Afrika safaris

Rwanda

Rwanda is known as “the land of a 1000 hills,” with endless rolling hills, lush mountains and very diverse natural beauty. The country is located in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa, just below the equator. The center and west of Rwanda are dominated by mountains and hills, while the east offers savannah, plains and swamps. This variety of habitats is home to Africa’s big game, as well as many primates including mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. Rwanda is also a top destination for birdwatchers, with an unprecedented variety of bird species.

Past events define much of Rwanda’s history, but times have changed. Now, 20 years later, the country has developed into one of the friendliest and safest countries on the continent. A rapidly growing economy, more women in parliament than anywhere else in the world, and a united, proud and optimistic country where visitors are warmly welcomed.

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On safari in Rwanda

The country is ideally suited for a somewhat shorter trip, but one packed with variety. In about 10 days you can already see a lot of Rwanda, including safari, culture and of course the mountain gorillas and chimpanzee in the north and south-west.

We offer accommodations in all major destinations in Rwanda, and for on-site transportation we use a regular private guide/driver to accompany you throughout the trip. Another wonderful option is to combine Rwanda with a safari in Tanzania and possibly stay in Zanzibar. In practice, it then usually turns out that Akagare National Park in Rwanda is skipped because Tanzania offers abundant safari opportunities. The stay in Rwanda is then usually 7 or 8 days, after which the flight continues to Serengeti or Arusha.

One of the best activities is a gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park. Here you will hike in a small group with a local guide to one of the gorilla families. Cost for the permit is USD 1500 per person per ‘Trekking’. Besides the gorillas, the Golden Monkeys are also worth a visit. This endangered monkey species can be found in the bamboo forests of Volcanoes, and can also be reached by trekking with a local guide.

The Canopy Walkway in Nyungwe National Park, where a 200-meter suspension bridge carries you between the treetops, is also well worth a visit.

Nature reserves Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is located in northern Rwanda, in the stunning Virunga Mountains, a mountain range stretching across Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Created in 1925, Volcanous National Park covers about 125 km2, in which as many as 6 (dormant) volcanoes can be found. The area is best known for its famous mountain gorillas and the pioneering research on these animals by scientists such as Dian Fossey and George Schaller. The main purpose of creating Volcanoes National Park was and is to protect the gorillas around Rwanda’s three volcanoes Karisimbi, Bisoke and Mikeno from poaching. Although the mountain gorillas are continually under pressure from encroaching society, the protection has helped ensure that a good number of gorilla families can be admired in the park today.

Dian Fossey

Perhaps the best known advocate for protection of and research on mountain gorillas is Dian Fossey, an American primatologist who conducted intensive research on gorilla families in Volcanoes for 18 years. Her book and the film of the same name, “Gorillas in the Mist,” were instrumental in protecting the animals. In 1985, Dian Fossey was murdered at the research station in Rwanda; a case that has never been cleared up. Her final resting place is in the heart of the Volcanoes and can be reached via the beautiful but challenging “Dian Fossey Tomb Trail,” a 2-hour hike up steep slopes where orchids, many birds and even gorillas can be seen.

Akagera National Park

Akagera is located in the north-western part of Rwanda. The park was declared a National Park back in 1934, making it one of the oldest National Parks in Africa. Akagera is a savanna park with many grasslands, as well as lakes, vegetated areas, the Akagera River and huge papyrus swamps. The park is home to elephants, lions, buffalo, giraffes, crocodiles, hippos, leopards, hyenas and many cervids and smaller game. For birders, Akagera is a true paradise, with nearly 500 different species observed. In its long history, Akagera has seen some thriving periods, but also many lows – poaching decimated many populations and in densely populated Rwanda, land is scarce, so the population moved further and further inside the park boundaries. Especially after the 1994 genocides, the large groups of refugees kept cattle in very large parts of the park, and farm fields kept advancing. This resulted in a drastic decision: in 1997 Akagera National Park was officially reduced by two-thirds to 1,120km2, and the vacant land was distributed to the population for settlement and cultivation.

