What to expect on Rwanda Safari
A small landlocked country in east-central Africa, Rwanda is tucked between popular safari destinations Kenya and Tanzania. Its green hills and rolling mountains are famous for some of the best primate tracking experiences around. Over half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas live in Rwanda, with the Skyes monkey, Golden monkey and chimpanzee also finding a home in its lush forests. Although Rwanda has a turbulent political past, the resilience of its people has seen it evolving into the safe and friendly destination it is today.
Kigali
International flights to Rwanda land at the well-equipped Kigali International Airport. The city of Kigali offers a fascinating fusion of history, culture and architecture. Despite historical notions of Rwanda, Kigali has actually come to be hailed as one of the friendliest and safest cities in Africa. The fact that the façade of the city changes so rapidly can be attributed to the numerous different visitors and investors who are attracted to the vibrant destination. While in Kigali, visit the city’s first modern building, enjoy the many sights, sounds and smells of the vibrant market, pop into the Museum of Natural History, watch the artisans of the Inema Art Centre at work and enjoy a meal at the Hotel Des Milles Collines, which you may recognise from the Hotel Rwanda movie.
Ruhengeri / Musanze
A city in northwest Rwanda, Ruhengeri (also known as Musanze) is a popular gateway to the famous gorrilla tracking experiences, as well as home to the awe-inspiring Musanze Caves. Located just outside the town and formed by centuries of geologic activity around the volcanoes next door, the caves are a sight to behold. An enormous opening sees the greenery outside spilling over into the darkness within. Access to the caves is limited to guided visits, as they once acted as a wartime shelter and are as such a site of significance and reverence to the local people. Visiting with an expert guide will give you fascinating insights into the natural and cultural history of the caves.
VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Just three hours from Kigali and a stone’s throw from Ruhengeri, Volcanoes National Park is home to the rainforested slopes of the famous Virungas Mountain Range, and sports five majestic volcanoes. It is on these slopes that the rare mountain gorillas and golden monkeys can be found.
No fewer than ten families of mountain gorrilla can be found in the area, and a few hours of tracking can give way to a magnificent spectacle of the highly endangered species foraging, sleeping, eating or playing with each other in ways that are uncannily human. It won’t take long for you to realise what drove Dian Fossey to make researching the gorillas in this area her life’s work.
There are two habituated groups of golden monkey in the high-altitude forests of the Park. Searching for these families is well worth the effort, with the reward being the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch the entertaining little creatures frolic and tumble around in their natural habitat. Rwanda and Uganda are the only places in the world where you’ll have a chance to see the endangered monkeys up close.
