Rwanda
destinations
Rwanda is a landlocked country in the great rift valley of central Africa. Rwanda is a gorgeous backcountry ranging from the montane reserves of the chimp-dotted Nyungwe forest to the verdant hills and pretty banks around Lake Kivu and it rarely fails to impress.
It has several destinations including Volcanos National Park, Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Lake Kivu, Lake Muhazi, Gishwati Forest National Park, and Kibuye.
1. Volcanos National Park
While most African hinterlands away from the Great Rift Valley are forced to compete with the likes of Maasai Mara, Ngorongoro, and Serengeti when it comes to the wild, mist-topped backcountry of Rwanda’s Volcanos National Park. All around these craggy volcanic peaks, visitors discover lush montane forests and thick groves of African redwoods.
2. Kibuye
Kibuye juts its way into the blue-brown waters of Lake Kivu in a series of curved headlands and steep-sided bays. Between the streets, there are some earthly little eco-lodges on the shores along with one interesting catholic church and a memorial to the Rwandan genocide.
3. Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park is the same savannah and riparian swamp mosaic you would expect to find in the super-famous game parks of the East African Rift. This is because it borders Tanzania giving rise to roaming herds of giraffes, antelopes, jackals, and others.
4. Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the most protected forests in Rwanda. The thick canopies of mahoganies and clambering jungle vines hide one of the most diverse arrays of simian life in the world. There are chimpanzees and rare golden monkeys, grey-checked mangabeys, and big baboons all swinging through the boughs.
5. Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is hardly a single destination and it’s worth a special mention on its own simply because of the sheer wealth of attractions and activities it offers. Along the way, visitors will be able to spot rustic fishing villages on stilts, clusters of trademark catamaran skiffs on the water, a speckling of pretty tropical islands, and perhaps even the more modern outlines of industrious natural gas extractors above the lake.
6. Lake Muhazi
Winding and weaving like an East African snake through the hills of Rwanda’s eastern province, the waters of Lake Muhazi have long represented a favorite rest, recuperation, and relaxation spot for dwellers of the capital at Kigali. The banks are spotted with secluded picnic points and there is even a popular country club offering volleyball courts, quiet cabanas on the shore, eateries, and bike and boat rentals.
7. Gishwati Forest National Park
Sprawled over the hilltops just a short distance from the beaches and resorts of Lake Kivu and Gisenyi, the Gishwati Forest National Park is now right at the forefront of Rwandan conservation. After mass migrations of refugees to the hinterland during the genocide, the area suffered heavily from deforestation. Still, there is no denying the reserve is beautiful with green highlands and woods that house monkeys and chimps.
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