Planning for Rwanda safaris in Africa? Visit Rwanda today, and you'll realize that its gorilla trekking safaris are a great highlight, especially for those planning their Rwanda tours for 2024, 2025, and 2026! Trekking with mountain gorillas in Rwanda (The Virunga Mountains Area) is an awesome African safari experience, one that is unforgettable. Most Rwanda travel guides can attest to this.
Despite the expensive Rwanda safari gorilla permit cost, the experience is definitely worth it. Want to see Rwanda gorillas walking in the jungle, trek Nyungwe chimps or drive through wildlife in Akagera National Park on your Rwanda safari holidays? We offer authentic tours at low discounted rates. See some of our affordable safaris in Rwanda below or read our detailed Rwanda safari travel guide after the itinerary section.
Compare Top Rwanda Safari Tours & Vacation Packages
Ultimate Travel Guide for Booking Rwanda Safari Tours
Tiny Rwanda, also referred to as the land of a thousand hills and mountains is one of those African countries you should consider visiting at all costs for a gorilla trekking safari.
Rwanda is located in East Africa and is one of the smallest countries in the world.
The country is relatively small and has abundance in three national parks but what it has to offer is way bigger than this.
Our tours in Rwanda come with comfortable accommodation facilities and transportation.
We strive so hard to ensure all our clients get the best of their gorilla safari experiences.
Despite its size, the country has a great diversity in the tourism industry. One of the oldest national parks in Africa – Volcanoes National Park (PNV) is found in Rwanda.
Nyungwe is one of the largest montane forests in East Africa where as Akagera features among those few national park that shelter the big five game animals.
The only canopy walk in East Africa is found in Nyungwe Forest.
The Gisenyi beaches offer one of the finest environments for relaxation.
These beaches are right at the shores of Lake Kivu – One of the deepest freshwater lakes in the world.
The Rwanda tours will let you explore and discover the true beauty of this hilly and mountainous nation.
Your gorilla safaris will be filled with ecstasy from the moment you set an eye on mountain gorillas to agony when you visit the respective genocide memorial monuments.
Since May 2017, Rwanda turned into a luxury gorilla tour destination when it doubled its permit prices from $750 to $1500 for all nationals.
The fee is now $800 and $1100 more than Uganda’s and Congo’s, respectively.
The edge Rwanda has over these countries is the short distance between Kigali and Volcanoes National Park and may be the good road network.
When you book Rwanda gorilla tours, you will only spend 2 hours on the road to Musanze and another 2 hours when returning to Kigali.
This distance is quite short compared to other countries.
Much as people refer to Rwanda as an expensive tour and travel destination, you can still enjoy affordable Rwanda safaris if only you plan your tour well.
The price might be a bit higher compared to what you would have spent in Uganda but it’s worth it.
Why go on Rwanda safaris?
Your main reason to go on a Rwanda safari should be primates and mountain gorilla trekking in particular.
Rwanda is one of the only three countries in the world with mountain gorillas.
This country is apparently where mountain gorilla conservation originated from.
Dian Fossey, an American zoologist and primatologist spent over three decades fighting for the conservation of gorillas in Rwanda.
This later spread to Uganda, Congo, and is still being exercised till today.
She is the main reason as to why you will go gorilla trekking in Rwanda today.
Rwanda is also a great place for game viewing. Akagera National Park has all the big five animals but unfortunately it’s the only Rwanda safari park you can visit for game viewing safaris.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is a great place for chimpanzee trekking safaris and has the only canopy walk experience in East Africa.
The only downfall is, you have to be a bit lucky to see chimps here.
Most of the time you will only hear sounds of these primates and won’t exactly see them.
For a better chimpanzee trekking experience, you can visit Uganda’s Kibale Forest National Park.
It’s easy to combine other countries with Rwanda safaris.
Gorilla trekking Rwanda safaris take place from Volcanoes National Park; one of the oldest national parks in Africa.
This Rwanda safari park in found in Musanze, a district located in the Northern province of the country.
