Things to Do in Rwanda: Discover the Land of a Thousand Hills

If you are looking for the best things to do in Rwanda, we believe you should look beyond a single experience.

Rwanda is famous around the world for mountain gorilla trekking, but the country offers much more than gorillas. From the lively streets of Kigali to the mist-covered mountains of Volcanoes National Park, ancient forests of Nyungwe, wildlife-rich plains of Akagera, and peaceful shores of Lake Kivu, Rwanda offers an incredible variety of experiences within a relatively small country.

At Solitary Safaris, we love creating Rwanda journeys that combine wildlife, primates, culture, nature, adventure, and meaningful local experiences.

You might come to Rwanda for gorilla trekking and discover that the rest of the country becomes just as memorable.

In this guide, we share our favorite things to do in Rwanda, where to do them, how long to spend, and how we can help you combine them into a personalized Rwanda safari.

1. Go Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

For many travelers, gorilla trekking in Rwanda is the ultimate reason to visit the country. Volcanoes National Park is home to mountain gorillas and forms part of the larger Virunga conservation landscape shared by Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

We consider gorilla trekking one of the world’s most extraordinary wildlife experiences. The adventure begins early in the morning as you meet your trekking team and receive a briefing before entering the forest.

Once you find your assigned gorilla family, you may spend precious time observing them as they feed, rest, play, interact, and move through the forest. The experience is not simply about seeing a gorilla.

It is about being close to one of the world’s most remarkable primates in its natural environment. We can arrange your Rwanda gorilla trekking permit, accommodation, transportation, guides, and complete safari itinerary.

How difficult is gorilla trekking in Rwanda?

Gorilla trekking is a physical activity, and the difficulty varies depending on the location of the gorilla family, terrain, weather, and your fitness level.

We always encourage travelers to prepare properly and tell us about any mobility or health considerations before booking.

If you are comparing Rwanda and Uganda for gorilla trekking, we can also help you understand the differences between Volcanoes National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

2. Experience Golden Monkey Trekking

If you enjoy primates, we recommend adding golden monkey trekking to your Rwanda itinerary. Volcanoes National Park is home to the endangered golden monkey, a striking primate found in the Virunga mountain region.

Golden monkey trekking offers a different experience from gorilla trekking. Instead of spending your time looking for one gorilla family, you follow golden monkeys through their forest habitat as they move between vegetation.

They can be energetic and entertaining to watch, making this a wonderful experience for wildlife photographers and primate enthusiasts. For travelers already visiting Volcanoes National Park for gorillas, adding golden monkey trekking can be an excellent way to make the most of your time in the region.

3. Visit Kigali City

We recommend spending time in Kigali rather than treating the capital simply as an arrival and departure point. Kigali is clean, organized, vibrant, and surrounded by rolling hills.

There are several ways to experience the city depending on your interests. You can explore local markets, visit museums and memorial sites, enjoy Rwandan cuisine, discover the city’s neighborhoods, or simply take time to experience everyday life.

For many of our travelers, Kigali is the perfect introduction to Rwanda.

Things to do in Kigali Rwanda

Some popular Kigali experiences include:

• Kigali Genocide Memorial
• Local markets
• Art galleries
• Cultural experiences
• Coffee experiences
• Local restaurants
• City sightseeing
• Craft markets
• Walking and cycling experiences
• Exploring Kigali’s hills and neighborhoods

We can include Kigali as a short city stay before or after your safari.

4. Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial

The Kigali Genocide Memorial is one of Rwanda’s most important places for visitors seeking to understand the country’s history.

The memorial commemorates victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and provides important historical and educational context.

A visit can be emotional and deeply moving.

We recommend approaching the experience with respect and allowing sufficient time rather than trying to fit it into a rushed sightseeing schedule.

For travelers visiting Rwanda for the first time, learning about the country’s history helps provide greater context for understanding the Rwanda we experience today.

5. Go Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe National Park

Rwanda’s primate experiences extend far beyond mountain gorillas.

Nyungwe National Park is one of the country’s most important destinations for forest wildlife and primates, including chimpanzees.

Chimpanzee trekking takes you into a completely different environment from Volcanoes National Park.

Nyungwe’s ancient montane rainforest is rich in biodiversity, and walking through the forest is an experience in itself.

