Why Rwanda Should be Your Next Safari Destination in 2024?

Are you planning to visit Africa for your first time? OR Is it your second-time to visit Africa and you are wondering about the best safari destination to visit? Rwanda should be your next safari destination to visit in 2024. Rwanda is a small country in the East African region that is popularly known for the Rwanda genocide, a bad incident that occurred between 07th April and 15th July 1994 during the Rwandan Civil War.

During the period of just 100 days, about 800,000 people were killed. These were largely members of the Tutsi minority ethnic group, as well as some moderate Hutu and Twa. These people were killed by armed Hutu militias. Today, when you visit Rwanda with or without tour operator you cannot miss to visit some of the genocide memorial sites and other historical places that showcase the remains of this beautiful country.

Though this incident happened twenty years ago, the country has greatly recovered thanks to the current government of Rwanda. The current regime has worked tirelessly to bridge the gap that was set by colonial masters to classify Rwandan people into tribes. Today the Rwandan people are from one tribe and when you arrive in Kigali you will never hear the mentioning of tribes. Rather all nationals of the country are referred to as Rwandans. “We are all Rwandese” is a campaign that was adopted during the reconciliation meetings after the 1994 genocide. With this great campaign in the country, it has brought back again the strong love of each other in the country. Rwanda has seriously focused on the development of the country and by 2040, the country is expected to be second world country.

Therefore, today Rwanda is known to be among those countries in the world with the smart city “Kigali” and when you land at Kigali International Airport and get driven to your hotel in the city you will appreciate the beauty and cleanliness of Kigali. Keeping the environment clean is the number one practice and today Kigali is the cleanest city in Africa.

Therefore, with that in mind the country has also attracted many international hotel chains in Kigali city as well as Rwandan safari parks. With this practice Rwanda has been rebranded as a new luxury destination in the region.

With the new hotel developments in the city and international conference facilities like Kigali Arena and Radison Blu Conference Center, today the country can host many international business conferences and conventions. The recent big event was the CHOGM 2022 that was held in Kigali city and was attended by the 59 heads of states of Common Wealth Nations as well as other officials.

More so before I forget when you are looking for the suitable airlines to visit Rwanda, there are various airlines’ companies offering very competitive flights to the country and head by the home carrier “Rwandair”. If you are traveling from Europe, there is a direct flight to Kigali from London. Rwandair launched this inaugural flight last year and it offers very affordable and flexible direct flight from UK to Rwanda.

Travelers who have taken advantage of the direct flight have made short gorilla treks within a few days and again fly back to Europe.

Other airlines that fly to Rwanda include the Kenya Airways (KQ), Ethiopian Airlines (ET), KLM (KL), Qatar Airways (QR), Brussels Airlines (SN), Turkish Airlines (TK) among others.

Even though Rwanda is a small country it has got several interesting safari destinations that one would wish to visit. First and fore most, for every person visiting Rwanda, Kigali city acts as the face image of the country. Upon reaching Kigali, you may think you have covered the whole country due to the beauty and the interesting environment of the city. Therefore, among the cities to explore in Rwanda are as below:

Kigali

Kigali is the capital city of Rwanda, roughly in the center of the country. It sprawls across numerous hills, ridges and valleys, and has a vibrant restaurant and nightlife scene. The Kigali Genocide Memorial documents the 1994 mass killings in Rwanda, associated with the country’s civil war. The city’s Caplaki Crafts Village has stalls selling traditional handicrafts, including woodcarvings and woven baskets.

While in Kigali you will explore other historical land marks like the Inema Arts Centre, Niyo Art Gallery, Kandt House Museum, the Presidents Palace, the well-designed local markets like Kimironko market and the Nyamirambo women’s center. You can also take a visit or an overnight stay at the Mille Collines Hotel populary known for its history during the genocide that was featured in the “Hotel Rwanda” movie.

With the new image of Rwanda, Kigali city has attracted international hotel chains and hence improved accommodation facilities for tourists in Kigali often used before and after tours in Rwanda. With variety of hotels in Kigali it is now much easier to start and end your trip in Kigali. Some of the short excursions from Kigali include the gorilla tour in the Volcanoes National Park or the game viewing safari in Akagera National Park.

With the so many endless lists of the hotels in Kigali a few are mentioned here for your own information to easily identify some of them that you can stay while on your tour in Rwanda. For the luxury and mid-range travelers you can think of the Haven Retreat, Marriott Hotel, Radison Blu Hotel, Serena Hotel, Four Points by Sheraton, Ubumwe Grand Hotel, Onomo Hotel, Mille Collines Hotel, Grand Legacy, Miror Hotel among others respectively.

How is the travel pattern in the Kigali city? While in this city traveling is easy as there is local means of transport by buses and if you want to connect to your hotel easily contact the hotel to send you the small vehicle. If you want to discover by your own just after getting out the airport you will find so many airport taxes to drop you to the hotel at a relatively friendly cost.

Also, if you are in the city for quite longer days, you can rent a vehicle from one of the car rental agencies found in Kigali and they always offer new model jeeps and at very friendly price cost. The vehicles offered are unlimited mileage and you can explore the city and the other nearby places without any limit from the service provider.

Musanze

From my research I can say this is most loved and most visited city in Rwanda. Reason being it is where the gorilla palace “Volcanoes National Park found in the town called Kinigi. Musanze formerly known as the Ruhengeri province, it is big city and from here you can be busy for any period of time you would wish to stay here.

From this city you will get involved in the other conservation work from the Dian Fossey Museum and the Dian Fossey Campus offering the interesting information about the mountain gorillas. After experiencing the conservation of the mountain gorillas, it is much suitable now to enter into the mist for the gorilla trekking safari experience.

Today the gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes National Park has got 3 selling strategies. For the luxury travelers, Rwanda is the place to go gorilla trekking and with the new developed luxury eco-friendly lodges and camps we are ready to serve you. Among the luxury eco-friendly lodges and camps include the One & Only Gorilla’s Nest Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Wilderness Sabyinyo Lodge, Virunga Lodge and the Bishops’ House Lodge among others.

Thereafter, even though Rwanda has rebranded as new luxury gorilla safari destination still mid-range travelers do visit the country and doing gorilla safaris in the mist and staying at mid-range lodges like Five Volcanoes Boutique Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Lebambou Gorilla Lodge among others.

Inclusion there are so many other cities to visit and that is Gisenyi, Kibuye and Butare if you happen to having more time in Rwanda.