Things To Do in Rwanda

Trekking mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park is Rwanda’s signature experience, an hour with a wild family on the forested volcano slopes, a short drive from Kigali. The trekking is polished and the lodges fine. It is a genuinely moving hour.

In Volcanoes National Park you can also track the bright, playful golden monkeys of the Virunga volcanoes, found only here and in neighbouring parks. It is a gentle, affordable trek that pairs perfectly with gorillas. The lively troops are a joy.

Nyungwe Forest offers chimp tracking in one of Africa’s oldest rainforests, following our closest relatives through the trees alongside colobus monkeys and forest birds. It pairs naturally with a gorilla trek. The forest comes alive with their calls.

The Nyungwe canopy walkway is the flagship of its kind in East Africa, a suspended bridge 70 metres above a forested ravine with views over the treetops and Lake Kivu. It is an easy, accessible thrill. The aerial view is unique.

Akagera National Park offers Big Five game drives among lakes and savanna, with lions and rhino reintroduced and elephant, buffalo and giraffe widespread. It pairs neatly with the gorillas and Nyungwe for a forest-and-plains trip. The lakeside scenery is lovely.

A boat trip on Akagera’s Lake Ihema brings you close to hippos, crocodiles and a wealth of waterbirds, with the chance of elephant and buffalo on the shore. It is a relaxed complement to the game drives. The lake is birdy and beautiful.

Rwanda punches above its weight for birds, with Nyungwe a stronghold of Albertine Rift endemics and Akagera holding the shoebill and a wealth of waterbirds. Compact distances make for an easy birding trip. The forest specials are the draw.

Nyungwe is laced with forest trails, from short strolls to longer hikes leading to waterfalls and viewpoints among the primates and birds. Walks pair with chimp tracking and the canopy walk. The forest is cool and beautiful.

The Virunga volcanoes offer rewarding hikes, from Bisoke’s crater lake to the higher Karisimbi, through forest and bamboo to open summits with views across the chain. They pair perfectly with gorilla trekking. The volcano scenery is dramatic.

Rwanda’s culture runs from traditional dance and craft villages to the moving Kigali Genocide Memorial and the story of the country’s reconciliation. These visits add real depth to a trip. The history is important and powerful.

Community visits, like the Batwa-led experiences and village cooperatives around the parks, channel tourism straight into local livelihoods and conservation. They go beyond a cultural show. Your visit does some good.

Kigali is one of Africa’s cleanest, safest and most welcoming capitals, with markets, art, history and a thriving coffee scene to explore on a city tour. It is a fine start or end to a trip. The city has real energy.

Rwanda’s hills produce some of Africa’s finest coffee, and a coffee tour takes you from the bush to the cup, visiting cooperatives and washing stations and tasting the result. It is a tasty window into rural life. The settings are beautiful.

The tea estates of the hills, especially around Nyungwe, offer tours through the bright green plantations and factories, showing how Rwandan tea is grown and made. They pair with a forest visit. The rolling tea country is lovely.

The Congo Nile Trail along Lake Kivu is one of Africa’s great cycling routes, rolling through hills, villages and tea country for over two hundred kilometres. Shorter rides sample the lakeside scenery. The route shows rural Rwanda at its finest.

Camping in Akagera and other areas brings you closer to the wild, under canvas with the sounds of the bush around you, from basic campsites to comfortable tented setups. It suits the adventurous. The nights are memorable.

The Musanze caves, near Volcanoes National Park, are vast lava tubes that you can explore on a guided walk, with bats overhead and a history tied to the region. They add an easy adventure to a gorilla trip. The caverns are atmospheric.

Rwanda rewards the photographer with gorillas, golden monkeys, the rainforest, the Big Five and the rolling hill country, all in a compact area. A photo-focused trip builds in the time and access for the best images. The subjects are superb.

Lake Kivu and other waters offer fishing in beautiful surroundings, from boat outings on the great lake to quieter spots, a relaxed contrast to the trekking. It suits anglers wanting calm and scenery. The lake setting is lovely.

Beyond the headline treks, Rwanda’s wildlife runs from Akagera’s big game to Nyungwe’s primates and the golden monkeys of the Virungas, with birds everywhere. A wildlife-focused trip ties it all together. The variety is the appeal.