Romantic Honeymoon Safaris in Akagera National Park & Rwanda

Over the years, Rwanda has established itself as a full packaged tourism destination developing and improving its national parks through effective conservation initiatives, improved of the country’s security and a number of different accommodation facilities have been developed and set out in the country’s different tourist destinations.

Rwanda is scenically beautiful and a rewarding tourism destination with its thousands of hills, beautiful scenery, forests, unique wildlife species like the endangered mountain gorillas and the misty volcanoes.

Top Honeymoon Destinations in Rwanda

Below are the top honeymoon destinations in Rwanda:

Volcanoes National Park

The most popular tourist destination in Rwanda is a top honeymoon destination providing honeymooners with a once in a lifetime memorable experience when they go mountain gorilla trekking in search of these endangered gentle giants.

Encountering the gorillas in their natural habitat is a moment that you will never forget.

Other activities you to do in Volcanoes include guided nature/forest walks, hiking trips, golden monkey tracking and bird-watching.

Kigali City

The capital of Rwanda is a perfect honeymoon destination as it has a relaxed atmosphere, scenic views and lots of opportunities to immerse yourselves in a rewarding cultural experience and to get to know about the country’s rich history.

There are also different outdoor romantic activities you can engage in while in Kigali like horseback riding, archery, zip-lining, hiking Mount Kigali among others.

Places to visit while in Kigali include the Kigali Genocide memorial center, the Inema arts center, Kigali Convection Center, Kigali City Tower, cultural centers among others.

Honeymooners can take on romantic city tours either in a car or walk hand in hand on up and down the streets of on of Africa’s cleanest cities.

The Lake Kivu

This is the largest lake in Rwanda with beaches, scenery and beautiful accommodation facilities for a comfortable honeymoon stay in Rwanda.

There are lots of activities you and your loved one can take part in during your honeymoon visit to Lake Kivu which include romantic sunset dhow cruises, boat trips to different islands in the lake like Napoleone, bird-watching, private guided nature walks along the shores of the lakes, kayaking, private fishing experience and enjoy some downtime relaxing at the beach.

Akagera National Park

Rwanda’s only Savannah park is a top honeymoon destination as it will provide you will a Savannah wildlife honeymoon experience you cannot get from anywhere else in the country.

Go on private game viewing safaris, romantic guided nature walks in the wilderness, bird watching safaris, romantic boat cruises on Lake Ihema, a romantic hot air balloon safari among others.

Expect to see the Big 5 African game animals.

Nyungwe Forest National Park

For a nature and greenery loving couple, Nyungwe Forest National Park is a perfect honeymoon destination for you.

This ever-green old forest has a lot to offer contributing to a memorable honeymoon experience in Rwanda.

The forest is home to Rwanda’s primates including the endangered playful chimpanzees, which are the main attraction of tourists to the national park.

Other primate species in the park include the colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, baboons, red-tailed monkeys among others.

Take on a memorable chimpanzee trekking experience, go bird-watching, forest walks and enjoy an aerial view of the forest and its habitats on a romantic canopy walk.

Rwanda’s Twin Lakes

Located in the Northern part of Rwanda in close proximity with Volcanoes National Park, the twin lakes, Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo are a top honeymoon destination with a natural romantic setting.

Take on guided nature walks to enjoy the two lakes and their surrounding areas.

Gorilla Guardians Village

For a Rwandan cultural experience during your honeymoon in Rwanda, take time to visit the Gorilla Guardians village formerly known as the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village and interact with the locals of the village to get to know about there ways of living, customs and traditional practices.

Rwandans are friendly and hospitable people; you will have a rewarding experience interacting with them.

The above mentioned are some of the best honeymoon destinations in Rwanda that you and your loved ones should include in your honeymoon visit to Rwanda.

Be sure to look out for the best honeymoon packages combing 2 or 3 of the above destinations that fit your tastes and preferences for a memorable honeymoon in Rwanda, East Africa.

Top activities to do on your Rwandan honeymoon

Below are the top activities to do on your Rwandan honeymoon safari.

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Encountering the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park is a breathtaking moment that newlyweds will definitely enjoy during their honeymoon in Rwanda.

The activity is carried out everyday in the early morning starting with a briefing at the park head offices and then a group of 8 visitors is allowed to track down a specific gorilla family.

Spend an hour with the gorillas before you return from the forest.

Safari game drives in Akagera National Park

Teeming with different animal and bird species, a safari game drive in Akagera National Park will give the newly weds an opportunity to see the famous African Big 5; lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards and rhinos among other wildlife like zebras, giraffes, impalas, waterbucks, klipspringers, warthogs, hyenas among others.

An early morning sunrise game drive or a late evening game drive can be very rewarding for the honeymooners.

Wildlife Boat Cruise on Lake Ihema in Akagera

This can be a romantic wildlife experience for the newly weds as it gives visitors a different perspective of experiencing the Savannah park on a boat cruise where they will encounter the aquatic life like hippos, Nile crocodiles, different water birds and sights of other animals grazing by the lake shores of quenching their thirst.

