Country guides
Africa
Things to do in Rwanda
Rwanda is certainly a nature lover's paradise, and the focus of its tourism is mostly eco-centered. It is an incredible country with a rich history, and a wildlife heritage unlike any other.
The world's largest population of mountain gorillas inhabits Rwanda's spectacular Volcanoes National Park, and these burly primates are by far the country's most popular tourist attraction. Accordingly, gorilla tracking is very much on every park visitor's to-do list. It doesn't come cheap though, and the park is careful to regulate visitors to avoid overtourism.
Nyungwe Forest National Park's residents include a large number of smaller primates, as well as more than 275 bird species, while Akagera National Park is big game country, where herds of elephants and buffalo, lions, hippos and plains game roam the archetypal African savannahs, swamps and lakes.
The waters of Lake Kivu are enclosed by green terraced hills that give way to beaches, inlets and the resort towns of Gisenyi, Kibuye and Cyangugu, which also make for popular tourist sites.
For those looking to delve into Rwanda's sobering history, a trip to the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre will be illuminating, and leave visitors in awe of a country that has come far in its efforts to become the peaceful and beautiful destination it is today.
Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is renowned as one of the continent's seven Great Lakes. Surrounded by verdant hills and spread over 1,040 square miles (2,700 sq km) on the border of Rwanda and the Demo…
Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is renowned as one of the continent's seven Great Lakes. Surrounded by verdant hills and spread over 1,040 square miles (2,700 sq km) on the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the lake's shimmering emerald-green surface is a jewel in the centre of Africa. The towns of Cyangugu, Kibuye and Rubavu (formerly known as Gisenyi) lie on its shores and are becoming increasingly popular with tourists, given the ample opportunities they offer for water sports, island excursions, bird watching, and hiking through mint-scented clusters of eucalyptus trees. Travellers will also have no trouble finding bars to enjoy lakeside sundowners.
Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park lies on the border with Tanzania and encompasses savannah, mountain and swamp ecoregions across its 463 square miles (1,200 sq km) of territory. Named after t…
Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park lies on the border with Tanzania and encompasses savannah, mountain and swamp ecoregions across its 463 square miles (1,200 sq km) of territory. Named after the Akagera River that flows through it, the park is made up of forests, swamps, volcanic mountains, and vast savannah plains. The plains are the most popular for safaris, with an abundance of big game including lions, leopard, elephants, zebra, buffalo, giraffe and a huge variety of antelope. Camping alongside the lakes is a good way to spot birds such as fish eagles, papyrus gonolek and the elusive shoebill stork.
Website www.africanparks.org/the-parks/akagera
Dian Fossey’s Grave
American zoologist Dian Fossey became famous for her dedication to studying and protecting endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Her 18-year study inspired the 1988 film Gorillas…
Dian Fossey’s Grave
American zoologist Dian Fossey became famous for her dedication to studying and protecting endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Her 18-year study inspired the 1988 film Gorillas in the Mist, and promoted primate conservation worldwide. She was murdered in 1985, and buried at Karisoke, a gravesite she had constructed for gorillas. The Karisoke Research Camp that was her base sits between two volcanoes, Mt Visoke and Mt Karisimbi and stands at an altitude of 3,000m (9,000ft). The journey to her grave involves a five-hour trek and, though the cabins and buildings are gone, visitors may glimpse buffalo, elephants and even gorillas.
Butare
Once Rwanda's largest city, Butare (also known as Huye) is considered the intellectual capital of the country, whereas Kigali is considered the political hub. It is home to several…
Butare
Once Rwanda's largest city, Butare (also known as Huye) is considered the intellectual capital of the country, whereas Kigali is considered the political hub. It is home to several important Rwandan landmarks, including the Christian Cathedral and the national University of Rwanda. The two most popular attractions in Butare, however, are the Ethnographic Museum of Rwanda, which chronicles the cultural history of the region through displays of photos and traditional artefacts; and Nyanza, the traditional seat of Rwanda's feudal monarchy and site of the restored 19th-century Royal Palace. Most of the palace's furniture and gifts from foreign dignitaries were stolen during the genocide, but it is still worth visiting.
