Rwanda Gorilla Safaris: Gorilla Trekking Rwanda Tours

Why Rwanda Is a Small Country With a Full Itinerary

Rwanda is a compact destination, and 10 days is enough time to cover its main attractions. Despite its size, Rwanda delivers a 5-star travel experience, and a Rwanda luxury safari can rival any destination in Africa.

Rwanda holds the second-highest population of mountain gorillas after Uganda, based in Volcanoes National Park. Chimpanzee trekking and hiking in Nyungwe Forest National Park are also worth the time.

Rwanda has three national parks: Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, and Volcanoes National Park, with a fourth planned at Gishwati-Mukura Forest Reserve. Each park sits in a different province, so visiting all three means touring the whole country.

Safari Activities by National Park

Most Rwanda safari holidays take place across the three national parks, with minor stopover activities available as you transfer between them.

In Volcanoes National Park, common activities include:

• Mountain gorilla trekking
• Golden monkey trekking
• Dian Fossey grave hiking
• Mount Bisoke hiking
• Musanze Caves visit
• Nature walks
• Mount Muhabura hiking
• Mount Gahinga hiking
• Buhanga Eco-Park nature walks
• Mount Karisimbi hikes
• Visits to the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo
• Visits to the Gorilla Guardians Village
• Scenic tours

In Akagera National Park, common activities include:

• Game viewing drives
• Boat cruises on Lake Ihema
• Bird watching
• Fishing tours
• Hot air ballooning
• Night game drives

In Nyungwe Forest National Park, common activities include:

• Guided birding walks
• Chimpanzee trekking
• Forest canopy walks
• Colobus monkey trekking
• Guided nature trails
• Tropical waterfall guided hikes
• Congo Nile guided hikes

Where to Find Rwanda’s Mountain Gorillas

Rwanda and gorillas are almost synonymous for most travelers, and for good reason: Rwanda’s gorillas live in Volcanoes National Park, near Musanze, and hold the second-highest mountain gorilla population after Uganda.

Unlike Uganda and the DRC, which each have two gorilla trekking parks, Rwanda has only one gorilla park. Volcanoes National Park sits two hours from Kigali, so a gorilla tour from Kigali is straightforward to arrange, and short trips are possible depending on your arrival and departure times.

Volcanoes National Park also offers golden monkey trekking, Dian Fossey grave hiking, Mount Bisoke and Mount Karisimbi hikes, Musanze Caves visits, and stops at the Gorilla Guardians Village, so a day of gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park can include several other activities.

Book your gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda well in advance. Last-minute primate permit bookings here are hard to secure.

Why Visit Rwanda’s Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park’s proximity to Kigali International Airport is one of Rwanda’s main advantages over Uganda and the DRC for gorilla trekking. The park sits two hours from Kigali, compared to an eight-hour drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Kampala or Entebbe.

Shorter travel time means less fatigue before your trek and more time for other activities. Volcanoes National Park also has more bamboo vegetation and less thick forest than Bwindi, which makes hiking easier and improves your odds of spotting a silverback gorilla in Rwanda up close. The scenery differs too, since Rwanda’s gorillas live at the base of the Virunga volcanoes.

Why Book a Rwanda Gorilla Safari

Three reasons make Volcanoes National Park worth booking for gorilla trekking:

• The short distance from Kigali allows for gorilla trips as brief as a single day.
• Lighter vegetation and more bamboo cover make silverback gorillas in Rwanda easier to spot and approach.
• Rwanda offers a 5-star luxury gorilla trekking experience unmatched elsewhere in the region.

Are Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tours Worth It?

For a luxury tour experience, yes. Beyond the 5-star accommodation, a trip to see the gorillas in Rwanda gives you short travel times and clear trekking scenery.

Every mountain gorilla permit supports conservation directly. Over 80% of gorilla permit fees go toward mountain gorilla conservation. Some of that funding also builds local infrastructure, improves drainage systems, and supports families in nearby communities. Gorilla trekking creates jobs in the parks and across the wider tourism economy that depends on it.

Gorilla Trekking Rwanda Cost

Rwanda has the highest gorilla trekking permit prices of any gorilla trekking destination. Each permit costs $1,500 in high season and $1,050 in low season, which sets the baseline for most Rwanda safari cost estimates you’ll come across.

Accommodation in Rwanda also runs higher than in Uganda, which pushes up the overall price to see gorillas in Rwanda for budget travelers. Rwanda suits travelers focused on a luxury gorilla experience. Uganda remains the better choice for budget to mid-range trips and affordable luxury options. Contact us for a full breakdown of gorilla trekking prices in Rwanda for your trip.

Best Time to Visit Rwanda for Gorilla Trekking

The best time to see the gorillas in Rwanda is during the dry months: January, February, June, July, August, September, and December. Trails stay drier and clearer during these months, which makes for an easier hike to reach the gorillas.

