Big Five savannah
Akagera National Park
Rwanda’s only savannah park, on the Tanzanian border, where lions, black and white rhinos have been brought back and wildlife numbers have soared since 2010.
Destination guide
Rwanda, land of a thousand hills
Short distances, smooth roads and some of Africa’s best-run parks: gorillas and golden monkeys in the Virunga volcanoes, chimpanzees in Nyungwe, and the Big Five in Akagera.
Best timeJun–Sep & Dec–Feb
Ideal length4–8 days
Headline experienceVolcanoes NP gorillas
ArriveKigali International (KGL)
Overview
Why Rwanda?
Quick answer
Rwanda is the quickest gorilla destination: Volcanoes National Park is two to three hours from Kigali, permits cost US$1,500 (30% off from November to May with stays in Nyungwe or Akagera), and the country adds chimpanzees in Nyungwe, Big Five savannah in Akagera and Lake Kivu. Four to eight days works well.
Rwanda is compact. Volcanoes National Park is around a two- to three-hour drive from Kigali, so a gorilla trek fits even into a short break. The country invests heavily in conservation and high-end, low-volume tourism, and it shows in the quality of its lodges and guiding.
Beyond the gorillas, Nyungwe’s montane rainforest offers chimpanzee tracking and a canopy walkway, Lake Kivu gives you beaches and boat trips, and Akagera in the east has become a Big Five park again following lion and rhino reintroductions.
Begin or end in Kigali
Rwanda’s capital is clean, safe and easy to explore: the Kigali Genocide Memorial, craft studios and a growing restaurant scene. Add two nights on Lake Kivu for kayaking, island boat trips and sunsets over the water before or after your trek.
Before you travel to Rwanda
Practical guides to plan your trip with confidence:
Talk to a Rwanda specialistWhatsApp +256 709 780 625
Where to go
Highlights of Rwanda
Chimps & a forest reborn
Gishwati-Mukura National Park
Two forest fragments in western Rwanda, protected as a national park in 2016 and recovering fast, with chimpanzees, golden monkeys, birds and a strong community focus.
History, art & coffee
Kigali
Rwanda’s clean, green and safe capital spreads over rolling hills, with a moving memorial, a lively art and café scene and colourful markets, and it is the start of most gorilla safaris.
Lakes & relaxation
Lake Kivu
A vast, deep lake on the Congo border with sandy coves, forested islands and hillside coffee farms, and the place Rwandans themselves go to relax.
Chimps & canopy
Nyungwe National Park
One of Africa’s oldest montane rainforests, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2023, with chimpanzees, 13 primate species and a walkway strung high above the trees.
Gorillas & golden monkeys
Volcanoes National Park
Bamboo and montane forest on the slopes of five Virunga volcanoes, home to Rwanda’s mountain gorillas and only 2–3 hours by road from Kigali.
Also worth adding: Kigali’s Genocide Memorial and its food and design scene, and a few slow days on the shores of Lake Kivu between parks.
Practical information
Full travel essentialsGetting to and around Rwanda
ArriveKigali International Airport (KGL).
Get aroundSmooth paved roads: Volcanoes about 2–3 hours, Akagera about 2.5 hours, Nyungwe about 5–6 hours from Kigali.
VisasMany nationalities can get a visa on arrival or online; the East Africa Tourist Visa also covers Uganda and Kenya.
Good to knowPlastic bags are banned; on the last Saturday morning of each month, community work (Umuganda) restricts travel until about midday.
MoneyRwandan franc; cards accepted in Kigali and most lodges.
DrivingOn the right.
When to go
The best time to visit Rwanda
Like Uganda, gorilla trekking is possible all year. The long rains (roughly March to May) make trails muddier, but permits are easier to find and the hills are at their greenest.
Jan
Feb
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PeakGoodGreen / wet season
Journeys
All holidaysRwanda itineraries
Use these as a starting point. Every trip is private and adjusted to your dates, budget and pace.
Signature 18 days Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania
18-Day East Africa Grand Safari: Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya & Tanzania
The ultimate East African journey across four countries: chimps and gorillas in Uganda, golden monkeys in Rwanda, the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan →
Signature 14 days Uganda, Rwanda & Tanzania
14-Day Uganda, Rwanda & Tanzania Safari
Three countries, three great experiences: chimps and gorillas in Uganda, golden monkeys and Kigali in Rwanda, then the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan →
Signature 14 days Uganda & Rwanda · Grand circuit
14-Day Uganda & Rwanda Safari
Two countries in depth: the Nile at Murchison Falls, chimps, savannah and gorillas in Uganda, then golden monkeys, a second gorilla option and the shores of Lake Kivu in Rwanda.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan → Signature 10 days Uganda & Rwanda · Primates
10-Day Uganda & Rwanda Primate Journey
The great primate journey: chimpanzees in Kibale, Queen Elizabeth’s savannah, mountain gorillas in Bwindi, golden monkeys on the Virunga volcanoes and a final night in Kigali.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan →
Signature 6 days Uganda & Rwanda · Gorillas
6-Day Uganda & Rwanda Double Gorilla Safari
Two countries, two gorilla families: trek in Rwanda’s volcanoes and Uganda’s ancient Bwindi forest, then unwind among the islands of Lake Bunyonyi.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan → Signature 8 days Rwanda · Grand circuit
8-Day Rwanda Forests, Lakes & Savannah
The complete Rwanda journey: gorillas and golden monkeys in the volcanoes, the shores of Lake Kivu, chimpanzees and the canopy walk in Nyungwe, and Big Five game drives in Akagera.
Tailor-madePrice on request
See the plan →Where you’ll stay
All lodgesLodges in Rwanda
Mid-range Lake Kivu, Rwanda
Cormoran Lodge
Wooden cabins on stilts on a hillside above Lake Kivu in Karongi (Kibuye), each with lake views.
Lake Kivu · Mid-range
Luxury Lake Kivu, Rwanda
Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
A lakeside hotel in Rubavu above a sandy beach on Lake Kivu, with lake-facing rooms, a pool, a spa and tennis courts.
Lake Kivu · Luxury Mid-range Kigali, Rwanda
Hôtel des Mille Collines
A historic Kigali hotel, opened in 1973, which sheltered people during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, as portrayed in the film Hotel Rwanda.
Kigali · Mid-rangeGood to know
Rwanda safari questions
How much is a gorilla permit in Rwanda?
The Rwanda Development Board sets the price. A standard gorilla trekking permit for foreign visitors is US$1,500 per person. Because it costs more than Uganda’s permit, many travellers combine both countries.
Can I visit Rwanda and Uganda on one trip?
Yes. Bwindi’s southern sectors are close to the Rwandan border, so the two countries combine naturally. Ask us about the East Africa Tourist Visa, which covers Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya.
How many days do I need in Rwanda?
Three to four days is enough for Kigali and a gorilla trek. Seven to eight days lets you add Nyungwe’s chimps, Lake Kivu and Akagera.
Tailor-made, from dusk to dawn
Plan your Rwanda safari
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