Holidays in Rwanda

Most people don’t bother with Kigali on a holiday to Rwanda but it’s well worth a day or two. Spread across several lush bubble wrap hills, Kigali is one of Africa’s most attractive capitals, as well as being one of the safest and cleanest. This is especially pleasing as it was hit hardest during the genocide and now sleek skyscrapers rub shoulders with historic monuments. The city’s Genocide Memorial is an excellent tribute to those who lost their lives, as well as and shedding light on how Rwanda has recovered since. Speaking of Kigali’s resurgence, the capital is a captivating wander in itself, with buzzing food markets and a burgeoning art scene, with arts centres housing both unique and contemporary works.

Hugging Rwanda’s eastern border, Akagera National Park is a diverse mosaic of landscapes squeezed into an area little over 400 sq miles. Lying within is Rwanda’s only slice of protected savannah, low-lying grasslands, woodland and central and eastern Africa’s largest protected wetlands, with lakes and marshes. This leads to a variety of wildlife experiences, from a game drive spotting lions, black rhinos and the rest of the Big Five to a lake cruise to spy hippos and crocodiles. Birdwatchers will also love it here, with nearly 500 species calling the park home, including the rare shoebill and African fish eagle.

Surrounded by verdant hills and rolling tea plantations, Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of Africa’s oldest rainforests. A thick, steaming tangle of ebonies, mahoganies and giant tree ferns, Nyungwe Forest is an ancient patch of jungle which has laid unchanged for centuries. As you’d probably expect, the biodiversity here is astounding, with over 1,000 plant species – including 200 of orchid alone – and bright flashes of birds flitting in-between the trees. However, the real pull is the large population of chimpanzees, which you can track on foot via tiny jungle trails and spend time observing them. There’s plenty of other primates you can see along the way, including Angolan colobuses, L’Hoest’s monkeys, blue monkeys and many more.

Straddling the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and one of Africa’s biggest lakes, Lake Kivu is a great place to pit stop if you’re travelling between Nyungwe Forest National Park and Volcanoes National Park. The high levels of methane found within the lake mean there’s no hippos or crocodiles here but its cerulean waters are a gorgeous and peaceful escape away from the exciting animal encounters elsewhere. Water sports are a great way of exploring the lake, with stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing and kayaking available. Head out onto the lake at sunset and you’ll glide past its famous singing fishermen as they pull in their daily catch!

Undoubtedly the star attraction on your Rwanda holiday, Volcanoes National Park is perhaps the best place in the world to see rare mountain gorillas. The location is spectacular in itself, the national park occupying a section of the Virunga Mountains, a chain of volcanoes that are carpeted in emerald rainforest. A guided trek to see the gorillas is the obvious highlight, where you can spend one precious hour in their company to observe a group of them. That’s not all you can see here, however, with over 200 species of bird filling the skies and the chatter of elusive golden monkeys ricocheting around the canopies.

Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Polio and Tetanus-Diptheria vaccinations are currently recommended. If entering Rwanda from a Yellow Fever zone, you must be in possession of a valid international Yellow Fever inoculation certificate. Please consult your GP at least four to six weeks prior to travel for current advice and medical precautions regarding Malaria.

The time difference is GMT +2 hours.

The fastest flight from London to Kigali is around 11 hours, operated by RwandAir and flying from London Gatwick to Kigali via a short touchdown in Brussels. For another option, you could fly from Gatwick to Kigali via stopovers in Doha or Istanbul.

The currency is the Rwandan franc.

British passport holders need a visa to visit Rwanda, which can be bought on arrival in Kigali. Alternatively, you can arrange one in advance – if you’d like to do so, please visit www.migration.gov.rw.