Rwanda is located IN the Great Rift Valley, and bordered by Uganda in the North, Tanzania in the East, Burundi in the South and Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda is known for being the best tourism destinations in Africa with primates and wildlife safaris being the most famous. No way to far from the destinations of these safaris to Ngezi Nature Walk since the activity happens near the famed Volcanoes National Park.
Ngezi Trek which is the center of this experience leads visitors directly to Ngezi Crater Lake all the way to the foot of Bisoke Mountain within Volcanoes National Park. Visitors usually trek for about four hours - to and fro under the guidance of a park ranger and two soldiers whose role is to ensure their safety. Being a nature walk, it’s not discriminatory to people with reasonable fitness as it doesn’t involve serious climbing that may need extreme fitness.
With Volcanoes National Park recorded to have over 180 bird species, the nature walk provides travelers with panoramic views of endemic birdlife as they fly over the trees and mountain tops with a view of all the beautiful scenery. Travelers also have a chance to admire incredible scenic view of different animals in the park such as forest hogs, elephants, buffaloes and also gorillas at times as they trek to and from the Crater Lake. One can also view the further Congolese region of Virunga Ranges.
To make the trekking easier with tourists not bothered about the heavy bags they could be carrying, there are porters (from the local community) who are hired at a small fee to help the tourists carry their bags or any think that would make trekking with it challenging. The trek at times has some places that could be slippery due to the heavy rains during the rainy seasons or even to the massive vegetation in the park, these guys can give you a hand when walking past the different parts that could be challenging to navigate. Hiring these porters is also a way of giving back to the local community.
The Ngezi Nature Walk is completely safe for every visitor as they are accompanied by two armed rangers and a park guide who are supposed to ensure your safety throughout the trek.
The nature walk is usually best during dry season when the trek is less challenging. The dry season is usually between December to February which also doubles as a peak season for most tourism activities including the Ngezi Nature Walk. If you’re looking for a scenic destination with an authentic nature experience, then this is the place. You may need the help of a local tour operator to book a permit for this nature walk.
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