an alternative to game drives.
- Practical information
Do not enter malarial areas with children not yet old enough to safely take prophylactic drugs or be able to clearly communicate any malarial symptoms to their parents.
Parents of younger children should check whether their hotel offers babysitting services and/or activities suited to children.
Children must be aged 15 or more to participate in gorilla and chimp tracking activities, along with most other forest hikes in Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks.
- Highlights

Rwanda is, quite simply, the best place in Africa to engage in what is arguably the world’s single most thrilling wildlife encounter: tracking mountain gorillas through the steep bamboo- and forest-swathed slopes of the Virunga Mountains. No two encounters are ever the same, but whether it’s a 200kg silverback chilling out on the forest trail, a curious mother staring questioningly into your eyes, or a youngster clumsily attempting to climb a liana, coming face to face with these most gentle of giants is invariably an awesome experience.
Mountain gorillas are the raison d’être for most tourist visits to Rwanda. But this small central African country has far more to offer outdoor enthusiasts. Scenically, there is the mountain-ringed inland sea that is Lake Kivu, the perfect volcanic cones of the Virungas rising to 4,000-plus metres above it, and the endless succession of steep cultivated mountains that have led to it being dubbed ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’ and ‘The Switzerland of Africa’.
As for wildlife, the variety is startling. The Virunga Mountains are also home to the delightful golden monkey, while Nyungwe National Park - protecting an astonishing 1,000km2 of near-pristine montane rainforest - supports a full 13 primate species, ranging from a habituated community of chimpanzees to the lovely L’Hoest’s and Rwenzori colobus monkeys. Rwanda’s national checklist of 700-plus bird species, in an area smaller than that of its former coloniser Belgium, includes the 27 super-localised Albertine Rift Endemics protected in Nyungwe, along with such iconic species as shoebill, Ross’s turaco, great blue turaco and papyrus gonolek. And when it comes to more conventional safaris, the Big Five are all now protected - and quite easily seen - in the hilly savannah of what must surely be Africa’s most rapidly resurgent protected area: Akagera National Park.

Rwanda is a small country, it lacks for a bona fide beach destination, and its rather limited circuit of major attractions can easily be explored fully over the course of a standard-length holiday. In other words, it doesn’t attract a great deal of repeat visitors, the main exception (apart from business travellers, or those with family connections) being primate junkies who return to see the gorillas again, and possible again.


What type of traveller are you?
Budget safari holiday in Rwanda
Options for budget travellers are limited. Rwanda has consciously implemented attract a low-volume, high-cost tourism strategy that reflects the scarcity value of its main attraction: mountain gorillas. Tracking gorillas in Rwanda costs more than twice as much as it does in neighbouring Uganda, and other activities in Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks are also relatively costly. Akagera National Park and Lake Kivu are better geared to travellers on a budget, as are the towns and cities, but it seems fair to say that few people would select Rwanda as a holiday destination unless their primary interest was gorillas and other forest wildlife.
Try our African Safari Cost CalculatorAffordable holiday in Rwanda
Hiking in Virunga Credit: Beard and Curly Rwanda has a low-volume, high-cost tourism strategy, and tracking gorillas in particular can hardly be referred to as offering good value-for-money when it costs more than twice as much as it does in neighbouring Uganda. Other activities in Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks are somewhat more affordable: the hikes up the three main Virunga peaks represent far better value than a Kilimanjaro climb, for instance, and chimpanzee tracking is also quite reasonably priced. Eating out is generally quite inexpensive unless you actively seek upmarket restaurants. Wine is almost all imported and tends to be disproportionately expensive compared to local beers.
Try our African Safari Cost CalculatorLuxury safari holiday in Rwanda
Credit: One&Only Nyungwe House Rwanda now offers good amenities to people seeking a luxury holiday. The three main national parks are al serviced by exclusive world-class lodges and/or tented camps comparable to the very best in the likes of Kenya and Tanzania. There are also rather luxurious hotels in the capital Kigali and the popular lake port of Rubavu. Distances between main points of interest are relatively short so there isn’t much in the way if a domestic flight network, but the roads are mostly very good, so the country can comfortable be explored by car or 4x4. Rwanda is not, however, a resorty kind of destination and it is best suited to mobile and outdoorsy travellers. No matter how luxurious your accommodation and transport, gorilla tracking and other activities in Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Park come with a high chance slipping on muddy footpaths, being caught in a tropical downpour, and/or having to clamber through dense or low vegetation.
