Best places for a family Safari in Rwanda: Rwanda should be your next destination, especially when you are planning an African safari vacation with your family. This small country in East Africa is a natural haven, perfect for wildlife and nature lovers, and has an active culture which makes it perfect for a family vacation. In this article, we will explore some of the best destinations you can take your family for a safari in Rwanda.
Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park hosts the world’s famous Mountain Gorillas amongst the world’s most endangered species. This park presents tourist an amazing chance to hike in the splendid mountainous terrain of the park and acquire cultural impacts among the gigantic animals. Gorilla trekking adventure in Volcanoes National Park is a chance that every traveler would want for their family to remember for the rest of the year.
Other wild animals found in the park include golden monkeys, buffaloes, and elephants and there are several types of antelope. It is also important to note that there are also so many cultural attractions that your family can engage in, for instance, the traditional villages and interacting with the people.
For lodging, you will find several family-owned accommodations close to the park, which include Virunga Lodge and Bisate Lodge, the lodges are very luxurious and provide comfortable rooms and exquisite views of the park.
Nyungwe National Park
Another wonderful Rwanda family-friendly safari destination is the Nyungwe National Park. It is estimated to host over one thousand plant species, and an equally diverse diversity of animals, fourteen types of which are known to be primates. Any park visit is a great way for your family to see chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, and other primate inhabitants of this territory.
In addition to the primates, Nyungwe National Park is home to more than 300 bird species making it an excellent destination for birding. People who prefer an active type of recreation can also find many different trails for hiking in the park territory and simultaneously admire the views and fauna.
For overnight stays, there are several lodges within the park and around the park which include the Nyungwe Forest Lodge, and One&Only Nyungwe House among others.
Akagera National Park
Should your family be more inclined towards a conventional wildlife viewing experience then Akagera National Park is ideal and is among the Best places for a family Safari in Rwanda. It is Rwanda’s only national park and an opportunity to see lions, elephants, zebras, and many species of antelopes and other wildlife.
This park also supports game drives whereby one can be able to see the animals in their natural setting of the country, and also the supported boating and fishing activities there is Lake Ihema. Also, there is a cultural aspect like patting at the Rwandan cultural village whereby visitors get to interact more with the Rwanda traditional way of life.
For accommodation, two friendly lodges will be used, Magashi Camp and Akagera Game Lodge, which are respectively endowed with comfortable lodges, delicious meals, mind-blowing safaris.
Licensed activities and attractions for families
Apart from the above-mentioned and recommended safari destinations for the family, there are other interesting activities and must-visit places for tourists and visitors to Rwanda as mentioned in the next part of this article. Some of these include:
- Visiting the Rwanda Art Museum: There is a large number of Rwandan regional arts and crafts pieces in this museum which can make a visitor experience a taste of Rwanda’s culture. And yet again it turned out to be an excellent place for learning Rwandan history and art for families with children.
- Kigali City Tour: It is fun and quite educational to take your whole family on a tour of Kigali the capital city of Rwanda. There are tours whereby one can be taken around some parts of the city; the Kigali Genocide sites ( Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, Ntarama Church), and Caplaki Craft Village.
- Safari Canoeing: Safari canoeing on the Akagera River is also available for families in case they are interested in water activities. It is a marvelous, non-intrusive method through which one can get closer to the park’s animals and birds.
- Nature Hikes: There are many beautiful walking paths that are available for family hiking in Rwanda. located near Volcanoes National Park, the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village has a one-hour nature walk in the forest where your family can interact with our wildlife and our cultural practices.
- Kayaking and Stand-Up Paddleboarding: Rwanda has some great waters for water sports such as kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding which is an interesting and enjoyable way for those with families to spend a couple of hours on the water.
Conclusion
Rwanda undoubtedly is a special country for a family safari ambiance, wildlife, geography, and cultural endowment. This is especially true when you are organizing your Rwanda family tour visiting the mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park, the chimpanzee tracking in the Nyungwe National Park, or the game viewing in the Akagera National Park.
Besides the above-mentioned safari destination, there are several more fun spots for families that a visitor can opt to visit while in Rwanda. Therefore, just grab your luggage and let your family start an extraordinary journey in the middle of Africa in Rwanda.