Rwanda offers one of the best-done gorilla trekking itineraries that is making them rank high. gorilla trekking experience is a mystique activity that brings tourists up close to the giant apes who share 99 percent of the human DNA that is captivating travelers from all over the world, and there’s no ultimate place to do mountain gorilla trekking than Rwanda. Rwanda has put in place serious strides in protecting wildlife species.
1-day gorilla trekking Rwanda tour
Rwanda has a lot to offer where nature lovers can engage in a safari to Akagera National Park, and get a chance for bird watching in Nyungwe Forest as well as a canopy walk. Tourists interested in culture can check for the fascinating exhibits of the traditional customs and beliefs of Rwanda’s people at the Ethnographic Museum. Don’t forget to see the royal cows at the King’s Palace Museum.
Explore Kigali City
Many travelers to Rwanda only think about the mountain gorilla trekking experience while missing out on the diversified culture, local cuisine, and vibrant Kigali sightseeing in Rwanda. Travelers should plan to have at least one day in Kigali either at the beginning or at the end of their mountain gorilla trekking safari.
look upon bespoke clothes from the swirling patterned textiles, most experienced, and the energetic atmosphere within the Kimironko Market, Kimironko Market is Kigali’s most wanted place and the largest market around Kigali city offering surprises in every corner.
1-day gorilla trekking Rwanda tour
Take a visit to Kigali’s most creative scene at Inema Arts Center, Inema Arts Center is a gallery showcasing the works of a total of 10 local artists in residence. Then go to the Rwanda Art Museum which is located in the former Presidential Palace. Rwanda’s Art Museum displays the finest contemporary pieces from the nearby regions of Rwanda. You can also be able to view the debris from the 1994 presidential aircraft when it crashed.
Finally, you can wind down your Kigali city tour with a succulent meal in one of Kigali’s great most respected restaurants like the Le Panorama Restaurant which is situated at Hotel des Mille Collines offering dazzling panoramic views of Kigali city, alongside the diversified menu of both local and international favorites.
Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes national park is the only protected area in Rwanda where tourists can go for a mountain gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda without a doubt. Volcanoes National Park Shares a border with the Republic of Uganda and DR Congo, Volcanoes national park in Rwanda harbors a growing number of critically endangered gorillas. Experts estimate Volcanoes national park to be protecting over 600 mountain gorillas with a significant increase in number from around 240-250 individuals in years to come.
Tourists can visit one of the habituated mountain gorilla families that have been trained to get used to human presence in their natural environment, every tourist need to acquire a gorilla tracking permit early enough because gorilla tracking permits are limited to some number per daily. Mountain gorilla trekking permits cost $1,500 per person.
The gorilla trekking experience lasts from 2-8 to eight hours depending on where these mountain gorillas are located, tourists mostly spent their time hiking through the mystical bamboo forests, wild meadows, and swampy zones. Park rangers and guides from Volcanoes national park serve their purpose by eventually leading you to your allocated habituated mountain gorilla families. Tourists are only allowed to spend an hour with the gorillas while observing these creatures eat, care for their babies, play, interact with each another, and take pictures with them without flash cameras.
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is highly considered a safe tourist activity. The gorillas are apathetic to the human visitors in their natural habitat. Armed guides accompany all tourists, Park rangers use a bunch of clicking sounds that are used for communicating with the gorillas, and guests are safe from potential dangers, which makes the mountain gorilla trekking experience unforgettable in the African jungle. Porters are always available and willing to help tourists at the base of the trails in Volcanoes National Park.
Tourists, who are interested in learning more about gorillas? After your gorilla trekking encounter, you can head to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund called the Karisoke Research Center which is situated in the nearby town of Musanze. It offers a small robust museum with loaded information regarding mountain gorillas and the works of conservationist Dian Fossey’s gorilla fund and the effort to protect gorillas. You can read her book called Gorillas in the Mist as well.
Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe forest national park is one of the oldest important forest conservation areas in Africa, Nyungwe Forest National Park protects a spectacular array of rich biodiversity which includes over 1,068 plant species, 75 mammal species, and 322 species of birds. Most tourists to Nyungwe forest national park are interested in the chimpanzee trekking experience, chimpanzees have been habituated to human presence by the park rangers. Nyungwe forest national park harbors about 13 primate species and another animal encounter is a fraction.
