Rwanda as a tourism destination: why visit Rwanda for safari
Rwanda as a tourism destination, tourism in Rwanda is the largest source of foreign exchange earnings and it was projected to grow at a rate of 25% every year from 2013-2018. The sector is the biggest contributor to the national export strategy. The sector has attracted direct foreign investments with major international hotel brands setting which include; Marriot Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Blue, Park Inn by Radisson, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, Protea Hotels by Marriott, Golden Tulip Hotels, and Zinc. Rwanda is set to become a regional and international conference hub owing to ever-improving conference facilities, conversion centers, an excellent and expanding transportation network and straightforward immigration procedures such as the ability for online visa applications, visa-free for all Africans, and a one-tourist visa policy for the EAC.
Rwanda as tourism destination has made is rapid increase on the world map as a first-class tourism destination and Rwanda Development Board has signed a partnership with London-based Arsenal Football Club and French association football giant Paris Saint-Germain F.C. both to run until 2025 and one with the German Bundesliga Giants FC Bayern München that goes up to 2028 in order to help build the country’s tourism industry which has lifted overall tourism numbers by 8%, according to Rwandan officials.
Rwanda is located in East Africa with extensive natural beauty and the tour groups are led by experienced guides who specialize in teaching others about the landscape and wildlife of Rwanda. Visit volcanoes, waterfalls and rainforests which are home to many different African animals. Rwanda is home to a hugely diverse population of animals, including mountain gorillas and the world’s largest natural park for hippos, and 20,000 are believed to live there.
Best Tourism Destinations in Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is part of the larger Virunga Conservation Area and is a center for all Rwandan gorilla safaris, also sheltering many mountain gorillas. This is the most accessible park being a two hour drive from Kigali international airport for gorilla trekking. Sharing a border with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this national park in Rwanda is home to a growing number of critically endangered mountain gorillas where it is estimated that there are about 700 gorillas in the park and since 2005, there has been a tradition of naming newborn mountain gorillas.
Besides gorillas, Volcanoes National park is a home for golden monkeys, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects with other creatures which together make a complete Rwanda safari package. This park was named after dominant volcanoes making up Virunga which include; Bisoke with its verdant crater lake, Sabyinyo, Gahinga, Muhabura and the highest at 4,507 meters is Karisimbi
Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe forest national park is one of the oldest rainforests in Rwanda which is spectacularly beautiful and it is rich in biodiversity with a total of 1,068 plant species with 140 orchid species including 322 species of birds including red-collared babbler. The national park consists of 75 mammalian species which include; serval cat, mongoose, Congo clawless otter and leopard among others. Most tourists visit this rainforest to track chimpanzees, other primate species including L’Hoest monkey which are endemic to the Albertine Rift.
The national park is a home to the only canopy walk in East Africa being roughly a 90-minute hike from the Uwinka Visitor Center and visitors walk across a 91m long suspension bridge dangling more than 50 meters above the verdant rainforest viewing treetops and mountains in the distance.
Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park is located in eastern Rwanda with 2,500 km2 of mainly Savannah land and the park is named after the Kagera River that flows along Rwanda’s eastern boundary with Tanzania, where the river pours into Lake Ihema and other smaller lakes around the park. This national park protects savanna landscapes of acacia and bush with open grassland with a dozen swampy lakes. It is protects wildlife and some of them include; elephants, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, leopard, hyena, lions, rhinos and several antelopes like bushbucks, topis, oribis, water-buck, roan antelope, duiker, klipspringer, impala, world largest antelope and the cape eland. Watch schools of hippos and Nile crocodiles lying in the sun near Lake Ihema, common primates which include; Olive baboons, Vervet monkeys, Blue monkeys, and Bush babies. Visitors can also see the environment make a shift from savanna plains, to wetlands, and to lakes.
Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is Rwanda’s largest lake and the sixth largest in Africa covering surface area of 2700km2. Lake Kivu has lively waterfront of sandy beaches mixed with resorts. Lake Kivu is known as one of the safest lakes in Africa and there are no dangerous animals such as hippos or crocodiles with hundreds of islands. The most known island in Lake Kivu is Napoleon Island outside Karongi which is a conservation area and home to one of Africa’s largest colonies of straw colored fruit bats and the common way to explore Lake Kivu is through one of the standard tour boats with benches and a roof.
Congo Nile Trail
The Congo Nile Trail is a hiking and mountain biking trail along the Congo Nile divided between Rusizi and Rubavu. The Congo Nile Trail has 8 biking stages and 10 hiking stages and each stage takes one day to complete, with food and accommodation at the end of each stage. This Congo Nile Trail passes through the wonderful scenery of Lake Kivu and the green Rwandan hills. The trail passes through 5 districts namely; Rubavu, Rutsiro, Karongi, Nyamasheke and Rusizi and the Nile trail passes through Nyungwe and Gishwati Mukura forest national park.
Kigali Genocide Memorial
The Kigali Genocide Memorial at Gisozi is where the 250,000 victims have been buried, making the place serve as an education center on how the genocide against the Tutsi took place during the 20th century. Walls of names are dedicated to those who died and though many of the victims of the genocide are unknown, names are yet to be found. The memorial gardens provide a quiet contemplation place about the history of the genocide against the Tutsi.
Gishwati Forest
Rwanda as a tourism destination: Gishwati Forest is part of Gishwati-Mukura Forest National Park and it is managed by Wilderness Safaris in collaboration with the Forest of Hope Association and Rwanda Development Board. The most popular activities are Chimpanzee tracking, hiking and birding, primate trek where you will see the blue and L’Hoest monkeys and Andalsoa and community walk in the nearby villages.
