The Republic of Rwanda is a country in Africa located in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, bordered by Uganda to the north, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, Burundi to the south, and Tanzania to the east. Known as the land of a thousand hills, Rwanda is endowed with a wide range of tourism activities that attract international tourists throughout the year.
Rwanda is a relatively small country, which makes all of its tourism destinations easily accessible to visitors. Here are some of the best travel destinations to consider if you plan to visit Rwanda.
1. Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is one of the finest destinations any visitor to Rwanda wouldn’t want to miss. Found in the northern part of Rwanda, only 107.9 km from Kigali on the border with Uganda, the park is famous for gorilla sightings, as it is home to one of the world’s most endangered species, the mountain gorilla. Over a quarter of the total gorilla population resides in this national park.
Gorillas live in families, and 11 families reside in the park, where visitors can track them every day. The trek can take around 1 to 7 hours, under the guidance of tour guides and park rangers, together with porters who help tourists carry their backpacks and other luggage throughout the trekking. This is one of the safest activities in Rwanda.
2. Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park is covered by tropical montane rainforest and located in western Rwanda. It is one of the most important conservation areas across Africa. The national park has a wide range of biodiversity, including 322 bird species, 75 mammal species, and 1,068 plant species. Nyungwe forest is most famous for chimpanzee trekking, which attracts tourists from across the world.
Other than chimpanzee trekking, the park is home to the only canopy walk in East Africa, roughly a 90 minute hike from the Uwinka Visitor Center. Tourists enjoy walking across the 91 meter long bridge, suspended 50 meters above the rainforest, giving a wide view of the mountains and green tree tops.
3. Akagera National Park
Famous for its game drives with wide views of the wildlife that inhabit it, Akagera National Park is only 116.5 km east of Kigali. Characterized by low mountains, savanna, swamps, and woodlands, it is home to over 300 bird species and a large population of wildlife, including elephants, buffaloes, lions, antelopes, hippos, and many others.
The park is also home to large water bodies, including Lake Ihema, which is always good for boat cruises, accompanied by the cool breeze from the Akagera River, which moves through the park.
4. The Kigali Genocide Memorial Site
This historic center is a destination that should not be left off the travel schedule for any tourist visiting Rwanda. This place is the final resting place for more than 250,000 people who were victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
The Kigali Genocide Memorial Site also serves as an education center about the genocide and how it took shape, with a wall of names of some of the identified victims, as many who rest in the graves remain unknown. The site attracts tourists from all corners of the world and helps them understand the personal responsibility involved in preventing any form of mass atrocity and discrimination.
5. Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is a large lake located in western Rwanda, surrounded by mountains that create a fresh upcountry breeze, ideal for relaxation. Lake Kivu is Rwanda’s largest lake, with wide blue sky views, sandy beaches, and a lively waterfront.
If birding is one of your interests, Lake Kivu is a great destination, offering nature walks and sunset boat rides connected to the surrounding environment for a memorable holiday.
6. Mount Bisoke
Also known as “Visoke,” Mount Bisoke remains one of the active volcanoes within the Virunga mountain ranges. It is found in Central and East Africa, bordering both Rwanda and DR Congo, cutting across Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in DR Congo, with two crater lakes, one at the very top and another, Lake Ngezi, located midway.
The slopes of Mount Bisoke are home to mountain gorillas and attract many international tourists who come for gorilla trekking and hiking. Climbing to the summit usually takes up to 6 hours for ordinary climbers, but seasoned mountain climbers can do it in just 3 hours.
7. Nyamata and Ntarama Churches
Both churches are significant historical destinations in Rwanda. These are genocide memorial centers, with Nyamata located 30 km south of Kigali and Ntarama also located south of Kigali, only an hour’s drive away.
Here lie the remains of over 50,000 people buried at Nyamata and 500 people massacred at Ntarama. These sites mark some of the worst massacres of the entire genocide, drawing visitors who come to honor the memory of those affected by the tragedy that impacted the whole of Rwanda.
8. Mount Karisimbi Volcano
Mount Karisimbi is the highest of all the volcanoes found within the Virunga region, also known as the Mufumbiro ranges, which stretch along the borders of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is an inactive volcano rising to 4,507 meters, surrounded by other volcanoes, including Mikeno to the north, Nyiragongo to the west, and Bisoke to the east. It is located within Volcanoes National Park.
The mountain derives its name, “Karisimbi,” from the word “Amasimbi” in Kinyarwanda, meaning “white shell,” a reference to the snow that usually covers its peak during the dry season.
Karisimbi is also the 11th highest mountain in Africa, and hiking it is one of the key tourism activities not to miss while visiting Rwanda. It also serves as a habitat for gorillas and is well known for its exotic plants, with four belts of vegetation ranging from dense forest at its base to a barren volcanic core at its summit.
9. Mount Muhabura Volcano
Standing at a height of 4,127m, Mount Muhabura is the third highest peak within the Virunga ranges. It also offers an adventurous experience, as by the time you reach the top you will have passed through striking vegetation that makes you appreciate the natural surroundings along the way.
10. Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo
Ruhondo and Burera Lakes are twin lakes that you can visit easily from Volcanoes National Park. Visiting them is a relaxing alternative to hiking, where you get to enjoy a boat cruise and meet locals while cruising through the deep waters.
