5 Best Rwanda Safari Activities For Families

Are you looking for family-friendly safari activities to do in Rwanda? Explore the 5 best Rwanda safari activities for families with superfine Safaris Limited. Rwanda is an amazing destination that attracts not only solo travelers but also visitors on family tours. The different Rwanda safari activities for families range from primate tours, cultural safaris, game viewing safaris, adventures, and more. Rwanda is one of the leading destinations in Africa and has plenty for tourists to experience. Its compact size makes it even possible for tourists to explore in the shortest period. If you are visiting Rwanda for the first time, here are the 5 best activities worth enjoying on a family tour.

Primate tours

Rwanda primate tours to engage in as a family include gorilla trekking tours, golden monkey tracking, chimpanzee tracking, and colobus monkey tracking.

Gorilla trekking tours

Rwanda is most popular for its captivating gorilla trekking adventures. If you are interested in being up close with a family of endangered mountain gorillas, then consider Rwanda a must-visit. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is enjoyable in the scenic Volcanoes National Park, home to a total of about 13 habituated gorilla families. The habituated gorilla groups in Volcanoes National Park are open to trekking and include the Muhoza gorilla group, Amahoro, Umubano, Karisimbi, Agashya, Susa group, Hirwa, Sabyinyo, and Ugenda, etc.

A maximum of 8 visitors can visit one habituated gorilla family and after 2-6 hours of searching for these large apes, you have a maximum of 1 hour to spend in their presence. Gorilla treks in Rwanda are only done by eligible persons, that is visitors above 15 years and ensure that you are fit enough.

Valid gorilla permits are needed for you to get a chance to engage in the trek with gorillas in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda. A single gorilla permit in Rwanda costs USD 1500 per person and should be booked in advance before the actual visit to see gorillas.

 Chimpanzee tracking

Chimpanzee trekking is an enriching primate tour experience worth considering on a family safari in Rwanda. Nyungwe Forest National Park and Gishwati-Mukura National Park are a must-visit for this special primate trekking adventure. Over 500 chimpanzees reside in the Nyungwe Forest alone and others are concentrated in the Gishwati-Mukura National Park. Chimpanzee treks in Rwanda present visitors with a chance to explore chimpanzees in their natural environment with the lead of an experienced park guide.

 Golden monkey tracking

Rwanda isn’t only popular for its thrilling gorilla treks or chimpanzee encounters but also for rewarding golden monkey tracking experiences. Golden monkey tracking in Rwanda offers you a great opportunity to learn more about golden monkeys, their behaviors, and taking pictures. Volcanoes National Park is the best spot to experience a golden monkey trekking adventure in Rwanda.

 Colobus monkey tracking

Visitors on a family tour in Rwanda can also embark on the trek with colobus monkeys in Nyungwe National Park. Expect to explore more about the black and white colobus monkeys while in their natural habitats. As you look for colobus monkeys, expect to come across other multiple primates including the red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, vervet monkeys, Dent Mona monkeys, blue monkeys, and more.

 Water recreational experiences

Launch or boat cruise

Expect to have an exciting moment on a guided launch cruise on Lake Ihema in Akagera National Park. During the launch cruise, expect to enjoy sights of aquatic life such as hippos, crocodiles, and water birds.

 Sport fishing

Sport fishing is one of the best Rwanda safari activities visitors on family tours can engage in. This is perfect for anglers on a tour in Akagera National Park Rwanda. The ideal spots to experience the best of sport fishing in Rwanda include Lake Shakani or Lake Rwanyakazinga. This recreational experience is done by persons with valid fishing permits and you should have your gear.

Game Viewing tours

Rwanda is also most popular for its enriching game-viewing excursions in Akagera National Park. At Akagera National Park, game viewing mainly focuses on the Big 5 encounters plus other savanna wildlife. Akagera is the only savanna park in Rwanda and is where you can spot lions, leopards, hyenas, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, roan antelopes, and many other savanna species.

Akagera National Park also holds over 500 species of birds which include the shoebill storks, Egyptian goose, dimorphic egret, Shelley’s francolins, red-faced barbet, African fish eagles, and many others.

 Birding tours

Rwanda is not only a great destination for primate adventures but also for you to enjoy bird-watching. During birding tours, visitors get exposed to a variety of birds including African paradise, pin-tailed whydahs, little bee-eaters, village weaver birds, Red-chested sunbird, African jacanas, black-headed weaver birds, African fish eagle, Rwenzori turacos, regal sunbird, Grauer’s swamp warblers, red-throated alethe, and more.

 Adventures in Rwanda

Volcano climbing

Up to 5 stunning Virunga Volcanoes are in Rwanda and concentrated in Volcanoes National Park. The presence of these unique landforms makes Rwanda an ideal place for volcano hiking. The five Virunga Mountain ranges in Volcanoes National Park include Bisoke, Karisimbi, Sabyinyo, Muhabura, and Gahinga Volcanoes.

Dian Fossey tomb trek

Rwanda is the best place for you to embark on a journey that Dian Fossey started. Dian Fossey was a great primatologist and she spent over 18 years conducting research about gorillas in the Virunga region. A guided walk to the Dian Fossey tomb site is possible when you visit Volcanoes National Park.

Canopy walk

Guided canopy walks in Rwanda are only done in the Nyungwe Forest National Park. The guided canopy walk in Nyungwe involves exploring the suspended bridge set about 70m from the forest floor and extends up to about 200m. As you walk through the stunning suspended bridge, expect to come across a variety of primates and bird species.

Cultural encounters

Cultural safaris are the perfect addition to numerous experiences in Rwanda. Cultural tours are more family-friendly and can be done in the nearby local communities adjacent to the parks including Volcanoes National Park, Akagera, Gishwati-Mukura, and Nyungwe Forest National Park. The popular areas to consider for cultural tours include Iby’Iwacu village, refugee village, Imigongo art, and craft center, etc.