This park is just 2 hours away from Kigali, the reason why so many clients prefer to trek gorillas in Rwanda compared to other countries.
No tourist would wish to travel for over 8 hours to get to a park with gorillas.
When you choose to trek gorillas from Volcanoes National Park, you will save a lot of time.
The only thing that might turn you away is the price of Rwanda gorilla permits.
These permits cost $1500 each in Rwanda, $700 each in Uganda, and $400 each in Congo.
Most clients that cannot afford gorilla trekking in Rwanda end up arriving from Kigali, trekking mountain gorillas in Bwindi, and departing from Kigali.
This way, they save both money and time.
We organize such kinds of trips. All you have to do is get in touch with us, and we shall send you a package with pricing.
You can read more about Rwanda safari tours under our travel information section.
How hard are Rwanda gorilla safaris?
Some clients might wish to have easier treks.
If you are one of them, Rwanda is the place to go.
The trek is not so hard like Uganda’s.
Most clients do not take long to locate gorillas in Rwanda.
It’s only on minimal occasions where when clients take long without locating gorillas.
Most mountain gorilla families are easy to spot but all this depends on the mobility of gorillas.
These apes are always on the move every other day, and if they climb up the mountain, then locating them can involve a hard trek.
Some families are naturally hard to locate, and you cannot choose the families to trek.
Even this requires proper documentation to convince the wardens.
If you are old, you do not need any documentation.
The wardens will assign for you an easy group to trek.
19 Facts about Rwanda that you should know
Rwanda has two climatic seasons: the rainy seasons are from February to April and November to January, while the dry season is from May to September and in December.
The highest point in Rwanda is Mount Karisimbi at 4,519 meters above sea level, and the lowest point is the Ruzizi River at 950 meters above sea level.
Rwanda is one of the three countries in the world where you can trek the endangered mountain gorillas.
You can start a business within 48 hours in Rwanda, which can take up to 11 days on average in OECD high-income countries.
Rwanda has been ranked number one in Africa for gender equality, with the highest female representation in parliament, with 64% of members of parliament being women.
Rwanda practices Umuganda, which happens every last Saturday of the month when all Rwandese, including the president, participate in general cleaning. This has made Kigali one of the cleanest cities in the world.
Rwanda became the first country in the world to ban the use of plastic bags in 2007.
Rwanda leads as the first African digital revolution with the Smart Kigali initiative, providing access to wireless internet in public areas and creating 4G for 95% of its citizens in partnership with Korea Telecom.
Over 90% of Rwandese have access to medical insurance, making it one of the countries in Africa to achieve Millennium Development Goals.
Rwanda has four official languages: English, Kinyarwanda, Kiswahili, and French.
The Nyungwe rainforest in Rwanda is the best-preserved montane rainforest in central Africa, offering beautiful canopy walkways.
Germany colonized Rwanda as part of German East Africa in 1884, and then Belgium invaded in 1916 during World War I.
Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa with few natural resources and minimal industry.
Rwanda is the fourth smallest country in Africa with a total area of 26,338 square kilometers, ranking 149th in the world.
Walking with flip-flop sandals in public areas in Rwanda is not allowed.
In 1959, the majority ethnic group of the Hutus overthrew the Tutsi king. Over the following years, many Tutsis were killed, and some were driven to neighboring countries for exile. By 1994, the Rwandan genocide occurred, resulting in the deaths of millions of people in a hundred days. You can visit the Rwandan genocide museum to learn more about the genocide.
The most common dominant religions in Rwanda are Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Seventh-day Adventism, and Islam.
Rwanda, also known as the ‘land of a thousand hills,’ is a country located in the rift valley region of Africa, situated a few degrees south of the equator.
It is bordered by Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania.
Rwanda is one of the peaceful countries you can visit in Africa and also one of the three countries where you can trek the endangered mountain gorillas.
Rwanda is one of the cleanest cities in Africa; the country banned the use of plastic bags and introduced a national cleaning day every last Saturday of the month, during which even the president participates.
