Well-known by the name “Land of a thousand hills,” Rwanda’s excellent scenery and welcoming friendly people ensures a one-of-a-kind experience. In addition, Rwanda is home to half the world’s mountain gorillas, but there is plenty of more things to do in Rwanda.
Famous for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda is characterized by impressive game viewing, towering volcanoes, and thick highland rainforests that are home to the gorillas. With chimpanzees in the south, Big Five game drives in the east, and beautiful Lake Kivu in the west – it’s no surprise that the majority of guests visit Rwanda. Rarely experienced in isolation, a Rwanda gorilla trekking safari combines well with other East African destinations such as Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania.
Trek through farmlands and bamboo-covered Volcanoes National Park to meet the mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, whereas Chimpanzees and 12 other primates can be found in Nyungwe National Park, including 700 bird species. Journey on a wildlife safari at Akagera National Park, where giraffe, zebra, and lion roam the savannah grasslands, and take advantage of the tranquil shores of Lake Kivu for kayaking, boat cruises and relaxation as you watch fishermen sing in unison as they row across the Lake.
For sure, seeing and spending peaceful yet intense time with mountain gorillas is a rare, heart-filling experience but the safari experiences don’t stop at misty rainforests and gorilla treks – our travel experts can include more of the best places to visit on a trip to Rwanda.
Begin your safari adventure in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali and explore both visits to museums and its thriving nightlife. In addition, climb to the tops of towering volcanic mountains, discover on walking trails through misty rainforests, and trek in search of the playful chimpanzees, gentle gorillas, golden monkeys, and beautiful birds. Safaris at Akagera National Park in the east crowds with wildlife with good chances of spotting the big 5, lions, giraffes, and buffalos against a backdrop of lakes and papyrus swamps. Last but not least, take a trip to Lake Kiva, Kayak, swim and wonder in views at the beauty of the Virunga Mountains.
Featuring heavily on our Rwanda itinerary ideas, these places are some of top Rwanda destinations that have proven consistently popular with our travelers. How you choose to include them on your tours in Rwanda can be custom made into a route that best suits your preferences. Included below we introduce you to our top 6 best places to visit in Rwanda;
Volcanoes Park provides the best gorilla treks & bird watching. To add some more fun on your trip, take a 2-hour behind-the-scenes campus tour with a gorilla researcher. In addition, hiking, canoeing, mountain biking and village experiences offer something for everyone to enjoy here.
Discover the playful chimpanzees, primates, both birds and butterfly in this park. This is also the oldest rainforest full of life, and hosts a collection of flora and fauna.
What’s more, Nyungwe is a popular primate safari destination, and home to the chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, and the striking black and white colobus.
On top of that, canopy walking adventures Rwanda’s Nyungwe, offers exciting experiences on the raised pathways; remember to keep your eyes open for the blue monkeys playing on the treetops.
This is the only place in Rwanda where to see the Big Five on safari drives. Akagera is made up of savannah grasslands, woodland, wetland and a dozen lakes. Moreover, you can go on relaxing private boat trips, sunset cruises, and night safaris.
A waterside gem that offers rewarding hiking, chimp trekking, bird watching and canopy walks. Lake Kivu has also become a top Rwanda tourist attraction with unequalled, from the northern shore you can go kayaking, fishing, swimming and sunset boat cruises.
The Virunga Mountain range in Rwanda lies in the Great Rift Valley, more specifically the Albertine Rift. Derived from the local Kinyarwanda word meaning volcano, this impressive chain of dormant volcanoes is separated by lakes Edward and Kivu, whose waters add a majestic shimmer to the landscape as you adventure through the breathtaking jungle terrain.
The Virunga Massif serves as a dramatic backdrop to the Volcanoes National Park and offers an array of activities and adventures set among tree ferns and forests.
The heartbeat of Rwanda, and doorway to all Rwanda safari holidays & tours. Make a stop at the Kigali cultural village for live music entertainment and explore the art workshops. Explore and get to know more about the Hingakawa Women’s Coffee Cooperative, and if your African safaris to Rwanda timing is good, discover Kigali film festival or the Kigali fashion show.