Website www.museum.gov.rw
Tea Plantations
Tea is a major product of Rwanda's economy, with thousands of tons exported each year, thanks to the country's temperate climate and rich volcanic soil. The government is slowly pr…
Tea Plantations
Tea is a major product of Rwanda's economy, with thousands of tons exported each year, thanks to the country's temperate climate and rich volcanic soil. The government is slowly privatising plantations into cooperatives and 'Tea Societies', thereby empowering local farmers. Many visitors to Rwanda will enjoy exploring the plantations with their dramatically-sloped fields and panoramic vistas. Locally-produced varieties of tea can be sampled and taken back as souvenirs. Plantations near Lake Kivu and Nyungwe Forest are especially popular as package tour excursions. Visitors relish the experience of sipping tea while experts guide them through the different flavour profiles.
Karisimbi Volcano
Mount Karisimbi sticks out above the other seven major mountains of the Virunga range that divide Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo. With a name meaning 'white shell' in…
Karisimbi Volcano
Mount Karisimbi sticks out above the other seven major mountains of the Virunga range that divide Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo. With a name meaning 'white shell' in Kinyarwanda for the snow that caps Karisimbi during the dry season, the inactive volcano provides phenomenal hiking and overnight trekking opportunities for those in search of gorillas. The climb can be a demanding but rewarding experience, as it traverses a majestic landscape of steep slopes, dense forest and stunning volcanic features.Visitors can trek to the former site of Dian Fossey's research station, only a few hours away from the mountain.
Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre
Opened on the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide of 1994, the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre is a sobering museum dedicated to the nearly one million people who lost their …
Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre
Opened on the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide of 1994, the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre is a sobering museum dedicated to the nearly one million people who lost their lives in the conflict. More than 250,000 people are buried at the centre, which has become an educational site with museums and exhibits dedicated to preventing genocides around the world. The genocide that saw 800,000 men, women and children killed receives a meaningful and tasteful tribute with three permanent exhibitions, including the Education Centre, Memorial Gardens, and National Documentation Centre of the Genocide.
Website www.kgm.rw
Volcanoes National Park
Often considered the flagship nature reserve in Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park (known locally as Parc National des Volcans) is located in northwestern Rwanda, not far from Kigali.…
Volcanoes National Park
Often considered the flagship nature reserve in Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park (known locally as Parc National des Volcans) is located in northwestern Rwanda, not far from Kigali. A haven for elusive and fascinating primates, the park encompasses the Virunga Mountains and is the best place in Rwanda to see mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and other animals. Popular trips include climbing the Karisimbi and Bisoke volcanoes, touring the lakes and caves of the park, and visiting the tomb of famous gorilla researcher Dian Fossey. The market town of Musanze is located at the base of the Virungas, and makes a good base from which to explore the park.
Website www.volcanoesnationalparkrwanda.com/
Nyungwe National Park
Situated among tea plantations, the Nyungwe National Park is a high-altitude rainforest reserve in the Rwandan section of the Albertine Rift. Known for its extreme biodiversity, Ny…
Nyungwe National Park
Situated among tea plantations, the Nyungwe National Park is a high-altitude rainforest reserve in the Rwandan section of the Albertine Rift. Known for its extreme biodiversity, Nyungwe is home to thousands of species, including primates such as chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, owl-faced monkeys and olive baboons. Wildlife enthusiasts should note that Nyungwe's trekking trails offer different experiences. By way of a rough guide, bird-watchers should choose the Waterfall Trail, monkey trekkers will appreciate the Gisakura Tea Estate Trail, and elephant spotters ought to walk the Kamiranzovu Trail. We recommend visitors to Nyungwe National Park pack appropriate wet weather gear, as the rainforest receives more than 79 inches (2,000mm) of rain each year.
Website www.nyungweforest.com