A Complete guide to Discover Rwanda National Parks on Self drive Safari Trip

Self drive Safaris to Rwandan National Park were introduced way back in 2010 by Rwanda car rental the leading destination Car rental firm in Rwanda that is offering Self drive Car hire & pre booked safaris to Rwanda.

Plan the road trip to Rwanda through Rwanda Car rental to reduce the costs of the Rwanda Safari while on an adventure to enjoy various Safari activities in Rwanda National Parks.

Rwanda car rental has compiled this complete guide to help independent travelers planning to visit Rwanda on Self drive Safari to clearly understand the places to visit, where to stay, People of Rwanda, various Considerations for ultimate road trip adventure.

History of Rwanda.

Rwanda also known as the  land of a thousand hills with its endless expansive lush mountains and diverse natural beauty, lies within the Great Lakes region of central Africa, and boasts a moderate climate. Mountains dominate the centre and west of the country, while the east consists of savanna, plains, and swamps.

Rwanda is bordered by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Despite being landlocked Republic one of Africa’s smallest countries (26,338km) Rwanda has an incredible treasure trove of biodiversity that requires protection. The Albertine Rift Eco- zone (ARE), a region that stretches across six countries with Rwanda as its epicenter, is of particular importance as it has an exceptional level of species endemism. Scientists regard it as having the highest levels of biodiversity on the continent.

The nature lover will be impressed by the variety and the rarity of what can be observed visiting Rwanda, nut there’s more to Rwanda than protected mountain gorillas and Albertine endemics. The shores of Lake Kivu boast some of the best inland beaches in Africa and offer an opportunity to explore the many small islands of Lake Kivu.

Kigali, the capital and conference hub of east Africa, forms a central stepping stone to various destinations within the country and central and east Africa. The city is green, vibrant, and safe and brews superb homegrown tea and coffee.

Although Rwanda is all too often associated with the 1994 Genocide that resulted in the mass murder of as much as 20% of the country’s total population, the country towards cultural recovery and investment in the future

Rwanda is truly a country with something for everyone to enjoy. Here are a few of the many things to do in Rwanda.

• Visit Rwanda’s famous primates in Nyungwe National Park, Akagera National Park and volcanoes National Park including golden monkeys, chimpanzees, and colobus monkeys.
• Track the world renowned mountain gorillas in volcanoes national park
• Join a birding safari tour to experience the diversity of Rwanda’s birding and visit several of Rwanda’s birdlife and visit several of Rwanda’s IBA’s (important birding areas) Nyabalongo wetlands, Akagera national park, Nyungwe forest national park and Cyamundongo forest.
• Explore Nyungwe national park’s amazing waterfalls or orchids, and butterflies.
• Explore one of 52 surveyed caves in Rwanda. Formed from Cenozoic volcanic rock.
• Visit Rwanda’s largest lake, Lake Kivu and its many islands and beach resort towns Rubavu and Karongi.
• Go canoeing, kayaking, and wind surfing on Lake Kivu
• Go, mountain climbing at volcanoes national park don’t- miss the 5^th highest mountain in Africa or mountain biking over Rwanda’s a thousand hills.
• Enjoy a full traditional Rwandan experience including dancing, traditional crafts, archery, traditional healers, food and a taste of Rwanda’s local brew at Iby’Iwacu cultural village in Musanze in Rwanda’s Northern Province.
• Enjoy fish dishes and a relaxing day at Lake Muhazi around 60km from Kigali.
• Tour Kigali on the Kigali city tour bus and learn all there is to now about Rwanda’s capital city.
• Go shopping for Rwandan crafts at one of the many local markets or co- operatives throughout the country.
• Travel back in time at the king’s palace, in Nyanza.
• Visit Rwanda’s genocide memorial sites: Kigali, memorial site: Murambi, memorial site: Nyanza, Kicukiro memorial site: and Ntarama memorial site.

Nyungwe National Park: Deep in the southwest within the Albertine Rift Area is the Nyungwe national park, home to the region’s largest and oldest remaining patches of mountain rainforest, and a number of eco- systems from rainforest, bamboo, grassland, swamps, and bog habitats. It protects one of the region’s largest and remaining patches of montane rainforest and is home to 310 species of birds. This park is most important ornithological site in Rwanda. It is increasingly being sought out for the incredible birding opportunities, particularly the numerous Albertine Rift endemics the highest concentration found in any single park in Africa. There are more than 240 trees species, more than 140 colourful Orchids, and more than 1050 plant types, such as the giant Lobelia. Of these plants 250 are Albertine Rift Endemics. Mount Bigugu is the highest mountain in the park, reaching an altitude of 2950m also within the park, is the most remote sources of the Nile.

