When it comes to Rwanda, there are numerous tourist attractions to choose from, including mountain gorilla trekking itineraries. Gorilla trekking is a mysterious way of getting closer to the creatures who share 99% of our DNA, our closest relatives, and visitors come from all over the world to see these incredible primates. Click here to view mountain gorilla trekking safaris

 Rwanda offers travelers a chance to see the gentle giant apes as the beginning of their journey to Rwanda, but Rwanda also offers many other tourist attractions such as gorilla trekking at Volcanoes National Park, the 1994 Rwandan genocide museum, a safari in Akagera National Park, a chimpanzee safari, canopy walk and bird watching in Nyungwe Forest, traditional customs and beliefs at the Ethnographic Museum and the King's Palace Museum. Top-list attractions in Rwanda include. Click here to see our recommended mountain gorilla trekking tour 

Kigali City

Most travelers in Rwanda only spend one night in Rwanda's capital, Kigali, before starting their gorilla trekking trip, missing out on Rwanda’s local cuisine, city tours, and culture. Travelers should always plan to spend at least a few days here, either at the start or end of their safari. 

Enjoy Kigali's creative scene at Inema Arts Center & Gallery, which showcases the artwork of up to 10 indigenous artists in that residential area. Make a visit to Rwanda ‘s Art Museum at the former Presidential Palace.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda

Rwanda’s gorilla trekking tours take travelers to Volcanoes National Park. which shares a border with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda protects a growing number of endangered mountain gorillas. Visitors can observe up to 18 habituated mountain gorilla families for exceptional experiences. Limited gorilla trekking permits are issued daily for $1,500. 

Gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda typically takes between four and eight hours, depending on the location of these mountain gorillas. Travelers spent time hiking through the mystical bamboo forests, meadows, and wild and swampy areas while searching for these gentle giant apes with professional guides from Volcanoes National Park. 

Nyungwe national park

Nyungwe national park stands in an important old forest conservation area in the history of Rwanda. Nyungwe National Park offers an array of rich biodiversity, which includes 1,068 plant species, 75 mammal species, and 322 bird species. Nyungwe harbors chimpanzees in its tropical rainforest, thus supporting chimpanzee tracking. 

Kigali Genocide Memorial

Kigali's genocide memorial is difficult to imagine given Rwanda's dark history just a few decades ago, when the country experienced a horrific genocide that resulted in the deaths of over 800,000 people in less than 100 days. Rwanda has come a long way since the massacre, which has left a void in the lives of the victims' relatives and in Rwandan history for many people every day and for future generations.

King’s Palace Museum

The King's Palace Museum shows visitors the colonial-style home that was once the royal residence of former King Mutara III Rudahigwa. The interior design of the king’s palace museum is striking in that it blends Rwandan patterns with European-style furniture that belonged to the king. Other things done at the king's palace include the traditional singers, rituals attached to the people of Rwanda, and poetry, among many more.

Akagera National Park

A trip to Rwanda is not complete without a game drive at Akagera National Park. It provides limitless game play while highlighting the itch for biodiversity that has made an incredible comeback following the nearby Rwandan genocide of 1994. Akagera National Park protects wetlands that boast the survival of the Big Five animals, birds, and antelope.

Lake Kivu

Lake Kivu is Rwanda's largest lake, covering all of your outdoor adventures if you want to kick back and relax in no better place than Rwanda Lake Kivu. Lake Kivu covers an area of 2,700 square kilometers and is surrounded by misty chained mountains and emerald-green evergreen vegetation. 

Ethnographic Museum

An ethnographic museum is where the best collections of archeological and ethnological artifacts are showcased in Rwanda. Rwanda’s Ethnographic Museum is situated approximately 130 kilometers south of Kigali in the Huye district. In honor of Rwanda's 25th anniversary of independence, the Belgian government presented the Rwandan government with an ethnographic museum in 1989.

Rwanda’s Ethnographic Museum has seven galleries that remind tourists of the pre-colonial time of Rwanda. Tourists will view impressive collections such as woven baskets, musical drums, traditional garments made from animal products, spears and bows, and old farming tools. Tourists can visit the authentic royal residences, learn about their construction, and watch live art and craft demonstrations.

Tourists need at least two days to participate in mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda, although the best recommended time requires three days. Tourists should note that the Rwanda Tourism Board issues only 86 daily permits.

It is so important that travelers’ book early for the gorilla trekking trip. After securing your gorilla trekking permit, tourists should expect to track one of the gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park, such as the Hirwa gorilla group, Sabinyo gorilla group, Umubano gorilla group, and Amahoro gorilla group.

Summary of 3-days Rwanda gorilla trekking tour 

Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Volcanoes National park 

Day 2;Gorilla trekking experience 

Day 3: Depart Volcanoes National park to Kigali 

Tourists can trek mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park throughout the year. Still, the best time to travel to Rwanda is in the dry seasons of June, July, August, and September, and again from December–February. During these months, the tropical forest vegetation is thinner, all the trekking routes are dry, and there's less or no chance of rain, making it easier to view mountain gorillas during the trek through the tropical rainforest. However, travelers should expect rain during the dry season, and the wet season between October and November and again from March to May can also be a good time to trek mountain gorillas for travelers who don't mind the muddy trekking routes.