Rwanda Safari Facts

Rwanda Safari Facts : Things To Know Before Visiting Rwanda : Everything You Need To Know About Your Next Rwanda Adventure: Rwanda, a small nation in central East Africa, is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty and thriving wildlife population. Although Rwanda has experienced great tragedy, this small nation is also home to incredible beauty and ongoing healing. Ecotourism centered on the rare and amazing mountain gorilla that inhabits the dense forests of the volcanic Virungas range in the northwest is a significant component of the country’s revitalization. Rwanda Safari Facts will provide you with the truth regarding Rwanda and its true beauty! Rwanda is home to about 300 of the approximately 1,004 mountain gorillas that are still alive today. The only chance they have for the future might be your visit to their natural habitat. Your life will undoubtedly be changed by a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with the endangered mountain gorilla, and it might even save theirs. Before going on a Rwanda safari, it’s important to be aware of the following facts:

1. MOUNTAIN GORILLAS.

It’s likely that you already knew that Rwanda is home to gorillas. However, it is still important to mention. Mountain gorillas live and can be seen in three countries around the world, including Rwanda. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda are home to these critically endangered mountain gorillas.

The Volcanoes National Park, which is conveniently situated in the Virunga Conservation Area just two hours from the airport in Kigali, is where you can see gorillas in Rwanda. Along with gorillas, the park is also home to forest elephants, golden monkeys, and various bird species. There are ten habituated gorilla groups or families in Volcanoes National Park. The ten habituated gorilla families in Volcanoes national park includes:

• The Susa family (Susa A),
• The Karisimbi family (Susa B),
• The Amahoro family,
• The Umubano family,
• The Sabyinyo family,
• The Agashya family,
• The Hirwa family,
• The Bwenge family,
• The Kwitonda family
• The Ugenda family

 The origins of the names given to each gorilla family are very intriguing. They introduced the Kwita Izina ceremony, an annual ceremony for naming baby gorillas, in 2005 in an effort to grow the industry. You must pay $1500 USD for a gorilla tracking permit (pass) in order to interact with Rwanda’s mountain gorillas. With a gorilla permit, you can spend one to two hours observing the gorillas as they go about their “typical gorilla day.”

2. MOUNT KARISIMBI.

One of the eight Virunga volcanoes that make up the Virunga Conservation Area is Mount Karisimbi. In addition, Karisimbi is regarded as the tallest of the eight Virunga volcanoes.

The mountain is known as Karisimbi because of the snow that covers its summits, which is referred to as “amasimbi” in Kinyarwanda, the local tongue. At 4507 meters above sea level, Mount Karisimbi is the sixth-highest mountain peak in Africa.

Approximately two days of hiking would be required to reach the summit of Mount Karisimbi. The Mikeno, Bisoke, and Nyiragongo mountains encircle it. Dian Fossey called her gorilla research facility Karisoke, a combination of the names of the two mountains, Karisimbi and Bisoke.

3. UMUGANDA: COMMUNITY SERVICE

Every month, on the last Saturday, everyone participates in community service from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. In the local Kinyarwanda language, this type of volunteer work is frequently referred to as Umuganda. The loose translation of Umuganda is “coming together for a common purpose to achieve an outcome.”

Every able-bodied member of the community contributes to making the nation more beautiful these days. People take the initiative to clean the streets, trim overgrown bushes, and repair public facilities, among many other civic duties that are taken very seriously.

Due to people actively carrying out their civic duty, businesses are closed, and there is no traffic on the roads during this time. If Umuganda happens to coincide with your trip to Rwanda, it is the ideal leisurely and social activity to partake in.

4. FLIP FLOPS AND PLASTIC BAGS

A few sacrifices must be made in order to maintain Rwanda’s cleanliness. Wearing flip-flop sandals while moving about in public is not permitted. Neither small shops nor supermarkets use plastic bags anymore. When this went into effect in 2008, it seemed like an impossible task for an African nation, but it has since proven to be a success. Any violators will be subject to a fine of 50,000 francs ($60).

