Rwanda wildlife safaris/wildlife safaris in Rwanda are one of the most amazing tours in the land of a thousand hills that you can engage in when you visit East Africa.

Wildlife tours in Rwanda will take you to Rwanda wildlife safari national parks to see unique wildlife species ranging from primates and the big game. The major attraction on a Rwanda safari are the Mountain Gorillas that you can see during Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park.

Rwanda wildlife safaris give you the thrill of Gorilla trekking along other attractions on a Rwanda tour. We shall make your dream come true if you have been longing for wildlife tours along with Rwanda Gorilla trekking tours.

4 National Parks harbor wildlife species that tourists can explore. The busiest is Volcanoes National Park offering Gorilla safari trips since it has Mountain Gorillas and tourists can always enjoy the Gorilla trekking experience.

There is also Nyungwe National Park fond of other primates, especially Chimpanzees ideal for Chimpanzee trekking. Nyungwe National Park is also fond of the Nyungwe forest canopy walk which gives you aerial views of the park alongside views of bird species.

Rwanda wildlife safari tours are more epic in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park, the only savannah national park in Rwanda. Akagera National Park is home to the Big Five – Lions, Elephants, Buffaloes, Rhinos, and Leopards that you can see on a Rwanda tour.

Akagera Park offers you an amazing game drive, a boat cruise on Lake Ihema, birding, and sport fishing.

Tourists can extend the Rwanda wildlife safari tour to Dian Fossey’s grave, visit the genocide memorial centers or hike Mount Karisimbi with views of the Crater Lake.

These safaris can be combined with other tours to give you remarkable memories of an African safari holiday.

Rwanda Wildlife Safari – Major Activities

Some of the main safari activities to enjoy on a wildlife safari in Rwanda are;

1. Visiting Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda
2. Mountain Gorilla trekking in Rwanda at Volcanoes National Park
3. Tracking Chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park
4. Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
5. Game drive in Akagera National Park
6. Biking along the Congo Nile Trail
7. Bird watching in Rwanda – Nyungwe Forest National Park and Lake Kivu
8. Boat cruise on Lake Ihema and Lake Kivu
9. Cultural and community visits to places like the Ibyiwacu cultural village for traditional dances especially during cultural tours
10. Visiting the genocide memorial centers like Gisozi, Murambi, Nyamata, Bisesero, and Ntarama
11. Hiking Mount Karisimbi and Bisoke
12. Visiting the grave of Dian Fossey and her former Karisoke Research Centre
13. Sport fishing in Rwanda

Rwanda Tour – Major Attractions

There are many attractions in Rwanda that you can see on your wildlife safari, and these are found within the national parks.

They are mostly within the;

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is an amazing place for those on wildlife tours in Rwanda since it has amazing wildlife species including primates and bird species. This park is situated within the Virunga Mountain ranges and it is a thick forest home to 12 habituated Gorilla families.

Most tourists come to Volcanoes National Park for Mountain Gorilla trekking so that they meet the endangered Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat. This park is rich with a mosaic of montane ecosystems with bamboo forests, open grassland, swamps, and heath.

Visitors can arrange to see the former Dian Fossey research station at the Karisoke Research Centre before embarking on the Gorilla trekking experience.

This park also has other wildlife species like Forest Elephants, Forest Hogs, and Buffalos, primate species like Golden Monkeys, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, and many other monkey species.

There are also bird species and butterflies that tourists can see on a wildlife safari in Rwanda during nature walks along the hiking trails.

Volcanoes National Park has several volcanoes and mountains like Mount Bisoke, Sabyinyo, and Karisimbi that you can hike on a Rwanda tour and get scenic views like that of a Crater Lake.

For adventurous Rwanda tours, you can combine Gorilla trekking in Rwanda meeting the Gorilla families with a hike to one of the Mountains.

Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe Forest National Park is an amazing destination among the national parks with enchanting attractions that you can see on a Rwanda wildlife safari. It is a tropical forest having over 1000 plant species and several bird species.