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- Travelling to Rwanda
Almost all visitors from abroad fly. All flights currently land at Kibale International Airport, which lies less than 10km from central Kigali. Taxis are available to/from the city centre. Work on the new Bugesera International Airport, 40km south of the capital, commenced in August 2017. The national airline RwandAir operates intercontinental flights connecting Kigali to Brussels, London Gatwick, Mumbai, Dubai and Guangzhou. A rapidly expanding list of African destinations includes Johannesburg (South Africa), Nairobi and Mombasa (Kenya), Dar es Salaam, Mwanza and Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Entebbe (Uganda), Bujumbura (Burundi), Juba (South Sudan), Accra (Ghana), Lusaka (Zambia), Harare (Zimbabwe), Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo), Libreville (Gabon) and Lagos (Nigeria). Other operators that fly directly to Kigali include Brussels Airlines, Ethiopian Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM, South African Airways, Turkish Airlines and Qatar. It is possible to enter Rwanda overland from the neighbouring countries of Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the DR Congo, but you’d only be likely to do so as part of an extended overland trip through Africa or if you were doing a multi-country safari.
- Getting around in Rwanda
Most people explore Rwanda on a bespoke safari or tour arranged through any of innumerable international and local operators. Trunk roads are surfaced and well maintained, so self-drive is an option, provided you have a valid international license and are prepared to adjust to relatively reckless local road mores. Driving is on the right side of the road, as in the USA and mainland Europe, which may require some adjustment for drivers accustomed to driving on the left. Most major attractions, including Nyungwe, Volcanoes National Park and the various ports on Lake Kivu, are more or less accessible on public transport, which generally consists of minibuses that leave when full and tend to quite recklessly driven. An exception is Akagera National Park, which isn’t accessible on public transport.
- Wildlife in Rwanda
Rwanda has three main wildlife destinations, Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park and Akagera National Park, each of which host a quite different fauna to the others. Birdwatching aside, wildlife viewing opportunities outside these national parks are limited.
Giant forest hog can reach a length of between 1,3 and 2,1 metres Volcanoes National Park is best known for its population of several hundred mountain gorillas. This includes a dozen habituated groups for which a total of 96 tracking permits are issued daily. Other wildlife includes the golden monkey (also endemic to the Albertine Rift Endemic), elephant, buffalo, giant forest hog, bushpig, bushbuck, and black-fronted duiker. Around 200 bird species have been recorded, a list that includes at least 16 Albertine Rift Endemics, but logistically it is not an easy site for birdwatching.
The potto is an unusual Rwanda native Nyungwe Forest National Park is the most biodiverse site in Rwanda. It protects at least 1,050 plant species, along with 85 mammal, 310 bird, 32 amphibian and 38 reptile species. Thirteen primate species are present: chimpanzee, Ruwenzori colobus, L’Hoest’s monkey, silver monkey, owl-faced monkey, red-tailed monkey, Dent’s monkey, crowned monkey, vervet monkey, olive baboon, potto and at least two species of bushbaby. The only member if the Big five extant in Nyungwe is leopard, but they are very infrequently observed. Antelope include bushbuck and three types of duiker. The tree hyrax is a seldom-seen guinea-pig-like animal whose blood-curdling screech is often heard at night. Nyungwe is one of the top forest ornithological sites in Africa and a must-visit for dedicated birdwatchers.
Akagera National Park is a more conventional Africa savannah reserve where all the Big Five might be seen. Buffaloes and elephants are most common, but leopards are observed with increasing frequency on night drives, and lion and black rhino - respectively reintroduced in 2015 and 2017 - are also quickly growing in visibility. Other wildlife includes Maasai giraffe, Burchell’s zebra, warthog, olive baboon, vervet monkey, hippo, impala, Defassa waterbuck, bushbuck, common duiker, eland, topi, Bohor reedbuck, oribi, roan antelope, klipspringer and the secretive semi-aquatic sitatunga. Spotted hyena, genet, civet, white-tailed mongoose, bushbaby, elephant-shrew and various species of owl and nightjar are often seen on night drives. Around 480 bird species have been recorded in Akagera, and it is particularly strong on raptors, waterbirds, and savannah and woodland species.
- Languages in Rwanda
Unusually for Africa, Rwanda is essentially a mono-linguistic state, with the first language of practically all citizens being Kinyarwanda. In addition, most Rwandans speak a little of at least one international language. Historically, French was the most widely recognised European language, thanks to almost 50 years of Belgian colonisation. These days, however, English probably has the greater presence, partly because so many long-term exiles who returned after the genocide were educated in Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania, partly because it replaced French as the international language of education in 2009. In rural areas, KiSwahili, a coastal Bantu language that has come to serve as the lingua franca of East Africa, is still more widely understood than either English or French. From a visitor’s perspective, it is pretty easy to get around in either English or French, both of which are recognised as an official language alongside Kinyarwanda, but English is undoubtedly the primary language of the tourist industry.