Rwanda is one of the leading digital countries in Africa, as most of their services can be done online.
They also have high internet connectivity, exemplified by the construction of fiber optic networks in all parts of the country.
Rwanda has been among the top five developed countries since 2000.
The country ranks second in ease of doing business in Africa and 49th in the world.
Business registration in Rwanda can be completed within 48 hours.
Rwanda experiences a temperate climate with temperatures ranging between 25°-30° during the daytime throughout the year.
The country boasts 23 lakes and numerous rivers.
Rwanda has two dry seasons and two wet seasons every year.
About Rwanda Travel
Kigali City of Rwanda
Rwanda has a lot to offer depending on the type of tourism you are interested in, such as wildlife tourism, dark tourism, religious tourism, cultural tourism, and much more.
Rwanda’s soldiers are professional and respected in Africa, as demonstrated by their participation in UN peacekeeping missions.
Rwanda has the highest representation of women in parliament in the world, with over 60% of parliament members being women.
Rwanda introduced the use of drones in medical services, such as the distribution of blood to emergency stations.
The Kigali Memorial Site in Rwanda contains over 250,000 remains of the Rwandan genocide victims, and visiting the site provides valuable insights.
The genocide began when the then Hutu president was assassinated in 1994 at Kigali International Airport.
During the First World War, Belgian forces captured Rwanda and its neighbor Burundi from the Germans.
The Hutu people were the first to settle in Rwanda in the 11th century, and the Tutsi arrived during the 15th century.
Today, the traditional way of life in Rwanda depends on agriculture and cattle.
Why Visit Rwanda for Adventure travel?
There are many reasons why you should visit Rwanda.
First, the people of Rwanda are very friendly and welcoming, and the country is peaceful.
Rwanda offers a wide range of attractions, including Mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, hiking, golden monkey trekking, birding, cultural tourism, historical tourism, and much more.
Rwanda Travel Activities – Top Things to Do on Rwanda safari tours
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
1. Gorilla Trekking
Gorilla trekking is one of the main reasons tourists travel to the country.
Volcanoes National Park is home to 5 of the 8 Virunga massif volcanoes straddling across Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with Mount Karisimbi being the highest.
The summits of these mountains offer superb views of the majestic countryside.
Rwanda Safari Parks & Travel Destinations
Rwanda has abundance in four national parks and below are the three most visited parks in Rwanda.
It’s located in the northwestern part of the country, covering an area of 160 square kilometers.
Volcanoes National Park was first gazetted in 1925 as part of Albert National Park in Congo, covering only parts of Mount Karisimbi, Mount Mikeno, and Mount Bisoke.
The main aim was to protect the endangered mountain gorillas.
In 1929, the park was expanded into Belgian Congo and Rwanda, covering 8,090 square kilometers and run by the Belgian colonial government.
In 1958, 700 hectares of the park were cleared for human settlement, and another 1,050 hectares were cleared between 1969-1973 to grow pyrethrum.
The famous American primatologist, known as Dian Fossey, came to the park in 1967 to study and research mountain gorillas.
Dian Fossey worked tirelessly to study and protect mountain gorillas, which were almost extinct at that time.
A group of eight tourists is allowed to visit each mountain gorilla family daily.
Volcanoes National Park is also a birder’s paradise, boasting 180 species of recorded birds, with 16 of these species being Albertine Rift endemics.
Some examples of birds found in the park include Rwenzori double-collared sunbird, Baglafecht Weaver, scarlet-tufted malachite sunbird, Rwenzori turaco, red-faced woodland warbler, Ladgden’s bush shrike, handsome francolin, Doherty’s bush shrike, brown-necked parrot, dusky crimson wing, African long-eared owl, and Archer’s Robin chat, among others.
Golden monkeys can also be tracked in Volcanoes National Park.
This unique species of monkeys are endemic to the Virunga Conservation Area in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
They live in troops of up to a hundred individuals in the lower slopes of the Virunga Mountains.
Akagera National Park is the only Savannah national park in Rwanda, covering an area of 1,122 square kilometers.
