Rwanda Safari Guide & Travel Tips
Planning a travel holiday to Rwanda in Africa? Visit Rwanda with our Rwanda vacations and explore mountain gorillas, wildlife and chimpanzees. Our Rwanda tour packages are customized to offer the best experience to tourists and help them make the most out of the tourism industry within the shortest time possible.
Whether you are booking Rwanda vacation packages from Nigeria, Rwanda holiday packages from South Africa, Rwanda tour packages from India, USA, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates or any other destination, we shall tailor for you the best Rwanda tourism packages to destinations with your preferred travel activities.
You can book Rwanda holiday packages to Volcanoes National Park to see Rwanda mountain gorillas, Rwanda travel packages to Nyungwe Forest National Park to see common chimpanzee species, Rwanda vacation packages to Akagera National Park to see the big five game animals or take on the balloon safaris, Kigali vacation packages to visit the genocide memorial monument, Kigali holiday packages to visit Kimironko Market and Caplaki Crafts Village, a Kigali vacation to ride horses on Mount Kigali and a lot more. See some of our holiday packages to Rwanda below and start planning your trip the right way.
Detailed 2026/2027 Rwanda Safari Guide
Reveal the beauty of Rwanda by traveling to its pristine and virgin areas. Before embarking on your safari to Rwanda, remember that it is a landlocked country in the great rift valley of central Africa.
You can locate Rwanda in the southwestern parts of east Africa, bordering other amazing countries such as Uganda which is well known as the Pearl of Africa, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Rwanda is blessed with many attractions like the crater lakes which are spread all over the country, with its geography shaped by mountains in the north, savannah in the northeast and forests in the southwest. This is why it is called the land of a thousand hills.
Rwanda is blessed with four well known national parks which are Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park, Nyungwe National Park and Gishwati-Mukura National Park.
Each of these national parks has a special attraction. Volcanoes National Park is well known for mountain gorillas. Therefore, for those planning to have a safari to Rwanda and trek mountain gorillas, Volcanoes National Park must be yours to explore.
Nyungwe and Gishwati-Mukura National Parks are known to harbor a good number of chimpanzees which are about 400 individuals and other 13 primate species in total.
Nyungwe also doubles as the only destination in Rwanda where travelers can undertake a canopy walk adventure.
There are also other wildlife species in Rwanda that attract visitors, ranging from golden monkeys, forest elephants, antelopes, rhinos, giraffes, buffaloes and over 1000 bird species.
There are other activities one can choose such as cultural encounters, colobus monkey tracking in Nyungwe Forest, museum tours, cycling tours and mountain hiking.
Akagera is the only savannah national park where game drive safaris can be done and the only home of the big five mammals. Visitors coming to Rwanda to trek mountain gorillas and chimpanzees can also add Akagera National Park.
Travelers undertaking gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park can also visit the Dian Fossey tomb to learn about the life of the researcher who died while protecting mountain gorillas in East Africa.
On your safari to Rwanda, explore other historical sites to learn how Rwanda started up to the present day, and visit different craft markets to purchase souvenirs.
Top Things to Do & See in Rwanda
The top things to do and see in Rwanda include: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes, chimp trekking in Nyungwe, canopy walk in Nyungwe, game drives in Akagera, boat cruise on Lake Ihema, Kigali city tour, visit Kigali Genocide Memorial, tour Kimironko Market, hike Mount Bisoke, hike Mount Karisimbi, visit Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, birdwatching in Nyungwe, nature walks in Gishwati Mukura, visit King’s Palace Museum, visit Ethnographic Museum in Huye, explore Lake Kivu, boat trips on Lake Kivu, tea plantation tours in Gisovu, and cycling on the Congo Nile Trail.
Top Luxury Safari Lodges in Rwanda
Some of the top luxury lodges in Rwanda include:
What to carry for safaris in Rwanda?
While organizing a special Rwanda safari, visitors are normally advised to carry appropriate gear like rain jackets, umbrellas, well improved and waterproof shoes, sweaters and not forgetting binoculars for bird lovers, cameras to take photos for remembrance while back home, energy-giving snacks and many more items as recommended by your booking agency.
