Rwanda is a great destination to visit in Africa, but with limited attractions. Ten days are just enough to explore all the great attractions in Rwanda.
If you want to visit Rwanda and never return, book a 10-day safari with us, and we will handle the planning.
Despite its size, Rwanda offers a true 5-star travel experience with its super-luxury lodges.
Rwanda also has the second highest population of mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, after Uganda. The chimpanzee trekking and hiking experiences in Nyungwe Forest National Park are also worth the time.
Rwanda boasts three national parks: Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, and Volcanoes National Park, with hopes of having a fourth one in Gishwati-Mukura Forest Reserve in the near future.
All these national parks are spread out in different provinces of the country. Visiting all three means visiting all the provinces of Rwanda.
The Rwanda Tourism Industry Diversity
There is not much tourism diversity in Rwanda. Most Rwanda safari holidays take place in the three national parks: Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, and Akagera National Park.
However, there are stopover points with minor activities as you transfer to these national parks.
In Volcanoes National Park, the common safari activities include:
In Akagera National Park, the common safari 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, the common safari activities include:
- Guided birding walks
- Chimpanzee trekking
- Forest canopy walks
- Colobus monkey trekking
- Guided nature trails
- Tropical waterfalls guided hike
- Congo Nile guided hike
Where to Find Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda
Rwanda’s gorillas are found in Volcanoes National Park in Musanze.
Rwanda has the second highest population of mountain gorillas after Uganda.
Unlike Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda has only one gorilla park. Uganda and DR Congo have two gorilla trekking parks.
Volcanoes National Park is just two hours away from Kigali, making Rwanda gorillas very accessible and allowing for shorter gorilla trips that can even last just a day, depending on your arrival and departure times.
Volcanoes National Park offers additional activities to complement your Rwanda gorilla trekking safaris, including 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 & Ruhondo, visiting the Gorilla Guardians Village, and scenery tours.
To visit Rwanda gorillas, you need to book your gorilla trekking permits in advance. It is hard to make a last-minute booking in Rwanda, especially for primate permits.
Why Visit Rwanda Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park
The proximity of Volcanoes National Park to Kigali International Airport is one of Rwanda’s greatest advantages over Uganda and DR Congo for gorilla trekking in Africa.
You only need two hours to access Volcanoes National Park, compared to the eight-hour drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Kampala/Entebbe.
When you visit Rwanda gorillas, you will travel for less and have more time for complementary activities.
You will also feel less tired during your gorilla trekking encounters, as you won’t get fatigued on the way to the gorilla national park.
Volcanoes National Park has more bamboo vegetation than thick forests, making it easy to hike and spot gorillas.
The scenery and hiking experience are different, as Rwanda gorillas are found at the base of the Virunga volcano mountains.
Why Book Rwanda Gorilla Safari Tours?
There are three main reasons to book Rwanda gorilla safaris in Volcanoes National Park:
- The short distance from Kigali City to Volcanoes National Park allows for shorter gorilla trips, sometimes even lasting just a day.
- The park’s good scenery, with less thick vegetation and more bamboo trees, makes it easier to spot and get close to gorillas.
- Rwanda offers a real 5-star luxury gorilla trekking tour experience with some of the best gorilla safari lodges in the world.
Are Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tours Worth It?
If you are looking for a real luxury tour experience, Rwanda gorilla tours are worth it.
Besides the 5-star experience, you will enjoy the short distance and clear gorilla trekking scenery.
One thing about all mountain gorilla tours is that they are worth it. Over 80% of gorilla permit fees go towards mountain gorilla conservation.
When you purchase a gorilla permit for your Rwanda gorilla tours, you are not only visiting Rwanda gorillas but also giving back to them.
Some fees also support local communities by building infrastructure, improving drainage systems, and providing financial support to families.
Gorilla trekking provides employment opportunities in the parks, lodges, and other service providers.
Gorilla Trekking Rwanda Cost
Gorilla trekking Rwanda prices are the highest among all gorilla trekking destinations.
Each Rwanda gorilla permit costs USD 1500 and USD 1050 for the high and low seasons, respectively.
Besides the high gorilla permit prices, Rwanda has expensive accommodation facilities, making budget gorilla safaris quite costly.
For a luxury gorilla trekking experience, Rwanda is highly recommended. Uganda is good for budget to mid-range gorilla trips and affordable luxury experiences.
For detailed gorilla trekking Rwanda prices, contact us, and we will provide a breakdown.
Choosing the Best Rwanda Gorilla Trek Package
Choosing the best Rwanda gorilla trek package depends on your budget.
If you have a high budget, visit all three Rwanda national parks: Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park, and Nyungwe Forest National Park.
This gives you an opportunity to visit all the provinces of Rwanda and get a USD 450 discount on gorilla permits for the low season.
