Best Gorilla Trekking & Wildlife Rwanda Safaris

Rwanda is famous for its gorilla trekking opportunities in the Virunga Mountains. This is where Dian Fossey researched and habituated mountain gorillas in the 1960s. Although gorilla trekking is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the country has a lot more to offer. If gorilla trekking is beyond your budget, Rwanda is still worth visiting as an up-and-coming destination offering primate walks, volcano hikes and bird watching in Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe National Park, plus boat trips on Lake Kivu in the Rift Valley and classic safaris in search of the Big Five in low-key Akagera National Park.

Safari to the “land of a thousand hills”

Easily traversed, Rwanda is one of Africa’s most thrilling destinations – promising unique wildlife encounters, stunning landscapes, and warm, proud people. A land of astonishing beauty, Rwanda has risen from its troubled history. Today the tiny country of nearly 13 million people is Africa’s economic poster child, a model of reconciliation, regeneration and sustainability.

There is more to green and hilly Rwanda than meets the eye: it is also home to the primate-filled Nyungwe Forest National Park, where boisterous chimpanzees frolic and the skies are filled with a myriad of birds. In low-lying eastern Rwanda, Akagera National Park offers big game viewing in a diverse savannah setting with safari heavyweights including lions and elephants.

Rwanda might be one of Africa’s smallest nations, but it is proudly home to an abundance of excellent wildlife diversity. Its modest size means that getting between places of interest is relatively quick and simple, which is just as well given the vast array of spectacular places to visit in Rwanda. Despite the country’s small size, Rwanda’s breathtaking environment and kind, welcoming people provide one-of-a-kind experiences. With incredible species inhabiting its volcanoes, highland rainforests, and wide plains, you will be sure to encounter many endemic animals on safari tours in Rwanda.

Rwanda is 1.5 times the size of South Africa’s Kruger National Park and almost all points of interest are about a 4-hour drive from Kigali. You can expect to hike with endangered mountain gorillas, climb to the tops of towering volcanoes, and relax by the enchanting and timeless Lake Kivu. You may find some Rwanda tourist attractions that can help you better plan your dream itinerary to this remarkable East African country.

Best Time to Travel to Rwanda

The best time to visit Rwanda is during the dry season of June to September. This is also the best time of year to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda as these periods offer the best hiking conditions and the lowest risk of malaria.

You can trek to see mountain gorillas and visit Rwanda outside of these optimum times of year, but bear in mind that it may be more difficult due to rainfall as well as steep and muddy hiking paths. You must be in relatively good shape before you commence your trek as you will be hiking to the mountain gorillas in the dense, tropical jungles of Rwanda.