about
Rwanda
Rwanda, known as the "Land of a Thousand Hills," enchants visitors with its stunning landscapes, rich biodiversity, and vibrant culture. From the mist-covered mountains of Volcanoes National Park, home to the endangered mountain gorillas, to the lush Nyungwe Forest teeming with primates and birds, Rwanda's natural beauty is awe-inspiring. The serene waters of Lake Kivu and the savannah plains of Akagera National Park offer diverse experiences for nature enthusiasts. Rwanda's capital, Kigali, is a clean and dynamic city that reflects the country's remarkable progress and resilience.
Rwanda Safari destinations
Rwanda is blessed with a number of safari destinations to ensure memorable experiences to visitors. Among them include:
This is a savannah national park situated in the eastern part of Rwanda, along the border with Tanzania. Spanning at least 1,122 square kilometers, this ecosystem is composed of mainly grassland, woodland, swamp, Lake Ihema and the River Kagera, which the park is renamed after. The mentioned habitats provide shelter and food to numerous wildlife, among which include the African Big Five species, impalas, zebras, reedbucks, oribi and giraffes. The park is also endowed with at least 500 unique bird species. These include the rare shoe bill, swamp nightjar and the blue-headed coucal. In addition, Lake Ihema is a tranquil water body whose showers offer boat cruises for visitors.
Found in the northwest of Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is a lush ecosystem that is dominated by montane forest and covers around 160 square kilometers. Found in the Virunga Massif, it is home to over 300 endangered mountain gorillas and other wild animals such as elephants, buffaloes, golden monkeys, duikers and giant forest hogs. Bird species number over 250 species, including Rwenzori batis, Rwenzori turaco, regal sunbird and double collared sunbird. There are 5 out of 8 volcanoes of the Virunga mountains in Volcanoes National Park. These are Bisoke, Sabinyo, Karisimbi, Mgahinga and Muhabura. Adjacent to the forest are the Batwa, whom you can have an encounter with to learn firsthand about their way of life.
What to pack for your safari?
A safari is always successful if you pack a number of items that are highly essential for you to feel comfortable while exploring the captivating safari destinations of Uganda and Rwanda. Therefore, while planning a safari in these countries, you should endeavour to pack the following,
- Long-sleeved shirt and long pair of trousers
- A pair of binoculars
- A pair of hiking shoes or boots
- Light raincoat
- Sweater
- Camera and extra batteries
- Backpack
- Insect repellent
- A pair of gloves
- Energy giving snacks
- Basic first aid kit containing scissors, bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain killers or any other personal medication among others.
- Refillable water bottle
- Sun protection for example a wide brimmed hat or cap, UV-protection suncream and sunglasses, which shield your skin and eyes respectively from the sun’s ultraviolet rays
- Toiletries for example sanitizers, toothbrush, soap, shampoo, lotion and wet wipes etc.
- Travel documents including vaccination cards, passport or visa. If you are also going for a gorilla or a chimpanzee tour, you might need to travel with the respective permits.
Additional items you might need for a successful safari in both Uganda and Rwanda include gaiters, scarfs, extra cash, fishing gear, swimsuit, trekking poles, facemask, socks, map, GPS and others. For more information kindly contact us at Untamed Wilderness Travel. We also offer a wide range of services in the tour and travel industry. These include car hire, booking accommodation, booking flights, booking gorilla or chimpanzee permits and many others.
Explore the off beaten beauty of Africa’s nature and its unique diversity experiences that will immerse your different interests and adventures to give you lasting memories