Top 10 Tourist Attractions In Rwanda
Top 10 Tourist Attractions In Rwanda: The Top 10 Rwandan Tourist Attractions are a few of the nation’s commonalities that draw large numbers of tourists to Rwanda. Towns, physical features, national parks, and many more are among them; these are detailed below:
NATIONAL PARKS
Since national parks receive the highest volume of visitors, they are among Rwanda’s Top 10 Tourist Attractions. One of the wealthiest nations in East Africa is Rwanda, which boasts an abundance of natural resources, including wildlife that can be observed in game reserves, sanctuaries, and forests, among other protected places. Nonetheless, national parks are among the protected areas that may catch your attention. These places offer a wide range of animal, bird, and plant species, all while preserving the country’s natural features, such as lakes, rivers, and mountains. These natural features will add to the memorable experience you have there, making Rwanda’s national parks one of the top 10 tourist destinations in the nation.
Volcanoes National Park: If you’re looking for an exciting and action-packed journey in Rwanda, you shouldn’t miss Volcanoes National Park, which is home to the nation’s gorilla tours. You will get the opportunity to observe a variety of park attractions when you visit Volcanoes National Park, one of which is the Rwandan gorilla family, who are typically located on the various Virunga Mountain slopes inside the park. at addition to Rwanda Gorilla Trekking at Volcanoes National Park, you can choose to engage in other activities such as hiking the Virunga Mountains, birding, and trekking with golden monkeys.
Among Rwanda’s Top 10 Tourist Attractions are the golden monkeys.
National Park Akagera: The only national park in Rwanda where visitors can observe all five of the Big Five is Akagera National Park. All five of the big five—the lion, rhino, buffalo, leopard, and elephant—as well as several other animal species are found in the park. During a game drive, visitors can witness giraffes, zebras, leopards, hyenas, and lions feeding in the plains. Several antelopes, including bohor reedbuck, klipspringer, impala, Cape eland, Topis, Oribi, water-buck, roan antelope, and duiker, can be found there. A boat ride on Lake Ihema, sport fishing in the park, and community walks are a few more things you can do to make your vacation to Rwanda unforgettable. These are just a few ideas to make your Rwanda tour one you’ll want to return again.
Nyungwe National Park: When visiting Rwanda, Nyungwe National Park need to be on your itinerary if you want the best safari experience possible. The park is well-known for the large number of chimpanzees that frequently jump from various tree branches. You can explore the park by following various trails that lead to various activities. For example, the Igishigi trail leads to a canopy walkway; the Muzimu trail offers a stunning view of Lake Kivu; the Isumo waterfalls trail leads to an Isumo waterfalls hike and waterfall viewing, among other trails. Another fascinating activity in the park is birding, which is possible due to the presence of over 350 different bird species. Additional attractions in the park include a variety of primates that will add interest to your visit, such as the Silver, Golden, Owl-faced, Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Red-tailed, L’Hoest’s, and Vervet monkeys.
SITES MEMORIALIZING GENOCIDE
The 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which brothers murdered one another to satisfy the desire of one group of people to rule over another and to eradicate the Tutsi group from Rwandan history, caused great suffering to both the Rwandan people and the international community. It should be mentioned that the 1994 Rwandan genocide began when the country’s youthful president, Habyarimana, was shot and killed in his aircraft. The president of Burundi, who was Hutu, was also assassinated, and the Tutsis were suspected of being behind the Rwandan Patriotic Front. After the Rwandan Patriotic Front won and the genocide came to an end, a number of genocide memorial sites were established to honor the lives lost. These sites can be visited while on a Rwanda genocide tour. From that day on, the mass slaughter of Tutsis, moderate Hutus, and Twas began. It should be noted that over 800000–1000000 people were killed, which was a difficult moment for many Rwandans.
Kigali Genocide Memorial Site: Situated in Kigali City, this museum honoring the victims of the genocide will send you on an emotional roller coaster thanks to its various exhibits of the victims’ lives lost. When you visit the three exhibition areas—that is, the large exhibition area that provides an insight into how Rwanda was before the genocide, particularly during and after colonization, and how tensions rose among the various tribal groups due to their desire for power—you will be struck by the display of the victims’ final words, which will break your heart. Following your viewing of the various exhibits, you will proceed to witness the manner in which individuals were murdered. Using the audio feature, you will be able to hear the heartbreaking sound of voices in the background pleading for aid. The most painful of the exhibition rooms is the children’s section, where you can witness how young people with hopes were lost in the genocide over a few months’ time. The brutal hearts of the Hutus prevented the young people from realizing their objectives, despite their lofty aspirations. It is heartwarming to see pictures of the victims and their last words on the exhibits. After all, the museum’s main goal is to prevent segregation and promote love among people, so at the end of your visit, you will have the opportunity to see the third exhibition area, the World Genocide History Exhibition Area, where various genocides from different areas can be seen, demonstrating the need for change in the world.
Similar to the Kigali genocide memorial site, the Murambi genocide memorial site holds great significance. It was the scene of thousands of deaths during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Prior to the genocide, the site served as a technical school that specialized in providing students with technical skills. It is ridiculous that a bishop tricked the Tutsis into going to Murambi Technical School under the false pretense that the Belgian government would help them. When they arrived, they were devastated to learn that there was no one there to assist them; this was a trap into which they had fallen, and many Tutsis were killed in the area. Those who managed to escape were also killed the next day. If you’re interested in going to various genocide memorial sites, you should take the Rwanda genocide memorial tour and visit the various locations to learn more about the genocide in Rwanda.
