Is Rwanda Safe for Tourists Now?
Is Rwanda Safe for Tourists Now? Yes, it is safe to explore Rwanda. The country is one of the best tourism destinations in the world, and it is very safe for visitors. Although the country is small and landlocked, it offers incredible adventures that attract visitors from far and wide.
Rwanda is a landlocked country bordered by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west.
The country’s history is built on tragedy and terror after it passed through a period of genocide. 7th April 1994 is a day the Rwandans will forever remain deep-rooted in their lives. This was because it was the beginning of the Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi. This day broke the silence of the long-standing tensions between the Hutus and Tutsis. This tension dated back to the days of the colonial era when the Belgian colonial masters favored the Tutsi at the expense of the Hutus.
Years later, the Hutu President Juvenile Habyarimana was killed in a plane crash. The Hutu masses believed he was murdered by the Tutsi rebel group. This sparked off a nationwide terror against the Tutsi, and it claimed over a million lives until it was ended with the overthrow of the genocide government by the Tutsi rebels. This was the last time Rwanda was unsafe. Many years after this tragic event, Rwanda transformed into an incredible and safe country for tourists.
Why is Rwanda so famous?
Rwanda is without a double famous for mountain gorillas since they are the major tourist attraction in the country. Volcanoes National Park, a protected area in the northern region of the country, is part of the Virunga conservation area. This conservation area is the last mountain gorilla habitat in the world. It cuts across the three East African countries of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Furthermore, this Virunga conservation area is perfect for gorilla habitat given its mountainous topography.
Mountain gorillas live in highland areas tucked away under the dense forest canopies of montane vegetation and tropical rainforests. These primates are endangered since there are only over 1,062 individuals left in the world, and all are located in the Virunga conservation area. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park harbors over 300 mountain gorillas, with over 13 habituated gorilla families ready for trekking.
What to do in Rwanda?
Rwanda has a lot to offer its visitors, from its vast attractions ranging from culture, historical sites, and wildlife attractions. As soon as you arrive at the Kigali International Airport, you will surely tell that Rwanda is safe for tourists. Visitors can safely engage in the following activities all across the country.
Gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking is the major activity in the country, it is highly anticipated by visitors from all over the world. It involves navigating through the dense forest canopies of Volcanoes National Park, looking for the mountain gorillas. In about 4-5 hours in the forests, you can encounter these primates and spend an hour in their presence. This hour will expose the visitors to the natural part of the primates as they play, feed, and rest in their natural environments. Trekking gorillas enables visitors to get an insight into the mountain gorillas’ lives.
Golden monkey trekking
Rwanda’s hidden gems seem not to get done as it also gives visitors a golden monkey trekking experience. This adventure experience allows visitors to traverse the dense bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park, searching for golden monkeys and then spend an hour with them. Golden monkeys are a rare species of primates, and encountering them in their natural setting gives visitors a one-time opportunity to watch them go about their chores.
Game drives
The land of a thousand hills, Rwanda has a topography that is often considered hilly. However, this does not rule out that the country offers game drive safaris. These adventure experiences take place in the country’s Akagera National Park, located in the eastern region of the country. Akagera National Park is gifted with amazing wildlife, including the Big Five species: lions, leopards, buffaloes, rhinos, and elephants. Adding to this list, antelopes, waterbucks, elands, zebras, warthogs, reedbucks, etc. These wildlife species can be encountered on a game drive adventure experience that gets visitors close to the animals while in the safety of a safari vehicle.
Boat cruise
Boat cruise experiences in Rwanda are done in different destinations scattered across the country. The most notable places for boat cruise safaris include Lake Ihema in Akagera National Park, Lake Kivu, the twin Lakes of Burere and Ruhondo, etc. In all these lakes, boat cruises offer different experiences. For instance, in Lake Ihema, a boat cruise will expose the visitors to the aquatic life of the park and views of hippos, crocodiles, and other wildlife species. Lake Kivu and the twins, on the other hand, don’t harbor these wildlife species but rather scenic views of the landscape. All in all, boat cruise experiences in Rwanda offer the best adventure explorations to visitors.
Cultural tours
A cultural tour in Rwanda is a great way to tap into the country’s cultural heritage and learn the cultural experiences of the people of Rwanda. The country has several cultural sites well distributed across for visitors to visit and learn the cultural experiences that surround this great country. Interacting with the local people also ensures that visitors can learn the different traditions like norms, beliefs, and values the people of Rwanda share.
Chimpanzee trekking
Trekking chimpanzees is the process of encountering these chimpanzee primates in their natural habitats and spending an hour with them after traversing through the dense canopies of the forest. Chimpanzee trekking is the major tourist activity in Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park. This is because the chimpanzee primates are the main inhabitants of Nyungwe Forest National Park. This forest national park is the ideal hotspot for all chimpanzee treks in Rwanda. The park harbors over 500 chimpanzee primates, hence guaranteeing visitors a chance to spot these primates.
When is the best time to visit Rwanda?
Volcanoes National Park is open to tourists all year round and can be visited anytime of the year. Rwanda has two dry seasons a year, and it is during this time that is best time to visit Volcanoes National Park. This is during the longer dry season between June and September of every year. The park is also best visited in the second shorter dry period of December through to the middle of February.
