9 Travel Photographers Who Capture The Energy Of Rwanda

From winding roads, rolling hills, and bright blue lakes to volcanic backdrops, gleaming city centers, and panoramic views, Rwanda is an absolute haven for travel photography. Get ready for some serious wanderlust, and check out Rwanda’s best travel photographers.

Chris Schwagga

With a love for travel and Rwanda’s impressive diversity, Chris Schwagga’s moody photographs of road trips throughout the land of a thousand hills have been featured in Forbes Africa, Forbes Women, Journal.Rw, and Jeune Africa. Schwagga’s portraits and keen observations of Rwandan daily life could make even the most reticent traveler eager enough to hop on a plane.

Chris Winans

Early mornings in Kitabi outside of Nyungwe National Park

Cyril Ndegeya

As an avid travel photographer and photojournalist, Cyril Ndegeya photographs and explores every inch of his native Rwanda. His passion, skill, and unique style undoubtedly elevates Rwandan photography to the next level. Ndegeya’s work has been featured in Getty Images, AFP, The Guardian, Le Monde, Jeune Afrique magazine, Domus magazine, Inzozi Magazine, and The East African, and in 2015 he was an artist in Residence in Switzerland working on a documentary titled the Cycle of Water.

Philippe Nyirimihigo

Philippe Nyirimihigo, one of Rwanda’s premier photographers, has consistently produced some of the country’s most impressive photography. Though not a travel photographer per se, his shots of Rwanda are undoubtedly inspirational. As a co-founder of Illume Creative Studio alongside photographer and friend Gaël Vande weghe, he has also published a recent book titled This is Rwanda, that features the country’s beautiful scenery from above via skillful aerial photography.

Herve Irankunda

Herve Irankunda’s lush and vibrant portrayals of Rwanda’s natural scenery and wildlife are fairly unparalleled. With work featured by many of Rwanda’s largest companies, such as Tigo and Bralirwa, Irankunda’s travel photography shows Rwanda at its best—think pink sunsets, rolling green hills, day-to-day life, and national parks overflowing with animals.

Jacques Nkinzingabo

Born and raised in Rwanda, Nkinzingabo is a photographer on the go. His work includes travel photography as well as visual storytelling, documentaries, and portraiture, and generally shows a different side of Rwanda that is rarely captured or seen. He recently co-founded the Kigali Center for Photography, and his work has quickly become an important part of Rwanda’s collaborative and creative sector.

Life in motion at the Nyabugogo taxi park

Serrah Galos

In an effort to show everyone outside of Rwanda why this small East African nation is so special, Galos’ beautiful photography highlights Rwanda at its most magnificent. His shots of sweeping sunsets, intimate portraits, and scenic views have been published in WIRED, Humanity Unified, One UN, and The New Times.

Gael Vande weghe

As one of Rwanda’s most renowned wildlife and nature photographers, Gael Vande weghe has taken Rwandan photography to the next level. As the cofounder of Illume Creative Studio alongside Philippe Nyirimihigo, he has worked with African Parks, Congo Conservation Society, Forbes Africa, and many other organizations, publications, and initiatives. Though Vande weghe’s focus is mainly on nature photography, his general travel shots of Rwanda are some of the country’s best.

Ruzizi lodge in Akagera National Park at dawn

Tobias Clarke

Tobias Clarke, though originally from Australia, is a photographer currently based in Rwanda. He uses his skills to work with a myriad of local organizations, having fallen in love with the country’s hilly landscapes and history. A jack of all trades, Clarke’s portraiture, landscape, and travel photography is awe-inspiring.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.