For longer safaris, we recommend 7-10 day trips.
For shorter stays, keep your safari to 2-4 days, prioritizing a visit to Rwanda gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.
Balloon Rides in Akagera National Park & Costs
In 2022, hot air ballooning was introduced to Akagera National Park in Rwanda. Tourists to Akagera now have a new adventurous activity in the park.
Royal Balloons Rwanda operates two hot air balloon rides accommodating 4 to 6 guests in Akagera National Park.
Tourists can fly as high as 100m to 1000m above the park’s scenic savanna-covered landscapes inhabited by the Big Five game animals: lions, rhinos, elephants, leopards, and buffaloes.
Akagera National Park is known for its rewarding game viewing drives, boat trips on Lake Ihema, bird watching safaris, fishing escapades, and now hot air ballooning and nocturnal game drives.
Hot air balloon rides cost USD 250 for Rwandan citizens, USD 350 for East African citizens, and USD 450 for foreign non-residents.
Compared to parks like Serengeti and Maasai Mara, Rwanda offers an affordable hot air ballooning experience.
The hills in the country actually make the whole experience much more enjoyable.
Visiting Rwanda Chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park is the best place for chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda.
The park is located in the Southern Province of Rwanda, a few kilometers away from Bukavu in DR Congo, where Kahuzi-Biega National Park, DR Congo’s home to lowland gorillas, is located.
It is easy to go lowland gorilla trekking in DR Congo and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda on the same trip.
In Rwanda, you need a visa to enter DR Congo and another when returning to Rwanda.
On your way to Nyungwe Forest National Park, you can visit the Rwanda National Museum, the King’s Palace, and other attractions.
The five to six-hour journey is a great opportunity to explore Rwanda’s countryside.
In Nyungwe Forest National Park, the common tourist activities include guided birding walks, chimpanzee trekking, forest canopy walks, colobus monkey trekking, guided nature trails, tropical waterfalls guided hikes, and Congo Nile guided hikes.
Rwanda mainly has common chimpanzees. If you need to trek an alternate species, you will need to visit the bonobos in DR Congo.
Our agency can organize bonobo chimpanzee trekking tours in DR Congo as well.
When to Go on Rwanda Safaris
The best time to go on Rwanda safari holidays is during January, February, June, July, August, September, and December.
During these months, the soil is dry, and trails are clearer, making it easy to traverse through parks and see animals.
The months of March, April, May, October, and November are usually rainy and suitable for last-minute safaris or highly discounted tours.
The common perception is that these months are very rainy, but this is not always the case. Sometimes, these months can receive minimal rainfall.
It is always recommended to check with us, and we will advise accordingly.
Rwanda offers low season gorilla permit discounts. You can save USD 450 if you visit all three Rwandan national parks in a single trip.
This is even more advantageous when traveling in groups, making the total price for your safari very affordable.
To save money on Rwanda gorilla permits and accommodation, aim for the low season months but keep your safari short to avoid dealing with travel conditions caused by rain.
Where to Stay – Choosing Your Rwanda Safari Accommodation
If you can spend highly, stay in some of Rwanda’s most expensive safari lodges. These lodges will enhance your Rwanda safari holiday. Comfort is very important for safaris in Rwanda.
Rwandan lodges are not cheap, regardless of your travel class. This makes Rwanda safari holidays more expensive compared to similar safaris in Uganda or DR Congo.
Is Booking Luxury Rwanda Gorilla Safari Lodges Worth It?
Rwanda lodges like Bisate Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, One&Only Gorillas Nest, One&Only Nyungwe House, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, and Magashi Camp are some of the nicest accommodation facilities in Africa.
They are worth the price and offer a real luxury safari experience.
Combining stays at Bisate Lodge, One&Only Nyungwe House, and Magashi Camp on your Rwanda safari holidays is a great combo.
Why Book Your Rwanda Safari in Advance
Rwanda safari holidays and gorilla trekking tours require advance booking, especially for the high season months of January, February, June, July, August, September, and December.
These months are highly competitive, and gorilla permits get sold out quickly. Rwanda gorilla trekking permits are sold on a first-come-first-served basis.
Booking your gorilla permits in advance is the only way to guarantee your gorilla trekking safari.
Other necessities like accommodation, safari vehicles, and tour guides can be booked last minute.
The recommended time frame for booking Rwandan gorilla safaris is 6 months to 1 year before departure.
Our Discounted Rwanda Safari Tour Packages
As a safari team made up of avid travelers, we understand the importance of discounts on safaris to Rwanda.
We continuously negotiate with service providers to offer promotional rates, making our safari holidays affordable to travelers, irrespective of the travel class.
We have several offers in place. If you want to know more, send us an inquiry, and one of our Rwandan safari experts will revert to you with the various safari tours we have on offer.