In 2009, a new chapter in Akagera’s history began, for from then on the African Parks Foundation became involved in the park’s management and reconstruction. The goal was to restore Akagera as a savanna ecosystem by rehabilitating biodiversity, protecting wildlife, and building opportunities for sustainable tourism, thereby also supporting the local economy. Since then, the park has undergone a true metamorphosis and great successes are being achieved: a 120-km-long game fence forms a barrier to protect humans and animals from each other. Exotic plants are systematically removed, poaching has been virtually eliminated and animal populations are growing robustly. The crowning achievement is the most recent reintroduction of lions to Akagera.

Accommodation in Akagera

The largest accommodation in Akagera is the Akagera Game Lodge, but the experience of the park comes much better from Ruzizi Tented Lodge. This intimate safari camp has just 20 beds in total and overlooks Lake Ihema beautifully. A more adventurous option is to spend one or a few nights at Karenga Bush Camp. This semi-permanent camp offers a down-to-earth experience in the beautiful wilderness of Akagera.

Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe National Park (pronounced Nju-enway) in south-west Rwanda is one of the few large and intact mid-mountain rainforests (1,600 – 2,000m) in Africa. The 1020 km2 park is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Different ecosystems can be found, including rainforest, bamboo forest, swamps. In fact, Nyungwe is the source of Africa’s largest rivers. The rain that falls in the eastern part forms the Nile, and the rain in the eastern part forms the Cono River. Nyungwe is particularly famous for the chimpanzees that live there. In all, as many as 13 different species of monkeys are represented. Among these are the Blue Monkey, Angola Colobus, Owl-faced monkey and L’Hoest’s Monkey.

Accommodation in Nyungwe

One of the accommodations we offer in Nyungwe is Nyungwe Forest Lodge. A beautiful lodge, situated among the tea fields and forests of Nyungwe.

Climate Rwanda

Rwanda lies just below the equator. Because of its high altitude, the temperature there is moderate. Throughout the year the temperature is constant, between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. The “traditional” seasons of summer, winter, autumn and spring do not exist in Rwanda. Instead, the year can be divided into the following four weather patterns: long dry, short dry, long wet and short wet.

  • December through February is considered the “short dry season. It may rain occasionally, but rainfall is sporadic and showers do not last long. In February, the country is very dry.
  • March through May is the “long wet season” when it rains heavily almost daily and the whole country turns green. After the rains, the sun also comes out regularly, during which the sky is very clear and beautiful views are possible.
  • June through September is the “long dry season” and is the warmest time of the year. The land and atmosphere are very dry and dusty, so there is regularly a hazy blanket over the land
  • October through November is the “short wet season. It also rains almost daily during this period. The sun also shows itself regularly. The first rains clear the dust from the air and soon the lush greenery returns.

Map Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is located in northern Rwanda, in the stunning Virunga Mountains, a mountain range stretching across Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Akagera National Park

One of the oldest National Parks in Africa. Akagera is a savanna park with many grasslands, as well as lakes, vegetated areas, the Akagera River and huge papyrus swamps. The park is home to elephants, lions, buffalo, giraffes, crocodiles, hippos, leopards, hyenas and many cervids and smaller game. For birdwatchers Akagera is a true paradise.

Nyungwe National Park

One of the few large and intact mid-mountain rainforests (1,600 - 2,000 m) in Africa. The 1020 km2 park is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Different ecosystems can be found, including rainforest, bamboo forest, swamps.

Lake Kivu

Lake Kivu in western Rwanda, part of Africa's Great Rift Valley, is surrounded by beautiful mountains and has deep emerald waters covering 2,700 km2. It is the largest lake in Rwanda and the sixth largest in Africa..

Gishwati Mukura National Park

Rwanda's fourth national park, Gishwati Mukura, consists of two separate forests - the larger Gishwati and the smaller Mukura, which together make up 34 km2 plus a buffer zone.