After Gorilla trekking in Rwanda on a Rwanda tour in Volcanoes National Park, you can visit Nyungwe Forest National Park for Chimpanzee tracking while on a Rwanda wildlife safari to meet the Chimps in their natural habitat. There are about 240 bird species in this thick forest which makes it a birder’s paradise.

During Chimpanzee trekking or birding in Nyungwe Forest National Park, you can also see other primate species like Baboons, Golden Monkeys, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Colobus Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, and other monkey species alongside other animals like Forest Elephants, Buffaloes, etc.

The Nyungwe forest canopy walk is a must for birders and those who have come to track Chimpanzee species in Nyungwe Forest National Park on Rwanda tours. Nyungwe forest park offers the best nature walks along the well-hiking trails like the canopy walk.

Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park is the best place to go for a Rwanda wildlife safari since it is the only savannah national park in Rwanda. This park is located in the eastern part of the country and its savannah is like that of other countries in East Africa – Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda.

Akagera National Park has permanent water sources where mammal species gather for game viewing during Rwanda tours like the Akagera River and Lake Shakani.

The most popular safari activity to enjoy in Akagera National Park is the game drive which is best for sighting animals like Hyenas, Jackals, Elephants, Giraffes, Lions, Baboons, Zebras, Buffalos, etc.

You can also see a few primate species in their natural habitat in this park like Baboons, Vervet Monkeys, and other monkey species, etc.

There are also over 500 bird species to spot in Akagera National Park during birding Rwanda tours, especially during nature walks.

Also, a boat cruise on Lake Ihema is a highlight of a safari in Akagera National Park as you get to see large pods of Hippos, Nile Crocodiles, and many water bird species on the island in the middle of the lake.

Giswati-mukuru National Park

This is the newest national park in Rwanda amongst other national parks and it consists of two separate forests the larger being Gishwati and the smaller one being Mukura and they form a total area of 34 km2 plus a buffer zone.

This park has over 60 bird species and a natural habitat for several Chimpanzees. These apes live alongside other primate species like Golden Monkeys, L’Hoest’s, Blue Monkeys, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, and other wildlife species.

Some of the activities to do in this thick forest during the Rwanda wildlife safari include guided nature hikes, Chimpanzee tracking, bird watching, and a visit to the waterfalls making Rwanda safaris superb.

Other attractions and places to visit;

Lake Kivu

Lake Kivu is the largest freshwater lake in Rwanda situated at the border between Rwanda and DR Congo and it is a natural wonder to see on Rwanda safaris. This lake flows at 1450m above the ground making it the highest in Africa.

Lake Kivu also experiences eruptions of carbon dioxide from its depth. Congo tour packages can also enlist this lake for better experiences.

A boat cruise is the best to explore Lake Kivu on a Rwanda wildlife safari and it can be combined with Rwanda Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Genocide Memorial Centers

If you are visiting Rwanda, then you should visit the Genocide Memorial centers to witness the three months genocide that saw hundreds of thousands of Tutsis and moderate Hutus massacred in 1994.

There are 3 genocide memorial sites within Kigali the capital city. You can explore the genocide memorial sites on your visit Rwanda tour during cultural tours.

Mount Karisimbi

This is one of the highest in Africa and it is part of the Virunga range. Those who hike to its summit on the hiking trails during Rwanda safaris can get views of Volcanoes National Park, bird species, and many primate species.

Tourists can always opt to hike Mount Karisimbi or go Gorilla trekking in Rwanda in Volcanoes Park. Combing the hike and Gorilla trekking during a Rwanda wildlife safari private tour is adventurous and memorable.

What Animals are there to see on a Rwanda Wildlife Safari? | What Wildlife Does Rwanda Have? | What Animals Do You See on Safari in Rwanda?

Rwanda has over 189 mammal species and other wildlife species that you can see on a Rwanda wildlife safari private tour. You can find the endangered Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in different Gorilla families and also other primate species like Chimpanzees for Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park, Golden Monkeys, and other monkey species, etc.

It is also home to the Big Five animals that you see during your Rwanda safaris.

