Land of a Thousand Hills
Rwanda — Africa's
Rising Star
From misty volcano peaks where mountain gorillas roam to gleaming Kigali — the continent's cleanest capital — Rwanda is a story of extraordinary renewal, profound natural beauty, and a warmth that will stay with you long after you leave.
Plan My Rwanda Safari
5
National Parks
700+
Bird Species
604
Mountain Gorillas (Virunga)
4,507m
Mount Karisimbi
#1
Cleanest African Capital
Rwanda's Crown Jewel
Volcanoes National Park
Rwanda's Mountain Gorillas — The Ultimate Wildlife Encounter
Volcanoes National Park sits in the Virunga Massif — a chain of ancient volcanoes shared with Uganda and the DRC. It is here that Dian Fossey dedicated her life to saving mountain gorillas, and where her Karisoke Research Centre continues to safeguard the species today.
The park protects the Rwanda sector of the Virungas and is home to 10 habituated gorilla families available for trekking. Rwanda's gorilla trekking experience is refined, exclusive, and efficiently managed — one hour with a gorilla family, and permits are strictly limited to eight visitors per family per day.
- Gorilla Trekking: 10 habituated families; permits cost USD 1,500. Treks 1–5 hours through bamboo forest and lava fields.
- Gorilla Habituation Experience: Spend 4 hours with a semi-habituated family (Bweza and Umushikirano groups).
- Golden Monkey Trekking: The vibrantly coloured golden monkey inhabits the park's bamboo zone.
- Dian Fossey Tomb & Karisoke: Hike to the research centre and Fossey's grave on Mount Karisimbi.
- Volcano Hikes: Mount Bisoke (3,711m) with crater lake summit; Mount Karisimbi (4,507m) two-day summit.
- Best Time: June–September & December–February (dry seasons).
"The bamboo forest opens. A silverback rises — chest forward, eyes ancient and knowing. In that gaze, you understand something fundamental about what it means to be alive."
Book Rwanda Gorilla Permits
Ancient Rainforest
Nyungwe Forest National Park
Africa's Oldest Rainforest & the Canopy Walkway
Nyungwe Forest is one of Africa's oldest and most diverse rainforests — 1,019 km² of montane forest that has been continuously forested for over 10,000 years. The forest protects 13 primate species (including a chimpanzee population of 500+), 310 bird species, and an astonishing 1,068 plant species.
The Canopy Walkway — a 200-metre suspension bridge strung 70 metres above the forest floor — offers one of Central Africa's most exhilarating viewpoints. Below, colobus monkeys leap through the canopy in troops of 400 — the largest documented colobus troop on Earth.
- Chimpanzee Tracking: Cyamudongo sector (smaller forest patch with high chimp concentration) and main forest.
- Canopy Walkway: 200m suspension bridge at 70m height — spectacular primate and forest views.
- Colobus Monkey Trek: Angola and Ruwenzori colobus in troops of 300–400 individuals.
- Birding: 310 species including 29 Albertine Rift endemics and the elusive Grauer's Rush Warbler.
- Waterfall Trail: Isumo Waterfall hike through pristine primary forest.
- Tea Plantation Tours: Rwanda's famous terraced tea estates on the forest edge.
Big Five Safari Country
Akagera National Park
Rwanda's Big Five — Lions, Rhinos & Sweeping Lake Savanna
Akagera National Park on Rwanda's eastern border is one of Africa's great conservation success stories. After near-collapse in the 1990s, the park has been dramatically restored through a partnership with African Parks. Lions were reintroduced in 2015, black rhinos returned in 2017 — completing the Big Five.
The park's savanna-wetland-lake mosaic along the Akagera River hosts one of Africa's most scenic landscapes: papyrus-fringed lakes reflecting volcanic peaks, herds of elephants crossing the plains at dusk, and an extraordinary density of waterbirds including the iconic shoebill stork.
- Big Five Game Drives: Lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and black rhino — all present and regularly seen.
- Boat Safaris: Lakes Ihema and Shakani — hippos, crocodiles, and prolific waterbirds.
- Shoebill Stork: Papyrus swamps of Lake Rwanyakizinga — one of Africa's best shoebill sites.