Chimpanzees can move quickly through the canopy and dense vegetation, making encounters dynamic and unpredictable.

That unpredictability is part of the adventure.

We recommend Nyungwe for travelers who want to explore Rwanda beyond the classic gorilla itinerary.

6. Walk the Nyungwe Canopy Walkway

One of our favorite adventure experiences in Rwanda is the Nyungwe Canopy Walkway. Suspended high above the forest floor, the walkway provides an entirely different perspective of the rainforest.

Instead of looking up at the canopy from the forest floor, you can experience the forest from above. The views can be spectacular, especially when mist moves through the hills and treetops.

The canopy walkway is a great addition to a Rwanda itinerary for travelers interested in:

• Nature
• Photography
• Birdwatching
• Hiking
• Forest ecosystems
• Adventure

It can also be combined with other Nyungwe activities depending on your itinerary.

7. Go on a Wildlife Safari in Akagera National Park

Rwanda may be famous for gorillas, but we also have an excellent destination for a traditional African wildlife safari. Akagera National Park is located in eastern Rwanda and offers a very different landscape from the mountainous west.

Here you can explore savannah, wetlands, lakes, and woodland while searching for iconic African wildlife. Possible sightings include:

• Elephants
• Lions
• Leopards
• Buffaloes
• Giraffes
• Zebras
• Antelopes
• Hippos
• Crocodiles
• Numerous bird species

Akagera is particularly valuable for travelers who want to combine gorilla trekking and Big Five-style wildlife viewing in one Rwanda trip.

Why combine Akagera with gorilla trekking?

The two destinations provide completely different safari experiences. Volcanoes gives you mountain forests and primates.

Akagera gives you savannah landscapes and classic African wildlife. Combining both creates a much more diverse Rwanda safari.

8. Take a Boat Safari on Lake Ihema

One of the best ways to experience Akagera is from the water. A boat safari on Lake Ihema allows you to look for hippos, crocodiles, birds, and other wildlife around the lake and its shoreline. The experience is slower and quieter than a traditional game drive.

We particularly recommend it for birdwatchers and photographers. The surrounding wetlands are an important part of Akagera’s ecosystem, and viewing them from the water provides a different perspective on the park.

9. Go Birdwatching in Rwanda

Rwanda is an excellent destination for birdwatchers. The country’s combination of forests, wetlands, mountains, lakes, and savannah creates habitats for a remarkable variety of birdlife.

Depending on your route, we can incorporate birding into destinations such as:

• Nyungwe National Park
• Akagera National Park
• Volcanoes National Park
• Lake Kivu
• Kigali and surrounding areas

Nyungwe is particularly attractive to serious birders because of its forest species and Albertine Rift location.

If birdwatching is one of your main interests, tell us before we design your itinerary. We can adjust the route and pace around your target species.

10. Explore Lake Kivu

After days of trekking or safari drives, Lake Kivu provides an opportunity to slow down.

Lake Kivu is one of Africa’s Great Lakes and stretches along Rwanda’s western border.

Its shoreline offers beautiful scenery, peaceful water, hills, and lakeside communities.

Popular destinations include:

• Gisenyi
• Kibuye
• Lake Kivu shoreline communities

You can relax by the lake, enjoy boat experiences, explore local communities, or use the area as a scenic stop between other destinations.

We especially recommend Lake Kivu for couples, honeymooners, families, and travelers who want to balance adventure with relaxation.

11. Explore the Congo Nile Trail

For travelers who want more active exploration, the Congo Nile Trail offers an opportunity to experience Rwanda’s landscapes and communities at a slower pace.

The route around Lake Kivu connects beautiful scenery with rural communities and outdoor experiences.

Depending on your itinerary and interests, activities can include hiking, cycling, kayaking, and cultural encounters.

Rather than simply driving between destinations, the Congo Nile Trail allows you to experience Rwanda more intimately.

12. Visit Iby’iwacu Cultural Village

A Rwanda safari can become much more meaningful when you include cultural experiences.

Iby’iwacu Cultural Village, located near Volcanoes National Park, provides travelers with an opportunity to learn about local culture and community life.

Depending on the experience arranged, visitors can learn about traditional practices, music, dance, crafts, food, and community history.

We encourage travelers to approach cultural tourism respectfully and use experiences that contribute positively to local communities.

