Cross border trips involve driving across border points meaning you must have the required paperwork…

Top three self drive routes in Rwanda to consider this year.
Are you planning on self driving on your trip to Rwanda? Well that’s a good idea because Rwanda is blessed with numerous attractions such as wildlife, culture, beautiful landscapes and water bodies. If you are visiting Rwanda for the first time, we bring the top three self drive routes in Rwanda to consider this year.
After the 1994 Genocide, Rwanda revived to becoming one of the top destinations for tourists. Many travellers have left positive reviews about Rwanda on platforms like TripAdvisor. One of them said “You have not been to Africa if you haven’t gone to Rwanda.” In fact, many of these reviewers have self driven on their visits and have shared memorable experiences. Should you want to fully enjoy the experience, you need to ditch pre-booked guided tours and rent a car in Rwanda. You could be travelling as a couple, alone, or with friends and family.
It is much cheaper to drive yourself around that travelling with a hired guide and it also guarantees you privacy and freedom to do your things at your own pace. All you need is a valid driver’s license, GPS, Google maps or local maps and a passion for exploring. One thing you should not do on your self drive trip is to drive at night because you are likely to get lost.
Kigali to Volcanoes National Park
The distance from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park is approximately 110km and it is a 2hours drive. Start your journey in Kigali and head north to Musanze and visit the Parc Nationale Des Volcans which is the moat popular of the Virunga Park ranges and the oldest in Rwanda . It was established in 1925 by the Belgian rulers and it is home to the mountain gorillas.
Since gorilla trekking is the county’s number one tourist export, Volcanoes Park has become Rwanda’s most visited destination. Activities in Volcanoes National Park include but not limited to gorilla trekking, hiking, birdwatching, golden monkey tracking among others. This is one route you can not afford to miss on your visit to Rwanda
Kigali to Akagera National Park
Depart Kigali and head East to Akagera National Park. The distance is approximately 220km and this road trip will last about 4 and a half hours. Akagera is the most protected wetland in Eastern and Central Africa and is home to over 8000 mammals and 482 bird species.
Activities in the park include camping, luxury accommodation, game drives to experience the unique wildlife and nature of this National Park. Enjoy seeing the big five (Lion, Elephant, leopard, black rhino and bufallo) while at Akagera. Other activities include boat cruises and bird watching.
Kigali to Lake Kivu
Start your journey in Kigali and head West to Lake Kivu. The distance here is about 160km and lasts 3 hours. Visit the scenic lake towns of Kibuye and Gisenyi. While at Lake Kivu, enjoy the boat rides with Longer cruises taking you to Amahoro and Munini islands. If you opt for an evening cruise, the sunsets on the lake are therapeutic.
You can also participate in sport fishing which is rewarding because you get to take what you caught to your residence and the chef prepares it for you. Another activity to enjoy us mountain hiking , biking and bird watching. There are luxurious accommodations so be sure to have a comfortable stay.
Road trips in Rwanda are very rewarding if well planned. Always plan your breaks beforehand. Make a budget for long side vendors; some of them might be selling souvenirs or items that are very rare to find elsewhere in the country. Enjoy the best of Rwanda by taking the above three routes.