CULTURAL LOCATIONS
Ibyi’wacu Cultural Village: While on a Rwanda tour, there are many attractions to see in Rwanda, but one should not skip visiting the Ibyi’wacu Cultural Village. This is because it offers an unforgettable opportunity to experience a typical Rwandan family’s daily life without any interruptions. Travelers have praised the cultural village for its performances of various songs and dances, as well as its opportunity for hands-on activities like weaving baskets and creating locally made ghee. You’ll be won over by the authentic activities offered, which are sure to win your heart.
King’s palace: To evoke the era when Rwanda was home to several kingdoms, a duplicate of the traditional king’s palace was built. You may get a glimpse of how people lived in the past by taking a tour of the king’s palace. Numerous characteristics can be seen at the palace, such as a woman guide who will lead you to the grass-thatched residence while she is clothed in the traditional silk outfit worn by women in Rwanda, the umushanana. The trip’s high point, though, is the long-horned cattle that are shown to be beaded. What’s intriguing about the cattle is their caretaker, who appears to know them very well since they follow him when he sings to them, which is really entertaining.
MUSEUMS
Ethnographic Museum: Due to its lovely exhibits, the ethnographic museum in Rwanda is one of the tourist destinations that you simply must see when on a tour of the country. The museum was a gift from the Belgian king in the 1980s and is one of Africa’s ethnographic museums. You will have the opportunity to learn about Rwandan culture in one location at the museum, where you can view various exhibits such as tools used for hunting, cooking, farming, and traditional attire. You can also learn about the history, culture, and cosmology of the Rwandan people from the various display rooms. To observe how Rwandan culture changed before and after colonization, you can opt to visit the ethnographic museum and then the king’s palace.
Presidential Palace: During your Rwanda tour, you should definitely visit the Presidential Palace, another museum in the nation. It was once home to the late Juvenal Habyarimana, the country’s president at the time, whose death sparked the genocide in Rwanda. The tour will give you an insight into the president’s life, as he had a secret gun cabinet, a worship palace where he practiced witchcraft, and the opportunity to see a portion of the plane that was shot down and crashed, which is another intriguing feature.
CELEBRATIONS
Rwanda is a dynamic nation with a variety of things that may be done during a Rwanda tour, some of which will make your experience there memorable enough to tell a friend about. The following festivals are just a few of the interesting events and activities you can take part in during your stay to Rwanda.
Kwita Izina: If you want to take part in the fascinating Kwita Izina festival of gorilla conservation in Rwanda, you should schedule your visits in advance. Various celebrities, including worldwide musicians and models, are invited to participate in the festival’s celebrations, which center around naming the young gorillas born in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, the site of gorilla trekking. The park is home to several bird species, golden monkeys, and the various Rwandan gorilla tribes. Additional festivals in which one can take part are Center X Festival, Rwanda Mini Film Festival, Kigali Up, and more.
HOLY PLACES
While on their Rwanda tour, guests who practice their faith will have the opportunity to see several religious places in Rwanda. Because of the three secondary school girls who saw visions that are thought to be the warnings of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, Our Lady of Kibeho is also associated with the memorial sites for that massacre. It is one of the sacred sites to visit while on a tour of Rwanda because it is thought that the girls saw the visions for a year before to the genocide. Other places of worship include the Nyabugogo Mosque in Kigali, the Nyamata Church in Kigali, the Cathedral of St. Michael in Kigali, the Butare Catholic Cathedral, and so forth.
AREAS OF RECREATION
You should make time to visit various recreation areas in Rwanda where you can engage in a variety of outdoor and indoor activities. Some examples of these areas are the beaches at Gisenyi Public Beach and Lake Kivu Beach, among others, and the restaurants serving a variety of cuisines such as Akabenz (cooked pork), meat skewers with chips, and Ibirayi, a dish made with goat’s meat and potatoes. These visits will provide you with an incredible experience while you’re in the country.
GREEN TEA
The Sorwathe Tea Plantation and Pfandu Teas Estate are situated halfway between Kigali and Musanze. You can visit these plantations to participate in various activities such as harvesting, drying, and tasting tea. Lunch will be provided at the plantations to make sure you have a wonderful day there.
Huye Mountain Coffee: During a Rwanda trip, coffee enthusiasts can take part in the coffee-making process by harvesting, roasting, and grinding coffee beans until the finished product is ready to be consumed. When you visit the plantation, you can take a leisurely tour of it by walking along its various routes.
LANDFORMS
Rwanda is endowed with a multitude of topographical features, such as the Virunga Mountains, which are located in the Volcanoes National Park, Mount Kigali, which is located in Kigali City, and lakes like Lake Kivu and Lake Muhazi, which offer a variety of recreational opportunities, including canoeing, boat trips, and sport fishing. A variety of sights, including crocodiles and aquatic birds, can be observed on the lakes to enhance your park experience.
LARGE TOWNS
You can explore the several towns and cities in Rwanda while you’re there, each of which has a unique set of exciting and engaging activities and attractions. Among the towns and places that can be visited in the nation are Kigali, where you can take a tour of the city and view a variety of sights like the mountain, the Nyamirambo Muslim Quarters, and museums dedicated to the memorial to the Kigali genocide, among others. Visits to Gisenyi Town include the public beach, an African art gallery with a variety of artworks on display, the opportunity to learn art by taking one of the gallery’s daylong art classes, and a host of other activities.
Get in contact with us at Budget Gorilla Trekking for additional details about Rwanda’s national parks, including Akagera, Nyungwe, and Volcanoes.