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Sitting beautifully in the center of Africa, tiny landlocked Rwanda offers the best of the continent in one bite-sized adventure. A nation blessed with incredible natural wonders, a safari tour in Rwanda (the “Land of a Thousand Hills”) leads you through its fertile rolling landscapes of jungle-clad volcanoes, unspoiled montane rain forests and green tea plantations.
But it is the chance to spend time with mountain gorillas that’s of course Rwanda’s main tourist attraction; acceptably one of the most captivating and humbling wildlife encounters on Earth!
However, the best things to do in Rwanda don’t stop there. Add in chimpanzee trekking and safari adventures to spot the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo), and it becomes clear just how big Rwanda is for a little country.
When it comes to wildlife encounters, you don’t truly know what adrenaline is until you have found yourself face to face with a 200-kilogram silverback gorilla!
Hearing the crashing and cracking of bamboo to see these lovely giants calmly emerging through the thickets to stand mere meters from you is both thrilling and humbling.
Similarly the true meaning of “cute” becomes clear when you witness a baby gorilla playfully somersaulting through the jungle, or the idea of kinship as you observe the dynamics of a family of 20-plus gorillas who make camp along the slopes of Volcanoes National Park.
Priced at US$1500, the opportunity to see these incredible creatures isn’t cheap, but it worth it.
Yes it’s a hefty price– we get it – but think of it this way: with just over 1000 of these critically endangered primates on the planet, this is your chance to directly to contribute their conservation and help protect them from the very real threat of poachers.
However, if it’s too much, budget travelers can use Rwanda as a platform to skip across to neighboring Uganda for gorilla trekking.
Even if gorilla trekking isn’t on your agenda, make sure to explore some of the trails in Volcanoes National Park. With a bit of luck, you might even come across gorillas along the way.
Forming a stunning backdrop to the region here is a chain of 5 inactive volcanoes that stretch across the borders with Uganda and the DR Congo reaching heights of over 4000 meters (13,123ft). Trek options range from half-day excursions to more challenging overnight adventures.
The most popular trek is the ascent of Mt Bisoke (3711m/12,175ft) to visit its volcanic crater, though at these altitudes it’s not for the fainthearted. For those seeking a greater challenge, there’s Mt Karisimbi (4507m/14,787ft), the highest of the volcanoes, or the option to tackle both Mt Gahinga (3474m/11,398ft) and Mt Muhabura (4127m/13,540ft) together.
A somewhat easier trek is the pilgrimage up to see the grave of Dian Fossey, the renowned wildlife advocate and author of Gorillas in the Mist, who was brutally murdered in 1985 while working to protect the endangered gorillas from poachers.
She is buried next to her beloved gorilla friend, Digit, who was killed by poachers in 1977.
Encircled by undulating green views, Kigali stands out as Africa’s most beautiful capital cities. It’s also among the safest and greenest, making it a relaxed starting point for your Rwanda safari adventures.
In this city, you can enjoy stylish contemporary restaurants, local street food, lively nightlife and excellent coffee served on rooftops that feature views of Rwanda’s hills.
With its various museums and galleries there is plenty of culture to take in along with top-notch shopping to pick up traditional African crafts. But possibly the most impactful aspect of a tour in Kigali is a visit to its genocide museum to learn about one of the most horrific atrocities of the 20th century.
As part of several genocide sites across Rwanda – which have been collectively granted UNESCO World Heritage listing – it offers a sobering account of the events of 1994 where almost 1000,000 Rwandans lost their lives in just 100 days.
Nyungwe National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of Africa’s oldest and largest protected montane rainforests.
It boasts an incredible range of biodiversity, including 13 species of primates, over 1,000 plant species, 300 bird species, 75 mammals, and 300 types of butterflies.
However the absolute stars of Nyungwe Forest are the chimpanzees, which, if you’re fortunate to have a close encounter, it’s almost as rewarding—and certainly more affordable at US$150 as seeing the mountain gorillas.
Sharing a notable 99% of our DNA, their striking similarity to humans in both appearance and behavior makes spending time with our closest relatives an unforgettable experience.
Also highly recommended is making the trek to see the world’s only habituated group of Angolan colobus monkeys.
These very wise-looking species of primates, with their distinctive shaggy black-and-white coats, live in large troops of up to 400 individuals.
No trip to Nyungwe is complete without experiencing its famous canopy walk.
This suspension bridge bounces you up above the treetops to offer an all immersive, bird’s-eye view of this dense tract of forest.
It is an excellent destination for hiking too, with 17 trails that wind through Nyungwe’s diverse habitat of rainforest, bamboo and wetlands.
Along the way, expert guides accompany you, sharing insights into the rich biodiversity of this remarkable ecosystem.
Further to this, there are ongoing rumors that park management is exploring options to introduce other high-profile species from elephant to Western lowland gorillas – which, if happens (still a long way off…), will boost both Nyungwe and Rwanda’s tourism to new heights.
Travelling east, Rwanda’s lush, rolling landscapes give way to expansive lowland savannah as you hit the wide-open grasslands of Akagera National Park.
Although Akagera boasts all the animals you would hope to see in Africa – lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, giraffe, hippo, zebra, antelope, and more – just don’t come expecting the Serengeti.
This is a more low-key affair with fewer sightings, but at the same time it makes it much more rewarding; especially since there are fewer camera-toting tourists.
In addition to day safaris, Akagera offers a range of activities including night drives, boat excursions, and behind-the-scenes tours, each providing a unique perspective on the park.
And within just 100 kilometers from Kigali, it’s a convenient destination you can easily visit with a night or two.
Given it’s a landlocked nation one can be forgiven for being surprised that Rwanda offers its own slice of tropical island bliss.
But at the vast, ocean-sized Lake Kivu, you can relax with sunset cocktails amid white sands and palm trees in Gisenyi, which has long been the place for locals and travelers to head for some beachside retreat.
Spanning an impressive 2700 square kilometers, Lake Kivu offers beach resorts, hot springs, and island-hopping to go with its 227km long Congo-Nile Trail, which you can explore on foot or by bicycle, an epic overland adventure following the Congo-Nile divide.
How can one pick anything but encountering wild gorillas as their favorite thing to do in Rwanda? Or watching chimps, another truly unforgettable wildlife encounter?
Both rank among the best this to do in Africa. But one thing I also highly recommend to do in Rwanda is a visit to one of the community-run ecotourism initiatives.
These social enterprises offer a unique opportunity to actively engage with the local culture and contribute to the community.
From learning the art of banana beer-making with local women at Red Rocks in Nkotsi Village, to exploring Kigali’s milk bars on a walking tour with the Nyamirambo Women’s Center, these unique experiences are exclusive to Rwanda.
You can also take a trip from Kigali to visit the Twa minority groups, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of this often-overlooked ethnic community.
For more details, reach out to the Pygmy Survival Alliance.
We hope this article about the best things to do in Rwanda has inspired you to embark on your own adventure in this beautiful country. Ready to plan your Rwanda journey? Contact our team at Greenway Nature Tours for rental cars, itineraries, and travel advice!
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Since 2016 our tour company offers 4×4 car hire, safari itineraries with accommodation and guided tours for group and the independent traveler in East African countries of Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania.
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