Destination Highlights
Rwanda is a major safari destination in Africa because of its diversity of wildlife, a variety of national parks, and forests, and also its abundant climate and weather. Rwanda’s history full of misfortune and tragedy has helped it to learn from it and build unity. Rwanda is steadily developing and is considered the cleanest country in Africa. Rwanda a land of a thousand hills is a haven for visitors and a major safari destination in the world.
Location
Rwanda a country located in East Africa is one of the best safari destinations in Africa. Its location in the heart of the region makes Rwanda the best starting point for any safari adventure in East Africa. Rwanda is bordered by Uganda in the northern part, Burundi in the south, Tanzania in the east, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the west.
Why travel to this country?
History
Rwanda was once ruled under a monarchy rule but during the coming of the colonialists to Africa, it was colonialized by the Belgians. They introduced democracy and monarchism was shortly removed. Rwanda fell under the administration of the Germans and Belgians after World War 1 and became a territory under the Belgians’ rule of the League of Nations. The Germans and Belgians established a puppet administration led by the Tutsi King. In 1959, the Hutu majority formed a revolution that led to the fall of the Tutsi administration, and in 1962 President Gregoire Kayibanda was enthroned.
In 1973, a military coup led by President Juvenal Habyarimana also a Hutu overthrew the government. Habyarimana ruled Rwanda until April 1994 when he was assassinated. His death sparked a wave of hatred for the Tutsis by the Hutus as it was believed he was killed by the Rwandan Patriotic Front a Tutsi rebel group. This followed a Rwanda genocide that saw over 250,000 Tutsi massacred in 1994. The Rwandan Patriotic Front RRF then went ahead to militarily defeat the Hutu majorities and stop the genocide establishing the current government.
Safety and Security
Safety and security are priorities for any visitor planning a safari in any destination in the world. Rwanda over the years has built one of the most lethal armies in Africa that has helped to keep its borders safe and secure. The government also has built a robust police force that has kept the population and their property safe. Rwanda as a country has the lowest crime rates in Africa making it one of the safest places in Africa. The visitors who come to Rwanda are also advised to follow the government guidelines concerning security.
Culture and People
Rwanda is comprised of one ethnic group Banyarwanda, a group of people that speak the same language and have the same culture. The Banyarwanda are known for their friendliness and welcoming spirit to the visitors. They often entertain their guests on arrival with traditional dances and songs. The Banyarwanda ethnic group is further categorized among the Tutsis, Hutus, and Twa. The Tutsi and Twa are the minority, and the Hutus are the majority. The Tutsi traditionally are cattle keepers of the long-horned cattle, Hutus are traditional cultivators, and the Twa people are fruit gathers.
The Twa people used to live in the areas of Volcanoes National Park and survived on gathering fruit and hunting. After civilization came to Rwanda, they were forced out of their traditional habitat and have now adopted cultivation for food and survival. The tragic history surrounding Rwanda has developed unity and togetherness as people identify as one against any divisions. The culture and diversity of Rwanda through traditional dances and songs, art, and craft have made it a tourism hub and a major safari destination.
What to know before to travelling
Climate and Travel Seasons in Rwanda
Rwanda just like most of the East African countries experiences two dry and two wet seasons throughout the year. As the slogan suggests, Land of a Thousand Hills, Rwanda is characterized by mountainous terrain and thus has a tropical montane climate.
The dry season is the peak for tourism and it runs from June to February. The first dry season begins from June to September which is the mid-year dry season. The second dry season starts as the year ends in December through to the beginning of the next one in February.
The dry is considered the best time to travel to Rwanda as it is the season characterized by dry and hot weather. This particular weather is top for safari and travel as the environment is clear and makes spotting the wildlife very easy.
The two wet seasons run from March to May and from October to November. During the wet season, Rwanda experiences a cold and wet weather climate. In this season, there are reasonably few visitors coming into the country, and thus the parks are not crowded. The wet season is also the best time for some specific activities like birding since Rwanda harbors a lot of birds. During this season, the country welcomes most of the migratory birds.
Although the dry season is the best time to visit Rwanda, the wet season provides the best time to do some activities like bird watching. The wet season is also the season when most of the accommodation facilities reduce their prices so for the visitors coming on budget, this is the best season. The national parks are also less crowded and hence provide an opportunity to do most of the activities in time with less traffic.
However, the climate of Rwanda offer tends to be very unpredictable hence it is advisable to pack the gear for both seasons. This is because of the increased global warming that has prolonged either of the seasons. This means it may surprisingly rain heavily in the dry season for a long time or shine harshly in the wet season.
Rwanda provides you with epic safari experiences as it offers a variety of attractions scattered in the diverse national parks. Volcanoes National Park is the oldest and most famous national park in the country. The park is located in the Virunga Conservation Area which harbors the endangered mountain gorillas. The mountain gorillas are the main attraction in Rwanda. Other than Volcanoes, Akagera National Park in the western part of the country is the best place to spot the big 5 animals that is lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos. Viewing the chimpanzees on the 50-meter-high canopy in Nyungwe Forest National Park will give you special memories.