Rwanda Photographic Safaris for Gorillas, Chimps & Big Five

Rwanda Photographic Safaris Destinations

Whether you’re an experienced photographer or just starting out, Rwanda is a great place to go on a safari because of its welcoming locals, excellent infrastructure, and emphasis on ecotourism. As a must-do for every nature photographer, trekking with mountain gorillas is one of the country’s most renowned attractions. But that’s not all the monkey business. Guided treks are another option for photographers interested in seeing the endangered golden monkeys. Rwanda photographic safaris are, to put it mildly, an adventure!

There is no shortage of breathtaking scenery for landscape photographers in this East African country, with to its verdant rainforests, expansive grassland, and volcanoes. For those interested in bird photography, the country is a haven of abundant bird species. Rwanda culture is rich with fascinating rites and traditions, making it an ideal destination for travellers seeking to immerse themselves in a new society. See elephants, giraffes, and antelopes in their natural habitat at Akagera National Park for a more classic safari experience. In Rwanda, we recommend the following five locations for a photographic safari:

1. Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is a popular destination for safaris and wildlife photographers due to its renowned population of endangered mountain gorillas. Photographers can enjoy longer, immersive experiences with these remarkable creatures at the park’s unusual gorilla habituation experience.

This park has a breathtaking volcanic terrain that will give your images depth and beauty, set against the backdrop of the Virunga Mountains. Photographs of landscapes taken under foggy or otherwise unpredictable weather tend to have an otherworldly quality.

2. Lake Kivu

Landscape photographers can enjoy Lake Kivu‘s picturesque hills and distant mountains as a backdrop, and the tranquil waters provide an ideal setting for capturing breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. Lakeside villages provide photographers the chance to capture the locals going about their everyday lives.

Photographers can find a treasure trove of cultural subjects in lively marketplaces, traditional fishing crafts, and busy towns. If you want to see the shoreline from a different angle, go on a boat safari. Be sure to bring your camera in case you see any of the lake’s native birds. Islands like Amahoro and Napoleon provide excellent opportunities for landscape and wildlife photography, and you’ll get to see them on your boat safari.

3. Akagera National Park

Safaris in Akagera National Park offer a striking change of scenery from the usual verdant woods and hilly areas of Rwanda. If you’re hoping to cross “lion,” “elephant,” “bison,” and “rhino” off your list, you’ll find what you’re looking for in Rwanda’s expansive savannahs and open landscapes, which offer great opportunity to observe and photograph the country’s wildlife.

With more than 500 different bird species, Akagera is a photographer’s paradise for capturing a wide variety of beautiful birds, including raptors and waterbirds. Night safaris are available at the park, providing photographers with an opportunity to get images of animals that are active during the night. Expert park rangers and guides are on hand throughout every excursion to highlight Akagera’s top attractions.

4. Mount Bisoke

The conical shape and rough terrain of extinct volcano Mount Bisoke in the Virunga Mountains provide a dramatic and aesthetically beautiful landscape. After enduring the varied wildlife and foliage along the way, the pleasant sight of a picturesque crater lake encircled by verdant greenery awaits you at the peak. Those interested in birds will love Mount Bisoke, while those who like macro photography will have the opportunity to snap rare and endemic plants.

Nearby Volcanoes National Park offers photographers the chance to shoot the majestic gorillas in their own environment and participate in a gorilla habituation adventure. Tourists interested in demonstrating the region’s culture might stop by the settlements near Mount Bisoke’s foot.

5. Nyungwe Forest National Park

Wildlife photographers have the perfect opportunity to capture these intriguing animals in their natural habitat at Nyungwe Forest National Park, which is home to thirteen different primate species and has East Africa’s sole canopy walkway. Nature walks through the forest are led by park rangers who educate guests about the woodland’s ecology and point out good photo ops.

More than a thousand different plant species call this park home. Photographers who specialise in nature can get shots of more than 300 different bird species or even the elusive forest elephants. Beautiful waterfalls and rivers dot the landscape of Nyungwe, providing many opportunities for photographers to capture the majesty of rushing water and peaceful streams amidst verdant foliage. Mist frequently envelops the forest, giving your images a surreal quality.

You can provide a more personal touch to your photographic safari by visiting the nearby villages of Nyungwe and capturing the daily lives and cultural customs of the inhabitants.

Packing the correct gear, choosing the perfect season, and maybe even hiring a guide to show you all the hidden treasures to shoot are all crucial before setting out on a photography safari. To begin organising your personalised photographic safari, contact a safari expert at Kabira Safaris Africa now.

What to Photograph on your safari in Rwanda

There is no better way to describe the beauty of Rwanda than Churchill did. Rwanda is a land of thousand hills, relatively smaller than Scotland however beaming with all nature’s beauty, culture, wonderful and hospitable people, and home to a variety of wildlife. All the scenic beauty in the country is perhaps good for photography, however, some areas in the country are top destinations for photographers compared to others.

The top photography spots include the more restless chimpanzees of Nyungwe National Park that are less cooperative photographic subjects, but the same national park’s monkeys are often very easy to photograph in situ. Akagera National Park offers the opportunity to photograph the African Big Five animals (lion, leopard, black rhino, elephant, and buffalo) along with all other mammal grazers such giraffe, zebra, hippo and various antelope and a lot of birdlife. The perfect volcanic outlines of the Virungas are highly photogenic, especially day dusk and dawn, as are lakes such as Kivu and Burera. If you want to photograph people in Rwanda, it is important culturally to ask permission first.

The only requirement for Wildlife photography is faster and higher-magnifications lenses than most other subjects. For gorillas, it is always way better to have a 70-200 or similar lens should be used for great pictures. Elsewhere, a zoom that goes up to 300 is ideal, possibly supplemented by a fixed 400 or 500 lenses, with the fastest f-stop of 4 or better 2.8.

Can you go on safari in Rwanda?

Rwanda is a great safari destination to include on your bucket list when planning a safari to Africa. The country I home to adventure with more to green and hilly Rwanda than meets the eye: it is also home to the primate-filled Nyungwe Forest National Park where there are chimpanzees and fantastic birds. The country is also home to the most endangered primates, the mountain gorillas that live in the Virunga Mountains.