The park derives its name from Kagera River, which flows within the park, bordering Tanzania.
The park is characterized by swamps, savannah grasslands, and montane areas.
It is the largest protected wetland in eastern-central Africa.
The park was established in 1934 by the colonial Belgian government and was also called “parc aux lycaons” because it hosted the highest population of African wild dogs.
Unfortunately, a disease broke out and killed all the African wild dogs, with the last one seen in 1984.
Black rhinos were introduced in the park in the 1950s from Tanzania, but all the rhinos were unfortunately poached, and the last one was seen in 2007.
In recent years, the park has made efforts to revive by reintroducing several animals and implementing conservation efforts.
Akagera National Park is home to various mammals, offering excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing.
You can enjoy both day and night game drives in the park and see animals such as buffalos, elephants, zebras, duikers, bushbucks, Masai giraffes, klipspringer, defassa waterbucks, sitatungas, rhinos, lions, and many others.
Approximately 100 of those species can only be found in the park and not elsewhere in the country.
Some examples of birds found in the park are the short-tailed pipit, brown-chested lapwing, crested barbet, dimorphic egret, blue-shouldered Robin chat, Eleonora’s falcon, northern brown-throated weaver, amur falcon, and grasshopper buzzard, to name a few.
Akagera National Park offers three prescheduled boat cruises at the splendid Lake Ihema.
The boat cruises provide an opportunity to explore the lake’s flora and fauna, as well as spot water birds, crocodiles, and hippos up close.
The common species of fish caught are catfish and tilapia. You can enjoy your catch at your hotel for dinner, and fishing permits cost only $25 per day.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is located in the southeastern part of Rwanda, covering an area of 940 square kilometers.
Nyungwe is home to one of the oldest forests in Africa, boasting very rich biodiversity with 13 species of primates, 120 species of butterflies, 322 species of birds, 38 species of reptiles, 79 species of mammals, 1068 species of plants, 140 orchids, and much more.
Nyungwe Forest was almost extinct due to human activities such as wood cutting, bush fires, land clearing for settlement, and poaching.
In 1974, the last buffalo in Nyungwe Forest was killed.
The forest was later divided into areas allowing sustainable use and timber harvest by the government in 1984.
The Uwinka headquarters and several trails were set up in 1987 but were unfortunately destroyed during the Rwanda genocide of 1994.
Reconstruction and establishment started in 1995 but were not open to tourists.
The last elephant was killed by poachers in 1999, leading the government to establish Nyungwe as a national park in 2004 to protect primates and Afromontane rainforest.
Nyungwe Forest is the major water catchment area in Rwanda, supplying 70% of the country with water.
The canopy walkway is a must-see attraction in Nyungwe Forest.
The 200-meter-long trail, 50 meters above the forest cover, is the only one of its kind in East Africa.
The panoramic views of the last remaining Afromontane rainforest are breathtaking, and you can observe various primates and birdlife.
There are two habituated chimpanzee families for tourists to trek in the forest.
Chimpanzees are close relatives to humans, sharing 98% DNA with us.
You can book your permits in advance, and only a group of eight people is allowed to visit one family daily.
Nyungwe Forest National Park also hosts 310 species of birds, and there are various species you will spot.
Some of these include the white-headed wood hoopoe, Ross’s turaco, red-faced woodland warbler, paradise flycatcher, Rockefeller’s sunbird, Rwenzori turaco, mountain masked apalis, collared apalis, purple-breasted sunbird, great blue turaco, red-throated alethe, and gigantic forest hornbill, among others.
There are 13 well-established trails, each leading to a superb destination.
Along the way, you will come across a variety of birds, plant species, and primates like owl-faced monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, blue monkeys, and many more.
Volcanoes National Park is also conveniently located not far from Kigali International Airport, making it easy to access compared to other gorilla national parks.
Travel Safe – Safety on Rwanda safaris
Rwanda is generally a safe country to visit, but you should exercise caution when traveling to certain parts of the country, such as the borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Always check with security before traveling to such areas.