- Is Rwanda safe?
From a tourist’s perspective, Rwanda ranks as one of the most crime-free countries in Africa. Kigali is a very safe city, even at night, provided you follow the same kind of commonsense rules - avoid walking alone in unlit dark alleys, or overt displays of wealth - you would in any large city. Ideally you should leave any expensive jewellery at home, and avoid leaving valuables such as cash, mobile phones and electronic devices lying around openly in your hotel room. Padlocking your luggage will not prevent a determined thief from slashing it open, but it is a strong deterrent to casual light fingers. It’s a good idea to carry a scan and/or electronic version of all important travel documents, in case they are lost or stolen. You might also want to email all such backups to a webmail address you can access anywhere on the road.
- Changing money in Rwanda
The Rwandan franc (RWF) trades against most international currencies at a favourable rate. Major international credit/debit cards (for instance Master and Visa) can be used to draw local currency at 24-hour ATMs in most cities and towns, but not in the national parks. Many vendors do not accept cards, however, so it’s a good idea to carry a few hundred dollars’ worth of hard currency cash as a fall back. The Euro is the most readily accepted hard currency bit US dollars and to a lesser extent British pounds sterling are also widely recognised.
- Shopping in Rwanda
Kigali is equipped with a fair selection of well-stocked (but often quite pricey) western-style supermarkets and malls. Shops in smaller towns are less varied and more poorly stocked, but most everyday goods likely to be required by tourists will be available.
A wide range of handicrafts is sold countrywide and there’s great scope for browsing, especially in Kigali. The city’s biggest craft market is the Caplaki handicrafts co-operative, which comprises at least 30 wooden huts and stalls that collectively sell a huge variety of goods - from hand-carvings, weaved items, batik cloth, pottery and the like to semi-precious stones, musical instruments and various novelties.
Other Kigali galleries and outlets worth checking out include the Inema Arts Centre, Ivuka Arts, Niyo Cultural Centre, Association des Artistes Rwanda (ASAR), Amahoro ava Hejuru and the Abien Arts Collective. Throughout the city, you’ll also find street vendors selling most kinds of small handicrafts. Other towns that have a good selection of handicraft outlets include Musanze, Rubavu and to a lesser extent Huye and Karongi.
- Getting around in Rwanda

Travel Advice
- Visa requirements and fees
- All visitors must present a passport upon arrival at their port of entry. This must be valid for at least 6 months after the end of their intended stay, and must have at least one full blank page available for entry and exit stamps.
- Technically, visitors should also have a return or onward ticket, and be able to demonstrate access to sufficient funds to cover day-to-day expenses for the duration of their stay, but these requirements are seldom enforced.
- Most visitors require a visa to enter Rwanda. This includes nationals of practically all European, Asian, Middle Eastern, and North or South American countries, as well as Australia and New Zealand. As of 2018, citizens of all countries can purchase a 30-day single-entry tourist visa on arrival for US$30 at the airport or any land border with no advance application. A 30-day, single-entry visitor e-visa can also be bought in advance through the official website https://irembo.gov.rw/. Multiple-entry and non-tourist visas must be applied for through a Rwandan embassy or high commission abroad.
- An East Africa Tourist Visa, also available online, allows multiple-entry visits to Rwanda, Rwanda and Uganda, but not to Tanzania or Burundi.
- Medical requirements for Rwanda
- The biggest medical threat to visitors to Rwanda is malaria, with the risk of transmission being greatest at lower altitudes and during the rainy season. A variety of oral prophylactics against malaria is available, so before you travel, you should seek up-to-date advice about the most suitable option from a travel clinic or doctor.
- No prophylactic is completely effective, so try to avoid being bitten by the nocturnal Anopheles mosquitoes that transmits the disease. Cover up in the evening, by wearing a long-sleeved shirt, trousers and socks, and apply a good insect repellent clothes to any exposed flesh. When you retire, sleep under a net, or failing that in an air-conditioned room, under a fan, or with a mosquito coil burning.
- Malaria usually manifests within two weeks of being bitten, but can take months, so if you display flu-like symptoms after you get home, get to a doctor and ask to be tested immediately. Travellers with young children or who prefer not to take medication might consider visiting a malaria-free safari destinations elsewhere in Africa.
- Health care in Rwanda
- The public healthcare system exists is underfunded and doesn’t meet international standards. Private medical facilities are also available but are not always to the standard you’d expect in Europe or North America. On the plus side, local doctors are inexpensive and highly experienced when it comes to diagnosing and prescribing appropriate treatment for common tropical diseases such as malaria.
