How to plan a winter Holiday safari to Rwanda.

How to organize a safari vacation in Rwanda during the winter. One of the greatest and most reasonably priced places for travelers to escape the cold climate back home is Rwanda. Due to the dry season, December through February are some of the ideal times to plan your safari to Rwanda. During this time, you can engage in a variety of activities, such as bird watching, game drives, gorilla trekking, cultural excursions, chimpanzee trekking, boat cruises, and more.

Maintaining open lines of communication with your tour operator regarding requirements and any alterations to the safari’s schedule is the first step in preparing a winter vacation safari. Additionally, you must ascertain what to anticipate from your destination and whether any limitations or modifications have been implemented. Your tour planner can provide you with all of this information so that your safari is well-planned.

You may easily plan your safari by following a few steps. These include selecting your safari site, determining the best time to travel (the dates and duration of your safari), picking a tour operator (you must thoroughly investigate the organization to prevent fraudsters), preparing your packing list, and learning more about the location.

Things to consider when booking a winter safari vacation in Rwanda

How to navigate Rwanda while on safari
Safari automobiles: Your transportation has already been planned if you made your reservation through a tour operator, and 4×4 safari vehicles are utilized. These are clean cars that are ready and reserved once payment has been confirmed. It is the most private way to go on safari in Rwanda, despite the fact that it might be pricey at times.

Locals use these green or yellow minibuses, known as matatus, to get across the nation. Rwanda boasts an excellent transportation system that connects even the most isolated regions of the nation. If you are traveling in a large party, you can rent well-maintained matatus from Kigali. Numerous busses travel the many routes that connect Kigali to the rest of the nation every half hour.

Taxis: These are widely available and can be obtained at several taxi booths in the provinces surrounding Kigali and Rwanda. The most costly mode of transportation in the nation is a taxi, which you can request by phone or by asking the hotel where you are staying for a recommended driver.

Cash
For convenient transactions, travelers are urged to bring local cash on their safari, which is the Rwandan Franc (RWF). Bring cash in dollars or euros, which you may exchange at banks, forex bureaus, or the airport. The Banque de Kigali may provide cash advances, and several high-end establishments take credit cards. ATMs can be found throughout the nation, particularly in Kigali. On Sundays and the final Saturday of the month, when the Umuganda is conducted, banking services are not available in Rwanda until 11:00 am.

During the safari, local currency is useful for buying, tipping, and other purposes. Keep in mind that leaving a tip is expected and a sign of gratitude for the services. Tipping is required for drivers, potters, and wait staff at hotels and restaurants.

The Rwandan language
The natives’ principal language of communication is Kinyarwanda. French is the official language in offices and is also widely spoken. Swahili is also widely spoken throughout the nation, while English has also been embraced and is currently taught in schools.

Visas
All visitors who want to visit Rwanda need to have a valid passport and buy a visa. However, Rwanda recently eliminated the need for visas for nationals of all African nations; for East African citizens, all that is required is a passport and a valid national identification card. Travelers can apply for a visa online or in person when they arrive. Nonetheless, we recommend that customers apply for their visas at least three months prior to the date of their desired trip. Additionally, a tourist visa for East Africa has been developed, which allows entry into Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda.

Rwandan cuisine
Despite not being the food basket, Rwanda produces a wide range of foods, including both international and local cuisines. The majority of Rwandan cuisine consists of starchy foods like cassava, beans, and fresh fruits like pineapples, papayas, avocados, mangoes, watermelons, and many more. Mizuzu (plantain), eggplants, spinach, cassava leaves, and many more traditional ingredients are used to make the local cuisine isombe.

Rwandan culture and people
One of the greatest ways to fit in with the locals when you go on safari is to familiarize yourself with their culture and way of life before you go. Although Rwandans are friendly and hospitable, make sure your clothing is not provocative when packing, as this is prohibited in the nation. In an effort to maintain clean cities, polythene bags are also prohibited nationwide.

Rwandan safari destinations
There are a variety of safari locations you may choose from while organizing your winter vacation; the list of places we suggest you visit is provided below. This is to help you plan ahead for the safari, but you don’t have to go to all of them.

The most popular safari location in Rwanda is Volcanoes National Park, where many travelers go to gorilla trekking. Only three countries—Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo—allow trekking with mountain gorillas. Ten habituated gorillas and around 400 gorillas can be found in Rwanda. The primary activity at Volcanoes National Park is gorilla trekking.

Other activities include, but are not limited to, bird viewing, cultural visits, hiking up the park’s Volcanoes highlands, taking in the Batwa route, taking part in the Kwita Izina ritual, which involves naming infant gorillas, trekking with golden monkeys, and guided nature walks. To go gorilla trekking in volcanoes, you must buy a gorilla trekking permit six months in advance. Due to their constant high demand, reservations for these must be made in advance.

