Volcanoes National Park

In the verdant folds of the Virunga massif, Volcanoes National Park is home to Rwanda’s most iconic experience: tracking endangered mountain gorillas in their mist-shrouded natural habitat. Golden monkeys swing through the bamboo, while adventurers can summit volcanoes like Mount Bisoke, with its crater lake, or challenge the Mount Karisimbi trek, the highest peak in Rwanda. For gentler explorations, walk to the Dian Fossey Gravesite, where conservation history lives on. Between treks, visit local distilleries, do a Kinigi or Musanze village tour, or glide in a canoe across the shimmering Twin Lakes, a peaceful contrast to the jungle’s intensity.

Gishwati–Mukura National Park

Intimate and untouched, Gishwati-Mukura National Park offers a truly rare experience: the chance to spend time with chimpanzees still in the process of habituation. Staying in a small guesthouse at the park’s edge, you’ll often feel as if you have the entire forest to yourself. With the company of an expert naturalist guide, this hidden reserve offers not only chimp encounters but also a deep immersion into Rwanda’s newest national park, where nature is reclaiming its place.

Akagera National Park

A land of golden savannah and sweeping horizons, Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s great conservation success story. Once nearly lost, it now thrives again under African Parks’ management, home to the Big Five and one of the densest rhino populations in Africa. With few vehicles crowding its tracks, game drives feel truly wild, whether by day or on a night safari that reveals leopard eyes glowing in the dark. Boat rides on Lake Ihema bring you close to hippos, crocodiles, and flocks of waterbirds—an entirely different way to see the savannah.

Nyungwe National Park

A realm of ancient rainforest, Nyungwe National Park is alive with wildlife and adventure. Track chimpanzees through the tangled forest or watch troops of black-and-white colobus monkeys leap from tree to tree. Explore waterfall hikes, the sweeping Cyinzobe trail, or the legendary canopy walkway, where the rainforest spreads beneath your feet. Birdwatchers will marvel at the park’s more than 300 species, while those seeking a thrill can ride Rwanda’s new forest zipline. Nyungwe is both a sanctuary and a playground, where the wild reveals its gentler rhythms.

Lake Kivu and Beyond

Between the mountains lies Lake Kivu, its glassy waters stretching wide under endless skies. Life here slows to the rhythm of the lakeshore: fishermen casting their nets at dusk, small boats drifting over mirrored waters, and quiet coves perfect for swimming or kayaking. Along its edges, you’ll taste the relaxed warmth of Rwandan lake life, where culture, community, and nature meet.