Rwanda is a must-see safari destination for anyone looking for a roller-coaster safari adventure. With a wealth of amazing safari experiences, the highlight to any of the Rwanda safari tours is a gorilla safari through the rainforests to track and understand the endangered mountain gorillas.
This memorial documents the Rwandan genocide starting from life before to life after the genocide in Rwanda. It also includes mass graves and a wall of names of those lost during the genocide.
From Kigali, it’s a 3.5-hour scenic drive to Rubavu (formerly called and still referred to, as Gisenyi), a place that’s popular with both locals and tourists, especially at the weekends when everybody heads out of the city to relax and unwind.
Shokola Cafe is a buzzy coffee shop in Kigali. It’s in the same building as the Kigali Public Library. We went for breakfast, and the coffee there was excellent! The food there was not great, but it’s totally worth stopping over for a quick to-go coffee.
Head to the Caplaki Crafts Market in Kigali to buy some locally-made items.
One of the best things to do in Rwanda is to go on safari in Akagera National Park, where you can see zebras, impalas, and the big 5 (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalo).
You can easily do a day trip from Kigali, but to increase your chances of seeing lots of animals and getting the best out of your safari, it’s best to spend a few nights in the area and there are plenty of campsites and accommodations throughout the park.
Fazenda Sengha is a recreational park where you can do a variety of activities like horseback riding, quad bike riding, and ziplining.
Nyungwe National Park can be found in the southwest of Rwanda, about a 4 to 5-hour drive from Kigali. It’s a popular place for seeing wild animals such as chimpanzees and other primates, monkeys, and birds. It’s a perfect place if you are looking for tranquillity and simply being immersed in nature.
If you’re in northwest Rwanda visiting the Volcanoes national park for gorilla trekking, another great place to visit is the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village (Gorilla Guardians) which is near Musanze (formerly called Ruhengeri).
Every September, Kinigi town, near Volcanoes National Park, hosts Kwita Izina, “The Gorilla Naming Ceremony.” During this event, locals, conservationists, and visitors gather to name the new baby gorillas, following traditional Rwandan customs (basically like a humanist naming ceremony but for gorillas).
The trail is around 160 miles (257 km), starting in Rubavu (aka Gisenyi) and finishing all the way down in Kamembe. You can of course do it another way around too. It can be done by bike, foot, or even kayak if you want to be on the lake. The road is a mix of paved and dirt roads (mostly dirt), through forests, farmland, tea/coffee plantations and villages with stunning views over the lake!
Popular local foods include ugali (maize or cassava porridge), sambaza (small, deep-fried fish), mizuzu (deep fried plantains), agatogo (plantain stew, sometimes with meat and fish), matoke (green bananas), isombe (cassava leaves with groundnuts), igisafuliya (vegetables simmered with chicken), stewnyama choma (bbq meat), ifi (slow-grilled talapia fish) and brochettes (meat on a stick).
Whatever your interests, Rwanda is not just all about trekking mountain gorillas; for example, other wildlife destinations such as the primate-packed Nyungwe Forest National Park offer great chimpanzees and birding safaris that combine well with gorilla treks at Volcanoes National Park. In addition, on a game drive safari in Akagera National Park, silently tracking a lion or leopard while Lake Kivu rewards with everything from beautiful views, excellent hiking and great forest canopy tours.
Short of time? Discover daytrips in Rwanda, feel the energy of its capital Kigali, walk, go shopping and interact with these beautiful people who share deep passion and love for their land and its wildlife. We’ll use our first-hand travel experience to customise once-in-a-lifetime holiday safaris in Rwanda that fully reflects your specific interests, passions and dreams.
Rwanda is an up-and-coming safari destination, with central Africa’s largest protected wetland in Akagera National Park bordering Tanzania on the eastern side. Therefore, to see any of the usual wildlife safari animals, you need to go to Akagera National Park.
Home to the endangered mountain gorillas. Seeing these silverback giants in their natural environment is an unforgettable experience. Similarly to this trek, you can also track chimpanzees and golden monkeys. Of the primates, olive baboons, vervets and the secretive blue monkey are seen during the day, with bushbabies often seen on night drives.
