What you should know about Rwanda safari
Rwanda is an East African country which is also referred to as the land of a thousand hills and there are different things to know about the country which include the following;
Travel information to know about Rwanda
The currency used in Rwanda is the Rwanda Francs but tourists can also make different transactions during their safaris using US dollars. Credit cards can also be used as form of payment for services in Rwanda.
Tourists require visa to visit Rwanda and can be got on arrival in the country at different points of entry. The cost of visa for Rwanda is 50 USD per person for a single entry in the country. There are some countries which are visa exempt in Rwanda including the African union, La Francophonie countries, and common wealth countries.
Other entry requirements for Rwanda include passport which is valid for at least 6 months.
Safari destinations in Rwanda
There are different destinations which can be visited during Rwanda safaris and they include Volcanoes national park, Nyungwe forest national park, Akagera national park, Lake Kivu among others.
Volcanoes national park is known for being the gorilla trekking destination in Rwanda where tourists can enjoy encounters with the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Many other activities are done around the national park including golden monkey tracking, hiking, bird watching among others.
Akagera national park which is located in the eastern part of Rwanda is the wildlife safari destination to visit for a chance to see the big five (elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos, rhinos) and many other wildlife species like antelopes, hippos, giraffes among others around the savannah plains.
Nyungwe forest national park is the ultimate primate destination to visit during a safari in Rwanda and it is home to different primate species including chimpanzees, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys among others.
What to pack for safari in Rwanda
There are different items to pack for a safari in Rwanda depending on the activities to be done during the visit.
Some of the items to pack for the trip to Rwanda include good hiking shoes, long sleeved shirts, trousers, sunscreen, insect repellant, sunhat, binoculars, cameras, comfortable clothing among others.
When to visit Rwanda for safari
Safaris in Rwanda can be done all year round but the best time to visit the country is during the months of June, July, August and September and also around December, January and February which are part of the dry season.
During the dry season, it is easier to engage in different activities during the Rwanda safari such as gorilla trekking and also wildlife viewing around the different destinations in the country. In the rainy season around March to May and also in October and November, some tourists prefer to visit the country to avoid crowds and also enjoy more exclusive safari experiences which can also be discounted.
Activities to do in Rwanda during safari
There are different activities which are done during safaris around Rwanda and they include gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking, chimpanzee trekking, hiking, bird watching, community tours, city tours, boat safaris, canopy walk, game drives, coffee tours, among others.
Gorilla trekking is done in Volcanoes national park and is among the popular activities carried out during Rwanda safaris. Golden monkey trekking, climbing the Virunga mountain, bird watching and community tours are also done around the national park.
When visiting Nyungwe national park in Rwanda, tourists can enjoy chimpanzee trekking experiences, canopy walks, guided nature walks, bird watching and also coffee tours in the neighboring area.
Boat safaris in Rwanda can be done in destinations such as Lake Kivu, around Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo among other destinations.
Game drives take place in the morning and afternoon during tours in Akagera national park where tourists can also enjoy boat rides on Lake Ihema and also take part in bird watching experiences.
Where to stay during safaris in Rwanda
Rwanda has different accommodation facilities where tourists can spend their nights during their safaris in the country and they include budget, midrange and luxury hotels.
Attractions to see during safari in Rwanda
Some of the attractions to see during safaris in Rwanda include Volcanoes national park, Nyungwe national park, Akagera national park, Lake Kivu, national museum at Butare, Lake Kivu, Kings palace museum at Nyanza, among others.
Duration of safari in Rwanda
Depending on the interests of a traveler and the activities to do during the safari in Rwanda, the trip can be long or short.
A safari in Rwanda can be as short a day tour or go for as long as 10 days or more depending on the destinations visited during the tour.
How to access destinations for safari in Rwanda
The main point of arrival in Rwanda is the Kigali international airport and from the airport, tourists can be driven to the different destinations in te country.
The drive from Kigali to Volcanoes national park in the north western part of Rwanda takes about 2 to 3 hours.
The drive from Kigali to Nyungwe forest national park in the south western part of Rwanda takes about 5 to 6 hours. Tourists can also choose to fly to Kamembe airport to get to Nyungwe national park during their safaris.
The drive from Kigali to Akagera national park in eastern Rwanda takes about 3 to 4 hours.
The different ways to get to the destinations in Rwanda during safari include private transfers using tour operators, car hire or using public transport.
How to book safari in Rwanda
When planning for a safari in Rwanda, there are different steps to put in mind and these safaris can be booked through tour operators.
Some of the steps to follow to book the Rwanda safari include making research about the destinations in Rwanda, setting a budget for the trip, considering duration of the safari, contacting a tour operator, making reservations for the trip, booking the safari and packing for the safari and finally travelling to Rwanda.