Enjoy the surrounding views as you sail smoothly on Lake Ihema.

Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park

Lovers of nature and primates will definitely enjoy this one.

Chimpanzee trekking is a popular tourist activity in Rwanda and one not to be missed out on by honeymooners on their visit to Rwanda.

Imagine meeting human’s closest relatives in one of the oldest forests in Africa with chances of encountering other primates while on the trek like black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys among others.

Boat trips on Lake Kivu

Lake Kivu is a beautiful lake with stunning views situated in the Western part of Rwanda shared with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Honeymooners can go on early morning sunrise or sunset boat rides on Lake Kivu taking in the scenic views, spotting some water birds or simply enjoying each other’s company as they sail along.

Golden Monkey Tracking in Volcanoes National Park

Golden monkeys are an interesting and unique monkey species that is worth your time during your honeymoon in Rwanda.

Trekking the golden monkeys is entertaining as they will keep swinging among the bamboo.

You will be engaged as you will be on your feet following them once you track them down.

Bird-watching

With a rich bird-life of over 800 bird species inclusive of Albertine endemic species, a birding safari during your honeymoon can be a rewarding experience especially for an avid pair of newlywed birders.

Top birding destinations in Rwanda include Nyungwe Forest, Akagera National Park and Volcanoes National Park.

Hot air balloon rides in Akagera National Park

Imagine gliding smoothly above the wilderness of Akagera National Park with your loved one having that perfect view of the beautiful sunrise as it lights up the national park bringing everything to life.

Hot air balloon rides can be a thrilling romantic experience during your Rwandan honeymoon. Be sure to book for this activity in advance.

Guided nature walks, cultural community tours, Nyungwe canopy walk, hiking expeditions are all available activities for a couple to do on their Rwandan honeymoon.

Be sure to choose a combination of the above-mentioned activities for a memorable and rewarding honeymoon experience in Rwanda.

To get the most of your honeymoon stay in Rwanda, we recommend visiting Rwanda during the dry season in the months of June, July, August and September.

Rwanda Honeymoon Travel Tips

See some of the essential Rwanda honeymoon tips below.

Plan your honeymoon together

Planning your honeymoon with your loved one will help you come up with an experience that will be memorable for both of you.

That is, you will be able to discuss, plan and incorporate each other’s tastes and preferences into your honeymoon, agree on the same destination, new activities to try out together, places to explore, spa dates and some downtime.

Determine your honeymoon budget

Set a realistic budget for your honeymoon and do your best to stick to it.

This will protect you from any financial stress and avoid you from spending on some things that could have entirely been left out.

Best time to travel for your honeymoon

This here is determined by your choice of honeymoon destination, your budget and the kind of experience you wish for during your honeymoon.

For a more intimate honeymoon, consider traveling during the green (shoulder) season of your chosen destination.

The tourist crowds during this season have reduced, the weather is good and the vegetation is vibrant and lush.

Make advance bookings and reservations

This will save you a lot of time, money and last-minute rush arrangements as it will ensure availability.

This could be your flight, accommodation or any activity that you can book in advance.

Plan for recovery and relaxation time

This is very important as it will help you recover and re-energize.

This recovery time should be after your wedding so that you can make your final preparations for the honeymoon, during your honeymoon to slow down things and enjoy some quality time together and after your honeymoon well, so that you can have a day to relax and prepare for your return to work.

Have a flexible itinerary

Create an itinerary that has some free days for you to fix in some surprise activities and private moments together to take in the bliss moments of your honeymoon and the start of your new life as a married couple.

Look out for all-inclusive honeymoon destination packages

These packages will save you the stress of planning a whole honeymoon trip from scratch especially if you plan to travel for your honeymoon immediately after your wedding.

You can always talk to your tour operator to make a few changes in the package in order to make it a little personalized to your style as a couple.

Exclude or include activities that fit in your couple’s dynamic, tastes and preferences.

Slow down

While at your honeymoon destination, try to enjoy every moment, avoid the urge of wanting to do a lot of things in the short time you have for the honeymoon, this will make you rush though different sights and activities and you will end up missing on those downtime romantic moments and quality time for just the 2 of you.

Include couple’s spa dates, sunset boat cruises, private dinners under the starry nights, swim with dolphins, take a hot air balloon ride, romantic strolls on the beach, attend a cooking class, wine tasting among others.

Create unforgettable intimate moments and memories.

Ordinarily, a honeymoon is a romantic getaway to a far away destination that many newlyweds treat it as a once in a lifetime experience, which should not be just that.

Treat it as just the 1^st of so many more trips/vacations that you will have as a married couple, here by, you will not feel the need to spend a whole lot on the trip and plan to tick off all the items on your bucket list all at once.

Plan it out to be a very memorable trip.

Best time to visit Rwanda for honeymoons

Rwanda is an all-year-round destination that you can visit anytime of the year as the country has pleasant climatic weather conditions and temperatures attributed to its high elevation.