Besides primates, Rwanda is home to another 136 mammal species. Leopard, hyena and side-striped jackal make up the larger predators in the park. Notable plains game includes; elephant, buffalo, topi, zebra, waterbuck, roan antelope and eland. Other antelopes are duiker, oribi, bohor reedbuck, klipspringer, bushbuck and impala.
With more than 800 species recorded, Rwanda’s Akagera is an important ornithological site, with a variety of birds.
For the best birding tour in Rwanda, a combination of Nyungwe and Akagera National Parks is perfect for a birding trip. The rare and elusive shoebill shares the papyrus with other rarities such as the exquisite papyrus gonolek and countless other water birds that inhabit the wetlands in large numbers. Nyungwe has many Albertine Rift endemics and forest specials, while Akagera is rich in general savannah birds, including raptors and waterbirds found around the park’s sizable lakes.
The best time to visit usually depends on many things including your interests, where you want to visit and why you’re travelling. One traveler’s best time is another traveler’s worst time, making the question ‘when is the best time to go to Rwanda?’ a little tricky.
Even so, the best time to visit Rwanda is between June and September, which is during the Dry season when wildlife viewing is at its prime. This is also the best time of year to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda as these periods offer the best hiking conditions with a low risk of malaria. Primate walks in the misty rainforests are a big part of most of these luxury safaris in Rwanda. With that in mind, walking in the forest much easier during the dry season and that is also the recommended time for most primate trekking holidays, including silverback gorilla trekking experiences. Discover more of our month-by-month guide for travelling to Rwanda.
Our collection of Rwanda safari itineraries includes both affordable and luxury options designed to give you suggestions for what is possible when you travel in Rwanda. Choose from short gorilla trekking hikes at Volcanoes National Park, and long safari tours that focus on grassland wildlife, gorilla fly-in safaris, and adventure activities such as water activities at Lake Kivu. These are routes that we’ve found work particularly well with our travelers.
Discover the best of East Africa romantic holiday destinations with plenty of bucket list adventures, from witnessing the wildebeest migration crossings, Kenya’s Amboseli giants to gorilla trekking in Rwanda and taking a hot air balloon safari over Kenya’s Masai Mara. Not forgetting the natural wonders of Ngorongoro Crater making up as an excellent feature on Tanzania honeymoon packages.
Our selection of Rwanda safari itineraries includes both affordable and luxury options designed to give you suggestions for what is possible when you travel in Rwanda. Choose from short, intensive gorilla trekking tours or gorilla fly-in safaris. Routes that we’ve found work particularly well with our travelers.
If you’re still questioning on where to go on safari in Rwanda, in most cases the headline of tourist attractions in Rwanda are the gentle mountain gorillas, who majestically roam the misty rainforests of Volcanoes National Park; on the other hand, that’s not all Rwanda has to offer.
We fully uncover everything you need to know before you visit Rwanda as from trekking silverback gorillas & chimpanzees in their natural habitat to the Big 5 safaris and awe-inspiring lake activities.
Therefore, if you’re planning on Rwanda family holidays, or rather weighing your options for honeymoons in Rwanda, this rich destination guarantees the utmost in adventure and romance, sit back and allow us inspire your next adventures in Rwanda.
Ready Ready? Our travel specialists will use their first-hand experience to plan your holiday to Rwanda, tailored to your interests and budget. We will build activities into your trip that connect to how you want to experience Rwanda.
We’ve taken our time to answer everything you may need to know about going for Rwanda wildlife safaris and adventures.
As for the documentation you need for your holiday in Rwanda, keep in mind entry requirements can change, so please contact your local Rwanda embassy or high commission to verify that the following information below is up to date.
-A passport is required for all foreign visitors and has to be valid for at least six months.
-Passports must have a clean and full visa page for endorsement.
– Citizens of all countries are allowed to get visa upon arrival without prior application. More details at www.migration.gov.rw.
-For people visiting Rwanda in conjunction with Kenya and/or Uganda, it is possible to buy a joint visa for all three countries. See www.migration.gov.rw for details.
