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Rwanda Tours & Vacations

From stealing magic moments with mountain-dwelling gorillas to experiencing heart-warming encounters with villagers, Rwanda will deliver experiences unlike any other.

Volcanic mountains, dense forests, tranquil lakes and lively towns add a stunning backdrop to Rwanda’s real gems – the sincere, proud people and majestic, mysterious wildlife.

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Remarkable Rwanda & Gorillas of Uganda

Articles of Rwanda

Encounters in the mist: Exploring Uganda’s gorilla sanctuaries 

Meet the Gorilla Doctors: Guardians of East-Central Africa’s great apes 

The top 8 destinations for travel in June 2024

7 unforgettable wildlife experiences for 2023 

8 reasons why February is an awesome time to travel to East Africa

What to pack for a gorilla trek in Uganda or Rwanda

Everything you need to know about trekking with mountain gorillas

Stories from Rwanda: what it’s really like visiting mountain gorillas

Rwanda at a glance

Capital city.

Kigali (population 1.1 million)

12.6 million

Kinyarwanda, French, English

(GMT+02:00) Windhoek

CALLING CODE

Electricity.

Type C (European 2-pin) Type J (Swiss 3-pin)

Learn more about Rwanda

Best time to visit rwanda.

Rwanda has a tropical highland climate, with temperatures being pleasantly warm most of the year. March to May is the wet season, so expect frequent rain and thunderstorms during this period, which can make trekking and other outdoor activities uncomfortable at times.

Culture and customs

Rwanda has a rich, vibrant culture based on traditional dance, crafts song and drumming. History and culture is communicated through the generations with songs, poetry and stories providing links to the past. Visitors to Rwanda should catch a cultural performance of dynamic dance and music to appreciate the heritage and identity that is carried by these songs and dances. There are three main ethnic tribes in Rwanda - Hutu, Tutsi and Twa, each having their similarities and differences. The Twa comprise less than 1% of the population, and are hunter-gatherers, having lived in Rwanda for centuries. The Hutu and Tutsi are not divided by ethnicity but by a social caste system, with the Tutsi traditionally living pastoral lives and being members of the ruling class, and the Hutu traditionally being seen as peasant farmers. This is malleable though, as intermarriage between the two is quite common, so children may have a Hutu father and a Tutsi mother. While this has lead to much division and conflict in the past, Rwanda has more recently enjoyed 15 years of relative harmony, with these ethnic groups living and working alongside each other in peace.  Foreigners and travelers will find most Rwandans live simple lives, devoid of modern conveniences and perhaps it is because of this that Rwandans are known for being friendly, genuine and very accommodating to visitors. Homestays in particular provide valuable insights into the culture of Rwanda.

Eating and drinking

Intrepid believes that one of the best ways to experience a country is by eating! Whether you're sampling street food, savoring a cheap eat or indulging in a banquet, there are endless options to choose from wherever you are in the world.  Rwandan food typically consists of simple meals made from locally grown produce. Sweet potato, corn, peas, beans and cassava feature heavily, and are usually fried or cooked in a stew. Spices and seasonings aren’t common in Rwandan cooking, so food may be a little bland for some – but just right for others who prefer their food less spicy.

Things to try in Rwanda

1. Fresh fruit

Bananas, avocados, mangoes and papaya are plentiful in Rwanda and are a cheap, fresh snack when bought from markets and street carts.

2. Frites-banane (fried plantains)

Fried Plantains are a delicious snack and found just about everywhere in Rwanda.

Barbecued beef, goat and chicken are available at roadside street stalls in the larger cities.

Beer is popular with the men of Rwanda (women rarely drink). Primus, Mutzig and Amstel are the main beers available in Rwanda, as well as locally brewed banana beer.

Geography and environment

Sharing borders with Uganda , Burundi, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda is a densely populated, landlocked nation. Covered in grassland, mountains and rolling hills, most people in Rwanda live in villages surrounded by farmland. Plantations of cash crops like coffee and tea are common, but small subsistence farming is the main source of income for most Rwandans living in rural areas. 

The dense jungles and national parks of Rwanda house many species of animal including gorillas, baboons, chimpanzees and prolific birdlife. Unlike many other African bodies of water, freshwater Lake Kivu is free from crocodiles and hippos, so it’s a great spot for swimming, fishing and other recreational activities.

History and government

Early history.

The original inhabitants of Rwanda, the Twa, lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle for centuries before the arrival of the Hutu people. Then the Tutsi brought with them a feudal system of land ownership and society. In 1890 Germany took control of Rwanda, and ruled until 1916 when the Belgians overpowered the German forces during World War I. Under Belgian rule, clashes between the Tutsi and the Hutu were frequent and a precursor to the violence of the 1990s. Independence was granted in 1962, and the Hutu majority came into power. Because of this, Tutsi people were marginalized, with less access to education and employment opportunities. This imbalance created simmering tensions within Rwanda, culminating in armed conflict and displacement of people.

Recent history

In 1994, Rwanda erupted into civil war following the death of the president in a plane crash (the plane was shot by a missile while trying to land in Kigali). Months of bloodshed ensued - it's estimated that close to a million people were killed within a period of 90 days. Millions of Rwandans fled into neighboring Uganda and Tanzania to escape the violence, murder and looting that had taken over their country. Due to the loss of life and infrastructure caused by the genocide of 1994, many Rwandans today live in poverty. Despite this, Rwanda is currently rising out of hard times to move into the future with increased prosperity and improved living conditions. The economy is slowly improving due to a flourishing tourism industry and a new government that has invested in education and infrastructure

Top 10 experiences of Rwanda

1. gorillas in the mist.

Trekking through the steamy jungle is well worth it once you set eyes upon a family of silverback gorillas. Watch them interact and play and marvel at how similar they are to humans. Watching these rare creatures is utterly captivating and engrossing – you won’t want to leave.

2. National treasures

Stop in at the Butare National Museum, considered one of the best museums in East Africa. Featuring tribal art, traditional housing, musical instruments and other artefacts, this museum offers visitors a great grounding in Rwandan history and culture.

3. Moving memorial

Be touched by the spirit of the Rwandan people when visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre. This place is dedicated to the people who lost their lives in the genocide of 1994, and provides a peaceful space for survivors to mourn and ultimately heal.