There are 13 primates’ species, including habituated chimpanzees, a number of mammals and large variety of other species within the park, comprised of hundreds of  butterflies and only a small number of snake species (due to the altitude) but also several colourful lizards and species of chameleon. There is much to be seen and experienced on a number of magnificent hikes offered in the park.Read More

Volcanoes National Park: To the north lies the volcanoes national park, which protects the Rwanda portion of the Virunga Mountains, a trans- frontier conservation area that includes protected areas in Uganda and the DRC and forms a complex of mostly dormant volcanoes. It includes Rwanda’s highest point, mount Karisimbi (4507), and the two active volcanoes, mount Nyiragongo and mount Nyamulagira in Congo that can be visited on a Congo Safari Arranged by Either Congo Tour operator or direct with the park offfices.

This National Park not only boasts almost 100 bird species but is notably celebrated for being home to the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Although visited predominantly for the mountain gorillas, there are several other tourism sites and opportunities in the park and surrounding area. There is a chance to climb to the Mount Visoke’s beautiful Crater Lake or even the hike to the summit of the Karisimbi Mountain, the 5^th highest mountain of Africa, Read More .

The often neglected twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo and the nearby Rugezi swamp are recognized for their excellent water birding opportunities. Within the area there are a number of community based tourism experiences on offer, for example: visiting villages, agri- production plants, and an ethno botany tour, fishing with local fisherman using traditional methods, or simply sit back and take in the breathtaking scenery of the area.

Akagera National Park

This is establishing itself as Rwanda’s Big 5 game park. Located on the north- eastern edge of Rwanda bordering Tanzania and incorporating the Kagera River, hence the name Akagera

The national park was founded in 1934 to protect animals and vegetation in three habitats: savannah, mountain and swamp. Focusing on big game Akagera currently includes African elephant, buffalo, zebra giraffe and a variety of antelope.

Akagera and its lakes are home to many hippopotamus and the Nile crocodile, the world’s largest reptile.

It is recognized as one of the best spots for bird watching in Rwanda. The diverse habitats of the park encourage a wide variety of bird species to the area. Akagera is indisputably the best place in Rwanda to find savannah birds and raptors. It is also very well stocked with water birds and one of the few places where the less common birds living amongst the papyrus swamps can be spotted. Akagera and Nyungwe national parks are complementary in terms of bird’s life and there aren’t any species breeding in Rwanda that can’t be spotted in either of these sites.Read More

Rwanda culture

Rwanda has a rich culture with diverse fine crafts and strong traditions. There are good shopping opportunities to be had in local markets, craft shops and craft co- ops, in and around Kigali in particular, but throughout the country too.

Look out for Rwanda’s traditional Akagera baskets which have become famous around the world as well as the imigongo hand-crafted paintings and the pottery projects.

Cultural tourism initiatives are high on the agenda and being developed throughout the country- these promote community based tourism and afford you the opportunity to benefit a community of people while experiencing the culture and the country. Some of these include tea coffee and sorghum (beer) production visits in the local communities, fishing and boating projects, tours with traditional herbalists and visits to local villages where one can learn to cook traditional meals. There is even a reconciliation village worth visiting where one can hear the testimonies of genocide survivors and collaborators.

The Intore dance or Ballet of Rwanda has grown in popularity and is an attraction for travellers. Splendidly adorned Intore dancers, with spears in hand dance rhythmically from side to the sound of ‘Ingoma’ drums, in celebration. Be sure to visit the national museum in Huye to see these dancers and Africa‘s greatest ethnological collection.

In memory

Museums and Memorial sites

The 1994 Rwandan Tutsi Genocide, organized by unworthy leaders of that period, saw the mass murder of more than a million sons and daughters of Rwanda over the course of approximately 100 days. Today, the people of Rwanda embrace peace and reconciliation and are deeply committed to fight the ideology of genocide and all its manifestations and to eradicate ethnic, regional and any other form of division.

Around Nyaza and Huye

Huye the colonial capital of Rwanda is home to museums and other historical sites that show- cases. The city boasts a number of places to visit; Ethnographic Museum, one of six Museums that make up Institute of National Museums of Rwanda (INMR), the Memorial at Murambi, the largest Roman Catholic Cathedral built 1930s, Ruhande Arboretum and more.