Some of the animals to see on a Rwanda wildlife safari include;

• Lions
• Leopards
• Forest Elephants
• Buffaloes
• Zebras
• Black Rhinos
• Hyenas
• Jackals
• Giraffes
• Bush pigs
• Baboons
• Vervet Monkeys
• Black and White Colobus Monkeys
• Bushbucks
• Topis
• Oribis
• Waterbuck
• Roan antelope
• Duiker
• Klipspringer
• Impala
• Eland

What Is the Best time of Year to Safari in Rwanda? | What Is the Best Time for a Rwanda Wildlife Safari?

Rwanda wildlife safari tours are good all year though they are most ideal in the dry season. This is basically from December to February and from June to August. The grasses are short making game viewing easy and park accessibility is easy.

Rwanda Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park on a Rwanda tour are also good during this time. A game drive in Akagera National Park is also amazing during this time as you can spot many wildlife species in clear savannahs.

Migratory bird species are in the country from November to April and you can view water bird species on Lake Kivu during boat cruises.

Is Rwanda Good for Safari?

Yes, Rwanda is good for safari as the land of a thousand hills and it has 5 volcanos that tourists can hike and get amazing views of the Crater Lake. This land locked country is one of the few countries in East Africa having Mountain Gorillas with over 12 habituated Gorilla families ideal for Gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

Rwanda safaris take you Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park as they can as well Golden Monkey trekking with sightings of other primate species. One can opt to avoid the forest floor and embark on a Nyungwe forest canopy walk which is also ideal for photography.

Game drives are also good in Akagera National Park, and you can see several savannah animals and many bird species. You can enjoy boat cruises on Lake Kivu or Lake Ihema.

Tourists on a Rwanda wildlife safari can also engage in cultural tours by visiting historical sites, cultural villages like Ibyiwacu cultural village, and genocide memorial centers.

Birding is amazing in Nyungwe National Park and Volcanoes Park with colorful species of birds.

How much is Gorilla Trek in Rwanda?

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda cost depends on many factors. First, you need to consider the price of a Gorilla permit which is at $1500 from the Rwanda Development Board. If you are going for Gorilla tracking to meet any Gorilla group or Gorilla family, you require accommodation, transport, and essential items to use.

On your explore Rwanda Gorilla safari, you may as well require porters who will help you lift heavy things. For the best offers, use tour operators.

After Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, you can consider other activities on a Rwanda wildlife safari like trekking Chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park and game drives in Akagera National Park.

Are there Wild animals In Rwanda?

Yes, there are wild animals that you can see on a Rwanda wildlife safari private tour. The list starts with Gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park which offer the best Gorilla safari tours during Gorilla trekking.

There are chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park that you meet during Chimp trekking. You can track Golden Monkeys in Volcanoes National Park, and meet the Big Five – Lions, Elephants, Buffaloes, Leopards, and Rhinos in Akagera National Park the only savannah national park in Rwanda.

You can see so many wild animals during Rwanda wildlife safari tours.

How Much Is Gorilla Experience in Rwanda?

The cost of Gorilla trekking in Rwanda depends on many factors, including the Gorilla trekking permit from Rwanda Development Board, transfers, accommodation, and meals. The price of Gorilla trekking includes a trekking guide, one hour with a Gorilla family or Gorilla group, and park entrance fees.

A two-day Gorilla trekking in Rwanda safari costs around $2000.

How safe is Gorilla trekking in Rwanda?

Yes, Gorilla tracking is safe during Rwanda safari tours. On your Gorilla tracking tour, you are escorted by Rwanda patriotic armed ranger guides who offer you full protection.

The Gorilla families that you trek during Gorilla trekking are fully habituated meaning less danger is expected from them during explore Rwanda tours.

Always follow the Gorilla trekking rules so that you stay safe in the presence of a Gorilla family or Gorilla group.

Is It Safe to Travel to Rwanda to See Gorillas?

Yes, it is safe to travel to Rwanda to see Gorilla families during Rwanda safaris. Rwanda the land of thousand hills is one of the safest countries to travel to Africa. The crime rate is low as you can walk on the streets freely without any harm.

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes Park is safe same as Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Every Gorilla group/Gorilla family that you track is fully habituated meaning that there is less harm.