4. Chill out lakeside

Experience the serenity and beauty of Rwanda’s Lake Kivu. Whether you’re enjoying a relaxing walk on the shores or heading out on a boat, Lake Kivu provides a pocket of aquatic splendor in a landlocked country.

5. Monkey magic

Have fun finding chimps, baboons and monkeys in the trees of the Nyungwe National Park. The dense rainforest terrain offers the perfect environment for these amazing creatures to live in.

6. Home sweet home

Experience true Rwandan hospitality while spending time with a local family on a homestay. Enjoy home cooking and new friendships – something you just can’t get when staying at a hotel.

7. To market

Strolling through the markets of Kigali is a great way to get acquainted with this up-and-coming city. Buy some trinkets or fresh produce, chat with locals and watch market-life in action.

8. Beach bliss

The small town of Gisenyi is home to unspoilt beaches where you won't have to fight for a spot to laze on them. Enjoy the isolation and make the most of the space in this pocket of paradise.

9. Small town charm

Known as the gateway town to the gorillas, Ruhengeri offers a change of pace to the crowds of Kigali. Be touched by the warmth and sincerity of the local people while staying in this town of about 80,000 people.

10. Feel the beat

Soak up a bit of nightlife by getting your groove on to African and Western pop music in one of Kigali’s busy nightspots. New Cadillac and Republika Lounge are popular with both locals and expats, so why not see how the city comes to life after dark.

Rwanda’s markets are filled with bright delights, from fresh fruit and vegetables to vibrant fabrics. Souvenir-wise, the best picks are handicrafts and artwork by local artists. Woven baskets, colorful fabric bags, interesting jewelry, wood carvings and terracotta pots all make great mementos of your trip or gifts for friends back home. It's a good idea to check with your local customs officials to ensure that you are able to bring certain items back into your home country. Australia and New Zealand generally have strict quarantine laws.

Festivals and Events in Rwanda

With the majority of Rwandans being Christian, Christmas is an important time for most. Rwandans typically don’t celebrate Christmas in a commercial way, with most foregoing gift giving and choosing to spend time at church and with family. Church services are usually a formal affair and run for several hours, with locals getting dressed up in their finest attire to attend mass. Time is then spent eating and socializing with family and friends.

Further reading

Rwanda travel faqs, do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Is tipping customary in Rwanda?

Tipping isn’t expected of you in Rwanda. It's up to the individual whether to tip or not. Rounding up a bill for good service at restaurants is a good idea.

What is the internet access like in Rwanda?

Internet access has recently improved in Rwanda. Travelers will be able to access the internet in large cities like Kigali but expect limited to no access in regional and rural areas.

Can I use my cell phone while in Rwanda?

Cell phone coverage is quite good in Rwanda’s larger towns, but less so in rural and mountainous areas. Ensure you have global roaming activated before leaving home if you wish to use your cell phone.

What are the toilets like in Rwanda?

Squat/pit toilets are the standard in Rwanda, except for western-style, flushable toilets that are sometimes available in large hotels and other modern buildings. Carry your own supply of soap and toilet paper as they are rarely provided.

What will it cost for a…?

Street snack = 300 RWF Beer at a bar or cafe = 1,000 RWF Meal at a mid-range restaurant = 7,500 RWF

Can I drink the water in Rwanda?

Drinking tap water isn't recommended in Rwanda. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water. Ask your leader where filtered water can be found; some hotels we stay in may have drinking water available. It's also advisable to avoid ice in drinks and peel fruit and vegetables before eating.

Are credit cards accepted widely in Rwanda?

Credit cards are usually accepted by large hotels and western-style restaurants but not by smaller vendors. Ensure you have adequate cash to cover purchases not able to be made on credit.

What is ATM access like in Rwanda?

International ATMs are not so common in Rwanda. They can be found in Kigali and other larger towns, but may not accept foreign cards. Be sure to have other modes of payment before entering Rwanda, as relying solely on ATM usage isn’t wise. American dollars or euros can be exchanged easily at the airport, local forex bureaus and at banking institutions in Rwanda’s large cities.

Do I need to purchase travel insurance before traveling?

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

What public holidays are celebrated in Rwanda?

• 1 Jan New Year's Day
• 2 Jan New Year Holiday
• 3 Jan New Year Holiday
• 1 Feb National Heroes' Day
• 7 Apr Tutsi Genocide Memorial Day
• 14 Apr Good Friday 
• 1 May Labour Day
• 25 Jun Eid al-Fitr / End of Ramadan
• 26 Jun Eid al-Fitr / End of Ramadan
• 1 Jul Independence Day
• 4 Jul Liberation Day
• 4 Aug Umuganura / Harvest Thanksgiving
• 15 Aug Assumption Day
• 1 Sep Eid al-Adha / Feast of Sacrifice
• 25 Dec Christmas Day
• 26 Dec Boxing Day

Please note these dates are for 2017. For a current list of public holidays in Rwanda, click below.

Does my trip to Rwanda support The Intrepid Foundation?

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. In fact, we make a donation on behalf of every traveler. Trips to Rwanda directly support our foundation partner, Gorilla Doctors .

Gorilla Doctors help safeguard wild eastern gorilla populations with life-saving veterinary care. Donations from our trips help them provide routine health monitoring, veterinary visits and clinical interventions for injured mountain and Grauer's gorillas. Each animal they treat contributes to the gorilla populations' health, genetic diversity and long-term sustainability.

Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Do I need a visa to travel to Rwanda

Visas are required by all nationalities and need to be obtained in advance. You must apply for this visa online.  You'll need to apply for an Entry Visa on their website (Services tab, Visa) which should take approx 2-5 days to come through. You must print this Entry Facility out to present at the border. Nationals of Australia, Israel, New Zealand, USA, Germany, South Africa, Kenya, Great Britain, Sweden and Singapore are not required to pre-register, however must pay the visa fee upon arrival at the border post. The visa costs approx US$60 payable on the border, with the exception of national from Australia, Israel, New Zealand, USA, Germany, South Africa, Kenya, Great Britain, Sweden and Singapore for whom the visa fee is US$30.  If you are asked to provide an address in Rwanda on your visa form, please use the address below - 

Centre Pastoral Notre Dame De Fatima, Avenue de la Nutrition, Ruhengeri, Rwanda

Supporting Documents may also be required - the embassy will contact you if they require these

Note: Rwanda is constantly updating its visa information; therefore, we recommend that you check the website carefully for the latest up-to-date information

How do I stay safe and healthy while traveling?

From Australia?

Go to: Smart Traveller

From Canada?

Go to:  Canada Travel Information

From the UK?

Go to:  UK Foreign Travel Advice

From New Zealand?

Go to:  Safe Travel

From the US?

Go to:  US Department of State

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

• Africa Tours
• Rwanda Tours

Rwanda Tours and Holidays 2024/2025

With plenty of green space and towering mountains, Rwanda is undoubtedly one of Africa’s most beautiful countries. A trip to its Volcanoes National Park is an absolute must if you want to see its many mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. You can also take a tour of Akagera National Park to see the country’s big cats.

• Rwanda Travel Guide

29 Trips in Rwanda with 35 Reviews

• Starts Kigali, Rwanda
• Ends Kigali, Rwanda

4 Days Rwanda Gorilla trek

• Free cancellation
• Trip customizable
• Tour Type Private Tour
• Activities Gorilla and chimpanzee tracking & Wildlife Gorilla and chimpanzee tracking , Wildlife & Safari 'data-more-tripid='34187'>+1 more
• Accommodation Hotel & Lodge
• Transport 4WD Jeep
• Age Range 15-80 yrs
• Operated in English
• View More Jan 1, 2019 Jan 2, 2019 Jan 3, 2019

Wild Encounters in Rwanda

• Best price guaranteed
• No booking fees
• Tour Type Small Group Tour
• Activities Wildlife
• Transport Boat & 4WD Jeep
• Age Range 12-95 yrs
• Brochure Price: US$ 6,899
• Special Deal (15%): - US$ 1,035
• Total Price from: US$ 5,864
• May 26 Only 1 seat left
• Jun 02 Only 1 seat left

Three Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

• Activities Gorilla and chimpanzee tracking & National parks Gorilla and chimpanzee tracking , National parks , Wildlife & Local culture 'data-more-tripid='32300'>+2 more
• Transport Private Vehicle
• Age Range 16-79 yrs

• Starts Ruhengeri, Rwanda
• Ends Ruhengeri, Rwanda

Gorillas Through The Mist - Gorilla Mountain View Lodge (on Request)

• Tour Type Group Tour
• Activities Wildlife safaris and game drives & Getaways and short breaks Wildlife safaris and game drives , Getaways and short breaks & Adventure 'data-more-tripid='36778'>+1 more
• Transport 4WD Jeep & Flight
• Age Range 15-99 yrs
• Brochure Price: US$ 5,398
• Special Deal (15%): - US$ 810
• Total Price from: US$ 4,588
• Jun 13 10+ seats left
• Jun 14 10+ seats left

Roaming Rwanda, Option A (on Request)

• Activities Wildlife safaris and game drives & Art and architecture
• Transport 4WD Jeep, Boat & Private Vehicle
• Brochure Price: US$ 22,179
• Special Deal (15%): - US$ 3,327
• Total Price from: US$ 18,852

• Starts Kampala, Uganda

Uganda to Rwanda: Gorilla Treks & Safari Drives

• Activities Cultural, religious and historic sites & Wildlife Cultural, religious and historic sites , Wildlife & Local culture 'data-more-tripid='4882'>+1 more
• Accommodation Hotel, Tent & Lodge
• Transport Boat, Bus & Private Vehicle
• Brochure Price: US$ 4,799
• Special Deal (25%): - US$ 1,200
• Total Price from: US$ 3,599
• Jun 01 Only 3 seats left
• Jun 08 Only 4 seats left

Gorillas Through The Mist - Tiloreza Volcanoes Eco-lodge (on Request)

• Activities Wildlife safaris and game drives & Getaways and short breaks Wildlife safaris and game drives , Getaways and short breaks & Adventure 'data-more-tripid='36785'>+1 more
• Accommodation Hotel, Lodge & Eco Lodge
• Brochure Price: US$ 5,623
• Special Deal (15%): - US$ 843
• Total Price from: US$ 4,780

• Starts Entebbe, Uganda

Cycling Uganda & Rwanda: The Heart of Africa

• Activities Bicycle tours
• Accommodation Hotel, Lodge & Resort
• Age Range 18-95 yrs
• Jun 02 10+ seats left
• Aug 04 10+ seats left

Rwanda Adventure: 14 Days

• Activities Trekking and Hiking & National parks Trekking and Hiking , National parks & Wildlife safaris and game drives 'data-more-tripid='32273'>+1 more
• Transport 4WD Jeep & Boat
• Age Range 15-79 yrs
• Operated in English, French

• Ends Nairobi, Kenya

Gorillas & Masai Mara - Camping Reverse

• Activities Wildlife & Safari
• Accommodation Hotel, Camping & Lodge
• Transport 4WD Jeep, Boat & Ferry
• Age Range 16-95 yrs
• Brochure Price: US$ 7,198
• Special Deal (10%): - US$ 718
• Total Price from: US$ 6,480
• Jul 07 Only 8 seats left
• Aug 02 Only 8 seats left

• Starts Nairobi, Kenya

Gorillas & Masai Mara - Camping

• Accommodation Hotel, Camping, Lodge & Sleeper Bus
• Transport 4WD Jeep, Boat, Ferry & Overland Vehicle

Gorilla Trek Independent Adventure

• Activities Explorer
• Transport Minibus & Private Vehicle

Rwanda & Uganda Gorilla Trekking: Eight Days

• Activities Gorilla and chimpanzee tracking & National parks Gorilla and chimpanzee tracking , National parks & Wildlife 'data-more-tripid='32280'>+1 more

Roaming Rwanda, Option B (on Request)

• Brochure Price: US$ 14,538
• Special Deal (15%): - US$ 2,181
• Total Price from: US$ 12,357

Rwanda Tour Reviews

Rwanda - tour highlights and travel tips.

Rwanda is a landlocked Central African country that prides on endless hills, jungles and bamboo forests. Also known as “Land of a Thousand Hills”, this charming country is an ideal destination for eco tourism. Tourists come here to track gorillas and other types of apes in national parks. However, you will also find Kigali, the capital city, and Lake Kivu desirable places for a visit when a trip to Rwanda. Finally, Rwanda managed to emerge from its dark past and today, it is one of the safest African countries.

Tour Highlights

• Spend some time in Kigali, enjoy its relaxed vibe and take a walk along impeccably clean streets. Pay respects to the 1994 victims at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center.
• Come to Rwanda in July to attend the celebrated Rwanda Film Festival throughout the country.
• Take a tour of Volcanoes National Park to see protected mountain gorillas. At lower altitudes of the park, you can observe golden monkeys.
• Discover Nyungwe, a large rainforest inhabited by rare bird, orchid and monkey species. Take a 50-meter high swaying walking path to experience marvelous views and increase chances to see birds and apes.
• Visit Akagera National Park and see lions, leopards, giraffes and hippos among other wildlife.
• Go to Butare (Huye) and examine the outstanding ethnographic collection in the National Museum.
• Unwind on Lake Kivu’s beaches and hills overgrown with pine and eucalyptus trees.

Travel Tips

• Residents of Rwanda are very hospitable and forthcoming toward tourists. More so, they will impress you with their friendliness.
• While, Rwanda is a safe country, watch out for overcharging and petty thefts.
• To withdraw money, you can use ATMs in banks in major towns. Rwanda is a cash-oriented society and credit cards aren’t widely accepted. Some hotels and safari providers accept USD.
• Internet access is available in most cities, but it tends to be slow and unreliable at times.
• You should manage well on a Rwanda tour with English and French.
• Visit a doctor before you go to Rwanda to get medical advice.
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• Rwanda guided tours
• Rwanda family tour packages
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The Scribs and Nibs

The Ultimate 10-Day Rwanda Itinerary

This ultimate Rwanda itinerary will have you exploring art in the city, jumping on the back of motorcycles, biking more than you thought physically possible with incredible views, seeing the funky Golden Monkeys and boat tripping through Lake Kivu. You’ll need 10 days to do the full Rwanda itinerary but it’s totally worth your vacation days.

Rwanda is known as Le Pays des Mille Collines (Land of a Thousand Hills). It is a beautiful and safe country to visit. From budget options to high-end luxury hotels, you can have it all here. We visited in July 2022 and this is our exact Rwanda Itinerary for our trip. I’ve added in tips and tricks for what we would have done differently and suggested the best tour guides we found.

Happy travels!

This post contains affiliate links.

Some Rwanda Itinerary Basics

Getting around.

The best way to get around a city or town is by mototaxi . These motos cost around RWF 500- 2,000 each per trip, depending on how far you’ll be going. Drivers in Kigali have meters and you can ask them to use the meters to get the correct price. If you don’t have a local number, ask the driver if they can put in their own number because you’re a visitor. Gals, you may want to wear pants or long dresses to make it easier to get on and off the motorcycles.

Buses are frequent even on holidays, from our experience. We exclusively used the company RITCO because it has the biggest bus and seemed the most comfortable and it was always about to leave just as we arrived at a station. As with most of our African adventures, we usually just arrive at a bus station early in the morning and hop on whatever bus is leaving next. Sometimes you may have to wait for a bit, other times you may get lucky. We experienced most buses leaving on the hour or the half-hour.

Rwanda underwent a reclassification of city and region names. You’ll probably come up with both versions as you look at tickets or on Google Map. I’m using the name that was the most common based on our experience in this Rwanda itinerary. Fun fact: all cities, towns, and villages have a sign with the town’s motto as well as the “do’s and don’ts” of society.

Travel light

I highly suggest you travel with just a backpack to make the best use of your time and money in Rwanda. Moto taxis are the best way to get around, and you can’t carry more than a backpack on them. It’ll allow you a lot of flexibility with this Rwanda itinerary. As a serial over-packer, I have a hard time with this myself but every trip I try to cut down a little. Additionally, if you’re following my hotel recommendations, you’ll have laundry facilities included halfway through your journey in Musanze.

Here is my suggestion on what clothing pack :

• Long hiking leggings (preferably the quick dry material)
• 2 hiking/active shirts (preferably the quick dry material)
• 2 lightweight pants (I brought one but I actually needed more pants than dresses because of all the motos)
• 1 lightweight jacket (only if you get cold like me, I brought a jeans jacket)
• 1 lightweight rain jacket, collapsible
• If you’re going to see the gorillas bring gators and hiking boots (as is recommended, but not necessary for the Golden Monkey)
• Shoes: 1 pair of sandals and 1 pair of active shoes

Day 1: Kigali

Read up on my top things to do in Kigali post for more details about the activities in Kigali as well as day trips if you only have time for Kigali.

Check out the Rwanda guide for sim card and cash tips from the airport. Our taxi from the airport to our accommodation was RWF 25,000.

Head to your accommodation or just drop off your luggage. Get brunch at Now Now Rolex for a Ugandan classic egg wrap and then stop next door at Rubia Coffee. Splurge for a Chemex or pour-over coffee for a smooth taste of Rwandan coffee beans.

Visit Inema and NP Art Center . Located just 5 minutes away from each other, you can visit both art galleries in one go. Then, walk to this strip of shops by Azizi Life Studio with local goods, oils, and clothes.

Take a mototaxi to the Belgian Peacekeepers Memorial . This small, free exhibit will give you a background into the peacekeepers that were ambushed and killed in the very building you’ll visit. The exhibit gives a lot of important information about the genocide and the efforts of the peacekeepers in an easy-to-understand format.

Head back to your accommodation for a rest before dinner.

Make a reservation at least a week in advance for Meza Malonga (and note any dietary requirements). Curated by Chef Dieuveil Malonga, this restaurant serves an extraordinary 10-course dinner experience. Using flavors from across the continent, you are bound to try something you’ve never tasted before. Read my review here .

The tasting menu is RWF 80,000 (USD 80) per person, which is incredibly reasonable considering what you’re getting. It’s totally worth it. You can add on a wine pairing as well.

The restaurant operates like a test kitchen so menu items will rotate. Out of the 10 dishes, 1 was kinda like a bread course, 3 like appetizers, 3 like mains, and 2 were desserts. We also had a palate cleanser that made it into my top 5 dishes of the night as it introduced me to a new fruit: the tomato fruit. It is somewhat like a passionfruit with an earthy tomato aftertaste.

The restaurant opens at 7pm and as the dining experience takes 3 hours, so I suggest you make a reservation for 7pm.

Accommodation suggestions

There are plenty of options on where to stay in Kigali, so I won’t give out a full list in this Rwanda itinerary. From business to hidden gems, there is a lot to choose from. We stayed in this Airbnb and really enjoyed the stay. It was easy for motos to find because it is by a major road and the American Ambassador’s Residence. If you want to stay in the historic hotel where Tutsis and Hutus hid during the genocide, stay at Hotel des Mille Collines .

Day 2: Kigali

If traveling around yourself sounds a bit daunting to you, you can go on a tour with a guide who will organize your transfers and take you around the major sites.

Get breakfast at the Kigali Pottery Collections and do some ceramic shopping here. I wish we lived in Kigali just so that I could buy all the plates, bowls, vases, and cups in bulk.  For something different, try “African Coffee,” which is coffee, chocolate, and ginger mixed together. The French press is also excellent. I loved the Spanish omelet; the potatoes here are just so good.

Make sure you have enough luggage space to pack some of the pottery pieces (or plan to come back here on your last day in Rwanda (Day 10). Mugs go for RWF 5,000 but a large pot can cost around RWF 30,000.

Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial afterward. The museum is free but there is an option for the RWF 15,000 audio guide. We didn’t use the guide, but I think it will make the experience more insightful. Most of the English and French text on the plaques is in a really small font and people are smushed against each other to read it. The memorial is still used by families today and you’ll probably come across fresh flowers and family members gathered on a weekend.

The memorial is open 8am-5pm (last entrance at 4pm) every day except Christmas and New Year.

Take a moto to Kigali City Market . This multistoried mall is interesting to walk through. Start at the top and then make your way down. From plumbing fixtures and coffee beans, to wedding dresses and a butchery, this mall has it all. There are some touristy shops as well. Just take a lap. Shops here are cash-only for the most part.

Make sure to make it all the way down to the ground level to get a look at the fish and produce section.

Outside the mall, stop at the shops along this street for souvenirs, art, and clothing. I liked this shop for the interesting baskets.

Then head to the flagship store of cool shoe brand Uzuriky and stop in Rwanda Clothing for African fabric clothing with a modern twist. Traveling from South Africa, we have similar brands but it’s nice to support local. Wilhelm bought a pair of sandals from Uzuriky.

Stop at Hôtel des Mille Collines to see the site of inspiration for the movie “Hotel Rwanda,” about a local manager, Paul Rusesabagina, who took over the hotel during the genocide when foreigners left. He helped to hide Tutsi and moderate Hutus on the premises.

Go to dinner at Repub Lounge or Green Corner .

Repub Lounge is a classic spot that serves delicious traditional Rwandan food that kinda caters to foreigners . The coconut fish curry was featured in the New York Times ! I loved the eggplant stew. Try the local beers or get the honey + banana wine. There is also a small shop with baskets, clothes, and souvenirs. Look out on the staircase for lovely artwork pieces as well.

Or visit Green Corner for amazing fish and a truly local experience. Order the food immediately upon arrival—it’ll take some time to get made.

Stop at the Kigali Convention Center on the way back to your accommodation so you can see it all lit up! We had our moto drop us off here and after a walk around the park, we jumped on another moto to take us home.

Day 3: Kigali

If you’re following the full Rwanda Itinerary, you’ll be seeing the Golden Monkeys or gorillas the day after next, you’ll need to get your COVID PCR test today . Do this first thing in the morning. This RBC center is the only place you can get a PCR test for travel or tourist purpose s. It may be that your hotel in Musanze may be able to organize a PCR test upon your arrival but double check with them. You’ll only need a Rapid test (done at pharmacies around town) but only this RBC center is authorized for PCR tests. If you go to another RBC center you’ll be turned away—we went to three other hospitals and RBC centers (wasting 3 hours of our day) before realizing this. They are open on Sunday even though google maps says it’s not.

Grab breakfast at Indabo Cafe . Come here in the morning for a peaceful vibe. You’ll be hidden inside a garden with several chatty birds. Get the veggie benedict, which is on a bed of potatoes. Also, check out the homeware shop on the property.

If you walk down here , you can see this cool building graffiti.

Visit Biryogo free zone for a car-free and alcohol-free afternoon experience in Kigali. Located in the Muslim area Nyamirambo, many of the restaurants aren’t on Google maps. Just plan to walk up and down and ask around for a menu of grills, fish, or rice pilau.

We stopped at Issa coffee for my new favorite drink: tree tomato juice.

Beyond Biryogo free zone, walk just a street away to KN 113 to visit an incredible street filled with murals and activities for kids. If you need a butterfly or angel wing picture, this is your spot. The graffiti looks very new here (in July 20220) and some things like the hopscotch paint was still wet!

Also, see the Onatracom Mosque while you’re here.

Have a light lunch at Al Mann Coffee House if you don’t find anything you like in Biryogo free zone.

Get dinner at Borneo , an Indonesian restaurant with incredible, authentic dishes . Indonesian food is quite hard to find around the world, but this spot is legit. The portions are huge! We even asked for our food to be packed securely and we took our leftovers on the plane with us back to Joburg.

Alternative Tip: If you have an evening flight from Kigali when you leave on Day 10, you should save Borneo for that evening, where they will easily call you a cab. Instead, do dinner the previous night (Day 2) at Green Corner and then go to Repub Lounge today (Day 3). 

This is the last day in Kigali for this Rwanda itinerary.

Day 4: Kigali to Musanze

Wake up early and get a moto to take the bus from Kigali to Musanze (aka Ruhengeri). The main bus stop for the city is called Nyabugogo Taxi Park . We used RITCO as it has the biggest and most comfortable bus we saw. The ticket was RWF 1930 per person , cash only. The bus ride takes about 2.5 hours, depending on if you get stuck behind trucks or not. You’ll be dropped off at the bus station here . This bus will likely continue onto Gisenye so make sure you get off.

Go on the village twin lake bike ride with lunch included with Lava Bike Tours . The experience is amazing and will take up the rest of your day. I barely made it back. Drop off your luggage at your accommodation and then head straight over to their offices. Get in touch with them beforehand to schedule your ride.

Epic Cycle Tour of the Twin Lakes in Rwanda

I personally was shocked at how many high-end hotels there are in Rwanda. Considering that visiting the gorillas is already an expensive endeavor, the hotels will cost you just as much or more. There are plenty of hotels in the area because of the high number of tourists that come to see the gorillas here. I’m just including the notable options.

Moderate— La Locanda — We had a great 2-night experience here. Veg breakfast and dinner are included as are alcohol and laundry. One night we had a loud guest on the other side of the wall but for the most part, it was a great time. Additionally, the staff is nice and will help organize your activities if you need them.

Luxury— Bisate Lodge — If we wanted to splurge we would have stayed here. It’s built like large bird nests in the forest and is just stunning.

Check out these other hotels for the best of the best: Singita Kwitonda Lodge , Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge (Governors’ Camp Collection) , and One&Only Gorilla’s Nest .

Out of town— My Hill Ecolodge —This is one of the most beautiful lakeside lodges I’ve ever been to. We visited for lunch while on the Twin Lake bike ride. The lodge is the perfect place to hide away for a couple of days.

Day 5: Golden Monkeys or Gorillas

Today you’ll visit the Golden Monkeys or gorillas . Be sure to book far in advance. In fact, check the dates of the gorilla trek before you buy your plane ticket for this Rwanda itinerary. It will determine everything!

We personally didn’t feel like we had to see the gorillas. For a steep USD 1,500, it just didn’t seem worth it to us to include in our Rwanda itinerary. However, many people say it’s one of the greatest experiences of their lives . You should definitely do it if it’s on your bucket list. Instead, we opted for the charismatic and funky Golden Monkey trek. This only costs USD 100 per person.

Remember that you need a PCR test to see the primates.

Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

You should be back at your accommodation around 11:30am, or 12:30pm at the latest.

Walk around Musanze and explore this lovely town . Check out my post on all there is to do in Musanze. You can get a second breakfast or lunch at MASHA (Musanze Arts Studio Hub Adventure), visit Inshuti Arts and Culture Center for a beer, or have a second or third cup of coffee at Crema.

Things to do in Musanze (besides visiting the gorillas)

Day 6: musanze to gisenyi, lake kivu.

This is the start of your Lake Kivu adventure ! The lake is huge and there are a lot of lake activities like fishing and boating. Most of the fishing is for touristy purposes on traditional boats. The popular sambaza (tiny, sardine-like fish) predominate in the lake here.

Gisenyi has a fun, party town reputation and is on the border with DRC. We wanted some hidden gem vibes and booked Paradise Malahide about 5km south. However, there was an issue with our reservation and instead, we were moved to their other property Kivu Paradise. More of a luxury-style lodge, the views of the lake were lovely.

Gisenyi is also the start of the Congo-Nile hiking/biking trail , not for the faint of heart. This insane trail will take you up and down mountains and along the coast. Biking the trail with a guide is the most common option, though there are also hiking options as well. I recommend it for the adventure seekers out there. It was really tough for me to do the trail (even though I only made about 7km of it mostly on the paved section).

Travel to Gisenyi by going to bus station in Musanze . We went straight to the RITCO counter and got a ticket for RWF 1300 . The alternate name of Gisenyi is Rubav, so you might so that on the ticket.

If you’re hungry, have lunch at Migano Cafe (Rubavu) once you reach Gisenyi. I loved the tacos here.

Afternoon/Evening

If you plan to bike along the Congo Nile trail, rent a bike from Go Gisenyi Tours . For USD 60 per person, per day, you can self-bike around the towns. Or, you can start a guided biking adventure for 2 or more nights.

We rented bikes and biked down to Paradise Malahide and then Kivu Paradise.

In the evening, hang out at your accommodation. If you feel like heading back around Paradise Malahide, you can visit several cool bars. I suggest having drinks and dinner at Amaliza Lounge . It’s super classy and takes credit card (at least it did when we visited).

Accommodation in and around Gisenyi

Moderate— Paradise Malahide —This was our intended accommodation, about 5km south of Gisenyi. We had dinner here another night instead and it was so delish. The staff was super nice considering the booking miscommunication. We had a reservation but it wasn’t on their system… Instead, they offered us their higher-end property, Kivu Paradise, for the same price and included some extra transportation free of charge for it. I still would recommend this spot becuase they really did their best to make up for it and the cabins are so cute. Plus, you’d be in the village so there is no need to take motos for dinners.

Moderate— INZU Lodge — These fun tents located on a hill are a fun place to stay for those who want a camping sort of environment. There is just one unit which is a cabin.

Moderate/High-end— Kivu Paradise Resort — This is where we ended up staying. Located overlooking Lake Kivu, ask for a cabin with a lake view. The food was great and the staff was excellent in helping us organize trips. It’s as high-end as you can get in this area though for USD 120 a night, it won’t break the bank.

Day 7: Biking to a Coffee Plantation

Go on a hike or bike ride by yourself or on a tour. It’s safe to hike and bike around the villages. People (especially kids) are friendly. The kids screaming “muzungo (white person) money” started to irk me a lot but I understand I was their entertainment for the day. I’m an odd sight trying to keep my balance on the bike.

We attempted to visit the coffee plantation that we saw on Google Maps here . This is not the correct starting point for the coffee tour. I contacted the Cooprocaki email address I found on the web and never got a response.

You have to bike further to the Lake Kivu coffee washing station at the end of the road for the coffee plantation. We didn’t notify them in advance we were coming but there was someone to show Wilhelm around.

It’s a grueling 20ish km each way from Kivu Paradise and it feels mostly uphill both ways. Even Wilhelm thought it was tough. I managed to go 2km in 1 hour (for me, even that’s slow) and I just couldn’t think I would survive 40 km more. I turned around and hung out at the hotel.

At this point , make sure you keep left to continue on the trail. Keep checking google maps (download the area in advance) because you’ll be able to see if you’re going the wrong way. Most of the trails are on the map.

Wilhelm really enjoyed the coffee tour . There is a 1.5-hour tour or you can request a quick tour. Here you’ll learn about coffee, see the plants, and then roast and grind your own coffee! The tour is USD 30, cash. 

For dinner, chill at your accommodation or visit El Classico for drinks and then Paradise Malahide for dinner. El Classico had a real vibe. People were enjoying the music, having birthday parties, and just having a good time overall. While we were lounging, some boat operators came up to ask if we wanted a sunset cruise . So that’s a nice option if you’re up for it!

If you’re (a little) sick of seafood, Paradise Malahide has a great veggie stew that was a welcome change for me. In a tomato sauce, you’ll get plantains, potatoes, carrots, and more. I really enjoyed it.

Day 8: Gisenyi to Kibuye

Kibuye is a very small village with plenty of hotels and the last stop on this Rwanda itinerary. It caters to tourists and locals who want a calm and relaxing getaway. We were told that Kibuye is popular with honeymooners. It’s clear why this is the case.

Today you’ll head down Lake Kivu nearer to the islands so that you can do a full-day boat tour the next day. Either take a boat , organized by your accommodation, or head back to Gisenyi to catch a bus. The boat ride takes 3 hours and costs USD 100 per person. We were able to pay via card directly to Kivu Paradise.

Traveling by boat was super nice and relaxing; we had the whole boat to ourselves. I definitely recommend this transportation option over the buses.

We only reached Kibuye at 3pm so we just had lunch at Cormoran Lodge and lounged until dinner.

You could also rent a kayak or go on a sunset boat cruise. The hotels will be able to manage this for you.

Dinner was an interesting experience ; we went to the nearby 5-star hotel, Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel. You need to make a dinner reservation at least 24 hours in advance, which we hadn’t. The hotel security wouldn’t let us in but after a call to reception to confirm we could enter and get a table for dinner, we were let in. The drinks are insanely expensive here at RWF 15,000 for a cocktail. We got the 4-course “surprise” chef’s tasting menu for USD 50 per person . For a tasting experience, the price was good. We had to wait almost 2 hours to get the food since we must have arrived too early for the kitchen to be operating… However, our plan was to have the sunset view here with drinks—which was very nice. This isn’t a must-do or eat activity but if you want the illusion of high-class dining in Kibuye, come here.

We stayed in Kibuye but I’ll also share some of the hotels we came across as we were boating around. Everything (including lodging) seems more expensive in Kibuye. This was technically our “splurge” stay in comparison to our other lodges throughout the week.

Moderate— Cormoran Lodge — Do you want to stay in a tree house on stilts overlooking the lake? Of course, you do. Be sure to book this lodge early as there are just a few cabins and it fills up—with good reason. If you don’t manage to make a booking here, you can come for lunch (as we did).

Moderate— Inn on the Lake — This was technically our second-choice hotel after Cormoran Lodge. It was very nice but had more of a clean, sleek, European vibe to the hotel than the rustic, cute style we usually go for. The hotel manager was very communicative and efficient.

High-end— Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel — With a gorgeous view over the lake, this 5-star style hotel is perfect to lounge at.

Around Kibuye

Moderate — Kinunu Guest House — This guest house is on the Congo Nile Trail and is also the site of the coffee washing station. It has nice, clean rooms and a restaurant.

Moderate— Kay Sun Hotel Kivu Plage — I just saw this hotel from a distance but it looked really nice. It’s near Kinunu Guest House. Click through to the booking page on the website to get the Kivu options.

Moderate — Rwiza Village —Further south, stay at this lovely modern, African-style lodge. Your boat ride will probably be longer if you stay here since it’s further south and you’ll need to get to Kibuye for the bus back to Kigali.

Day 9: Lake Kivu Boat Ride

Prepare for a day of adventure on Lake Kivu!

One of the best things to do on Lake Kivu is a full-day boat cruise. Do you need a full day? Yes. There are a lot of little islands, and you won’t even have time to see them all. I used Countryside Tours Rwanda from Trip Advisor to help organize my tour. Each island is different. With a guide, you’ll be able to visit each one. Plan for 6 hours or more and start your day at 9am. We started the tour at 10 but would have done better starting at 9am. WhatsApp Countryside Tours Rwanda at +250 790 009 064.

Add on the coffee tour experience at Kinunu Guest House . This is a 1.5-hour tour and tasting of the cooperative owned by a retired senator who wanted to bring jobs into his community. As such, much of the work that theoretically could be done by machines is done by hand.

Lake Kivu Tour by Boat

Lake Kivu Coffee Plantation Tour

We managed to squeeze in a quick kayak ride before dinner for USD 30 for the hour, organized by the hotel.

Day 10: Kigali and fly back home

You’re at the end of the Rwanda Itinerary!

Today you’ll head back to Kigali to catch your flight home.

The bus ride will take almost 4 hours. Go to Karongi bus park station. You will probably have to arrange a moto with your accommodation if you’re not in town. We used RITCO again and the ride was RWF 2780 per person, cash only.

We had an evening flight, so we left around 10am and reached around 3pm. Once again, we got lucky and the bus arrived within 10 minutes of our arrival, at the station. Start at RITCO to ask when the next bus is. If it’s not soon, ask around other bus companies to see what’s leaving next.

In between waiting for our flight, we visited the area around Now Now Rolex again because there are several cafes and shops. We also went back to Kigali Pottery Collections to purchase some items we didn’t want to carry around with us all week.

Then, we went to Borneo for dinner. Our taxi from Borneo to the airport was RWF 20,000.

Check out what to do in Kigali for other suggestions on what to do before your flight leaves.

Extend your Rwanda Itinerary

Do you have time for a longer Rwanda itinerary? Consider some of these ideas:

• There are so many more cute hotels, restaurants, and shops to visit. Spend another day exploring the city. See the post on what to do in Kigali to get more ideas for your Rwanda itinerary.
• Spend 2 nights at My Hill Eco Lodge . It’s heavenly.
• Spend 2 nights with African Homestays Adventures on the island of Lake Burera.

Got any comments about my Rwanda Itinerary? Let me know in the comments!