Nyungwe forest national park is the only destination offering a canopy walk experience in East Africa, Nyungwe canopy walk bridge is just a 90-minute hike from the Uwinka Visitor Center Nyungwe’s headquarters. Engage yourself in a 91-meter-long suspension bridge walk dangling more than 50 meters above the verdant Nyungwe tropical rainforest offering a dizzying view of the treetops, endless bird species, the Virunga chained mountain peaks in the distance.
Get rid of your fear of heights? by Skipping the canopy safari and instead participate in a long walk in one of the park’s 15 different hiking trails for an invigorating adventure safari that doesn’t fight any gravity challenge.
Akagera National Park
No trip to Rwanda is complete without Akagera’s unlimited game drive. Tourists should scratch their itch to engage in adventure safari located just two-and-a-half hours’ drive from Kigali at Akagera National Park. Akagera national park offers countless biodiversity with incredible recovery from the Rwandan genocide of 1994. Akagera national park covers over 1,140-square-kilometer making it one of the largest protected wetlands in Central Africa that boast the accommodation of all of the Big Five animals, alongside the abundance of bird species and antelope.
Akagera national park also protects other animals species such as zebras, Nile crocodiles, elephants, hippos, and giraffes on a self-drive safari beside the big five animals.
Lake Kivu
After your adventure safari, get ready to be taken to a no better place for relaxation in Rwanda than Lake Kivu. Lake Kivu occupies over 2,700-square-kilometer that is surrounded by chained misty mountains, an evergreen oasis, and Lake Kivu is Rwanda’s largest lake.
Soak yourself up from Rubavu, a resort town that is situated on the northern tip of the stunning Lake Kivu. With a waterfront, sandy nice-looking beach, and stunning resorts like Lake Kivu Serena Hotel.
Kigali Genocide Memorial
It’s still hard to imagine just a couple of years ago when Rwanda was in the middle of a horrific genocide that left over 800,000 people dead, Rwanda genocide took 100 days. Rwanda has come a long way from that massacre, but Rwanda’s genocide impact left its mark on the lives of everyone, generations to come, and in the history of Rwanda.
The Kigali genocide museum also hosts an emotionally charged Children’s Room dedicated to the youngest victims of Rwanda’s genocide of 1994. It keeps their memory fresh with the oversize portraits of the young children, some of those children killed were just infants, and the personal details about the young victims are showcased at the Museum.
King’s Palace Museum
King’s palace museum is Rwanda’s impassioned conservation effort for the future generations, your visit to the King’s Palace Museum is certainly will. The King palace’s key attraction showcases the inyambo (which is in the local Kinyarwanda meaning the sacred cows with their staggeringly large big horns. Your safari will be enlightened by the traditional singers lulling the cows, followed by belting poems—a ritual that’s so unique to Rwanda people.
King palace museum is an as interesting place that presents the four-legged creatures outback. That prevails a replica of a king’s palace from the ealry15th century presented by a grass-thatched roof house, royal hut, and the fresh milk hut that is traditionally run by the unmarried woman.
Ethnographic museum
The ethnographic museum of Rwanda is one of Africa’s finest collections of archeological and ethnological artifacts that is situated in Rwanda. Ethnographic Museum is approximately 130 kilometers south of Kigali in the Huye district. Ethnographic Museum was gifted to the Rwandan government by the Belgium government during their 25th independence in 1989.
The Ethnographic Museum presents over seven galleries that take tourists back during Belgium’s pre-colonial times in Rwanda. Tourists will be able to view the impressive collection of woven baskets, woven grass, bows, & spears, old farming tools, traditional garments made from animal hides & skins, and musical drums that have lasted for hundreds of years ago,
Gorilla Guardians village
Volcanoes National Park is not only the place to see mountain gorillas but also a prime spot to engage yourself in Rwandan traditional culture at Gorilla Guardians Village. Gorilla Guardians village is being run by the reformed poacher. Gorilla Guardians village is a non-profit cultural village that gives tourists a greater opportunity to try their handcraft skills at Rwanda’s most famous activities and craft materials.
Tourists learn many things such as how to carry a basket on their heads just like how Rwandan women do, shoot an arrow, weave their baskets, and grind grains by the use of a heavy stone.
Stick within the Gorilla Guardians village and witness the intore dance recitals where the traditional dancers, come out with their long straw wigs and colorful skirts, just to put on an exciting show for tourists to beat by rhythmic drumming. Trust me you will get up and dance with them unknowingly.