March, April, May, October, and November bring more rain, which suits last-minute travel or discounted tours. These months are not always as wet as their reputation suggests, so check with us for current conditions before ruling them out as the best time to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda for your dates.

Rwanda’s low season also brings a $450 gorilla permit discount for visitors covering all three national parks in one trip, which adds up further for groups. To save on permits and accommodation, aim for low season, but keep your trip short to manage rain-affected travel conditions.

Choosing the Best Rwanda Gorilla Trek Package

Your budget determines the best Rwanda gorilla trek package for you. With a higher budget, visit all three national parks: Volcanoes, Akagera, and Nyungwe Forest. This covers every province in Rwanda and qualifies you for a $450 discount on low-season gorilla permits.

For longer trips, plan 7 to 10 days. For shorter stays, keep your safari to 2 to 4 days and prioritize Volcanoes National Park.

Hot Air Ballooning in Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park introduced hot air ballooning in 2022. Royal Balloons Rwanda runs the rides, carrying 4 to 6 guests per flight to between 100 and 1,000 meters above the park’s savanna landscape, home to the Big Five: lions, rhinos, elephants, leopards, and buffaloes.

Akagera is already known for game viewing drives, boat trips on Lake Ihema, bird watching, fishing, and night game drives. Hot air balloon rides now add another activity to the park. Rides cost $250 for Rwandan citizens, $350 for East African citizens, and $450 for foreign non-residents, making Akagera more affordable for ballooning than parks like the Serengeti or Maasai Mara.

Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe Forest National Park is Rwanda’s main chimpanzee trekking destination. It sits in Rwanda’s Southern Province, a short distance from Bukavu in the DRC, home to Kahuzi-Biega National Park and its lowland gorillas.

This proximity makes it possible to combine lowland gorilla trekking in the DRC with chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda on one trip. You will need a visa to enter the DRC and another to re-enter Rwanda.

On the drive to Nyungwe, most routes pass the Rwanda National Museum and the King’s Palace, and the 5 to 6 hour journey doubles as a tour of Rwanda’s countryside.

Nyungwe’s common activities include guided birding walks, chimpanzee trekking, forest canopy walks, colobus monkey trekking, guided nature trails, waterfall hikes, and Congo Nile Trail hikes. Rwanda’s chimpanzee population is made up of common chimpanzees only. Travelers wanting to trek bonobos need to cross into the DRC, and we can arrange bonobo trekking tours there as well.

Combining Rwanda With Other Safari Destinations

Rwanda pairs well with neighboring countries on one itinerary. A Rwanda and Uganda gorilla tour lets you compare Volcanoes National Park with Bwindi Impenetrable National Park on the same trip. A Rwanda and Tanzania safari combines Volcanoes National Park gorilla trekking with the Serengeti’s plains game, for travelers who want both primates and the classic savanna safari in one booking.

Choosing Your Rwanda Safari Accommodation

Rwanda’s safari accommodation ranks among the most comfortable in Africa, and comfort matters for a trip of this cost. Rates stay high across every travel class, which makes a Rwanda safari more expensive overall than a comparable trip in Uganda or the DRC.

Why Book Your Rwanda Safari in Advance

Rwanda safaris and gorilla trekking tours need advance booking, especially in high season (January, February, June through September, and December). Gorilla permits sell out fast during these months and go on a first-come, first-served basis.

Booking your permits early is the only way to guarantee your trek. Accommodation, vehicles, and guides can usually be arranged closer to your travel date. Book your Rwanda gorilla safari 6 months to 1 year ahead of departure.

Our Discounted Rwanda Safari Packages

We negotiate directly with service providers to secure promotional rates, keeping our Rwanda safari packages affordable across every travel class. Send us an inquiry, and one of our Rwanda safari experts will follow up with the current offers available for your trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to see gorillas in Rwanda?

A Rwanda gorilla permit costs $1,500 in high season and $1,050 in low season. Total safari cost on top of the permit depends on your choice of accommodation and trip length.

What is the best time to visit Rwanda for gorilla trekking?

The driest months are January, February, June through September, and December. These months give the clearest trails, though March through May and October to November can bring discounted low-season permits.

What is the best gorilla trekking company in Rwanda?

We have strong, verifiable Tripadvisor reviews from travelers who booked Rwanda gorilla tours with us, and we advise clients on current sector and permit conditions directly. Book your Rwanda gorilla trekking safari with us for that kind of on-the-ground guidance.

Can I combine Rwanda and Uganda gorilla trekking on one trip?

Yes. Many itineraries combine gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda, letting you visit Volcanoes National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park on the same safari.

Plan Your Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

Mountain gorillas live in only four parks worldwide: Bwindi and Mgahinga in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in the DRC. Bwindi alone protects more than half the remaining mountain gorilla population. Contact us to plan your Rwanda gorilla trekking safari.