Game Drives Safaris In Rwanda

Rwanda is a landlocked country in Central Africa lying in the Great Western Rift Valley. To the North and East, Rwanda shares borders with Uganda to the South, it borders Tanzania and Burundi, and to the west, it borders the Democratic Republic of Congo. The country often called “The Land of a Thousand Hills.” It’s famous for its lush green landscapes, diverse wildlife and welcoming people. One of the best ways to experience Rwanda’s natural beauty is through game drives and safaris, which give tourists a chance to see animas in their natural habitat and enjoy the stunning scenery.

Game drives are a guided tour into the wild where you get to see animals like lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino, giraffe, zebra, antelopes, warthog, among others. Safaris are usually organized by tor operators or lodges, and they can be done in 4×4 wheel open safari vehicles that are especially designed for wildlife viewing.

Rwanda offers several national parks and reserves, but among all Akagera National Park is the only national park in Rwanda offering amazing game drive safaris to tourists while on a Rwanda game viewing safaris. Akagera National Park is located in Eastern Rwanda along the border with Tanzania. The park was founded in 1934 and now covers an area of 1,200 sq kilometers. It was named after River Kagera which feeds several Lakes (Lake Gishanju, Lake Ihema, Lake Mihindi, Lake Rwanyakizinga, and Lake Shakani) within and around the park. Akagera is Rwanda’s only savannah park, and it’s often called the “Serengeti of Rwanda” because of its open plains and abundant wildlife.

Game drives in Akagera national park can either be done very early in the morning at around 7:00am when animals are more active or in the afternoon. The park is a great place for a game drive, especially if you want to see predators like leopard, lions and hyenas as well as other animals like buffaloes, elephants, hippos, warthogs, hyena, waterbuck, mongoose, eland, zebra, serval cats, duiker, impala, black masked civet, rhinoceros, Klipspringer, Sitatunga Antelopes and roan antelope. The park also has a beautiful lake where hippos and crocodiles can be seen.

Best time to embark on a game drive safaris in Rwanda

Rwanda can be visited anytime throughout the year though the best time for the game drives is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February because during this period there is less or little rainfall in the national park therefore vegetation will be short which allows you to have clear views of different animals. During the dry season, many animals gather around the water bodies to drink water which gives you an opportunity to view abundant animals and the game drive tracks in the park will be dry and passable which makes game drives easy.

Other Activities to Do While on a Rwanda Safari

A safari in Rwanda isn’t just about wildlife. There are plenty of other exciting things to do that will make your trip even more memorable:

Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla trekking is the major highlight of Rwanda safaris. This exciting activity happens in Volcanoes National Park, where over 350 endangered mountain gorillas live. These gorillas are very close relatives of humans, sharing about 98% of the human DNA. Meeting these gentle creatures in their natural habitat is often called a “magical “experience.

Many tourists say that seeing mountain gorillas up close is one of the best wildlife experiences in the world.  mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda involves trekking on foot into a lush jungle to search of where these fascinating creatures are located. To trek the mountain gorillas in Rwanda one needs to a permit in advance, which costs $1,500 per person. There are 12 groups of gorillas that have become used to humans, and each group is visited once daily by a group of up to 8 trekkers. Once you have encountered with these primates, you’ll be allowed one interaction with the gorillas in their presence as you watch how they doo with their daily activities such as grooming, feeding, playing among others. The best time to go gorilla trekking is during the dry seasons, from June to September and December to February.

Chimpanzee Tracking

Nyungwe Forest National Park is the largest area in Rwanda that is mostly covered by rainforest. It’s home to more than 13 different types of primates. Located in the Southern Province, the park was established as a protected area in 2004. It spans about 970 square kilometers of rainforest, bamboo, grassland, swamps, and bogs. The park is Rwanda’s best destination for chimpanzee tracking safaris. The park is also home to 12 other primate species, making it one of the best places in East and central Africa for primate watching safaris. The Chimpanzees in Nyungwe are very common, so visitors are almost certain to see them during their visit.

Chimpanzees share about 98.8% of their DNA with humans and are known for their loud calls in the forests. Visitors often here their noisy chants even before spotting the animals themselves.

Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe starts early, at 5:30am i the morning, and the experiences last about an hour once you find the chimps. since Nyungwe is a rainforest, it can rain heavily at anytime, so it’s a good idea to bring rain gear. The forest floor can be slippery, so sturdy hiking boots are recommended for a safe walk through the woods.

Rwanda’s chimpanzee tracking permit is sold at $150 per person for foreign non-residents. Foreign residents with work permits are charged $75, East African citizens pay $25. Also, all visitors must be at least 15 years old to participate.

Golden Monkey Tracking

You can see the rare golden monkeys in Rwanda either as part of a safari or on a special trip to Volcanoes National Park. There are two groups of these friendly monkeys that visitors can observe. One group life on the slopes of Mount Karisimbi, and the other resides in the bamboo forests of Mount Sabyinyo. Besides golden monkeys, Rwanda is also a great place to spot other primates like the colorful Colobus monkeys in Nyungwe Forest. The park is also home to owl-faced monkeys, Dent’s monkeys, blue monkeys and Vervets. The activity starts at the park headquarters at 7:00am with briefing on dos and don’ts by the park wardens and later the park guides and rangers lead you to the forest to find them, you can walk for 30minutes to hours depending on the location and movement of the golden monkeys. Once the golden monkeys are spotted, visitors are permitted to observe and stay with them for up to one hour before returning. The trekking permit costs USD 100 for all nationals and can be obtained through the Rwanda Development Board, enabling you to visit these endangered primates. For assistance with booking a golden monkey trek in Volcanoes National Park, please contact Elephant Whispers Safaris.

Canopy Walk

A canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park offers a unique adventure for visitors. It features a suspended bridge that stretches about 160 meters long and reaches 70 meters high, giving you an incredible view over the dense, green rainforest below. As you walk across, you’ll get to see a variety of beautiful sights, such as vibrant butterflies, different kinds of birds, and lovely orchids. It’s a great way to experience the lush beauty of Rwanda’s nature from above.

Birdwatching

When it come to bird watching in East and Central Africa, Rwanda offers one of the best montane birding experiences. The country is home to over 703 bird species, including 29 unique Albertine Rift and several found only around Lake Victoria. Nyungwe National Park and Akagera National Park are the two major destinations for Rwanda bird watching safaris. Although Volcanoes National Park is better known for gorilla trekking, it also hosts many interesting bird species in its mountain forests. Some of the most famous birds that attract bird lovers to Rwanda include the Rwenzori Turaco, Purple Breasted Sunbirds, Handsome Francolin, Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, Neumann’s Warbler, Rwenzori Nightjar, White-collared Olive back, the stately Grey-crowned Cranes, the Papyrus Gonolek, the Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Double-tooth Barbet, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Familiar Chat, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Black cuckoo-shrike, Olive-bellied sunbird, Red-chested sunbird, Bronzy sunbirds, Narina trogon, Lesser honeyguide, Brown-backed honeybird and African swampion among others

Volcano Hiking

 For those seeking adventure in Rwanda, volcano hiking is an experience that can test your physicality while in the Land of a Thousand Hills. This activity takes place in Volcanoes National Park, where you can explore five dormant volcanic peaks. The most popular summits for hiking include Mount Karisimbi (4,507m), the highest point in Rwanda, Mount Bisoke (3,700m) and Mount Sabyinyo. In addition to stunning views covering the entire geography of the Virunga ranges while on top of these summits, there are unique feature to see. One special feature to look out for is the stunning crater lake at the summit of Mount Bisoke.