Active adventure holiday in Rwanda – Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes
Active adventure holiday in Rwanda – Rwanda is perfect for active travellers. Highlights include Gorilla tracking in the Virunga Mountains, Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park, and canoeing on the Mukungwa River. There is also the steep day or overnight hikes to the volcanic Virunga peaks, most notably the 4,507metres.
Mount Karisimbi and the 3,711m Mount Bisoke. A diverse selection of hiking trails traverses the densely forested slopes Nyungwe Forest National Park. Then there is the scenic 227kilometres Congo-Nile Trail, which runs roughly parallel to the Eastern shore of Lake Kivu, and takes ten days to complete on foot, five by bicycle, and two or three by 4×4.
Rwanda, known as the Land of the Thousand Hills, is a land locked country in East Africa, is remarkable in its rich wealth of flora and fauna, and the natural scenic beauty of the savannah, like a green carpet, rolling beyond the horizon. The equatorial jungles shrouding the conical Virunga volcanoes, and the mist rising from the hills, give Rwanda an ethereal look.
The must see in Rwanda include the Kigali Memorial Centre, and the Nyamata Church, both poignant reminders of the victims of 1994 Genocide; Inema Art Centre in Kigali, and of course the Virunga National Park, which is home to the endangered Mountain Gorillas. Rwanda with its easy pace relaxes your senses and is a perfect getaway.
For the adventure seekers, there are many options like the Primate Safaris, Trips on Lake Ihema to spot the Nile crocodiles and hippo pods, Chimpanzee tracking in the Nyungwe Forest, hiking and trekking in the Waterfall Trail in Nyungwe and Volcano Safaris.
Kinyarwanda is the local language, but English and French are also the official languages here. The currency is Rwandan Franc. There are ATMs available offering a better exchange rate than banks. The natives are very friendly.
Why travel to Rwanda?
The landlocked country of Rwanda has four neighbours, Tanzania, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. As a holiday destination is it known for the Mountain Gorillas in the Virunga Mountains, which Dian Fossey so famously spent her life researching. Her book ‘Gorillas in the Mist’ and subsequent film has worldwide acclaim. The climate is subtropical with two rainy seasons. Rwanda is rebuilding its economy after the genocide in the mid-1900s with the Tutsi and Hutus, and coffee and tea are its main exports.
Gorilla and Wildlife Safari Holiday in Uganda and Rwanda
Highlights
Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, with further opportunity in Rwanda’s Virunga National Park
Rhino Sanctuary visit and Murchison Falls National Park on the shores of the Nile
Chimpanzee trek in Kibale Forest, Ishasha tree climbing lions and game drives
Visit the lovely Lake Bunyonyi and Queen Elizabeth National Park
This fabulous wildlife safari holiday to Uganda and Rwanda focuses on tracking the endangered Mountain Gorillas as well as the wildlife highlights of these countries. Our adventure begins with a ‘Rhino Walk’ at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary to see these beautiful and also endangered giants.
We then move to the Murchison Falls National Park where we enjoy boat safaris, game drives on the shores of the River Nile, and see the famous waterfalls. Hippos, elephant and giraffe are all found on the river banks and give us a lovely start to this two-week wildlife holiday. We then track Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest National Park (forest elephants here as well) with its splendid views over to the Rwenzori Mountains, and pop to the Bigodi Wetlands for some further monkeys and to see its prolific birdlife.
Continuing south we cross the Equator line and enter Queen Elizabeth National Park for some classic game drives to see lion, leopard, buffalo, Uganda kobs, elephants and much more. We include Ishasha where the lions, unusually, hang out in the trees. From our hotel base on Lake Bunyonyi we track the gorillas in their forest habitat – a most humbling of wildlife experiences.
A couple of days later we are in Rwanda in Virunga National Park, where we have a free day to take advantage of a list of further awesome wildlife to see – we can purchase a further Gorilla permit and see them here, near Dian Fossey’s famous hide-out in the forest. Or we can go see the Golden monkeys, before we have time at Lake Kivu, Gisenyi and Kigali for a city tour and our flight home. These two countries are both beautiful, they contain some very special wildlife and this holiday will truly be on this once-in-a-lifetime safari experience.
Brief Itinerary for your active adventure holiday in Rwanda
Meet at the group guesthouse. A transfer from Entebbe International Airport is provided.
Drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a Rhino trek and continue to Murchison Falls National Park.
Full day at Murchison Falls National Park with a morning game drive and afternoon boat safari
Transfer southwest to Kibale Forest National Park. Overnight at guest farm near Fort Portal
Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Forest and Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary
Cross over the Equator line and drive to the Queen Elizabeth National Park. Evening game drive
Day in Queen Elizabeth National Park with a morning game drive, afternoon boat safari
Transfer to Ishasha to see the famous tree climbing lions. Overnight in a nearby hotel
Travelling south you arrive at Lake Bunyonyi – one of the loveliest places in Uganda.
Mountain Gorilla Tracking
Drive to the border and cross into Rwanda, continue to Ruhengeri and Kinigi.
Optional second Gorilla Tracking, Dian Fossey tombs, Golden monkeys or Mt Bisoke. Drive to Gisenyi.
Lake Kivu, Gisenyi and the singing fishermen
Transfer to Kigali, city tour. Depart from Kigali Airport.