However, Rwanda has 2 distinctive weather seasons, that is the dry season and wet season and the best time to visit Rwanda for your honeymoon mostly depends on what you envision your honeymoon to be, the experience you want and the activities you plan of doing while on your honeymoon.

Let us look at both seasons.

Dry Season in Rwanda:

• Considered to be the best time to visit Rwanda for your honeymoon as it provides favorable conditions for most of the activities.
• It runs from June through to September and December to February.
• Characterized by clear skies and cool temperatures.
• Game viewing in Akagera national park is excellent during the dry season.
• Nature walks and hiking expeditions are best done during the dry season as the trails are dry and easy to navigate.
• Rwanda’s most popular tourist activity, Mountain gorilla trekking, is best done during the dry season.
• The dry season is considered the peak season therefore, expect high tourist traffic and high rates.

Wet Season in Rwanda:

• The wet season is considered the low season with low tourist traffic and lower rates apply.
• It runs from March to May and October to November.
• The vegetation in Rwanda during the wet season is lush, vibrant and green.
• Rwanda experiences more rainfall during this season especially in the months of April and May.
• Best for birding safaris as migratory birds flock the country during the wet season.
• Some outdoor activities are quit challenging during the wet season like hiking and nature / forest walks as the trails can get very wet and slippery.
• For a private and quiet honeymoon experience, the wet season is a good time to visit Rwanda for your honeymoon as the season is characterized with low tourist traffic.

Considering the above comparison of the 2 seasons, the dry season is the best time for you to visit Rwanda for your honeymoon as you will not have the rain get in the way of your planned activities and safari schedules.

Nonetheless, if you are interest in bird-watching, then the wet season is a good time.

Where to stay on your Rwanda Honeymoon

Rwanda offers accommodation options for a memorable honeymoon from safari lodges to hotels or resorts offering a range of activities for their guests.

Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge

Remotely located at the foothills of Virunga mountains, Sabyinyo Silver back lodge provides a good romantic, peaceful and private honeymoon experience with a dash of adventure and stunning views.

Enjoy the tremendous service offered at this lodge during your honeymoon stay in Rwanda.

Wilderness Bisate Lodge

Located at the edges of the famous Volcanoes national park in the North West region of Rwanda, Wilderness Bisate Lodge is a luxury lodge fit for a honeymoon stay in Rwanda.

Enjoy the vista views of the volcanoes of Karisimbi, Bisoke and Mikeno and go on an unforgettable mountain gorilla trekking experience during your honeymoon stay at Bisate lodge.

One&Only Gorilla’s Nest

Located in Musanze near Volcanoes national park, One and Only Gorilla’s Nest provides a private luxurious setting for a romantic honeymoon stay while in Rwanda with scenic views.

Engage in the memorable mountain gorilla trekking experience and or visit the neighboring communities for an immersive cultural experience.

Paradise Malahide

Paradise Malahide is a perfect stay for a romantic honeymoon in Rwanda nested on the shores of the beautiful Lake Kivu in Western Rwanda.

Relax at your beachfront resort, enjoy the cool breeze by the beach, go on a romantic boat cruise sailing calmly on the scenic Lake Kivu, take on guided nature walks and other activities for a memorable honeymoon stay.

One&Only Nyungwe House

Visiting Nyungwe forest national park on your honeymoon to Rwanda, then Nyungwe House located withing the lush green Nyungwe forest offers a romantic honeymoon stay surrounded by nature with exciting activities to take part in like the memorable chimpanzee trekking and a top of the tree canopy walk.

Wilderness Magashi Camp

Located in Rwanda’s only Savannah game park, Magashi Camp is one of the best lodges in Rwanda to spend your honeymoon.

Offers luxury amidst the wilderness with views of Lake Rwanyakazinga, one of the many found within Akagera National Park.

Experience a quiet and private stay while at Magashi as you enjoy your honeymoon in the wild taking on game drives, walking safaris among others.

Ruzizi Tented Lodge

Located on the shores of Lake Ihema in Akagera National Park, Ruzizi Tented Lodge is perfect lodge to stay for your honeymoon in Rwanda during your time at the Savannah park.

The lodge offers luxurious eco-friendly tented rooms and a number of wilderness activities to add adventure to your Rwanda honeymoon experience.

The Retreat Kigali

Located in Kigali city, the Retreat is a perfect starting point for your Rwanda honeymoon stay.

On arrival in the country, you can spend your first night/day at the Retreat as you explore Rwanda’s capital city before you set off to the wild side of the country for an adventurous honeymoon experience in Rwanda’s national parks.

Other notable accommodation facilities for your honeymoon stay in Rwanda include Virunga Lodge, Kataza House near Volcanoes National Park, Hotel des Mille Collines in Kigali, Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel, Kigali Serena hotel among others.

The choice of accommodation facility depends on your tastes and preferences and the kind of experience you are looking for during your Rwanda honeymoon.

Look out for facilities with the amenities you want and those honeymoon packages set especially for honeymooners.