Although the country is safe, it’s advisable for all tourists to take safety measures as they would in their own country.
For example, avoid carrying and exposing large amounts of money, keep your valuable items secure and register them at the hotel where you’re staying.
Avoid using public transport and walking alone at night, and don’t leave valuables like passports inside the car.
Culture in Rwanda
Compared to many African countries with diverse ethnic groups and cultures, Rwanda is home to three main groups of people: the Tutsi, the Hutu, and the Twa people, also known as Pygmies.
These three groups share a common language and cultural heritage.
The Rwandese people are famous for their Intore cultural dance, which is an integral part of their ceremonies, festivals, storytelling, and social gatherings.
Their cuisine consists of various staple foods like bananas, sweet potatoes, cassava, and more.
They also create traditional arts and crafts in most parts of the country.
Gorilla trekking is a unique experience compared to game drives in other national parks.
Mountain gorillas inhabit high elevations of rain-forests, requiring visitors to be physically fit for hiking.
Tourists should also remember to bring gorilla trekking gear such as hiking boots, garden gloves, insect repellent, binoculars, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, snacks, plenty of drinking water, and more.
Your gorilla trekking journey begins by booking a gorilla permit through the Rwanda Development Board or by using a trusted travel company that will organize everything you need, including accommodation and transport.
Permits must be booked in advance before arriving in Rwanda due to high demand.
Once you obtain your permit, you can then book flights for your trekking date, but you must be at the park the day before the trekking date.
The gorilla trekking activity starts very early in the morning at the park headquarters, where you will be briefed about mountain gorillas, the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking, and allocated to gorilla families according to age and physical ability.
Only a group of eight healthy people will be allowed to trek one mountain gorilla family, and they should be over 15 years of age.
The time taken to trek depends on the location of the gorilla family and the hiking speed.
Once you find the group you’re searching for, you’ll have an hour for observation and taking photos.
Be sure to follow the rules and regulations while trekking gorillas, and the one-hour period can end early if gorillas threaten to charge.
Rwanda gorilla permits cost $1500 per person per trekking.
Getting a Rwanda Visa for your Travel holiday
Nationals of all countries can obtain a Rwandan visa upon arrival at Kigali International Airport and all land borders.
Citizens of some countries that are members of certain international organizations will have their visa fees waived for a 30-day visit.
Citizens of East African Community member states shall be issued a free entry pass valid for 6 months.
Some countries will be granted a 90-day Visa free of charge.
Therefore, when applying or intending to travel to Rwanda, you need to first check which category of visa your country belongs to.
Visa applicants will need to fulfill certain requirements to complete the Rwandan application form.
These requirements include a valid passport or any other travel document, a yellow fever vaccination card, visa fees, financial requirements, two recent colored photographs with a white background, a business cover letter, a letter of invitation, and any other requirements that may be needed.
When to Visit Rwanda for safaris & Travel holidays
Kigali Sunset
Rwanda can be visited all year round, but some months might be better if you’re visiting for specific activities like gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, or game viewing.
If you’re planning to visit national parks for wildlife, then the best time is June to August and December to February when the weather is favorable for park activities.
The best time for birding is from November to April when migratory birds are present in the parks.
Where to Stay – Rwanda safari Accommodation Options
Bisate Lodge, in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
When planning a visit to Rwanda, choosing the right place to stay is crucial for a memorable experience.
Rwanda offers a range of accommodation options to suit various preferences and budgets.
In Kigali, the capital city, you can find luxurious hotels, boutique guesthouses, and budget-friendly hostels.
If you’re looking to be close to nature and wildlife, consider staying near the famous Volcanoes National Park, where you can find lodges and eco-friendly resorts.
Akagera National Park also offers comfortable safari lodges for those exploring the savannah.
Nyungwe Forest National Park has charming lodges amidst lush greenery.
Rwanda’s accommodation options cater to every traveler, ensuring a pleasant stay while exploring this beautiful country.