A large signpost warning visitors of this stringent requirement they must abide by will greet them as they enter the nation. To move your belongings into recyclable paper bags and leave the plastic polythene bags at the ports of entry so they can be properly disposed of by the government, it is very simple (and sometimes even free) to obtain these bags. Rwanda is an inspiring example of what small, persistent steps can accomplish in a world where combating climate change seems impossible.

5. GISOZI GENOCIDE MEMORIAL

This is situated in Rwanda’s capital city of Kigali. The museum houses the remains of over 250,000 people who perished in the mass killings that took place during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

The Hutu tribe members who held important positions in the government were in charge of the genocide, which quickly intensified after the assassination of the time-president Juvenal Habyarimana on April 6, 1994. Numerous historical artifacts from the genocide are housed in the Gisozi Memorial Center, which was established and opened in 1999. For those who might be concerned, this incident is now in the past, and Rwanda has transformed into a completely new country filled with opportunities and wonders to experience.

The majority of the population speaks Kinyarwanda as their first language (mother tongue). Along with French, English, and Swahili, it is also regarded as the nation’s official tongue.

The colonial French governments that once claimed control over Rwanda are largely to blame for the influence of the French language today. Due to the growing global influence of the UK and the US as well as the return of some refugees from Uganda, where English is the official language, English has gained popularity. By 2008, English had been made the official language of communication in schools. Both languages are still in use in the nation as of right now.

7. WOMEN IN POLITICS

Rwanda is the nation with the highest proportion of women in parliament worldwide. Talk about being forward-thinking! In an effort to advance the biggest problem most nations still face, gender equality, especially at the legislative level, and to open doors for women at other levels like education and health, women now make up 63.1% of the parliament.

8. LAKE KIVU.

The largest lake in Rwanda, Lake Kivu, has an area of about 2700 square kilometers. It spans the western borders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is a portion of the Great Rift Valley.

Mountains and various hills surround Lake Kivu. Excellent trails for mountain biking and hiking result from this. Even better, you can hike the Congo Nile Trail, which will lead you around the lake’s many hills.

You can enjoy a scenic view and picture-perfect backgrounds as you travel from the nearby towns by taking in the view of the expansive blue waters. You’ll feel calmer and more connected to the surrounding natural beauty.

9. BEST TIME TO VISIT

The dry season in Rwanda, which lasts from June to September and December to February, is the ideal time to travel there for a Rwanda safari. Trekking and other outdoor activities can become challenging during the rainy seasons (March to May and October to December).

10. CULTURAL TOURS

Visitors can learn about the history, traditions, and regional customs of Rwanda by participating in cultural tours, which highlight the nation’s rich cultural heritage. Visits to traditional villages, instruction in traditional dance, and even traditional Rwandan cuisine are all included in some tours. Despite its turbulent past, Rwanda has made incredible strides over the past 20 years in rebuilding and establishing itself as a safe and welcoming tourist destination. Visitors can feel safe traveling alone or with a guide because the people in the country are known for being friendly.

The World Economic Forum ranks Rwanda among the top ten safest nations in the world. As a result, Rwanda is the safest nation in all of Africa. Despite being the smallest nation in East Africa, Rwanda outperforms its neighbors in terms of safety and security. The World Economic Forum ranks it as the ninth-safest nation in the world and says it is even safer than the UK.

Plan that trip with confidence; Rwanda is Africa’s cleanest, safest, and fastest-growing nation. It is politically stable, safe, and secure.

CONCLUSION

What comes to mind when you think of Rwanda safari tours? Unimaginably lush, rolling mountains and hills? Wonderfully wealthy Rwanda Game Reserves? Mountain gorillas, the last of their kind in the world, and bamboo forests? Or how about golden monkeys, olive baboons, and chimpanzees? Game safaris are an unforgettable Rwanda Travel tip and experience that you won’t want to miss, and they are a necessary component of any vacation to Rwanda. In conclusion, a safari in Rwanda is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for travelers interested in discovering Africa’s breathtaking wildlife and rich cultural heritage. Any safari enthusiast should visit Rwanda because it offers gorilla trekking, wildlife viewing, cultural tours, and other activities.

Start making plans for your Rwanda safari packages with the aid of our African experts right away.