Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re about the things you need to know before you travel to Rwanda. We talked with Paul, our Rwanda travel guide from Shadows of Africa, to find out the best tips for traveling to Rwanda, from a locals perspective. He agrees with us that Rwanda is so much more than gorilla trekking, although that’s really cool, too! The people of Rwanda are amazing and ready with a warm welcome for all visitors.
How Will I Communicate in Rwanda?
Most Rwandans working in the tourist industry speak English, so you don’t need to worry about learning a new language. Although, learning a few local phrases like hello (muraho), thank you (murakoze) and goodbye (murabeho) are always helpful. Greeting the locals in their own language really presents you as a friend and someone interested in getting to know them and their culture.
Rwanda was once a Belgian colony, but a couple of years ago, they shifted from learning French in schools to learning English. So, more and more Rwandans are learning English as a second language in school.
Where Should I Go in Rwanda?
There are many cool things to do in Rwanda. A few of the best things to do in Rwanda include:
- Visit Volcanoes National Park
- Go trekking with gorillas (by permit and guided tour only!)
- Visit Dian Fossey’s tomb. The American primatologist studied the gorillas in Rwanda and was murdered by poachers in 1985. She is revered by the locals for bringing attention to the plight of the gorillas, helping them to be recognized as an endangered species.
- Look for Golden Monkeys, which are only found in the Virunga Conservation Area.
- Hiking to several peaks in the park: there are several strenuous all-day hikes in the National Park, including Mount Bisoke, which has a large crater lake at the summit. Mount Karisimbi is the highest peak in Rwanda at 14,787 feet above sea level.
- Nyungwe Forest National Park in the southwest part of Rwanda is home to 13 primate species, including chimpanzees.
- Lake Kivu forms the western border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The lake is a popular resort area for locals and visitors; it’s a great place to go if you want to relax and it’s the perfect spot for down-time between visiting the national parks of Rwanda. Water sports like kayaking and canoeing are also popular at Lake Kivu.
- On the eastern border of Rwanda, Akagera National Park is the oldest national park in Africa. If you want to see “the big five” in Rwanda, Akagera National Park is the place to go. The park has a couple of lakes with crocodiles and hippos. Here you can find almost 500 of the 627 bird species known to be in Rwanda.
- Gishwati Mukura Forest Reserve is a new national park in Rwanda. Located between Nyungwe National Park and Volcanoes National Park, where chimpanzees live, as well as several types of monkeys and over 200 bird species.
What About Kigali, the Capital of Rwanda?
Yes, absolutely spend at least one night in Kigali. The capital city is located in the center of Rwanda, and it’s one of the cleanest cities in the world. There is a huge community effort to keep the streets and neighborhoods clean. It’s very rare to see litter or garbage in the streets.
- At the Kigali Genocide Memorial, pay respects to those who were murdered in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. You also learn how Rwanda recovered so quickly after the genocide. It’s really a striking reminder of the difference between good government and bad government.
Grab Some Wolters World Travel Gear!
We can’t encourage you enough to travel to Rwanda. The people are amazing, and the scenery and wildlife are spectacular. Shadows of Africa was a great resource during our Rwanda vacation, and they offer many tour options for all kinds of travelers. What are you waiting for?
Looking for more international travel tips? Check out these other blog posts: