How much does gorilla trekking cost in Rwanda?

A gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda costs $1,500 per person per trek (2026 rates). This is higher than Uganda ($800) but Rwanda offers exceptional infrastructure — well-marked trails, world-class lodges right at the park edge and a well-managed, premium experience.

How many gorilla families can I visit in Rwanda?

There are currently 12 habituated gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park. Each family receives a maximum of 8 visitors per day — which means quiet, intimate encounters. We recommend families based on your fitness level and the lodge's proximity to the trailhead.

Can I combine gorilla trekking in Rwanda with Uganda?

Yes — a Rwanda-Uganda gorilla circuit is one of our most popular itineraries. Kigali is only 90 minutes from Kampala by road, and Volcanoes NP is close to the Uganda border near Cyanika. Many travellers trek in Volcanoes NP one day and Bwindi the next.

What is included in a Rwanda gorilla permit?

The permit covers one gorilla trek, ranger escort, park entry and conservation fees. Transport, accommodation, meals and porter fees are arranged separately — we bundle everything into your package.

Is Rwanda safe for tourists?

Rwanda is consistently ranked among Africa's safest destinations. Kigali is exceptionally clean and well-organised, roads are good, and the national parks are professionally managed. We have run Rwanda itineraries for many years without incident.

What is the best Rwanda safari itinerary?

For a 7-day trip: fly into Kigali, 2 nights at Volcanoes NP (gorilla trek + golden monkey trek), transfer to Nyungwe Forest for 2 nights (chimp trek + canopy walk), then 2 nights in Akagera (game drives + boat safari). This covers all three parks at a comfortable pace.

Rwanda Wildlife Parks & Reserves — Complete Safari Guide

Why Rwanda is unmissable

The land of a
thousand hills.

Rwanda is Africa's most immersive gorilla destination — and far more besides. Three distinct ecosystems packed into a compact, safe, beautifully organised country deliver an intensity of wildlife experience rarely matched anywhere on the continent.

i12 habituated gorilla families — the Virunga Massif is shared with Uganda and DRC but Rwanda offers the most curated, luxury-focused trekking experience.
iiNyungwe canopy walkway — 70 metres above the forest floor, the only accessible forest canopy platform in East Africa, in one of the continent's oldest rainforests.
iiiAkagera Big Five — lions reintroduced in 2015, black rhinos in 2017 — a remarkable conservation recovery that now offers the full Big Five experience.
ivCompact, easy logistics — all three parks are within 2–5 hours of Kigali International Airport; a 7-day itinerary comfortably covers gorillas, chimps and savannah.
vRwanda-Uganda gorilla circuit — combine Rwanda's Volcanoes with Uganda's Bwindi on a cross-border itinerary — two of the world's best gorilla experiences in one trip.

Rwanda's three safari parks

What makes
each one special.

Each of Rwanda's three parks delivers a completely different wildlife experience — volcanic highlands, ancient rainforest and open savannah — all within a short drive of Kigali.

01 · Volcanoes

Gorillas · Golden monkeys

Volcanoes National Park

Rwanda's most celebrated park — five dormant volcanoes rising above 2,400 metres, protecting twelve habituated gorilla families in the Virunga ecosystem. This is where Dian Fossey built her famous research camp, and where trekkers today spend one deeply moving hour in the company of wild mountain gorillas. Golden monkey trekking offers an exciting alternative or add-on.

12 habituated gorilla families — maximum 8 visitors per family per day
Golden monkey trekking — endemic to the Virunga volcanoes
Dian Fossey tomb and Karisoke Research Center hike
Karisimbi volcano summit trek (3-day adventure)
Part of the cross-border Virunga conservation zone

Best forGorilla trekking

02 · Nyungwe Forest

Chimps · Canopy walk · Birding

Nyungwe Forest National Park

One of Africa's oldest and most species-rich montane rainforests, covering Rwanda's south-western highlands. Nyungwe is home to habituated chimpanzees, 13 primate species and over 300 bird species — including 29 Albertine Rift endemics. The 70-metre canopy walkway is a unique experience found nowhere else in East Africa.

Habituated chimpanzee trekking — year-round
70-metre forest canopy suspension walkway
Angolan colobus monkey — troops of 300+
13 primate species including L'Hoest's monkey
300+ bird species — 29 Albertine Rift endemics

Best forChimpanzee trekking & canopy walk

03 · Akagera

Big Five · Boat safari

Akagera National Park

Rwanda's only savannah park and one of Africa's greatest conservation success stories. Managed by African Parks since 2010, Akagera has been transformed — lions were reintroduced in 2015 and black rhinos in 2017, completing the Big Five. A boat safari on Lake Ihema offers excellent hippo and waterbird sightings alongside classic game drives.

Black rhino — reintroduced 2017, growing population
Lion, elephant, buffalo, hippo & crocodile
Boat safari on Lake Ihema — hippos & shoebill stork
Night game drives available
Borders Tanzania along the Akagera River

Best forBig Five & boat safari

More of Rwanda

Lakes, forest
& culture.

Beyond the three headline parks, Rwanda offers lake beaches, a restored forest park with chimpanzees, and one of Africa's most thoughtfully curated capital cities.

Beach · Relaxation

Lake Kivu Beach & water extension

The perfect Rwanda safari extension — this large, calm lake on the Congo border offers beaches, kayaking, island day trips and excellent lakeside lodges for unwinding after the trek.

Calm beach relaxation after trekking
Kayaking & boat excursions to lake islands
Excellent lakeside lodge accommodation

Best for · Post-trek relaxation

Chimps · Forest

Gishwati-Mukura National Park

Rwanda's newest national park — a restored forest fragment with habituated chimpanzees, golden monkeys and excellent birding. It connects the northern forest corridor toward Volcanoes NP.

Habituated chimpanzee trekking
Golden monkey tracking
Excellent Albertine Rift birding

Best for · Off-the-beaten-path primates

Culture · History

Kigali City Gateway & culture

Rwanda's capital is one of Africa's cleanest and safest cities — a genuine destination in its own right. The Kigali Genocide Memorial is a moving experience, and the restaurant, art and coffee scene is excellent.

Kigali Genocide Memorial — essential visit
Contemporary Rwandan art galleries
Exceptional coffee shops & restaurants

Best for · Culture & city stopover

How to choose

Tell us what
you're after.

Rwanda's three parks each deliver a unique experience. Start from your priority wildlife encounter — then we design a 5–10 day circuit that covers as much or as little as you like.

For gorilla trekking

Volcanoes National Park

For golden monkeys

Volcanoes National Park

For chimpanzees

Nyungwe Forest

For the canopy walk

Nyungwe Forest

For Big Five safari

Akagera National Park

For boat safari

Akagera (Lake Ihema)

For relaxation

Lake Kivu

For first-timers

Volcanoes + Akagera circuit

Best time to visit

A year-round
destination.

Gorilla trekking is possible every month — but drier seasons make for more comfortable trekking on the volcanic slopes. Here's how Rwanda's seasons affect your trip.

Dry season · Jun–Sep & Dec–Feb

Best conditions for trekking.

Drier, firmer trails on the volcanic slopes
Peak season — permits sell out fastest June–September
Best game viewing in Akagera
Clear skies for volcano summit views

Green season · Mar–May & Oct–Nov

Lush forests, fewer crowds.

Lower permit demand — easier last-minute booking
Lush, photogenic forests in Nyungwe and Volcanoes
Fewer visitors — more intimate gorilla encounters
Excellent birding as migratory species arrive

Rwanda safari packages

Rwanda safari
packages.

From a dedicated gorilla permit trip to the full Rwanda circuit — every itinerary is fully customisable for your dates, group and budget.

Rwanda · Luxury

Rwanda Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trek

Encounter mountain gorillas and wild chimpanzees in Rwanda's emerald forest highlands

Volcanoes National ParkNorthern Province

From $3,200

5D · 4N

Browse all Rwanda safari packages →

FAQs · Rwanda

Your Rwanda questions.

Call us at +254 722-595-916 — we pick up.

Rwanda's parks& volcanoes.

The land of athousand hills.

What makeseach one special.