-When arriving from a yellow-fever-infected country in Africa or the Americas, a yellow-fever vaccination certificate is required.
-Citizens of country members to the African Union, Commonwealth and La Francophonie can get free visas upon arrival in Rwanda for a visit of 30 days.
-A citizen of East African Community Member States can receive a pass/entry visa free of charge upon arrival for a six-month stay in Rwanda.
-Visitors from the following countries can be granted 90-day visas at no cost upon arrival in Rwanda: Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, The Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Haiti, Mauritius, Philippines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Singapore and the State of Qatar.
-Citizens of countries that are not visa exempt have an option of applying online or at the Rwanda Diplomatic Mission of the country of residence before departure. Those applying online have the option to pay online or upon arrival. There is no single affiliated agent that is authorised to apply for a visa on your behalf.
-For more information, please visit the website of your local Rwanda embassy/high commission or the government travel advisories below:
Australia – www.smartraveller.gov.au
Canada – travel.gc.ca
EU Member States – ec.europa.eu
Ireland – www.ireland.ie
New Zealand – www.safetravel.govt.nz
United Kingdom – www.gov.uk
United States – travel.state.gov
As for 2025, the cost of gorilla trekking or rather cost of a single gorilla permit (known in full as a mountain gorilla tracking permit) in Rwanda is US$1,500 for all foreigners from outside Africa. This price for all Rwandan citizens and East African citizens is US$200 for citizens of Rwanda and other East African countries. The permit cost for both foreign residents in Rwanda, and African citizen/Foreign resident in Africa is US$500. Keep in mind, all these are (subject to change).
All travelers are advised against making erroneous, incomplete or false applications. Such cases may include among others, applying for the wrong product, uploading a false ID / Visa and uploading an expired ID/ Visa. Please be advised that verification of tourist documents is done at park entry gates. Tourists who made erroneous, incomplete or false applications WILL be denied entry to the park regardless of whether they paid and acquired a system-generated permit.
About medicine for your safari trip to Rwanda, we recommend anti-malarial medication no matter what time of year you plan on visiting Rwanda for safari. Kindly consult with your doctor at home for advice on the right choice of prophylaxis for your body well in advance of your departure date. Additionally, if you live in a yellow fever region or plan to travel through a region where it is endemic during your stay, you will need a yellow fever vaccination and certificate. It’s best to seek advice from a specialist travel doctor when planning your East Africa trip.
Rwanda has come a long way with wildlife safari tourism. There now exists lots of luxury Rwanda safari lodges in all its main tourist destinations in or around Volcanoes, Nyungwe and Akagera National Parks. For the best experience, we advise visitors to stay either in Volcanoes National Park or in the nearby town of Ruhengeri. Listed below are some of the top 13 places to stay on a Rwanda safari holiday.
That said, the best places to stay on a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda include;
These luxury Rwanda safari lodges and camps are also a popular option in the grassland game parks. That said, there are budget-friendly options available for the budget traveler. So, you can choose between luxury accommodations in Rwanda or just comfort hotels.
Listed below are some of the best places to visit in Rwanda; these destinations also sum up as the top Rwanda national parks to explore while on your safari. They include the following;
What’s more, Nyungwe is a popular primate safari destination, and home to the chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, and the striking black and white colobus.
On top of that, canopy walking adventures Rwanda’s Nyungwe, offers exciting experiences on the raised pathways; remember to keep your eyes open for the blue monkeys playing on the treetops.
The Virunga Massif serves as a dramatic backdrop to the Volcanoes National Park and offers an array of activities and adventures set among tree ferns and forests.
The above-mentioned top 6 areas sum up where to go in Rwanda for the best gorilla trekking tours.
The best time to visit usually depends on many things including your interests, where you want to visit and why you’re travelling. One traveler’s best time is another traveler’s worst time, making the question ‘when is the best time to go to Rwanda?’ a little tricky.
