There are few places in the world where you can experience the life-changing opportunity of seeing the majestic mountain gorilla in its natural habitat and at the same time the big Africa game – lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos and buffaloes. Rwanda is among these few places and thus making it a great chance for one to explore the big 6 species of the world.
Located in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge, Rwanda is known for its unique and breathtaking experience for those interested in primates and wildlife safaris. The country is renowned for its conservation efforts, particularly in protecting endangered species like mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. Here are the best 5 adventure activities to do during your safari in Rwanda;
Mountain Gorilla Trekking
This is the highlight of most safaris and a Rwanda gorilla tour is the popular adventure activity that attracts most visitors. The Volcaboes National Park is home to around one-third of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. The park has twelve gorilla families that have been habituated for tourist visits.
If you are still eyeing a summer adventure, it is not yet late to book your next trip to meet the mountain gorillas in the wild volcanoes of Rwanda. It should be noted that there are as few as 1065 mountain gorillas left in the whole world. These great apes live in two separate populations; Bwindi Forest and the Virunga Region.
For one to see these magnificent species, he or she should trek through the dense forest in search of the gorillas and once found, a full hour is given to him or her enjoying their daily lifestyles like playing, mating, feeding and others. Trekking through the dense forest to see these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat is surely an unforgettable experience.
Gorilla tracking is done in the Volcanoes National Park, a trans-frontier park located in northwestern part of Rwanda. The park covers a total surface area of 160 square kilometers of rainforest and five of the eight volcanoes in Virunga mountains, namely; Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo. Bordering Congo’s Virunga national park and Uganda’s Mgahinga gorilla national park, Volcanoes is one of the few destinations in the world where the endangered mountain gorillas can be encountered during gorilla trekking experience.
Golden Monkey Tracking
The Volcanoes National Park is also famous for hosting a considerable population of the endangered golden monkeys. These primates are playful and beautiful, and tracking them through the bamboo forests is a delight.
Chimpanzee Tracking
Nyungwe is one of the best places in Africa to track chimpanzees. The dense rainforest is home to over 500 chimpanzees, and the experience of watching them in the wild is both thrilling and educational.
Nyungwe National Park is located in south western Rwanda in a town called Cyangungu near Lake Kivu and near the border with Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The park protects Nyungwe forest, the largest remaining montane forest in Africa and also a home to different primate species.
While in Nyungwe forest, you can enjoy a 200-meter-long canopy walk that provides an excellent view of different bird species and several small primate species.
Besides chimpanzees, Nyungwe is home to a variety of other primates, including colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and vervet monkeys. Of the large mammals, primates are the most visible, with 13-recorded species representing 25% of the African primate checklist. Of particular interest is the Angola colobus – delightfully acrobatic arboreal monkeys that move in troops of several hundred – and an estimated 500 chimpanzee, often seen from the forest trails during the rainy season. Other primates likely to be encountered over the course of a visit are L’Hoest’s monkey, vervet monkey, olive baboon, grey-cheeked mangabey, and red-tailed monkey.
Big Game Viewing
In eastern part of Rwanda, Akagera national park is the only savannah national park in Rwanda. With a total surface area of 1,122 square kilometers, Akagera is the only destination offering a more traditional African safari experience, where you can see the “Big Five” (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros). The park also has other animals like; hippos, giraffes, zebras, and a variety of antelopes.
Still in the park, enjoy an incredible boat safari on Lake Ihema where you will see several aquatic animals like crocodiles, hippos, and water birds up close.
Climbing Mount Bisoke
The Volcanoes National Park also offers great opportunities to clients interested in hiking tours and the Mount Bisoke Hike is one of the popular additions to gorilla safari adventures. The hike takes only one day to get to the summit and back. Getting to the summit rewards hikers with an opportunity to explore a giant crater and also gaze at the other Virunga volcanoes and the volcanoes National Park. If you are lucky, you might encounter a gorilla or golden monkey group as you climb the lower slopes of the mountain.