All Rwanda

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Rwanda

8 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Rwanda

Updated June 23, 2026
Email

Unusual Attractions in Rwanda

Places

Discover your next amazing Atlas Place.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Are we missing something unusual?
Add it!
See All 8 Things To Do in Rwanda

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Rwanda

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Rwanda

Animals 2
Cows 2
Hotels 1
Art 1
Geology 1
Lakes 1
Bars 1
Shops 1

Rwanda Leaderboard

Recent Rwanda Activity

Stories About Rwanda

Podcast: Growing the Atlas

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team, Atlas Obscura
A mountain gorilla in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.

Wildlife Vets Trek Through Mud and Mist to Care for Rwanda's Gorillas

The dedicated team's work includes life-saving interventions for the critically endangered animals.
by Lola Méndez, Atlas Obscura
A group of pilgrims collect water from the fountain near the church, which is said to have miraculous properties. The water is collected from a stream just below the hill on which the church was built. Many people carry a jerry can of this water home with them.

Pilgrims Flock to the Site of Africa's Only Recognized Marian Apparition

A small town in Rwanda was home to visions in the 1980s that, in retrospect, portended the violence to come.
by Tamara Ferrari, Atlas Obscura
Black rhinos in Akagera National Park.

In Rwanda, Learning Whether a ‘Smart Park’ Can Help Both Wildlife and Tourism

It’s taken a lot of outside help, but a national park has come back from the brink.
by Amy Yee, Atlas Obscura
A fisherman lights lanterns on Lake Kivu in 2019.

The Language Used Only by Lake Kivu's Fishermen

As they paddle out each night, they sing in a disappearing language.
by Leah Feiger, Atlas Obscura
The annual event is called Kwita Izina—“give a name” in Kinyarwanda, the country’s indigenous language.

How to Name a Mountain Gorilla in Rwanda

Start with an ancestral ceremony for human babies. Then add 30,000 people who want to save the endangered, majestic primates.
by Chloe Berge, Atlas Obscura
Mountain gorillas face many risks.

A Gorilla Poop Treasure Hunt Through Central Africa's Virunga Volcanoes

How researchers collect genetic info without disturbing the majestic primates.
by Jessica Leigh Hester, Atlas Obscura
Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member

Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member