Even though Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s largest national park, faced difficulties following the genocide, some animals were poached when they migrated. When the refugees returned, they crowded on it. The reintroduction of some extinct animals, such as lions and rhinos, has revitalized it. Today, Akagera is home to a variety of wildlife species, including giraffes, zebras, buffalos, lions, antelopes, elephants, bush duikers, hippos, crocodiles, and black rhinos, which were introduced in 2017. More than 408 bird species call it home. During your safari, you can partake in guided nature walks, game drives, and bird watching.

One of the safari sites for your winter vacation in Rwanda is Lake Kivu, which is located near the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. You can learn about the Kinyarwanda culture in the settlements that surround the little lake in the Great Rift Valley. Boat cruises on Lake Kivu, cycling along the shores, bird watching, and guided nature and culture hikes are a some of the things you can do here.

The greatest place to trek chimpanzees and see their habituation process in Rwanda is Nyungwe Forest National Park. Numerous primates, including vervet monkeys, olive baboons, Mangabeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys, can be seen in the national park. Chimpanzee trekking is available year-round in the park, and it’s the greatest way to learn more about the primates. While on a safari in Nyungwe, you can also participate in other activities including cycling, nature hikes, bird viewing, and the canopy walk.

In addition to serving as a reminder of what transpired during the 1994 genocide, the Genocide Memorial Centers located throughout the nation serve as a means of honoring those who perished and educating people about Rwandan history and culture. The Kigali Genocide Memorial Center, Nyamata Memorial Site, Murambi Genocide Memorial Center, Ntarama Memorial Center, and Gisozi Memorial Site are among the various genocides to visit.

Some of Rwanda’s most popular tourist destinations are the Nyamyumba hot springs in the Rubavu area and the Bugarama hot springs in the Cyangugu district. The Gisovu hot springs, which are located near Lake Kivu and have water that can easily boil an egg at 100 degrees Celsius, are also a must-see. Water, according to the locals, has the ability to heal practically any illness.

What to bring for your safari vacation in the winter

If you want to experience the finest safari in Rwanda, you must know what to carry. To make packing for your vacation more effective, a packing list has been created. Strong hiking boots, neutral clothing, long-sleeved shirts, and pants (avoid jeans if you intend to trek), insect repellent, devices such as binoculars and cameras (along with camera gear), a reusable water bottle, a waterproof backpack, sunscreen, snacks (keep in mind that all meals will be served at your lodging, but you are welcome to bring your favorite snacks), garden gloves, sandals, sneakers, a medical first aid kit, a warm sweater, and personal toiletries.

Rwandan safari lodges

Although Rwanda is renowned for being a luxury safari destination, there are affordable lodging options available at several safari locations. The accommodations, which now include luxury, mid-range, and basic amenities, have improved. Here is a list of all the lodging options available to visitors on a safari in Rwanda, which provide comfort while they engage in their activities.

Rusizi Tent Camp and Akagera Game Lodge in Akagera National Park

Go, Lux Lodge, Sabinyo Silver Back Lodge, Villa Gorilla, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Hotel Muhabura, Wilderness Bisate Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, One & Only Gorilla’s Gorilla’s Nest, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, and Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel are a few of the accommodations in Volcanoes National Park.

The Palm Beach Resort Lake Kivu, Kivu Paradis Resort, Hakuna Matata, Paradis Malahide, Wind Land Hotel, Galaxy Kivu Hotel, Lake Kivu Serena Hotel Gisenyi, Hill View Hotel, and Umbwe Hotel are a few of the hotels in Gisenyi Town.

Guest House Igishigishi, One&Only Nyungwe House, Ken Barham Guest House, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Chimpanzee Lodge, and Nyungwe Nziza Eco Lodge are all located in Nyungwe Forest National Park.

The following hotels are located in Kigali: The Manor Hotel, Heaven Retreat Hotel Kigali, Flame Tree Village Hotel, Marriot Hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre Kigali, Iris Guest House, Five to Five Hotel, Kigali Serena Hotel, Onomo Hotel, Hotel De Mille Collines, 3000 Hotel, and Heaven Retreat Hotel Kigali.

Kibuye: Bethany Hotel, Moriah Hill Resort, Hotel Golf Eden, Comoran Lodge, and Rwiza Village.

When is the best time to make reservations for Rwanda’s winter safari?

Due to the dry season and the Christmas holidays, December through February is one of the busiest times of the year for the nation’s tourism industry. In order to receive the greatest safari rates and steer clear of last-minute reservations, which may incur additional fees, we usually advise our clients to make their reservations at least four to six months prior to the start of the winter season.

It’s time to begin planning your Rwandan vacation safari after you have all the information you need. Working with a reputable, licensed tour operator like us to plan your winter vacation safari will guarantee that you have the greatest safari in the nation and provide you with up-to-date information on what to expect while traveling. The finest places to go on safari, lodging, obtaining permits when needed, and making sure all the requirements are met are all part of the planning process.