Rwanda Attractions – Destinations
Bordered by well-known Tanzania and Uganda, Rwanda is a small country in East Africa with big tourism potential and a lot of Rwanda attractions to offer budget and luxury travelers alike. With Rwanda attractions opportunities to see wildlife and culture as well as hike and relax, we avail you a number of Rwanda tours options to make Rwanda your travel choice so easily.
Rwanda’s headline attraction – and currently the reason for much of its tourism – is its population of mountain gorillas. It’s one of only three countries in the world where you can still find them in the wild, and the leader when it comes to their conservation.
On a trek in the Volcanoes National Park, not far from Kigali, visitors are led by trained guides through the forest in search of gorillas, and can spend a whole hour up close and personal with them once they find them – close enough to see the glints in their eyes.
There are other Rwanda attractions, and efforts are underway to return them to their former glory. Tucked away in the north east of the country, and opened in 1934, Akagera National Park has been quietly rebuilding its stock of large plains game species. Lions were reintroduced last year and there are plans to reintroduce black rhino too, restoring the park’s ‘Big 5’ status.
If monkeys are more your thing, head south to the dense forests of Nyungwe National Park. Covering over 1,000 square kilometres of pristine mountain rainforest, the park is home to 25% of all primates in Africa, including chimpanzees, and East Africa’s only canopy walkway.
Rwanda Attractions, Travellers’ Top Picks
From some of the world’s most wonderful wildlife to a particularly progressive capital, Rwanda is a diverse and different destination that ought to be on your bucket list. Here are some Rwanda Tours choices for your Rwanda Safari Planning.
Speaking of primates, you can also view chimpanzees in the wild in Rwanda and one of the best places to do so is Nyungwe Forest. With canopy walks and waterfall hikes, the scenery here is breathtaking and the many bird and butterfly species, as well as golden monkey populations, definitely make it one of the top things to do in Rwanda. There are actually 13 hikes in this park – that’s over 130km of trails – most of which traverse ancient and stunning rainforest.
Akagera National Park
Rwanda’s top national park, Akagera is a safari paradise and is the last protected wetland in Central Africa. It’s the only place in Rwanda where you can see the Big 5 and these are accompanied by giraffes, zebra as well as antelope, baboons and hundreds of species of birds. So don’t feel like you have to go to Kenya, Tanzania or Uganda for your safari experience, heading to Akagera is definitely one of the best things to do in Rwanda.
Kigali Genocide Memorial
Rwanda’s recent history can be hard to stomach, but the Genocide Memorial Centre in the capital Kigali does a fantastic job of educating us about it and providing an important space of remembrance and peace. Taking the audio guide through the exhibition and displays is highly recommended and well worth paying the extra for, giving you an in-depth understanding of the horrors that took place here in 1994 as it does. The centre also acts as a burial ground and a vital space for the nation’s bereaved. Opened in 1999, it’s been incredibly well put together with some beautiful garden spaces surrounding it.
Hotel Des Mille Collines
It seems strange to be linking one of the worst genocides in human history with some the best things to do in Rwanda, but if you’ve seen the movie, Hotel Rwanda, you’ll know what I mean. This incredible film depicts the amazingly brave and true story of the hotel manger here, who managed to keep 1268 people safe inside the building during the killing sprees in 1994. If truth be told, the actual Hotel Rwanda – really called the Hôtel des Mille Collines – was not used in the film, but the real building still exists today in Kigali.A prestigious place, it’s still worth going here in homage to the selfless acts conducted here and to enjoy the view from the terrace.
Kibuye – Lake Kivu
Kibuye juts its way into the blue-brown waters of Lake Kivu in a series of curved headlands and steep-sided bays. Surely one of the most handsome towns in all of Rwanda, it’s surrounded by high hills that come dressed in wisps of mist by morning and offering sweeping views of the lake waters and the islands by afternoon. Between the streets, there are some earthy little eco lodges on the shores, along with one interesting Catholic church, and a memorial to the Rwandan genocide. There’s also a smattering of empty beaches around the center, and oodles of boats available for tours away from the banks.
Why you should visit Rwanda
Kigali, top African Capital
Kigali is considered one of the friendliest capital cities in Africa, and its metropolitan ambience is a great complement to your time in the Rwandan bush country. The population of the city is young, so you will find a diverse range of engaging activities blended with a bit of history and culture. As Rwanda continues to emerge from a tragic past, Kigali represents the future; it has become a thriving center for business and economic development, while maintaining its charming character.
Development has been well planned to preserve the natural contours of the surrounding hillsides. The city is divided into distinct districts, with one reserved for government and administrative buildings. In another district, the city center is surrounded by shops and markets.
In Kigali, a new treasure awaits around each corner as you travel the roads that wind through the city. You can learn about the country’s flora and fauna at the Kandt House (Natural History Museum), which features three sections, each highlighting an aspect of Rwanda’s ecological resources. Geology lovers immensely enjoy the displays in the back section of the museum, dedicated entirely to the country’s volcanism and the astonishing volcanoes in northwest Rwanda.
Discover the country’s evolving artists at Inema Art Center. Stop by Ivuka Arts Center to watch artists make their creations before enjoying a nice lunch at Heaven Restaurant, which is decorated with the artists’ work. Next, head over to Niyo Art Gallery to learn about how art is helping street children in Rwanda, and perhaps make a donation to support the education, medical care, and daily basic needs of less-fortunate Rwandans.
Support sustainable fair-trade tourism by purchasing traditional crafts such as drums, baskets, wood carvings, and ceramics at Capalaki Handicrafts Cooperative, and see local Twa people perform traditional dances at The Dancing Pots. Be sure to take a look at the Parliament Building and Presidential Palace, which contain so much of the country’s history, including debris from the presidential plane that was shot down on April 6, 1994, the catalyst for Rwanda’s darkest chapter.