Travel News · Rwanda
Formula 1 is returning to Africa for the first time since 1993, and it has chosen a country better known for mountain gorillas than lap times. For travelers, that is the best kind of surprise.
The day the engines found a new home
On 13 October 2026, Formula 1 announced a 10-year agreement to hold the Formula 1 African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda, from the early 2030s. The race will be staged on a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, close to Kigali.
- Deal: 10 years, starting in the early 2030s. An exact first-race date has not been announced.
- Venue: a new, purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, near Kigali.
- History: the last World Championship race in Africa was the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami, won by Alain Prost.
- Milestone: Rwanda becomes the third African nation to host a championship round, after South Africa and Morocco (1958).
- Audience: F1 estimates Africa has more than 100 million fans.
F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali described the agreement as a landmark that fulfils the sport's long-held ambition to race on every inhabited continent. Rwanda's President Paul Kagame said the circuit, together with the planned new international airport, will bring jobs, skills, tourism and business to Rwanda and the wider region. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who has campaigned for an African race for years, welcomed the news.
Why Rwanda, and why travelers should care
Rwanda has spent years building a reputation as a place where world-class events run smoothly. It has hosted the 2025 UCI Road World Championships, the 2023 FIFA Congress and the 2024 FIA Awards ceremony, and its Visit Rwanda campaign already backs football, cycling and basketball. A Grand Prix is the next chapter in that story.
For visitors, the headline is simple. A destination that was already a bucket-list wildlife trip is about to gain a second reason to land in Kigali. Racing fans will come for the grid, and many will want to stay for the forest.
Rwanda is also compact, which makes it ideal for combining experiences in a single journey. Beyond its borders, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania are ready to extend the trip into a full East African adventure.
Beyond the grid: five ways to extend a race trip
A Grand Prix fills a weekend. These experiences fill the days around it, and each one is something Vazquez Tours & Travel arranges for guests today.
| Experience | Where | Why it pairs with a race trip | Suggested time (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain gorilla trekking | Volcanoes National Park | The signature Rwanda encounter, a quiet counterpoint to race-day noise | 1 full day |
| Golden monkey trekking | Volcanoes National Park | A lighter add-on to the same trip, great for photographers | Half day |
| Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk | Nyungwe Forest National Park | Adventure after the adrenaline: forest primates plus a walk among the treetops | 1 to 2 days |
| Big Five safari | Akagera National Park | Classic savannah game drives within reach of Kigali | 1 to 2 days |
| Culture and city experiences | Kigali and the countryside | Meet the people and flavours behind the Rwanda the world is about to watch | Half to full day |
Want to see more of the region? The same journey can continue into Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania for additional primate treks and safari circuits, planned as one smooth itinerary.
Planning ahead: what we know, and what we don't
The first race is expected in the early 2030s, but no date has been announced and it depends on the circuit's construction schedule. That means there is nothing to book for race day yet, and we won't pretend otherwise. Here is what you can do in the meantime:
- Visit Rwanda before the crowds. Gorilla permits and lodges in the best parks are limited, and Rwanda's profile is only going to rise.
- See the host country first. Many racing fans will want to know the destination before they return for the Grand Prix.
- Tell us you're interested. Let us know you want to pair a race with a Rwanda trip, and we can plan around confirmed dates once they are public.
- Start with a custom itinerary. We build trips around your interests, from wildlife-first journeys to cultural and adventure routes.
Start your Rwanda story with Vazquez Tours & Travel
The engines won't roar in Bugesera for a few years yet, but the hills, forests and wildlife are ready for you today. Vazquez Tours & Travel is a Rwanda-based operator designing gorilla, golden monkey, chimpanzee, canopy walk and Big Five journeys across Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
Email: info@vazqueztours.com
Phone: +250781445000
Website: www.vazqueztours.com
Sources
- Formula 1: Formula 1 returns to Africa with 10-year agreement to race in Rwanda
- Al Jazeera: Rwanda to host a Grand Prix in 2030s as Formula One returns to Africa
- Travel Daily News: Rwanda to host Formula One African Grand Prix under 10-year agreement
- Nairametrics: Formula 1 returns to Africa after 33 years with 10-year Rwanda Grand Prix deal
- Sky Sports: Rwanda to join calendar in the early 2030s as African Grand Prix host
- Khaleej Times: Rwanda to bring F1 back to Africa