Rwanda is a landlocked country located in East-Central Africa. The country is covered for the most part by steep hills and deep valleys, with its highest point being Karisimbi ((14,187 ft; 4,324 m) in the Virunga Mountains. Although well known for the horrific history of genocide, Rwanda is a pleasant country , with magnificent people , amazing lakes, mountains, a great climate, good roads, a good standard of living with cheap things ranging from food to accommodation and many things.Rwanda is a small country and almost all its attractions of nice places are one side by side.Tourists are fond of the following places in Rwanda.
1. Gorillas in the Virunga Mountains
The gorillas of these mountains are shared with countries like Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These three countries share the few remaining gorillas in the world. People frequent the Parc National Des Volcans to track down these humble giants that have endured civil and world wars. People come from all over the world to spend an hour with these great apes. Looking through the eyes of these humble giants (Gorilla) gives you a feeling that triggers a question in your mind that says “Why, why, why not protect?” They are really exciting. Gorillas are herbivores that live in groups and, like humans, there is always one dominant male, which is the silverback and is the head of the family. To track gorillas in Rwanda you need at least 2 days and tracking gorillas in Rwanda is not as strenuous as in Uganda. A gorilla permit that allows you to track gorillas in Rwanda costs USD750 and is usually restricted to a particular date.
2. Genocide Monument
Rwanda has two genocide memorials: one is the Ntarama Church, which is about 5km down a right fork that branches off the Nyamata road, about 20km from Kigali. This church has been left empty as it was after removing the bodies with remains of personal items such as clothing on the floor. Next to this church there is a building where other people seeking safety were massacred. The other church is in Nyamata, 30km from Kigali, which was the site of a horrific massacre. The bodies were also removed although blood stains remain on the walls. A courtyard was dug out of the underground chamber and this is where the skulls of many victims are on display. During your visit to this memorial, you will be asked to sign a guest book in which you will find many names of people who are familiar to you.
3. Kabgayi Church Museum
3km from Gitarama along the Butare road is the massive Kabgayi Cathedral. This is the oldest in the country dating back to 1925. This was the first settlement area of the Catholic bishop. Huge in size and tranquil inside, the church is well worth a visit and there is a small museum next door.
4. Akagera National Park
Named for the Akagera River that runs along its eastern boundary, Akagera NP is warm and low-lying with rolling plains that support a cover of dense broadleaf trees with acacia forests and grasslands.
The park is home to more than 20 species of mammals. The eastern side is wet and is known to be home to nearly the largest number of hippos in Africa. Other animals to see in the lakes on the east side are crocodiles, lions, leopards and black rhinos which are present in small numbers. You can take boat trips on Lake Ihema to see some of these animals. For bird lovers, this is another paradise on earth, the avifauna is extraordinary: not only the rarities that will make passionate bird watchers thrill, but also the most inspiring concentration of large waterfowl in Africa. A visit to this park is really rewarding
5.Nyungwe Forest
It is a montane forest that is remarkably rich in biodiversity with 75 species of mammals, 120 butterflies, 275 birds, and more than 100 varieties of orchids. The forest is well known for its primates and chimpanzee tracking can be arranged on short notice and for a small fee. Other primates in this forest include various other monkeys L’Hoest monkeys. The roads to the forest are good and with excellent rental houses and campsites to provide you with the necessary services while you are in the forest. A nature walk through this forest can be truly rewarding.
6. Musanze Winery
Musanze is believed to have been built by a local king and has been used as a refuge in various stories, while during the 1994 Massacre it was used as a place of slaughter and recently the site is still littered with human remains. Musanze, the now bat colony, is located in Ruhengeri, 2 km from the Gisenyi road. It has an entrance to a large as a cathedral. The entrance is filled with marked black volcanic debris and at the opposite end is a natural bridge formed by lava flow from one of the Virunga mountains.
7. Hill Hotel des Milles;
A hotel in Kigali that is attracting people’s attention recently due to the movie “Hotel Rwanda” and its contribution to Rwanda. The hotel is known to have housed and sheltered more than 1,268 people under the leadership of Paul Rusesabagina. Paul took over the management of this hotel a few days after the start of the genocide and this was like after the European managers left. Paul and his wife used to bribe the Hutu Interahamwe Militia with money and alcohol to stop them from killing the refugees.
8. Rusumo Falls
The falls are located in the eastern part of Rwanda on the border with Tanzania. It is an incredible and spectacular waterfall that is part of the distant headwaters of the Nile River. It is not worth missing when crossing the border from Rwanda to Tanzania.
9. National Museum,
It is located in the city of Butare in Huye and is known to be the most tourist attraction in Butare. The museum is known to have probably the best ethnographic collection in all of East Africa. It has large rooms that allow you to appreciate and enjoy the exhibitions. The exhibitions provide information not only on the pre-colonial history but also on the development process of the country (Rwanda) up to its current modernity. At the museum you can arrange for Ntore dancers to entertain you with traditional Rwandan dances.
10. Lake Kivu
Situated on the Albertine Rift and apart from the Great Rift Valley, Kivu is a large freshwater reservoir that marks the western border with DR Congo. This lake is a tourist center with safe fresh water for swimming. It has beautiful beaches with splendid landscapes and the sunset is usually spectacular. You can spend a weekend on one of the beaches.