Although mountain gorillas are the stars of the show, there are plenty of other primate tracking opportunities while taking tours in Rwanda. Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to thirteen different primate species, among them chimpanzees and Rwenzori colobus, both of which can be tracked. Indeed, Nyungwe’s colobus monkeys can sometimes be seen in spectacular troops of several hundred, believed to be among the largest numbers worldwide. And in Volcanoes National Park, two groups of endangered golden monkeys have been habituated for visitor tracking. Pretty and playful, they’re a delight to watch.
If you’re after nature at its most authentic, and like the idea of tracking both colobus and chimpanzee, then your journey into Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest should be something of a dream comes true. You will experience an environment as varied and as wonderful as the Galapagos Islands, one that ranges from flooded forests to swamps to herbaceous populated clearings.
Accompanied by your personal guide, your trek through the forest will include a canopy walk, the opportunity to track chimpanzee, colobus and golden monkey, and may even end with observing the white bearded L’Hoest monkey making its elaborate nest – a rare treat. Best visited during the wet season, when behaviour is that bit more predictable, the chance to make contact with a quarter of Africa’s primates in a single ancient and beautiful space promises to be the trip of a lifetime.
Relax by the banks of Lake Kivu, Rwanda’s greatest lake. From the moment you first set eyes on Lake Kivu, it is clear that the most beautiful of Africa’s great lakes is a deeply special destination. A cascade of rich blue colours plays across its surface. The terraced escarpments and pretty villages on its banks invite you to explore further and enjoy the wealth of recreational activities on offer.
It is the incredible depth of Lake Kivu that lends it those enticing aquamarine hues. Reaching 480m at its deepest, the glittering lake runs for almost 100km along Rwanda’s Congolese border. Whether you are taking in the stunning views from a boat trip to the buzzing town of Gisenyi in the north, or relaxing on its white sandy shoreline, Lake Kivu rates as a must-see. Here you can also enjoy lake fishing, canoeing and swimming in those clear blue waters.