This is particularly worthwhile after gorilla trekking because it adds cultural context to your time in the Volcanoes region.

13. Meet Local Communities

Some of our most memorable Rwanda experiences happen away from major tourist attractions.

Meeting local people, learning about daily life, tasting local food, visiting communities, and understanding traditional practices can give you a deeper connection to the country.

We can incorporate appropriate community experiences into your itinerary according to your interests.

For us, responsible tourism is about more than visiting beautiful places.

It is also about creating positive connections between travelers and the communities they visit.

14. Go Hiking in Rwanda

Rwanda’s nickname, the Land of a Thousand Hills, tells you something important about the country.

There are hills and mountains everywhere.

That makes Rwanda an excellent destination for hiking.

Depending on your itinerary, you can explore trails around:

• Volcanoes National Park
• Nyungwe National Park
• Lake Kivu
• Kigali
• The Congo Nile Trail

Hiking allows you to experience Rwanda’s landscapes at a much slower pace than a vehicle safari.

You see farms, forests, hills, villages, lakes, and changing landscapes from a completely different perspective.

15. Hike in Volcanoes National Park

Not every visitor to Volcanoes National Park needs to trek gorillas.

The park also offers opportunities for other hiking experiences.

The volcanic landscape is dramatic, and several activities can be arranged depending on current regulations, weather, fitness, and your interests.

For adventurous travelers, exploring the Virunga landscape can be a memorable addition to a gorilla safari.

16. Visit Dian Fossey’s Former Research Site

Travelers interested in gorilla conservation and primate research may also want to learn about Dian Fossey and her pioneering work with mountain gorillas.

Her research helped bring international attention to the conservation of mountain gorillas.

Visiting the area associated with her work provides additional context for understanding the history of gorilla conservation in the Virunga region.

We recommend this experience for travelers who want to understand not only the gorillas themselves but also the conservation efforts that protect them.

17. Experience Rwanda’s Coffee Culture

Rwanda produces excellent coffee, and coffee experiences can be a great addition to a cultural itinerary.

We can arrange opportunities to learn about how coffee is grown, harvested, processed, and prepared.

For travelers who enjoy food and drink, this provides another way to connect with local communities and understand an important part of Rwanda’s agricultural economy.

A coffee experience can also be an easy addition to a Kigali itinerary.

18. Taste Rwandan Food

Food is one of the simplest ways to experience a country.

During your Rwanda journey, we encourage you to try local dishes and ingredients rather than relying entirely on familiar international meals.

Depending on where you travel, you may encounter dishes based around:

• Plantains
• Beans
• Cassava
• Sweet potatoes
• Maize
• Vegetables
• Meat
• Fish

We can help you discover local restaurants and food experiences that fit your preferences.

19. Enjoy Cycling in Rwanda

Rwanda’s hills make cycling physically challenging in places, but they also create spectacular scenery.

Cycling can take you away from the main tourist routes and through rural landscapes where you can experience everyday life at a slower pace.

For active travelers, cycling around Lake Kivu or exploring selected routes near Kigali can be an excellent addition to a safari.

20. Combine Rwanda and Uganda

One of the best ways to experience East Africa is to combine Rwanda and Uganda.

The two neighboring countries complement each other exceptionally well.

For example, you could experience:

Rwanda: Kigali + Volcanoes National Park + gorilla trekking + Lake Kivu

then continue into:

Uganda: Bwindi + Queen Elizabeth National Park + Kibale National Park + Murchison Falls

This type of cross-border itinerary is ideal for travelers who want to experience several of the region’s most important wildlife and primate destinations.

We already design Rwanda-Uganda safari experiences for travelers who want more than a single-country trip.

21. Enjoy a Rwanda Honeymoon Safari

Rwanda is an excellent destination for couples looking for something more adventurous than a traditional beach honeymoon.

Imagine beginning your journey in Kigali, trekking mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, relaxing around Lake Kivu, and finishing with a private wildlife safari in Akagera.

We can combine luxury accommodation, private transportation, romantic experiences, and carefully paced activities to create a honeymoon itinerary around your interests.

22. Go on a Luxury Rwanda Safari

Rwanda can also be experienced in a luxury style.

Luxury does not simply mean choosing an expensive hotel.

For us, luxury is about having the freedom to travel at your preferred pace, staying in exceptional properties, using private transportation, enjoying personalized guiding, and building an itinerary around what matters to you.