- Night Game Drives: Offered by the park — spot serval, aardvark, and civet.
- Sport Fishing: Tiger fish and tilapia on Lake Ihema.
- Best Time: June–September (dry season; best game viewing).
Rwanda's Newest National Park
Gishwati-Mukura National Park
A Forest Reborn — Chimpanzees & Congo Nile Divide
Gazetted in 2016, Gishwati-Mukura is Rwanda's newest — and most remarkable — conservation story. This forest was almost entirely destroyed by the 1990s; today, restoration efforts have brought back over 35 km² of rich forest, home to a recovering chimpanzee community, golden monkeys, and L'Hoest's monkeys.
Located on the Congo-Nile Divide — the ridge that separates rivers draining to the Atlantic from those flowing toward the Nile — the park offers extraordinary scenery across Rwanda's "thousand hills" and proximity to tea estate landscapes.
- Chimpanzee Tracking: Small but growing habituated chimp community in recovering forest.
- Golden Monkey Trek: Playful golden monkeys in bamboo thickets — close encounters.
- Congo-Nile Divide Walks: Panoramic ridgetop hiking with views across Rwanda's green hills.
- Birding: 232 species including 9 Albertine Rift endemics.
- Community Tourism: Visits to nearby farming communities along forest trails.
- Best Time: Year-round; June–September and December–February are driest.
Africa's Cleanest, Safest Capital
Kigali — Rwanda's Capital City
A City That Surprises, Inspires, and Welcomes
Kigali is unlike any other African capital. Consistently ranked among Africa's cleanest and safest cities — plastic bags are banned; streets are swept on community days; the nightlife is vibrant and the food scene is world-class. Arriving here feels like stepping into a vision of what Africa's urban future can look like.
The city is built across a series of rolling hills, with distinct neighbourhoods each offering their own character — from the boutique galleries and coffee shops of Nyamirambo to the rooftop restaurants of the CBD with sweeping sunset views across the hills.
- Kigali Genocide Memorial: A deeply important site of remembrance and education — essential for any visit.
- Inema Arts Center: Rwanda's most vibrant contemporary art gallery — works by local and international artists.
- Kimironko Market: Kigali's largest market — textiles, produce, crafts, and extraordinary local energy.
- Kandt House Museum: Natural history museum in the home of Kigali's German founder, Richard Kandt.
- Nyamirambo Women's Center: Community tourism pioneer — guided neighbourhood walks and traditional cooking experiences.
- Restaurants & Coffee: Question Coffee (farmer-direct), The Hut, Repub Lounge — a sophisticated urban food scene.
Remembrance & Reconciliation
Kigali Genocide Memorial
In 1994, Rwanda experienced one of the twentieth century's most devastating humanitarian catastrophes. The Kigali Genocide Memorial — where over 250,000 victims are buried — stands as a place of profound remembrance, education, and testament to the human capacity for reconciliation and rebuilding.
Visiting the memorial is a deeply moving and important experience that many travellers describe as a transformative part of their Rwanda journey. The memorial's exhibitions document the history of the genocide with sensitivity and care, and the garden of remembrance offers a place for quiet reflection.
We approach this site with full respect and sensitivity. Our guides are trained to lead visits with appropriate care and context.
Culture, Tradition & Living Heritage
Rwanda's Cultural Landscape
Rwanda's culture is expressed in its dance, its craft, its kingdoms, its hills, and the extraordinary spirit of its people — a culture of communal effort (umuganda), of beauty in everyday objects, and of resilience.
Butare (Huye)
Rwanda National Museum
The country's finest museum — built as a gift from Belgium in 1989 — houses Rwanda's most important collection of royal regalia, traditional artefacts, ethnographic exhibits, and natural history collections. The reconstructed traditional homestead on the grounds is a highlight, as is the royal drum collection — drums that were the heartbeat of the Rwandan kingdom.
Nyanza
King's Palace Museum — Nyanza
The King's Palace at Nyanza is a remarkable reconstruction of a traditional royal Rwandan court — a vast, beautifully crafted thatched structure surrounded by the long-horned Inyambo cattle that were symbols of Rwandan royal wealth. The site gives vivid insight into the pre-colonial kingdom's ceremonial life, royal customs, and court traditions.
