Rwanda Safari
Land of a Thousand Hills & the Mountain Gorilla

The two dry seasons - June to September and December to February - offer the best trekking conditions, with firmer forest trails and clearer skies. Gorilla trekking runs year-round, however, and the wetter months bring lush green landscapes, fewer visitors and easier permit availability. Nyungwe's chimps and Akagera's game viewing are rewarding throughout the year.

A Rwanda gorilla permit costs $1,500 per person per trek. While higher than Uganda's, the price reflects Rwanda's premium, low-impact conservation model and superb access. A luxury Rwanda safari including permits, top lodges and private guiding typically costs $6,000-$12,000+ per person for a week; mid-range options combining a permit with comfortable lodges start from around $4,500 per person.

Treks in Volcanoes National Park range from around one to five hours each way through bamboo forest and up volcanic slopes at altitude. Trackers locate the families in advance and you are assigned a group to suit your fitness. Porters are available to carry bags and help on steep sections, making the trek achievable for most reasonably fit travellers.

Because Volcanoes is so close to Kigali, a focused gorilla trip can be done in just 3-4 days. To experience Rwanda fully, 6-8 days is ideal, adding Nyungwe's chimpanzees and canopy walk and a Big Five safari in Akagera. Rwanda's compact size and good roads mean less travel time than most safari countries.

Both are exceptional. Rwanda offers unrivalled access - just two hours from an international airport - a shorter average trek, and some of the best lodges in Africa, at a premium permit price of $1,500. Uganda offers a cheaper $800 permit, wilder forests and more to combine. Rwanda suits travellers short on time or seeking luxury; Uganda suits a longer, more adventurous safari.

Yes - Akagera National Park, beautifully restored by African Parks, is now home to all of the Big Five, including reintroduced lion and rhino. A Rwanda itinerary combining Akagera's savannah game drives with the gorillas of Volcanoes and the chimps of Nyungwe delivers a remarkably complete safari in a very compact country.

Rwanda is widely regarded as one of the safest and cleanest countries in Africa, with excellent infrastructure and a warm, welcoming population. Kigali is a modern, orderly capital. Malaria precautions are advised for the lower-lying parks such as Akagera, and we provide up-to-date guidance for your route and season.

Yes - Rwanda combines beautifully with Uganda for a two-country primate journey, and pairs well with a beach finale in Zanzibar or a classic Kenya or Tanzania savannah safari. Kigali's central location and excellent flight links make Rwanda an ideal hub for a wider East African adventure.

Rwanda blends the world's most moving wildlife encounter - the mountain gorilla - with extraordinary scenery, remarkable conservation success and some of the finest lodges on the continent, all within easy reach of the capital. It is the destination of choice for travellers who want gorillas, luxury and ease in one seamless journey.