RWANDA TOURISM ATTRACTIONS
1. Kigali
2. Butare
3. Nyungwe Forest National Park
4. Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park
5. Akagera National Park
 
1. Kigali
Kigali is a beautiful town, capital of Rwanda since 1965, spread over the typical green hills that characterized the country. There are plenty of restaurants, shops and places of interest. A city tour takes few hours and allows seeing the Kigali cultural museum, the genocide memorial in Gisozi, the local markets and handicraft centres.
Hotels
 
 2. Butare
The “cultural capital” town of Rwanda is located on the way between Kigali and Nyungwe Forest. You can find here the handicraft shops exposing the work of local artisans, especially in the field of weaving and producing baskets. Butare hosts the National University, the National Historical Museum, the Catholic Cathedral built in the 1930th. Not far from Butare is located Nyanza, now called with the modern name of Nyabisindu. Here is found the heart of Rwanda kingdom, the royal palace of the Mwami, with all its history and story tellers.
 3. Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe forest with an extension of 970 sq km is one of oldest, real montane rain tropical forests in Africa. It is rich in biodiversity, including at least 200 species of trees, 86 mammal species and 280 bird species. Amongst the mammals, there are 13 species of primates, particularly the common chimpanzee (Pan Troglodytes Schweinfurthi), the Rwenzori colobus (or Angolan colobus), the Hoest Monkey, the silver monkey, owl faced monkey, and red tailed monkey, vervet monkey and olive baboon.
Nyungwe forest is definitely one of the most attractive places in Rwanda. Common activities include the chimpanzee trekking, the colobus trekking and other nature walks.
 
4. Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National park is the Rwandan part of the Virunga Conservation Area, 420 sq km shared between Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. The name is after the nine volcanoes Virunga, of which three are still actives. The highest is Karisimbi, 4.507 m, then Visoke, Sabinyo, Gahinga, Muhavura, Mikeno, Ngezi, Muside. The altitude ranges from 2.400 m to 4.500m of the main peak. The vegetation zones vary from the bamboo forest to the afro-alpine moorland and grassland above 3.500 m.
Volcanoes National Park is well known as one of the best destinations for mountain gorilla tracking. This activity was started permanently from 1999. At the moment there is an estimate of about 230 gorillas in Rwanda (2007), of which about 100 are visited by tourists and are divided into 6 separated families (Susa, Sabynyio, Amahoro, Group 13, Umubano, and Hirwa).
Other activities include:
Old Karisoke Research Centre trekking. This trekking takes you through the forest to the remaining of Dian Fossey research centre, located between Karisimbi and Visoke volcanoes. You will pay tribute to the tombs of the primatologist and other gorillas that died in the years of her presence in the forest. It is also thanks to Dian Fossey, killed in 1985, that poaching activities in the park was contained and today we still have this endangered species of primates. The trekking takes about 6 to 8 hours return and you go with packed lunch following the park guides.
Tracking the Golden Monkey. The golden monkey, or Cercopithecus Kandti, is listed as endangered species of primates and it is found in the Virungas.
It is endemic to the Albertine Rift valley. For the purpose of tourism and conservation, two large groups have been habituated to the human presence and are possible to visit them since 2003.
Trekking of Karisimbi Volcano. Karisimbi is the highest Virunga volcano and can be ascended in a two days trip, having camping and trekking equipment, while the park authorities provide the guides and porters. 
 
5. Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park is the only savannah reserve in Rwanda, named after the river Akagera along the Eastern border with Tanzania, a natural continuation of the Tanzanian Kagera region. In 1998 the park was reduced in size and it covers about 2.500 sq km. Part of its area is wetland, with Lake Ihema being the largest water body, about 100 sq km. Population pressure and high poaching have affected the animal population during the last decades. However, the park presents a good surprise for whoever take a game viewing along the trails.
Amongst the mammals, you can find in Akagera buffaloes, impalas, zebras, Maasai giraffes, elephants, hippos and crocodiles in the lakes, other antelopes like waterbuck, topi, and eland.
Tourist activities in the Park Range from game viewing along the trails and boat trips in Lake Ihema for special birding and wildlife experience of the wetland.