Across Rwanda
Imigongo Art
Imigongo is a uniquely Rwandan art form — geometric paintings made from cow dung, ash, and natural pigments, producing striking black-and-white (and increasingly colourful) spiral and angular patterns. Originating in the Kirehe district, this art form is now practised by women's cooperatives across the country and sold as premium souvenirs. Workshops in production are available.
National Dance
Intore Dance Experience
Intore — "the chosen ones" — was the name of Rwanda's royal warrior dance. Performed by men in elaborate raffia headdresses and women in flowing white dresses, Intore is one of East Africa's most spectacular traditional performances. Cultural centres and village visits across Rwanda offer live Intore performances with opportunities to learn basic movements.
Musanze
Musanze Caves
Near the base of the Virunga volcanoes, the Musanze Caves are a network of ancient lava tubes extending over 2 km and containing underground rivers and unique cave fauna. These caves served as refuges and were sacred to local communities. Guided tours explore the cave system by torchlight — a memorable addition to any gorilla trekking itinerary in Volcanoes NP.
Musanze
Twin Lakes — Burera & Ruhondo
Hidden in the valleys north of Musanze, Lakes Burera and Ruhondo are among Rwanda's most beautiful and least visited attractions — two volcanic crater lakes linked by a narrow waterway, surrounded by steep forested hills and traditional farming communities. Kayaking, motorboat tours, and lakeside lodge stays offer an intimate encounter with pastoral Rwanda away from tourist crowds.
Western Province
Lake Kivu & Gisenyi
Lake Kivu is one of Africa's Great Lakes — 89 km long, studded with forested islands, and flanked by the resort town of Gisenyi (Rubavu) in the north and Kibuye (Karongi) in the centre. The lake's crystal-clear waters, bordered by green hills tumbling directly to the waterline, have earned it comparisons to Lake Como. Boat trips, island picnics, and beach resorts make Kivu Rwanda's premier relaxation destination.
Kayonza
Rusumo Falls
On the border between Rwanda and Tanzania, the Rusumo Falls on the Kagera River are where the river that eventually becomes the Nile first cascades off the East African Plateau. A bridge crosses directly above the falls — hippos, crocodiles, and dramatic white water visible from above. The border area was an important crossing point in the 1994 refugee exodus.
Community Tourism
Iby'iwacu Cultural Village
Located adjacent to Volcanoes National Park, the Iby'iwacu Cultural Village was created by former poachers turned conservation advocates. Visitors experience traditional Rwandan village life — banana beer brewing, basket weaving, cattle herding, traditional medicine, and live cultural performances. Proceeds directly support the community and conservation programmes.
Across Rwanda
Cycling the Thousand Hills
Rwanda is developing a world-class cycling culture — host to Africa's premier road cycling race (Tour du Rwanda). Guided cycling tours wind through tea plantations, over the Congo-Nile Divide, and along Lake Kivu's shoreline — combining extraordinary scenery with direct community engagement.
Nyungwe Forest
Canopy Walk & Forest Hikes
The 200-metre canopy walkway in Nyungwe is 70 metres above the forest floor — suspended between ancient trees and offering views over one of Africa's largest mountain rainforests. Multiple forest trails, from short 2-hour walks to full-day hikes, explore different ecosystems and primate habitats.
Volcanoes National Park
Mount Karisimbi Summit Trek
At 4,507 metres, Mount Karisimbi is the highest of the Virunga volcanoes and requires a two-day overnight trek. Climbers camp at 3,700m and ascend to the snow-dusted summit at dawn — with views across the DRC, Uganda, and Tanzania on clear days. A demanding but deeply rewarding high-altitude adventure.
Your Rwanda Journey Awaits
Combine Rwanda with Uganda for the Ultimate East African Safari
Rwanda and Uganda share the Virunga gorilla landscape. Our gorilla trekking specialists design seamless multi-country itineraries — two countries, two parks, one unforgettable experience.
Get a Free Rwanda Safari Quote
Embark on a journey with Nile Abenteuer Safaris – Where Every Adventure is a Story Worth Telling.
