Tailormade Holidays in Rwanda

Tour Code: TRWA

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Sample Itineraries

Create your own Tailormade holiday to Rwanda with dates and an itinerary to suit you. Click one to scroll down and view more info.

When to Go

Speak to a Rwanda expert

Georgie Dodds

Tailormade Manager

Email Call 1-844-433-9473

Where to Go

Volcanoes National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park
Akagera
Kigali
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Summary

Rwanda – the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’ – is a beautiful country of rolling knolls and crater lakes, and offers some of the most impressive vistas and unforgettable wildlife in the whole of Africa. The forested slopes of the mighty Virunga mountains are home to over half the world’s Mountain Gorillas and a meeting with these impressive Great Apes must rank as one of the most exhilarating wildlife experiences on Earth! For many, tracking Mountain Gorillas is the sole reason for visiting Rwanda and this can easily be combined with a holiday to Kenya’s Masai Mara or to other parks in East Africa. However, one should not overlook Rwanda’s other wildlife riches which include over 480 bird and 189 mammal species, all contained within a country no larger than Wales. Rwanda is also widely regarded as the world’s primate capital for, as well as Mountain Gorillas, Golden Monkeys, and Rwenzori Colobus can also be found in the Volcanoes National Park while the Nyungwe Forest harbours as many as 13 species of primate, including troops of Chimpanzees. Many people still also associate Rwanda with the tragic genocide of the early 1990s. However, nearly 30 years on it is now one of the safest countries in all of Africa, led by a stable government who have invested heavily in public engagement. Tourism is still in its infancy, but with a small number of exclusive luxury lodges and an excellent road network, it is one of the most accessible destinations on the continent.

Our Locations

It was here in the Rwandan section of the Virunga massif that pioneering primatologist Dian Fossey undertook her ground-breaking studies of Mountain Gorillas. The plight of the Mountain Gorilla has since become one of the world’s greatest eco-tourism success stories, and twelve Gorilla families have now been habituated within the Volcanoes National Park. Each day visitors can spend up to one hour observing these magnificent forest dwellers. The trekking is very similar to that of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, and guests should be prepared to potentially hike for many hours through difficult and steep terrain. The exertion is sure to be well worth the effort, however, for the opportunity to come within such close proximity of these incredible gentle giants is a profoundly moving experience. It is also worth adding an additional day to track Golden Monkeys, an endemic primate of the Virunga massif. This trek is typically much less strenuous than the Gorilla trek, as the habituated troops reside in the bamboo forests at the base of the mountains. For those with a further taste for adventure, canoe trips can be taken down the Mukungwa River home to a wide variety of egrets, herons, cormorants, pelicans and other waterbirds.

Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park

Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel

Details

Colourful homes in Kigali, Rwanda shutterstock_145242367.jpg

Kigali is now regarded as the safest city in Africa, and it is certainly worth taking a couple of days to explore the culture and history of this delightful capital. Visitors will be immediately struck by the city’s cleanliness which is largely attributed to Umuganda, the last Saturday in each month, during which the whole country takes part in community projects such as cleaning the streets, tending gardens and helping neighbours. The Kigali genocide museum is perhaps the city’s most iconic landmark and a visit to this moving and poignant memorial is highly recommended. Kigali’s position in the centre of the country also makes it the perfect jumping off point for any holiday in Rwanda.

Accommodation in Kigali

Heaven Boutique Hotel

Details

Akagera National Park protects a fantastic diversity of habitats including forest-fringed lakes, papyrus swamps, savannah plains and rolling highlands creating a birder's paradise where 525 species have been recorded. These include the prehistoric-looking Shoebill, Papyrus Gonolek, Carruthers Cisticola and Red-faced Barbet. Traditional morning and evening game drives can be enjoyed in the park, as well as boat trips along the extensive network of lakes where sightings may include the shy Sitatunga and countless birds including African Fish Eagle, African Jacana, Grey-crowned Crane, African Openbill and numerous cormorants, herons and egrets. It is also one of the few parks where night drives are permitted, and spotlighting excursions may yield Leopard, Mohol and Thick-tailed Bushbaby, Serval and Side-striped Jackal. Akagera faced a difficult fate in the late 1990’s when large-scale poaching eradicated the majority of its large mammals. Fortunately, however, mammal populations are starting to recover as a result of heavy investment in an anti-poaching programme and the reintroduction a few key species into the national park. These have included both Lions and Black Rhinos, reinstating Akagera’s status as a ‘Big Five’ game reserve. Indeed, one of the most exciting experiences available here is a ‘behind the scenes’ tour and an insight into the conservation work being done in the park. Although Akagera has not yet recovered the abundance of wildlife it once supported, the absence of tourists and the exclusive safari experience offered make it one of the best kept secrets in all of Africa.