A luxury Rwanda itinerary might combine:

• Kigali
• Volcanoes National Park
• Gorilla trekking
• Nyungwe Forest
• Lake Kivu
• Akagera National Park

We can tailor the balance between adventure and relaxation according to your preferences.

23. Photograph Rwanda’s Landscapes

Rwanda is one of the most photogenic countries in East Africa.

Its rolling hills, volcanoes, forests, lakes, wildlife, villages, and changing weather provide countless photographic opportunities.

Some of our favorite subjects include:

• Mountain gorillas
• Golden monkeys
• Chimpanzees
• Lions
• Elephants
• Giraffes
• Birds
• Volcanoes
• Lake Kivu
• Forest landscapes
• Rural communities

We recommend bringing both wildlife and landscape lenses if photography is a major priority.

24. Take a Slow Safari Through Rwanda

One of the best things to do in Rwanda is simply slow down.

It is tempting to build an itinerary that moves from one attraction to another.

We prefer to create journeys that leave enough time to enjoy each destination.

Instead of rushing through Kigali, Volcanoes, Nyungwe, Lake Kivu, and Akagera, we can structure your itinerary so that you have time to appreciate each place.

The best Rwanda safari is not necessarily the one with the most activities.

It is the one that gives you the experiences you care about most.

How Many Days Do You Need in Rwanda?

The ideal number of days depends on what you want to experience.

3–4 Days

A short trip can focus on:

• Kigali
• Gorilla trekking
• Golden monkey trekking or another Volcanoes experience

5–7 Days

A week allows for a more balanced experience, such as:

• Kigali
• Gorilla trekking
• Akagera wildlife safari
• Lake Kivu

8–12 Days

With more time, you can combine:

• Kigali
• Volcanoes National Park
• Gorilla trekking
• Golden monkeys
• Lake Kivu
• Nyungwe
• Chimpanzee trekking
• Canopy walkway
• Akagera

12+ Days

Longer itineraries allow us to slow the pace and potentially combine Rwanda with Uganda or another East African destination.

What Is the Best Time to Visit Rwanda?

Rwanda can be visited throughout the year, but the best time depends on your activities.

• For gorilla trekking, we can help you choose dates based on trekking conditions, availability, and your broader itinerary.
• For wildlife safaris, seasonal conditions can influence vegetation, animal movements, and road conditions.
• For hiking and outdoor activities, weather is an important consideration.

Rather than telling every traveler to visit during exactly the same months, we prefer to start with your priorities and then recommend the most appropriate travel period.

Is Rwanda Good for a Safari?

Yes, Rwanda offers an unusually diverse safari experience. You can combine: Mountain gorillas + chimpanzees + golden monkeys + Big Five-style wildlife + forests + lakes + culture within one relatively compact country.

That diversity is one of the reasons we recommend Rwanda to travelers who want more than a conventional savannah safari.

What Are the Best Things to Do in Rwanda for First-Time Visitors?

If it is your first visit and you have limited time, we recommend prioritizing:

1. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
2. Kigali city tour
3. Kigali Genocide Memorial
4. Akagera wildlife safari
5. Lake Kivu
6. Golden monkey trekking
7. Nyungwe chimpanzee trekking
8. Nyungwe Canopy Walkway
9. Cultural experiences
10. Hiking or cycling

You do not need to do everything.

We can help you select the experiences that best match your interests, budget, fitness level, and available time.

Plan the Best Things to Do in Rwanda With Solitary Safaris

Rwanda is small in size, but the experiences available are enormous.

We can take you from the streets of Kigali to the misty forests of Volcanoes National Park, from mountain gorillas to chimpanzees, from Akagera’s savannah to the peaceful shores of Lake Kivu, and from cultural experiences to unforgettable hikes through Rwanda’s beautiful hills.

At Solitary Safaris, we do not believe in giving every traveler the same itinerary.

We listen to what you want to experience and then build your Rwanda journey around it.

Whether you want a Rwanda gorilla trekking safari, wildlife adventure, honeymoon, family holiday, birding trip, cultural tour, luxury safari, or Rwanda-Uganda combination, we can help you plan it.

Ready to discover Rwanda? Contact Solitary Safaris today and let us design your personalized Rwanda safari.