The forests lie on the ridge that separates the Congo and Nile river basins, along the incredibly biodiverse Albertine Rift in the west of the country. It consists of 60 tree species, including native hardwoods and bamboo.

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    Reviews

    After a personal and enthusiastic visit by Oscar at our home, he quickly mapped out a wonderful trip, completely based on our wishes. Just before we left, we received the navigation and a detailed itinerary. Even though we were looking forward to this immensely, we never imagined that the trip through this beautiful country would be so special! During this trip, we did the Garden Route by rental car from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, and then from Johannesburg via the Panorama Route (a private reserve), the Kruger National Park and Swaziland, to the coast. Except for the flights, Oscar arranged everything for us down to the last detail. He allowed us to be able to see and experience the different facets of South Africa in one trip. The views of oceans, mountains and reserves from the accommodations or in the areas were often too beautiful and special to explain in words. The long car rides (which were necessary to cover the enormously long distances in South Africa) were not a problem at all due to the carefully selected itineraries. To sum up: a very nice trip that we owe to Oscar’s dedication, experience, enthusiasm and network.

     

    Worth mentioning: We had only booked a rental car in advance from the third day. But because the weather in Cape Town was quite bad we wanted the car a day earlier. Oscar was able to arrange this for us within a few hours, and without any problem the car was at our accommodation the next day. Then when we couldn’t get the navigation to work, Oscar again helped us arrive at our destination before dark.

     

    Linda & Jeroen, journey to Botswana

    From day one to day fourteen everything was arranged perfectly, every detail and every mile according to the booklets. Fantastic nature and views, campsite’s and lodges very well organized and perfectly matched! The self-drive concept is recommended to everyone, exciting but also very relaxing, because you become one with everything you encounter. Oscar thank you so much for this wonderful trip and we will definitely use your services again soon!

    Paul Nanne, journey to Namibia

    In December we took a trip through South Africa put together by Oscar, which was organized to perfection. From Johannesburg we traveled via the “Drakenberg Route” to the “Greater Kruger”, where an unforgettable safari awaited us. Oscar had booked a beautiful lodge for us, where we were completely pampered. A great experience, where we were amazed every day by the impressive nature. Seeing the Big Five, accompanied by amazing rangers and people at the park, was an experience beyond all our expectations. The Ngala reserve booked by Oscar did everything they could to make the most of our trip, from breakfast in the jungle to searching for leopards at night, amazing!After the safari we flew back to Johannesburg and then on to Port-Elizabeth. Here we started the flower route with Jeffreys Bay as our first destination. A beautiful surf spot, where Africa Safaris had booked a cozy family hotel for us. After several more wonderful nights in Swellendam, and Hermanus we traveled further to the wine region of Stellenbosch / Franschhoek. Again a fantastic place, with wonderful wineries, super food, and a wonderful hotel. Finally, we concluded our trip in Cape Town, where again we were pleasantly surprised with the accommodation booked for us and were able to fully enjoy this living metropolis. With the help of Oscar we were able to have a trip to remember. Through an orientation meeting, Oscar was able to completely tailor the trip to our needs, all hotels, and accommodations were fantastic. Totally organized, in the most beautiful places and completely carefree.Thanks again for this great experience!

    Jan Zomerdijk, journey to South-Africa

    Our trip through Namibia in January 2017.What a beautiful country! Nature is overwhelmingly beautiful with intense colors and breathtaking views. The trip was perfectly put together by Oscar Haartman and extensively documented. Adventurous and unforgettable! We drove about 3000 km with 2 cars incl. tent on the roof. The alternation of campsites and lodges was absolutely fine. The beautifully located campsites also made camping an experience! Kalahari desert, Sossusvlei, few days coast and Etosha game reserve, how much we enjoyed! Thank you Oscar for your great service and guidance, you gave us a great trip!

    Frans & Miriam