Accommodation in Akagera

Ruizi Tented Lodge

Details

Chimpanzee, Rwanda shutterstock_1335607622.jpg

The Nyungwe Forest is the largest remaining tract of intact montane forest in Central and East Africa. Chimpanzee trekking is the key attraction here, and habituated troops can be joined for up to one hour per day. Treks can be tough, however, as the slopes are often steep and the terrain challenging. Chimpanzees aside, the forests of Nyungwe offer an exceptional range of other primates including Hamlyn’s and L’Hoest’s Monkey, Grey-cheeked Mangabey and Rwenzori Colobus, the latter in the world’s largest recorded troops of over 300 individuals! The birdlife is equally abundant and diverse, and Nyungwe is widely regarded as Rwanda’s most important birding site with 27 of the 29 Albertine Rift endemics having been recorded here including Chapin’s Flycatcher and Rockefeller’s Sunbird. There is a fantastic selection of hiking trails to explore including the Kamiranzovu Marsh Trail which leads to the park’s largest wetland habitat. Here, during the rainy season, a great number of the forest’s 140 species of orchids can be seen, and it is the best place to look for Grauer’s Rush Warbler. The Bigugu Trail is another popular hike with opportunities for Red-collared Mountain Babbler, as well as a fascinating flora including Giant Lobelias, orchids and other wildflowers. For those who would prefer an easier trek, the Igishigishigi trail is a great option and includes a 60-metre-tall canopy walkway which offers spectacular views across the forest.

Lake Kivu, Rwanda shutterstock_1336376492.jpg

Lake Kivu is Rwanda’s largest waterbody and makes up most of the country’s western border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Although classified as one of the Great Rift Valley Lakes, Kivu is remarkably devoid of aquatic life due to the extremely high concentrations of dissolved methane in its waters. Many people choose to visit Kivu to relax for a day or two either before or after a Gorilla trek, and it offers a convenient stopping point between the Nyungwe Forest and Volcanoes National Park. The absence of Hippos and Crocodiles in the lake also makes it a great location for watersports including kayaking and stand up paddle-boarding. Despite the absence of aquatic life, birdlife is still abundant and Southern Red Bishop, Red-chested Sunbird, Hadada and Scared Ibis, Crimson-rumped Waxbill, Red-billed Firefinch, Little Bee-eater, Yellow-fronted Canary and Holub’s Golden Weaver are just some of the species that can be found along the lake shore. Visitors travelling in August will have the chance to see thousands of Yellow-billed Kites as they migrate over the lake.

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Sample Itineraries

A classic itinerary to discover some of Rwanda’s most iconic primates including Mountain Gorilla, Golden Monkey, Rwenzori Colobus, Grey-cheeked Mangabey and L’Hoest’s Monkey.

Day

Depart UK

Days

2 - 3

Kigali

Days

4 - 6

Volcanoes National Park

Days

7 - 8

Lake Kivu

Days

9 - 11

Nyungwe National Park

Day

Depart Kigali

Day

Arrive UK

13 Days (Flight Inclusive)

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This fantastic holiday focuses on two of Rwanda’s most bird-rich destinations, Kigali and Akagera, combining fantastic birding, stunning scenery and a chance to see up to 27 of the world’s 29 Albertine Rift endemics.

Day

Depart UK

Day

Kigali

Days

3 - 6

Nyungwe

Day

Kigali

Days

8 - 10

Akagera

Day

Depart Kigali

11 Days (Flight Inclusive)

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Optionally Extend Your Holiday:

Why not extend your holiday with a beach break on Kenya's coast or one of Zanzibar's palm fringed islands.

The Essentials

Wildlife Guides

There are a number of excellent specialist local naturalist and birding guides in Rwanda, and we suggest that one such individual should accompany you for the duration of your holiday.

When to Visit

The temperature in Rwanda varies greatly from place to place depending on altitude, but it generally does not vary much between seasons. The dry season typically runs from June to mid-September with a shorter dry season in October and November. The climate is otherwise equatorial with rain to be expected from time to time at any time of year. Rwanda can therefore be visited year round and the high altitude throughout much of the country gives it a fresh highland feel. Travellers visiting between November and May will be eligible for a 30% discount on Gorilla permits if spending three days or more in one of the country’s other National Parks.

Getting Around

Rwanda is a relatively small country in which travel is mostly by road using a car or minibus (depending on your numbers). There is seldom any need to travel for more than a few hours at a time, allowing holiday itineraries to be conducted at a relaxed pace. Excellent flight connections to neighbouring Kenya also allow Rwanda to be combined with a more extensive safari or time relaxing on a beach.

Why Naturetrek Tailormade?

A Naturetrek Tailormade holiday allows you, with the benefit of our wildlife travel expertise and destination experience, to enjoy the perfect private wildlife holiday – one that truly matches your requirements, expectations and ambitions. We will ensure the most competitive prices, superb naturalist guides and seamless ground services.

Some of the benefits of Naturetrek Tailormade travel include:
• A bespoke itinerary which is crafted by experts and designed specifically for you
• Private guiding by the very best local naturalists
• Travel with people you know, at your own pace
• Incorporate as much culture, history or relaxation time as you wish
• Choose dates to suit you
• Select your preferred style of accommodation
• Travel with families and children of any age

Furthermore, our Tailormade team are always on hand to help and guide you along the way, with friendly advice, first-hand knowledge and inside information specific to your destination of choice. So if you have any queries about your holiday, we will be delighted to answer them. Please just give us a call!