Rwanda

Discover The

Hidden

Treasure

Rwanda– Rwanda

Africa's easiest and most accessible gorilla trekking is the main draw card of a Rwandan safari. After arriving at the capital city of Kigali, you are only a few hours' drive away from the legendary Volcanoes National Park and its habituated but still wild gorilla families.

It was on the bamboo-covered slopes of Rwanda’s Virunga Volcanoes that the late Dian Fossey studied the behaviour of the endangered mountain gorilla for 20 years, followed by the filmmakers who shot Gorillas in the Mist. Now small groups of privileged visitors can experience one of the most memorable wildlife encounters on earth - gorilla trekking through the pristine Virungas rainforest.

Rarely experienced in isolation, a Rwandan gorilla safari combines well with other East African destinations in Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania but 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 there are chimpanzees and fantastic bird-watching opportunities. Akagera National Park, on the other hand, offers big game viewing in a diverse savannah setting.

Lake Kivu is a gorgeous expanse of water surrounded by Rwanda's gently rolling slopes - in fact, Rwandans call their home 'the country of a thousand hills' because of its undulating landscape. Kivu is a great place to enjoy boating, hiking, kayaking and chimp trekking.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

July

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

: Best Time
June to September (Except for chimp trekking in Nyungwe Forest)
: High Season
June to September (Lodges might be full and gorilla permits must be booked long in advance)
: Low Season
March, April, October, November (These are the peaks of the rains)
: Best Weather
June to August (Least rain)
: Worst Weather
March and April (Most rain, forest trails are slippery)

Pros & Cons

One of the very few places to see endangered mountain gorillas

Combine primate viewing with a classic savannah safari

Good balance between vehicle, boat and walking activities

Excellent birding

Scenic beauty

Excellent roads and infrastructure

Safe and hassle free

Young, relatively inexperienced tourist industry

Not the best destination for a classic savannah safari

Wildlife

Rwanda has an amazing variety of primates. Aside from mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, there are many different monkey species to look out for including the very localized golden monkey, as well as l’Hoest’s monkey, Rwenzori colobus and red-tailed monkey. All of the Big Five can be seen in Akagera NP but there is no cheetah in Rwanda.

Weather & Climate

Straddling the equator, temperatures are quite uniform throughout the year and there is no real winter or summer. Daytime temperatures are around 27°C/81°F. There is a Dry season (from June to September) and a Wet season (from October to May). The Wet season is divided into the short and long rains with a short period of drier weather in between. The short rains are from October to December and the long rains are the wettest months from March to May.

Best Time to Visit

Rwanda can be visited at any time of the year but rainfall tends to be high and it is recommended to avoid the wettest months March and April. During these months, the trails tend to be very slippery which makes gorilla trekking more challenging. Rain can also interfere with your gorilla trekking experience which is time limited and very special. During these months some roads can become difficult to navigate. Overall, the best time to visit the country is from June to September when sunny weather is more likely and wildlife is easier to spot.

Akagera National Park: Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec
Volcanoes National Park: Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec