Tailor Made Holidays in Rwanda: Highlights

Discover the primates of Nyungwe Forest

The dense montane forest of Nyungwe in the south of Rwanda is home to an astonishing 13 species of primates, more than 280 bird species and at least 200 types of tree. The real attraction here is tracking chimpanzees in the wild, looking for signs of prints and nests as you search for them by following the calls which reverberate off the bark of mahogany trees. This is a wonderful place to spend a few days exploring.

Read more about: Nyungwe Forest
 
Enjoy a day of culture in Butare

If you want something a bit different head to Butare, Rwanda's second city, where you can visit the King's Palace, the University and the National Museum, which is home to an incredible collection of artefacts which are beautifully presented. This is a lovely city to explore, and is worth including in your trip if you are keen to learn about the history and culture of Rwanda.

 
Explore Rwanda's bustling capital city Kigali

You’ll be amazed at how clean and friendly Rwanda’s capital city is – every week there is a national cleaning day where every member of society including the President himself sweeps the streets, tends to gardens and picks up litter! Shoppers will love the Caplaki Handicrafts Co-operative, where you can find all kinds of crafts and souvenirs, or learn about the Batwa people and see a display of Intore dancing at the Dancing Pots workshop. You could also visit the house of Richard Kandt, who lived in Rwanda when he searched for the source of the Nile in the late 1800s.

 
Relax on the shores of Lake Kivu

The perfect spot for resting your weary limbs after your gorilla tracking, Lake Kivu is 90 minutes' drive through winding hills and colourful villages from the Virunga Volcanoes. Here you can relax in the comfort of Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, walk barefoot along the golden sandy beach or float on the water and watch the world go by.

Read more about: Lake Kivu
 
Track mountain gorillas on the Virunga Volcanoes

Trek through dense bamboo forest and rainforest vegetation on the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes. The walk takes between two and six hours to reach your assigned gorilla group, with whom you will spend an hour watching them play, eat, groom and relax. Rwanda was made famous by Dian Fossey's study of these gentle giants, and for most visitors the opportunity to spend an hour with the mountain gorillas is the primary reason to visit this beautiful country.

Read more about: Volcanoes National Park
 
Visit Dian Fossey's research centre

High on the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes sit the remains of the Karisoke Research Centre, where Dian Fossey spent years living and studying the mountain gorillas of Rwanda. You can spend a day trekking up to the site, and your guide will show you around the huts and to the grave where Dian Fossey was buried.

Read more about: Volcanoes National Park
 
Visit the Gisozi Genocide Memorial and Education Centre

This memorial in the heart of Kigali is a must-see if you want to understand more about the horrors of the 1994 genocide and the affect it has had on the country. The sensitive displays include video footage, personal testimonials, a room filled with photographs of men, women and children who were lost in the genocide, and a guide will walk you through the gardens where thousands of victims have been buried. Set aside a couple of hours for your visit as it will take around this long to look around.

 
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