When to visit?
Rwanda has two specific seasons which are the wet and dry seasons. But visitors are advised to plan their safaris to Rwanda preferably during the dry season, even though it can be visited any time throughout the year.
The reason why the dry season is recommended is because during this period all trails are dry, giving easy accessibility to all destinations, and vegetation is short, giving clear views.
How to get there?
For those interested in visiting Rwanda, the best way to access it is by flight and one must possess a valid passport or any internationally recognized travel documents.
Kigali International Airport is the most famous and busiest entry point. Travelers from nearby countries can also use land borders.
Some of the popular land borders one can use to access Rwanda include Katuna or Gatuna border from Uganda, Gisenyi with D.R. Congo, Cyanika border with Uganda and Rusizi border with D.R. Congo.
Popular Rwanda Safari FAQs
Below are some of the most popular Rwanda safari questions and answers that will help you plan your trip better.
- What can I see on a Rwanda holiday? You can see mountain gorillas, wildlife, chimpanzees, culture and many tourist sites.
- Do you offer Rwanda tour packages? Yes. We offer Rwanda tour packages that give you the best experience in a short time.
- Can I book a Rwanda vacation from any country? Yes. You can book from Nigeria, South Africa, India, USA, UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Qatar, UAE and many others.
- What is the top place to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda? Volcanoes National Park is the top place to see mountain gorillas.
- Where can I see chimpanzees in Rwanda? You can see chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park and Gishwati-Mukura National Park.
- Where can I see the big five animals in Rwanda? You can see the big five in Akagera National Park.
- Can I do a balloon safari in Rwanda? Yes. Balloon safaris are done in Akagera National Park.
- What can I do in Kigali during my vacation? You can visit the genocide memorial, Kimironko Market, Caplaki Crafts Village or ride horses on Mount Kigali.
- What makes Rwanda special for tourists? Rwanda has mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, wildlife, lakes, mountains and rich history.
- What countries border Rwanda? Rwanda borders Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Why is Rwanda called the land of a thousand hills? It is called this because the country has many hills and mountains.
- How many national parks are in Rwanda? Rwanda has four national parks. These are Volcanoes, Akagera, Nyungwe and Gishwati-Mukura.
- Can I do a canopy walk in Rwanda? Yes. You can do the canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park.
- What wildlife can I see in Rwanda besides gorillas? You can see golden monkeys, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, antelopes, buffaloes and many bird species.
- Are there cultural activities in Rwanda? Yes. You can enjoy cultural tours, museum visits, cycling tours and mountain hiking.
- Is Akagera National Park good for game drives? Yes. It is the only park in Rwanda where you can do game drives.
- Can I add Akagera after gorilla trekking? Yes. Many travelers add Akagera after visiting gorillas and chimpanzees.
- Can I visit the Dian Fossey tomb? Yes. You can visit the tomb near Volcanoes National Park.
- What historical sites can I visit in Rwanda? You can visit places that explain Rwanda’s history from long ago to today.
- What should I pack for a Rwanda safari? Carry rain jackets, umbrellas, waterproof shoes, sweaters, binoculars, cameras and snacks.
- What is the best time to visit Rwanda? The dry season is the best time because trails are dry and views are clear.
- Can I visit Rwanda in the wet season? Yes. You can visit any time of the year.
- Why is the dry season recommended? Trails are easy to walk and vegetation is short, giving better views.
- How do I travel to Rwanda? You can fly to Kigali International Airport or enter by land from nearby countries.
- Do I need a passport to visit Rwanda? Yes. You need a valid passport or accepted travel document.
- What is the main airport in Rwanda? Kigali International Airport is the main airport.
- Can I enter Rwanda by road from Uganda? Yes. You can use Gatuna or Cyanika borders.
- Can I enter Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo? Yes. You can use the Gisenyi or Rusizi borders.
- How many chimpanzees live in Rwanda? There are about 400 chimpanzees in Nyungwe and Gishwati-Mukura.
- What activities can I do besides wildlife? You can visit lakes, hike mountains, explore markets, buy crafts and learn local culture.
