To answer the question of whether Rwanda is Marburg-fee, we need to first understand what Marburg is all about. According to the World Health Organization, Marburg is a severe and fatal viral disease caused by the Marburg virus. It is very similar to Ebola because they are both caused by viruses in the same category of filoviridae. These viruses cause excessive loss of blood from various body openings in humans and primates. Marburg shares similar symptoms to Ebola such as vomiting, sore throat, stomach pains, loss of weight, liver failure, severe noise bleeding, and organ dysfunction among others. Marburg can be transmitted through body contact with a sick person or primate, especially body fluids and contaminated surfaces and items. Though it is fatal, it can be treated and prevented by avoiding fruit bats, affected humans, and primates.
Rwanda was first affected by the Marburg disease on the 27th of September in 2024 when the country registered her first case. The months that followed saw an increase in the number of cases. However, the Rwanda government fought so hard together with its patterns on health and disease outbreaks to treat the affected persons and reduce the spreading of the disease. By December 20th, 2024, Rwanda declared that the Marburg disease was now history and the country was free of the disease after she went 42 days without any cases. Visitors can now freely move and visit the country without fear of contracting the Marburg disease.
What is famous in Rwanda?
Rwanda is a beautiful country of incredible sceneries of a thousand hills and valleys. The country is very famous across the world for hosting the endangered mountain gorillas. The mountain gorillas are a species of primates that dwell in the highlands and mountainous regions. They are considered endangered due to their very few numbers remaining in the wild. This particular number is only available in the Virunga conservation area and not anywhere else in the world. About 1,063 mountain gorillas harbor this conservation area and Rwanda Volcanoes National Park houses about 380 of these mountain gorillas. The remaining number is shared amongst the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga National Park and Uganda’s two primate parks Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga Gorilla National Parks.
What to do in Rwanda 2025?
Rwanda has established itself as an embodiment of peace, security, and luxury. This is portrayed by the country’s strong tourist destinations and clean Kigali city that showcases heritage and culture. There is pretty much to do in Rwanda in 2025 and the following are some of the activities.
Gorilla trekking
This is the major tourist attraction in Rwanda carried in the Volcanoes National Park. This involves navigating the tropical forest canopies of the park to encounter the endangered mountain gorillas. This activity lasts for about 4-6 hours in the jungle including the hour spent with the mountain gorillas after they are located. However, the trekking time depends on which particular gorilla family is being trekked. The trekking of mountain gorillas begins with a briefing where the visitors are taken through the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking before they are grouped into groups of 8 and assigned a gorilla family to trek. Gorilla trekking is a fun adventure that sees visitors encounter the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats and spend an hour watching them play, rest, feed, and groom their young.
Game viewing
Game viewing or game drives is an incredible activity of spotting wildlife species on the open savannah in the comfort and safety of your vehicle. Game viewing in Rwanda is only available at Akagera National Park the only savannah national park in the country. The park is located in the eastern region of the country stretching for over 1,122 square kilometers. Wildlife species to spot in Akagera National Park include the Big 5 i.e lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, and rhinos, other species such as antelopes, elands, hyenas, zebras, giraffes, duiker, oribis, and klipspringer to mention but a few.
Birding
Rwanda harbors about 700 bird species including 29 Albertine Rift Valley endemics and 2 of the 22 globally threatened species. Their vast territory stretches from the savannah plains and valleys of waterbodies to mountains and tropical forests. These birds can be encountered from places across the country by experienced birders with the utmost knowledge about each bird in their territory. These places include national parks like Volcanoes, Akagera, Nyungwe forest, and lakes like Lake Kivu and Lake Ihema. Many designated birding trails across these birding destinations in the country lead you straight to the natural habitats of these birds.
What is the best time to visit Rwanda?
Rwanda is a free and open country to visit at any time of the year. However, it is important to know the particular activity you are visiting the country for as different activities pose different best times to visit. For example, for visitors interested in gorilla trekking, game drives, boat cruises, and hiking, the best time to visit Rwanda would be during the dry season. This season runs from December to February and June to September. During this time the weather is dry and the trails in the park are dry with sparse vegetation cover since there is little or no rainfall. For birders, the wet season of March to May and October to November presents the best time for birding since it is the breeding season of most birds. It is also a time when migratory birds have settled in the country. Therefore anytime is the best time to have a safari adventure experience in Rwanda.
