I guess a safari in Rwanda will never be complete without gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. Trek gorillas as well as make your own gorillas in the mist with a hike up to Dian Fossey’s grave site and learn about her gorilla conservation efforts at Karisoke research center.
Conveniently located in Musanze district Northern Province, just 2 hours drive from Kigali city, Volcanoes National Park has 10 groups of mountain gorillas that have been habituated for visitors.
Safe and eco-friendly gorilla treks
With safety in mind, gorilla treks are conducted by expert Rwandan Development Board guides. Each group of habituated gorillas is restricted to a maximum of 8 visitors for one hour per day.
Treks start early morning at Kinigi gorilla center and visitors should arrive on time for briefing about gorilla trekking guidelines.
Guides assist visitors to hire porters and ensure proper trekking gears including rain coats, hiking boots, cameras, packed lunch and enough drinking water.
Armed rangers provide security and guides will explain exactly what to do when with gorillas in the forest. It may take 1 to 5 hours to locate gorillas.
Once they are found, take your time to photograph and enjoy observing how gorillas play and groom as guides will help to point out individuals and plants they feed on.
Best time to trek gorillas
Gorilla trekking is done all year round. Many visitors prefer dry season during the months of December to February and June to September since there’s less rain and trails are easy to traverse. Being a peak season however, gorilla permits should be booked at least 3-4 months in advance through a tour operator or Rwandan development board.
During wet season in April, May and November treks may be difficult to hike due to wet and slippery trails. But treks tend to be shorter since gorillas tend to feed closer to the park or move less because vegetation is flourishing.
Golden monkeys are not common and their largest population is found in Virunga Conservation Area. For example, Volcanoes National park is a great spot to go golden monkey tracking.
Golden monkeys are delight to behold as it swings swiftly through trees with its long tail. Their fur varies from golden to orange on the upper back and flanks with black linings.
Golden monkeys have been habituated and are frequently encountered in bamboo slopes of Volcanoes National Park. It’s a half day activity even though golden monkeys rarely descend to lower slopes.
Visitors can purchase a permit in advance with a tour operator or obtain one upon arrival at kinigi, the main tourist center.
Relax on Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is the perfect place for a lakeside weekend gateway. The weather is favorable; waters are crocodile and bilharzias free. You can swim and relax on tropical beaches after gorilla trekking safari.
Visit Lake Kivu and enjoy leisure activities including boat rides, kayaking, swimming, sport and traditional fishing, canoeing and birding amidst beautiful rift valley scenery and water views. Also mingle with locals including cultural encounters at Imbabazi orphanage, hike Mount Rubavu and visit the hot springs.
Rubavu or Gisenyi is the largest town on the northern shores of Lake Kivu. It’s a perfect weekend gateway from Kigali city; take a 3 hour drive using a taxi or bus shuttle. From Rubavu visitors can access other towns like Karongi, Rusizi and Idwiji Island by boats or ferry.
Lake Kivu has full service lakeside resorts offering luxury accommodation suitable for family as well as budget lodges. Customize and decide to stay in old colonial mansions or hotels with international standards. Lake Kivu Serena hotel has outdoor swimming pool and spa. The luxurious Moriah hill resort has 18 rooms; Paradise Malahide has 10 rooms, 6 bungalows and 4 private apartments. Options are endless but be sure to get fine dining, bars and cocktails.
Being closer to Goma city in Eastern DRC, Rubavu has opportunities for cross border tourism on a safari to eastern DRC as well as transportation to Nyungwe Forest National Park, coffee and tea tours to Kinunu, Gisovu and Gisakura.
Chimpanzee Tracking
Nyungwe Forest National Park is an ancient rainforest with a concentration of 500 chimpanzees, and few of them inhabit Cyamudongo forest where tracking starts at Uwinka visitor center. You’ll get there with a 4-5 hour drive from Kigali city and wet season April to May and November is best time to see chimps even though it’s done all year round.
Seeing chimpanzee is cheaper at $100 per person than gorilla trekking at $600. Few permits are available for chimpanzee tracking, so it’s recommended to book in advance.
The incredible part of watching chimpanzee is that these apes share 98% of their DNA with humans. They display human like behaviors such as selective feeding, shyness and often get curious upon seeing visitors.
Seeing chimpanzees is more relaxed and time is not limited unlike one hour gorilla trekking. The chimpanzees however, tend to stay high in trees and keep moving and may disappear in canopies.
Chimpanzees are the main tourist attractions. However; Nyungwe forest is rich in biodiversity of flora and fauna. There are 13 species of primates and you can also track the largest troop of 400 black and white Colobus monkeys. While walking through the forest, you get to spot other species like L’Hoest monkey, grey cheeked mangabay blue monkey as well as butterflies, plants and birds.
Volcano climbing
Some of the breathtaking volcanoes on earth can be found in Rwanda. There are three peaks which include Mt. Karisimbi, Mt. Bisoke and Mt. Muhabura. It takes permits purchased in advance with a tour operator or through Rwandan development board to climb the volcanoes.
All volcanoes are non-technical; you need a tent, cold weather gears and food. Guides usually determine weather and help visitors to hire porters.
Mt. Karisimbi at 4,507 meters above sea level takes two days with overnight camping to achieve the summit and descend. This is the highest peak in Rwanda and 5th in Africa. The summit is always covered in clouds, referring to it as white shell mountain. Climbers spend 30 minutes on top getting breathtaking views of Virunga massifs.
Mt. Muhabura at 4,127 meters is the 2nd highest in Rwanda. Its marks the eastern edge of Virunga volcanoes and can be hiked from Rwanda and Uganda. To conquer its summit all the way to the Crater Lake takes between 4-6 hours and this depends on the fitness and pace of the climbers. Spend an hour looking over the valley enjoying views of Blue roofed Nyagahinga market, the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. Your guide shall distinguish for you the furthest Lake of Bunyonyi and kisoro town in the Kigezi highlands of southwestern Uganda.
A Mt. Bisoke 3,700 meter above sea level is considered the easiest taking 2-3 hours.
Before reaching the top, at 2,970 meters, there is the grave site of the famous gorilla conservationist Dian Fossey along with two gorilla graves. The beautiful summit crater Lake Ngezi is a spot for birds and reptile species.
Biking safaris
Explore Rwanda on a biking safari with guided day trips as well as multi-day biking tours. Biking along the Congo-Nile trail along Lake Kivu is an opportunity to experience breathtaking views of a thousand hills and Rwandan local culture as you ride through villages and markets.
Visitors with interest can make a choice with a tour operator to select an adventure that suits their time and budget.
The Congo-Nile trail features other trails that offer a longer adventure from one day to 13 days. The popular ones include coffee tours to Rubavu town or tea plantations in Gisovu and Gisakura. Along these trails, you’ll find overnight camps for accommodation as well as food markets.