Even so, the best time to visit best time to visit Rwanda for gorillas & safari is between June and September, which is during the Dry season when wildlife viewing is at its prime. This is also the best time of year to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda as these periods offer the best hiking conditions with a low risk of malaria. Primate walks in the misty rainforests are a big part of most of these luxury safaris in Rwanda. With that in mind, walking in the forest much easier during the dry season and that is also the recommended time for most primate trekking holidays, including silverback gorilla trekking experiences. Discover more of our month-by-month guide for travelling to Rwanda.
(1)-one hour is the maximum time you are allowed to spend observing the mountain gorillas as they go about their lives—playing, grooming, feeding, or simply relaxing. A single gorilla trekking day starts early in the morning, usually around 7:00 AM, with a pre-trek briefing at the park headquarters. The actual trekking to find the gorillas can take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours, depending on the location of the silverback gorilla family and trekking terrain conditions. Once you reach the gorillas, you are allowed one hour to observe them. It’s important to always follow your guide’s instructions.
A single gorilla trekking day starts early in the morning, usually around 7:00 AM, with a pre-trek briefing at the park headquarters. The actual trekking to find the gorillas can take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours, depending on the location of the silverback gorilla family and trekking terrain conditions. Once you reach the gorillas, you are allowed one hour to observe them. It’s important to always follow your guide’s instructions.
Yes! You can see all big 5 wildlife in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park, bordering Tanzania. It also has one of the largest hippo populations in Africa – with over 700 hippo (and plenty of crocodile) in its Lake Rwanyakazinga. You can also spot plenty of giraffe, zebra, topi, and eland.
Yes, you can take photos and videos during a gorilla trek. However, it’s important to follow and respect instructions provided by your mountain gorilla guides. However, keep in mind that flash photography is usually not allowed, as it can shock or annoy the gorillas. For travelers participating on our gorilla trekking photography tours, a full briefing will be issued with the do’s and don’ts while on this gorilla photo safari.
Both Rwanda and Uganda are excellent for gorilla trekking. However, Uganda gorilla trekking is cheaper as compared to Rwanda.
Yes! For gorilla trekking, children under 15 are not allowed on gorilla treks.
The best places on where to go on a gorilla photo safari include the following listed destinations;
These impenetrable rainforests of East Africa, especially those in Uganda and Rwanda, are the best locations for gorilla trekking photo safaris. Additionally, it’s important to maintain a respectful distance while on the trek, and follow the instructions given by your guides.
While each of the mentioned mountain gorilla destinations offering exceptional chimpanzee photographic opportunities, Bwindi in Uganda is often considered the best choice for serious wildlife photographers.
Generally, it is necessary to wear proper safari clothing and gear to ensure your comfort and safety when chimpanzee trekking in the rainforests. That being said, below are some recommendations of what to wear during your gorilla trekking tours:
-The Footwear: Like mountain trekking, go for the sturdy, waterproof walking shoes or hiking boots with good traction. The rainforest terrain can be not level, muddy, and even slippery, so pack reliable footwear for a comfortable trek. Another tip about the shoes, try walking with them at home before your trip and see if they are comfortable to avoid getting blisters after the trip.
-The Rain Gear: Due to the unpredictable nature of rainforests, it’s highly advisable to bring with you a lightweight raincoat or waterproof jacket. This will protect you from unexpected showers, keeping you dry during the trek.
-The Clothing’s: Pack long trousers and long-sleeved tops, long socks to wear over your trousers as protection against ants, and thorny vegetation and insects. Pick lightweight, breathable fabrics that allow fast and easy movement – they are also quick drying.
-Your Gloves: The thick gloves, can be helpful for grabbing onto the branches for stability as you trek. They also offer protection against sharp plants.
-A Hat: Bring with you a safari hat – this helps protect you from the sun, as well as rain showers that may occur.
– Extras – The Mountains tend to be cold so pack a warm fleece in your day pack, along with sunscreen and insect repellent are advised.
Talking about safety while on gorilla trekking tours, by now you should know that gorilla trekking adventures involves safaris deep into wilderness rainforest, these tours are usually safe and well-regulated in the company of armed wildlife rangers and a professional mountain gorilla guide walking with you. As long as you follow what you are told to do and the strict rules provided, you will have no problems with on your safari, both humans and gorillas.
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