RWANDA
Rwanda is not just known as the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’ but also for its gorilla population living in the rainforest of this country. During a gorilla trekking you observe these protected animals at close proximity. Furthermore Rwanda offers the possibilities to travellers, who are interested in ‘new’ destinations, to observe chimpanzees or to partake in various water activities at Lake Kivu, the largest lake in Rwanda.
Why Rwanda
What to expect
Volcanoes National Park
Both Uganda and Rwanda are the ideal destinations for gorilla trekking. Around 350 gorillas live in the middle of thick rain and bamboo forests. Volcanoes National Park is where gorilla trekking takes place in Rwanda. You go on an exciting tour with a professional guide who takes you through the rainforest and shares his knowledge with you. Even though the gorillas allow the presence of humans, the group is only allowed to spend a maximum of one hour with them. The moment when you face these impressive creatures is unforgettable. Apart from gorilla trekking, you could also visit the lakes Bulera and Ruhondo in this region.
Special Information
Close to Lake Kivu, which lies between Rwanda and the Republic of the Congo, you may be interested to visit ‘fair trade co-operations’. You could for example get a guided tour of a coffee plantation or visit a local farmer. Lake Kivu is a mere 2 hours drive away from Kigali, and also easily reached within an hour from Volcanoes National Park. For those, who admire wonderful landscapes and native sceneries and who are happy to settle for a good middle class hotel, Lake Kivu could also be suitable for a short relaxing stay.
Since Rwanda is a rather small country, you can reach the region of the gorilla trekking in just 2 hours drive from Kigali.
Did you know…
Rwanda is a role model for many other African countries in regards to environmentalism? Since 2004, plastic bags are forbidden in Rwanda and even waste separation was introduced. Even though it does not yet work perfectly everywhere, it is working increasingly better. Rwanda is also said to be one of the cleanest countries of Africa, perhaps even the very cleanest. Clean streets and public places are highly regarded and every Saturday is cleaning day.
Insider’s Tip
I was fascinated by the combination of gorilla trekking in both Rwanda and Uganda. Both experiences are organised in totally different ways and each have their own advantages and particular charm. If the encounter with our ‘close relatives’ is the main focus of your travels, I would highly recommend such a combination tour.
Tours
A tour in Rwanda can easily be combined with a stay in Tanzania. This gives you a good impression of tropical rainforest on the one hand and the vast expanse of the Serengeti on the other hand. Should you want to concentrate on gorilla trekking, we recommend a combination of Rwanda and Uganda.
We gladly send you our latest tour samples for inspiration to discuss your individual expectations and are looking forward to being your professional partner for the organisation of your travel arrangement to Africa.
ABOUT RWANDA
Official Name:
Repubulika y’u Rwanda (Rwanda); République Rwandaise (French); Republic of Rwanda
Currency:
Ruanda Franc (RWF)
Capital:
Kigali
Total land surface:
26.338 km² (World rang 145)
Expansion:
Nord-Süd: 600 km, West-Ost: 500 km
Population:
7,24 Mio
Official Language:
English; French
Largest cities:
Kigali (237.782), Ruhengeri (29.578), Butare (28.645), Gisenyi (21.918)
Climate:
Rwanda is located close to the Equator. As a result of this, the climate does not change much and the country can therefore be visited throughout the year. The long rainy season tends to be from February to May and the short rains fall from October to November. This however varies in different areas and it can rain any time of the year, especially in the gorilla park areas. Travelling can take longer in the rainy season, but the views are often better. Gorilla trekking can be muddier and more demanding, but it can certainly be done. The temperatures generally range between 21°C and 30°C during day time. The nights usually don’t get cooler than 15°C. In the mountainous areas it is much colder than on the plains and the rainfall is greater. Here you could experience rather Alpine temperatures. Our advice is to travel, when it is most convenient and usually the rain, which is often for short periods, is part of the great experience. A guest may avoid trekking in the ‘official’ rainy season only to find that it pours throughout his visit during another period! For this reason camps are not closed during the rainy season as they do in other countries with savannah landscapes.
