Rwanda Family Safaris, Locations, Accomodation & Travel Itineraries
Why Rwanda for a Safari?
Prized for its mountain gorillas, Rwanda is an extremely biodiverse destination with three national parks, a vibrant capital city and some of the most charismatic people. While many choose Rwanda for the sole purpose of meeting their closest animal relatives face to face, beyond these misty rainforests, they are surprised to discover a once despairing country now hopeful and brimming with prosperity.
Rwanda
Safari Itineraries
Rwanda Family Safari Itineraries
As Rwanda is a small country, getting between cities and parks is relatively quick and simple.
Most guests arrive via Kigali and travel by road with a private guide and vehicle to a gorilla trekking lodge. Meeting primates in the dense montane forests of Volcanoes or Nyungwe Forest National Parks is what attracts most people to Rwanda. Yet Big Five game viewing in Akagera National Park, waterside relaxation on Lake Kiva and Kigali's incredibly moving cultural attractions can all be easily combined into one fairly short trip. A Rwandan gorilla trekking safari pairs well with other destinations in Kenya or Tanzania. For a more rounded East African experience, many visitors add on a classic safari in the Serengeti or Masai Mara reserves. Speak to one of our expert safari planners to find out more about Rwanda, and help you start building a custom safari tailored to the preferences of your family.
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Rwanda Safari Accommodation Options
Rwanda's gateway of Kigali is only a two-hour drive from Volcanoes National Park and not much further from Rwanda's other parks and their primates.
Guest accommodation is mainly clustered in and around the gorilla trekking areas. There are about a dozen comfortable lodges set in the foothills of the Virunga mountains and its nine volcanoes. These accommodations are magnificently set into the hillside with contemplative lake and volcano views. The most sought-after trekking lodges in Volcanoes and Nyungwe Forest National Parks have close access to the primates while providing luxurious comfort after a long day in the mountains. A family safari in here is something you will never forget.
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Top family-safari destinations in Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park
Named for the dramatic Virunga Volcanoes, this World Heritage Site is home to around half the world's remaining mountain gorillas plus other rainforest creatures such as golden monkeys, giant forest hogs and 200 bird species. Follow knowledgeable trackers through these bamboo-filled montane forests where conservationist Dian Fossey dedicated 20 years of her life to studying Rwanda's gorillas and helped save these captivating animals from the brink of extinction.
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Rwanda's capital, Kigali is the gateway for primate trekking safaris in the country. Before or after your stay in these primate-rich parks, it is worthwhile — albeit distressing — visiting the Genocide Memorial to understand Rwanda's turbulent history and newfound spirit of reconciliation. The city's main commercial area is set around the opulent Hotel des Mille Collines and a few other places of interest.
Nyungwe and Akagera
Protecting the largest single tract of montane forest in East and Central Africa, this tropical paradise features quaint waterfalls, scenic viewpoints and a suspension bridge high in the forest canopy. Along the park's meandering trails, you can also spot fantastic birdlife, butterflies and orchids, but the biggest attraction is its 13 primate species. These include semi-habituated chimpanzees and impressive troops of colobus monkeys, several hundred strong. While traditional safaris are not the primary reason most people visit Rwanda, Akagera National Park is its only Big Five destination. This savannah reserve of intertwining lakes and swamps also offers the chance for encounters with hippo, crocodile and waterbirds like the shoebill. Day and night game drives aside, guest activities from lodges here include birding, boating and relaxing sunset cruises. On the western side of Rwanda, all of Lake Kivu's three towns—Gisenyi, Kibuye and Cyangugu—offer peaceful waterside retreats before or after a primate trek. Spend carefree days hiking the 'Land of a Thousand Hills' or just swimming and unwinding on the beach overlooking the lake. From some shoreside abodes in pretty Kibuye, you can visit islands inhabited by colonies of yellow-billed kites and fruit bats.