The people of Rwanda are very welcoming, and you will enjoy their smiling faces and the respect they will show you. Also, the transport means in the country of Rwanda are safe and reliable, so expect no harm when you visit Rwanda.

Is Uganda or Rwanda Better for Gorilla Trekking?

Both Rwanda and Uganda are good destinations for gorilla trekking. However different the experience might be, you are only permitted 1 hour to spend time with a Gorilla group/Gorilla family in both countries.

Gorilla tracking in Rwanda requires a Gorilla trekking permit from Rwanda Development Board which costs $1500 in a Rwanda safari and the Gorilla trekking permit in Uganda costs $700.

Uganda has more habituated Gorilla families (20) than Rwanda as it has only 12 habituated Gorilla families.

Gorilla trekking safaris cannot be one day in Uganda yet in Rwanda you can enjoy a one-day Gorilla trekking safari.

Uganda can sell 160 Gorilla trekking permits a day while Rwanda can only sell 90 Gorilla trekking permits a day.

Also, Uganda has two places to go for Mountain Gorilla tracking which are Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park whereas Rwanda has only Volcanoes National Park where you can trek Gorillas when you visit Rwanda.

Choosing either of the destinations for Mountain Gorilla trekking depends on the tourists’ schedule and budget but both countries are amazing for Gorilla trekking safaris.

Where can I see animals in Rwanda?

You can see animals on a Rwanda wildlife safari in the 4 national parks when you visit Rwanda. Gorilla families are within Volcanoes National Park and tourists can always go Gorilla trekking to meet the habituated Gorilla families and also go for Golden Monkey Trekking and you can meet Forest Elephants as well in this park.

Chimpanzees are within Nyungwe Forest National Park and Giswati-mukuru National Park and tourists can always enjoy Chimp trekking in these national parks.

The Big Five – Lions, Elephants, Leopards, Rhinos, and Buffaloes are within Akagera National Park the only savannah national park and you can enjoy game drives if you want to see these animals and boat cruises on Lake Kivu during Rwanda wildlife safari trips.

Rwanda Safari Lodges/Safari Lodges in Rwanda | Where to Stay During Your Rwanda Wildlife Safari Tours

On your Rwanda safari, there are exclusive safari lodges where you can stay for the trip in the national parks. These lodges are classified into Luxury, Midrange, and budget accommodation.

Luxury lodges on a Rwanda safari include; Magashi Camp, Akagera Game Lodge, Ruzizi Tented Lodge, etc.

Midrange lodges on a Rwanda safari include; Karenge Bush Camp, La Palme Hotel, Garr Hotel, Garden Place Hotel, Best View Hotel, etc.

Budget safari lodges on a Rwanda safari include; Dereva Hotel, Akagera National Park Camp, Shakani Akagera Campsite, Mutamba Akagera Campsite, Muyumba Campsites, etc.

Top Rwanda Wildlife Safari Packages

7 Days Rwanda Safari Tour – Mountain Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Lake Kivu, Golden Monkeys, Mount Karisimbi

8 Days Rwanda Safari Holiday – Mountain Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Golden Monkeys, Wildlife safari, Lake Kivu Boat launch, Mount Karisimbi & Community Tours

10 Days Rwanda safari – Gorilla trekking, Golden Monkeys, Lake Kivu, Mount Karisimbi & Scenery

12 Days Rwanda safari – Gorilla Trekking, Nyungwe Forest, Chimpanzees, Golden Monkeys, Wildlife safari & Communities

Conclusively, Rwanda wildlife safari tours are amazing and will offer you the best game viewing within the national parks of Rwanda. You can go Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park to meet the Gorilla families and track Chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park.

A Rwanda safari is rewarding when you go to Akagera National Park the only savannah park in Rwanda for game drives. Enjoy boat cruises on Lake Kivu and visit the genocide memorial centers and the Karisoke research center.

Rwanda wildlife safari trips can be combined with other Rwanda safari holidays to give you remarkable experiences of an African Safari in other national parks like bird watching, and cultural tours with a visit to the cultural villages, especially the Ibyiwacu Cultural Village.

For Remarkable Rwanda Safari Holidays, Please Inquire