Despite the civil war, genocide, and destruction of infrastructure, institutions, and human capital in Rwanda, the country has managed to bounce back and make progress. Among the areas that Rwanda has focused on, besides education and health, is tourism. The Volcanoes National Park is home to more than half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas. Additionally, the Ethnographic Museum in Huye displays relics from Rwanda’s pre-colonial history to the present, showcasing the country’s rich cultural heritage.
A visit to these places and more will leave you in awe of nature’s wonders endowed in the landlocked country. Check out some of them below.
10 Best Places To Visit In Rwanda
1. Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is one of Rwanda’s most prized places to visit. It is situated at the northwest end of the country, and it is home to more than half the population of the world’s endangered Mountian gorillas. In addition, there are 200 species of colorful birds, golden monkeys, spotted hyenas, buffalos, elephants, black-fronted duikers, and bushbucks.
The park is named after five of the eight dominant volcanoes making up the Virunga Mountains, namely Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo.
Once here, a tourist can enjoy hiking, canoeing, and mountain biking.
2. Akagera National Park
Another exciting place a tourist can visit in Rwanda is the Akagera National Park, situated in the eastern part of the country along the border with Tanzania. Founded in 1934 by the Belgian government, the park is named after the Kagera River and is made up of savannah, woodland, wetland, and a dozen lakes.
Even though the park suffered huge losses during the Rwandan Civil War, recent efforts to give it life and a partnership between the Rwanda Development Board and the African Parks Networth saw the introduction of lions and Eastern black rhinoceroses. With this, it now boasts of having all of Africa’s big five: lion, African leopard, African bush elephant, rhinoceros, and African buffalo.
3. Nyungwe National Park
The Nyungew National Park was established in 2004 and is situated within the Nyungwe Forest, one of the oldest rainforests in Africa. Known for its biodiversity and aesthetics, a visit to this place gives tourists the opportunity to enjoy nature and wildlife. From its small chimpanzee population to L’Hoest’s monkey, the park offers 15 trails, including primate tracking, birdwatching, canopy walking, and tea plantations.
Notably, 70 percent of Rwanda’s water comes from Nyungwe which is blessed with an abundance of rainfall.
4. Gishwati Mukura National Park
In the western part of Rwanda lies the Gishwati Mukura National Park, which consists of two different forests: the Gishwati and the Mukura. The two forests have about 60 tree species, as well as hardwood and bamboo.
Gishwati, which suffered from deforestation and degradation due to the refugee crisis during the Rwandan genocide, is home to a group of 20 chimpanzees, including golden monkeys, L’Hoest’s, blue monkeys, and about 232 bird species. While Mukura has about 163 bird species,
To protect the two forests’ biodiversity, a national park status was given in 2015, and it started operating in 2019. Site attractions include a nature hike, chimpanzee and monkey tracking, and bird watching.
5. Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is part of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, which lies on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the largest lake in Rwanda, the sixth largest in Africa, and the eighteenth deepest by maximum depth in the world.
To enjoy the beautiful views of the lake, tourists can go on a kayaking tour, mountain biking, or hiking. In addition, there are perfect spots for relaxation in Rubavu and Karongi, which are located within the lake area.
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6. Kibeho
Kibeho, located in southern Rwanda, is one of the places that attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the country annually. According to reports, it has become the center of global pilgrimage for Roman Catholics since the alleged appearance of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, on November 28, 1981.
The Kibeho Church receives pilgrims throughout the year on two dates: the Feast of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15 and the commemoration of Mary’s appearance on November 28.
The number of pilgrims who come from across the globe, including America, Poland, Slovakia, France, and Italy, is between 25,000 and 30,000. While those within Rwanda and neighboring countries such as Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Tanzania are around 100 every week.
7. Huye
To get a taste of Rwanda’s pre-colonial life and the transition to the present, Huye is the best place to visit in the country. Located in the country’s southern province, the district was founded at the beginning of the colonial era and named Astrida after the wife of King Leopold III of Belgium. During this period, it served as the colonial seat of power.
The pre-colonial town has a couple of interesting places to visit, from Mount Huye to the former National University of Rwanda and the Ethnographic Museum (National Museum), which provides traditional relics and history of the country’s pre-colonial era.
8. Nyanza
Nyanza is a perfect place to visit because of its significance in the country’s political history. Located in the southern province of Rwanda, the town was made the royal capital of the Kingdom of Rwanda by Mwami (King) Musinga Yuhi V in 1899, until 1962, when the country became a republic.
Now serving as the administrative capital of the Southern Province, Nyanza boasts several attractions, including the King’s Palace (now a museum), the new King’s Palace, and the Rwesero Art Museum (transitioning to a new type of museum at the moment).
Additionally, the town has two big hotels: the Heritage Hotel and the Dayenu Hotel. Each of the hotels has expensive restaurants for visitors and their customers’ delight.
9. Musanze
Musanze, a district in Rwanda’s Northern Province, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. This is because five of the eight volcanoes of the Virunga Massif, namely Karismbi, Bisoke, Sabyinyo, Gahinga, and Muhabura, lie within its boundaries.
Since it is set on the foothills of the Virunga, the town is suitable for gorilla tracking, while tourists can tour the Musanze underground caves. The cave is 2km long and has 31 entrances, with the main entrance the size of a cathedral. It served as a shelter during wars many centuries ago and was also used for massacres during the Rwandan genocide.
10. Kigali
Kigali, the capital and largest city of Rwanda, was founded in 1907 as an administrative outpost by the German colonial resident Richard Kandt. It became the capital city of the country when it gained independence in 1962.
A visit to the country without a touchdown in Kigali is a miss for any tourist. The city is clean and often full of life and color. There are several places to visit, including the Kigali Cultural Village, Kigali Memorial Center, Kandt House Museum, and Rwanda Art Museum.
