Rwanda Tourist Attractions

Tourist’s Attractions in Rwanda

Genocide Memorials:
There are two memorials south of Kigali, both accessible as a day trip. The church at Nyamata, about 30 km from Kigali, was the scene of a horrific massacre. The interior has been cleared and left empty. There are still some blood stains on the walls, and, in the courtyard outside an underground chamber has been dug in which are stored-and displayed-the skulls and of many hundred victims. A guide will take you round and explain the background-and ask you to sign the visitors’ book, in which you may spot some internationally known names.
Ntarama church, about 5 km down a right-hand fork, which branches off the Nyamata road roughly 20 km outside Kigali, has been left empty and just as it was after the bodies had been removed-there are scraps of cloth and personal items still on the floor. Beside it is another building where more people, seeking safety, were slaughtered.

Kabgayi Church Museum:
The massive cathedral of Kabgayi, 3 km from Gitarama along the Butare road, is the oldest in the country, dating from 1925; missionaries were already installed in Kabgayi by 1906 and it became the first seat of the Catholic Bishop. The cathedral, with its huge and tranquil interior, is worth a visit, and there is a small museum nearby.

Nyungwe Forest:
Nyungwe protects the largest single tract of montane forest remaining anywhere in East or Central Africa. The forest takes on a liberating primal presence even before you enter. Thus it is a remarkably rich center of biodiversity, harboring, among other things, 75 mammal species, 275 birds, 120 butterflies, and more than 100 varieties of orchid. The main attraction of Nyungwe Forest is its primates. Chimp tracking can be arranged at short notice and relatively minor expense. Several other monkeys are readily seen, including the acrobatic Rwenzori colobus in troops of up to 400 strong (the largest arboreal primate troops in Africa) and the beautiful and highly localized I’Hoest’s monkey. Nyungwe is also alluring to the birders, botanists, and keen walkers. One of the joys of Nyungwe is its accessibility. Not only is the forest bisected by the surfaced trunk road between Butare and Cyangungu, but it is serviced by an excellent and inexpensive resthouse and campsite, and easily explored along a well maintained network of walking trails.

The Gorillas and Birds:
Interestingly the three countries of Rwanda, Uganda and the Republic of Congo commonly have a share of the rare mountain gorilla whose main sanctuary is the Virunga. The Virunga Conservation Area, on the upper slopes of the Virunga volcanoes form three neighboring national parks namely, Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda, Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, and Parc des Virungas in DR Congo. Over 350 mountain gorillas (half of the world population) live in this region. However, Uganda has habituated one family of mountain gorillas where as Rwanda has habituated four gorilla families in Parc National des Volcans. Gorillas aside, some 76 mammal species have been recorded in Uganda’s neighboring Mgahinga National Park, and it seems reasonable to assume that most of these animals also occur in the larger Rwanda section of the Virungas. The following animals do exist in this area: the golden monkey, silver monkey, elephants, buffaloes, Giant forest hog, bushpig, bushbuck, black-fronted duiker, spotted-hyena, yellow-backed duiker and leopard among others. Over 180 bird species have been recorded in this park. A local specialty is the vulnerable Grauer’s swamp warbler, while at least 13 Albertine Rift endemics are present, including handsome francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori batis, strange weaver, dusky crimson-wing, Shelly’s crimson-wing and Archer’s ground robin.

Akagera National Park:
Akagera national park is named after the Akagera River which runs along its eastern boundary. It is relatively warm and low-lying, and its undulating plains support a cover of dense, broad-leafed woodland interspersed with lighter acacia woodland and patches of rolling grassland. The eastern part of the park is characterized with an extensive network of wetlands and a complex of a dozen lakes linked by extensive papyrus swamps and winding water channels fed by the mighty Akagera River. Over 20 mammal species present in this Park range from buffaloes and elephants to the tiny elephant-shrew and bushbaby. The lakes support some of the highest concentration of hippos in Africa, as well as numerous large crocodiles, while lion, leopard, and possibly black rhino are still present in small numbers. And the birdlife is phenomenal: not only the sort of rarities that will have ardent birdwatchers in raptures, but also some of Africa’s most impressive concentration of big waterbirds. The park has had its Gabiro accommodation facility improved greatly. Boat trips are available on Lake Ihema giving you an opportunity to view outsized crocodiles and large pods of hippo. You will also meet substantial breeding colonies of birds such as the African darter, cormorant and open-bill stork. Other waterbirds present include, the delicate and colourful African Jacana, fish eagles, jewel-like malachite kingfishers hawk, pied kingfisher, blue-eyed coucal and marsh flycatcher.

Musanze Cave:
Musanze cave lies in Ruhengeri 2 km off the Gisenyi road. The main cave reportedly 2 km long, has an entrance the size of a cathedral and is home to an impressive bat colony. The large ditch out of which the cave opens is littered with marked black volcanic rubble, and at the opposite end there is a natural bridge which was formed by a lava flow from one of the Virunga volcanoes.
Legend has it that Musanze was constructed by a local king, and that it has been used as a refuge on several occasions in history. More recently, the cave was reportedly the site of a massacre during the genocide, and until recently it was still littered with human remains.