Tailormade Holidays in Rwanda

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.

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.

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.

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 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.