Rwanda Travel Guide: Your Rwanda Safari and Gorilla Trek Experience Starts Here

Also known as the Land of a Thousand Hills, Rwanda is celebrated for its breathtaking natural beauty, which includes sweeping mountains, verdant valleys, and gleaming lakes. Brimming with wildlife and welcoming people, this tiny country offers much for tourists.

Perhaps most notably, the rare mountain gorillas, at least 400 of which roam the bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park. Nyungwe Forest National Park also offers excitement with its opportunities for chimpanzee tracking and hiking along the lush green trails of the incredibly diverse rainforest. At Akagera National Park, you can experience game drives through the flourishing savanna, spotting zebra, impala, topi, giraffe, hippo, crocodile, elephants, lions, and even black rhino, which were recently reintroduced here.

Expert local guides and tailor-made tours are still essential in the safari circuit, and at Adventure In The Wild Safaris, a locally owned tour operator, we’re able to bring you an unforgettable Rwanda safari or gorilla trekking experience. Our knowledgeable staff, combined with our customizable packages, deliver one of the best safaris in Rwanda.

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is home to a 62-square-mile portion of the Virunga Mountain Range, which shelters more than half of the world’s mountain gorillas, currently numbering just above 1,000. Golden monkeys swing from branch to branch in the bamboo forest here, and elephants, buffalo, hyenas, and nearly 200 bird species also take sanctuary amidst the greenery.

There is an extensive network of hiking trails and the towering, 12,175-foot Mount Bisoke, with its crater lake and gorgeous cross-border views of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Visitors can also see the grave and research center of famous primatologist Dian Fossey here, who spent her life protecting these beautiful creatures.

Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe Forest National Park is the largest remaining tract of montane rainforest in eastern Africa, extending for 390 square miles over the mountainous southwest of Rwanda. Primates are the main attraction, of course, with 13 species represented, including a chimpanzee population of about 500, the Ruwenzori colobus, olive baboon, owl-faced monkey, and the local L’Hoest’s monkey. Nyungwe is also a draw for hikers, with its 80-mile network of walking trails and the region’s only suspended canopy walk.

Akagera National Park

Prior to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when much of the wildlife was slaughtered or driven across the border, Akagera was one of the best parks in East Africa. Today, thanks to outside investment, wildlife numbers are growing, and visitors can spot zebra, impala, topi, giraffe, hippo, crocodiles, elephant, lion, and the endangered black rhino, 22 of which have been reintroduced here since 2017. Akagera is an exhilarating example of an ecosystem reborn.

Best Safari Lodges & Tented Camps in Rwanda

Kigali Serena Hotel

This contemporary, 5-star hotel in the heart of Kigali is decorated with modern flair. Its elegant rooms, buzzy restaurant, and gorgeous, landscaped pool are a top draw for safari-goers.

Governor’s Sabyinyo Silverback

This combination safari lodge and boutique hotel offers eight chalets with verandas looking out onto the mist-shrouded slopes of Sabyinyo, one of five inactive volcanoes in Volcanoes National Park. There’s a ranch-style main lodge with breathtaking views, a dining room, and plenty of seating on cushy sofas and chairs beside an often-in-use fireplace.

Gorilla Mountain View Lodge

Mountain Gorilla View Lodge has all the basics and is a simple, clean, and relaxing lodge just a short drive from the entrance of Volcanoes National Park. Built with local, sustainable materials, the 30 cottages here have en suite bathrooms, fireplaces, and fantastic views of the mountains.

Nyungwe Top View Hotel

The 12 cottages that encompass this hotel sit atop a steep hill with excellent views across Nyungwe Forest National Park. Its friendly, relaxed atmosphere and proximity to the park are, in fact, what make it a practical choice for exploring the forest and its fascinating inhabitants, most notably, the chimpanzees.

Ruzizi Tented Lodge

There are nine tents that make up this luxury, solar-powered lodge, set along the banks of Lake Ihema in Akagera National Park amongst the branches of a grove of flourishing fig trees. Wooden walkways lead to a deck that extends over the lake and a fire pit where guests can enjoy coffee or after-dinner drinks. Suites have en-suite bathrooms, queen or twin beds, and furnished verandas. Much of Ruzizi’s décor and interiors were crafted by local artisans.

Let Adventure In The Wild Safaris be your guide to Rwanda—a land of stunning wildlife, misty mountain jungles, and inspiring cultural richness. We’re here to create the perfect, custom safari experience you’ve always dreamed of.