The Ethnographic Museum; The Ethnographic Museum was inaugurated in 1989 and houses one of Africa’s finest ethnographic collections, shown in its seven rooms, displaying historical, both per-colonial and colonial artistic one and archaeological artifacts, giving all visitors a rich insight into the Rwandan Culture.

Nyanza Genocide Memorial; Nyanza Genocide Memorial stands in memory of the killings that took place at the Ecole Technique Officielle

Murambi memorial center; Murambi Genocide Memorial Center, is located in an Old secondary school near to the town of Gikongoro in the South-West section of Rwanda approximately 30 minutes with a car from the Institute of National Museums of Rwanda (INMR) in Huye.

Around Karongi in the western province

The Environment Museum in Kibuye along the shore of Lake Kivu is said to open in March 2012, this museum will hold temporarily displays of Environmental changes in Rwanda and around the world. The first exhibit will be on ENERGY.

Around Kigali

Camp Kigali; Commemorates the massacre of 10 Belgian UN Blue Berets on the first day of genocide in 1994. The camp hosts a small museum and a memorial which displays one stone pillar for each soldier with their age marked as a line.

The national History Museum; is dedicated to Richard Kandt a German doctor and explorer who embarked on an exploration of Rwanda in 1897, searching for the source of the Nile. The museum explains the interdependency between living beings and their environment. This museum showcases his work and many natural wonders of the country.

Nyamata and Ntarama Genocide Memorials; are the scenes of some of the most brutal massacres in Rwanda. Both are located about 30km south of Kigali, in the Bugesera region. These churches and their contents are a reminder of the violence that took place during Rwanda’s 1994 genocide.

Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre; A joint partnership between the Kigali City Council and the Aegis trust, was inaugurated in April 2004, for the 10th anniversary of the beginning of Rwanda’s Genocide. Three permanent exhibitions are on exhibit, the largest of which documents the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. There is a children’s memorial and an exhibition on the history of genocidal violence around the world. The centre is built on a site where over 250.000 people are buried.

Presidential Palace Museum;  located 40km from Kanombe Airport, the Residence of former president of Rwanda, Juvenal Habyarimana (1973-1994) This Museum is mainly known for the fight debris which are the remains of the presidential plane that went down on the 6th of April 1994.

Remera Heroes ‘Cemetery; Is another site connected to the genocide in Rwanda. Three particularly noteworthy graves populate this cemetery on Kimironko road, past the Amahoro stadium, the grave of the co-founder and the leader of the RPF, Fred Rwigema, who was killed on 2 October 1990 trying to invade Rwanda; the grave og Agathe Uwilingiyimana, Prime Minister at the time, assassinated on 7 April 1994; and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier standing as memorial to all victims of genocide.

Nyanza Genocide Memorial; commemorates the killing of 10,000 Rwandans that took place at the Ecole Technique Officielle. The museum documents the massacre and emphasizes the desertion of the international community.

In the Eastern province

The Nyarubuye Genocide Memorial; located 35 kilometers from Kibungo, in the Kirehe District, stands in memory of the violence that took place on 14 and 15th of April where more than 20,000 people were killed. Preserved at this site, in the nunnery buildings are victims’ remains like clothes, dishes, and human bones.

The testimonials and memorials found through the country are deeply moving accounts standing in memory of the 1994 Tutsi Genocide, the brutality and lost lives of friends and families.

Agaseke (the peace basket)

In the Rwandan traditional, it’s a sign of love and respect to give someone a peace basket. Peace baskets are used to store treasures like jeweler and food stuffs such as grains and cereals. Girls normally take at least six peace baskets to the husband’s home when they are married, filled with treasures and food stuff.

After the genocide in Rwanda, many women who were not educated found it difficult to find jobs and they depended largely on their husbands’ income. The fueled conflicts in their home until women started to make peace baskets which were sold through different associations and co- operatives, allowing them to earn a living while contributing to the welfare of their homes. A reconciling aspect of the baskets is that the Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa women sit side by side to weave these ‘peace baskets’.

Plan to under take a Rwanda Safari to enjoy the visitation and watching the above mentioned places. Rwanda car rental is among the reliable car rental firms & tour Agency that will offer you great safaris to Rwanda at the best price. Book an Ultimate gorilla Trekking Safari to Rwanda.

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