- Medical emergencies in Rwanda
- If no other assistance is at hand, emergency numbers are 111 for the fire department, 112 for ambulances and medical emergencies, 113 for traffic accidents and 999 for the police. Superior private hospitals in Kigali include the King Faisal Hospital (tel: 0252 588888) and Polyclinique du Plateau (tel: 0252 578767 or 0788 301630. A recommended pharmacy is the Pharmacie Conseil (tel: 0252 572374 or 0788 303655.
- Lodges in Rwanda: the dos and don’ts
Never walk unaccompanied after dark in the bush or an unfenced camp or lodge.
Don’t feed the wildlife – not only does it encourage it to become dependent on handouts to survive, but it may also foster problem animals.
Don’t leave cash or other valuables lying around in the room.
Do cover up in the evenings, spray exposed skin with repellent, and sleep under a net or fan to discourage mosquitos and other biting insects.
Don’t freak out if you find lizards in your room or frogs in the basin – they are not vermin but rather harmless contributors towards insect control.
Don’t make any unnecessary noise when wild animals are in the vicinity, or you might scare them off.
Do carry sunblock and a hat on all game drives.
Do assume that any large animal that enters camp is wild – respect its space and give it a wide berth rather than walking up to it to be photographed with it and chasing it away or provoking attack.
Tipping is not standard at eateries or bars catering mainly to a local clientele, but that doesn’t mean a small something won’t be appreciated by the recipient.
Tourist-oriented restaurants operate on a similar basis to those in Europe. A 10% tip to the waiter is standard, depending on the quality of service.
Hotel porters usually expect a tip equivalent to around US$1 per item of luggage.
Tip in local currency where possible; it may be quite difficult for locals to exchange small amounts of hard currency into Rwanda francs.
It is customary to tip guides on national park activities such as gorilla tracking or hikes. If you require a porter, ask your guide about the fee and add a small tip if they perform satisfactorily.
In game lodges that offer guided activities, drivers and guides should be tipped. Many such lodges have guideline in the rooms; failing that ask management for a directive.
- Rwanda food and tipping
Tipping is not standard at eateries or bars catering mainly to a local clientele, but that doesn’t mean a small something won’t be appreciated by the recipient.
Tourist-oriented restaurants operate on a similar basis to those in Europe. A 10% tip to the waiter is standard, depending on the quality of service.
Hotel porters usually expect a tip equivalent to around US$1 per item of luggage.
Tip in local currency where possible; it may be quite difficult for locals to exchange small amounts of hard currency into Rwanda francs.
It is customary to tip guides on national park activities such as gorilla tracking or hikes. If you require a porter, ask your guide about the fee and add a small tip if they perform satisfactorily.
In game lodges that offer guided activities, drivers and guides should be tipped. Many such lodges have guideline in the rooms; failing that ask management for a directive.
- Visa requirements and fees
The Great Migration Mara river crossing in Kenya Rwanda vs Kenya
Rwanda offers several attractions not found in Kenya or indeed in most other safari destinations other than Uganda. Foremost among these is the opportunity to track mountain gorillas in the Virunga mountains and chimpanzees in the Nyungwe National Park. Rwanda offers far greater diversity than Kenya when it comes to forest primates, Furthermore, although its checklist of 700 bird species theoretically compares poorly with the 1,000-plus recorded in Kenya, it is far stronger on forest birds that are difficult to see elsewhere in eastern and southern Africa. However, Kenya is well ahead of Rwanda when it comes to plains wildlife and Big Five sightings, and there is nothing in Rwanda to compare with the Indian Ocean beach resorts such as Diani and Watamu. Kenya is also a more visibly diverse and interesting country when it comes to traditional cultures, be it the pastoralist Maasai and Samburu, or Arab-influenced Swahili people of the coast.
See all Kenya safarisGolden monkey in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda vs Uganda
Rwanda and Uganda host a broadly similar set of attractions. Foremost among these mountain gorilla tracking, and while neither country could be said to offer a definitively better tracking experience than the other, our experience is that the more open nature of the forest in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park makes it slightly more reliable for photography than Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. For those with limited time, it is also far quicker to reach Volcanoes National Park from the Rwandan capital Kigali (3-4 hours) than it is to reach Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Uganda’s main air gateway Entebbe (a long one-day drive, but better split over two days). In Uganda’s favour, tracking gorillas there is a lot cheaper than in Rwanda, and overall it boasts a more diverse selection of other national parks, scenic landmarks and cultural attractions.
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