Home > Rwanda > Rwanda Itinerary Guide

Rwanda Itinerary Guide: Honest Advice for Planning an Awesome Trip

Where to R wander ?

This Rwanda itinerary guide is one of four Unconventional Route blog posts about Rwanda. The others are Rwanda travel tips , Rwanda's pros and cons , and hiking Mount Bisoke .

Even though Rwanda's a small country, you can't squeeze it all into a single trip. So to help you decide what to include in your Rwanda itinerary and what to leave out, here's our experience.

For each of Rwanda's top tourist regions that we visited during our eight-day trip, we'll share why you might want to add it to your itinerary, why not, and our favorite things to do and see.

Combine our experiences and opinions with advice from your friends who've been before and what other bloggers and guides say. Adjust for your personal preferences, budget, and timeline. And have a Rwand a-full time.

In This Rwanda Itinerary Guide

Why add each of the following areas to your Rwanda itinerary, why not, and what to do, eat, and see at each (based on our limited experience).

Volcanoes National Park

• Nyungwe National Park

A Better Rwanda Travel Guide than Ours

Bradt's Rwanda travel guide has more and better information than any other out there, our site included.

Read it cover to cover before you go (one of our top travel tips ), and bring it with you.

Quick Disclosure: Ruzizi, Karenge, La Locanda, and Macheo gave us free stays because we asked them (they had good reviews). We told them we'd give them some photos and say we stayed with them on this blog in exchange.

Rwanda's capital is by far the country's biggest city but far from a metropolis; it's more of a large-scale suburb.

Why Add It to Your Itinerary?

✓  inevitability.

You're probably flying into and/or out of Kigali's airport and all Rwandan roads go through the capital, so you'd have to try hard to avoid it.

✓  Cosmopolitan Rwanda

Kigali has by far the best and most varied options for shopping, dining, partying, sleeping, and everything-ing in the country.

Why Not Add It to Your Itinerary?

✗  nothing special.

Rwanda's other attractions are more worth your time. Unless you have days to kill, rather than include Kigali in your itinerary, let it fill in the gaps. See and do Kigali's attractions in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings you happen to be passing through.

Things to Do and See We Liked (So You Might Like Them, Too)

The genocide memorial.

The final resting place for 250,000 Rwandans who were murdered during the 1994 genocide. The museum will overwhelm you with poignancy, but it won't overwhelm you with information. We felt the videos and displays are just the right amount of information to understand and feel what happened.

It'll take an hour or two to see all of it. Visits are by donation.

Khana Kazan Restaurant

By our last night in the country, we'd had our fill of Rwandan food, so this Indian restaurant hit the spot. And it hit hard. The food was delicious, the servings were much bigger than expected, and they really mean it when they say, "spicy." For 40k RWF (~40 USD), we stuffed ourselves silly and had two beers each.

Question Coffee

Kim loved the coffee in Rwanda and Question's was unquestionably her favorite. There's only one location in Kigali but you'll get a taste of it at the Volcanoes National Park headquarters if you do any treks there.

Kigali City Tower

We didn't go because of bad weather, but an expat we talked to said that when the weather's nice so is the view.

She pointed out that it emblemizes the country: it looks clean and modern from the outside but inside, where the offices are mostly empty, something's off.

It's free to go up. Don't let the guards tell you otherwise.

Where to Stay

Not where we stayed.

On our first night in Kigali, the hotel we stayed at tried to overcharge us. On our last night, we found baby cockroaches all over the floor and bed frame and had to evacuate to another last-ditch hostel.

Maybe try Step Town Hotel . A lady we met in Nyungwe , who comes regularly to work on her nonprofit, Boundless Peace, told us the manager's fantastic and will give you all the Rwanda travel tips you need ( but check ours, too ). Our fault for not heeding her advice.

Akagera National Park

On Rwanda's eastern border with Tanzania, Akagera National Park is a game park that, like the rest of the country, is steadily recovering and repopulating after being devastated by the genocide.

If you want to include Akagera in your Rwanda travel itinerary, we highly recommend spending a night or two so you can drive the length of the park from south to north before returning to Kigali.

✓  It's not a zoo

The park may not yet have the same quantity of wild animals but it doesn't have nearly the same quantity of human animals either, so it feels wilder.

Lee, an American pediatric doctor we met at Karenge Camp , comes to Rwanda once or twice a year and never misses Akagera when he does. He prefers the safaris there over all the other game parks he's been to in Africa with his Rwandan friend and guide, Charles Karenzi .

✓  Support the cause

The money you spend at Akagera ($50 US per day park entry + $12 US for your vehicle) crucially supports the rehabilitation and protection of the park and its animals.

✗  Fewer animals

For example, seeing elephants in Akagera is a big deal whereas in other parks we've been to in Namibia , South Africa , and Kenya they're abundant.

✗  Time limitations

You need at least two days to comfortably experience Akagera. It takes three hours to get to from Kigali, five hours to drive through from the south gate to the north one, and four hours to get back from. So if you only have a few days in Rwanda, you'll want to prioritize the mountains, jungles, and lakes that make the country unique.

Tip: If you stay for two nights, we recommend staying at Ruzizi Tented Lodge in the South for your first night and Karenge Bush Camp in the North.

✗  You need your own car

If you're not renting a car for your Rwanda travels, getting to and around Akagera will be too difficult and expensive.

If you are renting a car, see our Rwanda travel tips post for some advice based on our experience.

Kilala Plain

Kilala Plain is a long way from the south of the park, where the entrance and most hotels are, but is worth it as there's less dense brush so you can spot more animals.

Driving down the hill into Kilala plain was exactly the African safari experience you might imagine. We saw herds of buffalo, giraffes, warthogs, zebra, and buck everywhere. And, unlike in other African game parks, we could actually get out of our car and have a picnic among them!

Imigongo Art Cafe

On the drive between Kigali and Akagera, we stopped for a quick pick-me-up of meatballs, samosas, and banana bread (all 500 RWF each) and freshly made coffee (1,500 RWF).

Wild Nights

A night or two in Akagera is worth it for the animal noises, clear starry nights, spectacular sunrises and sunsets, and campfire conversations.

Ruzizi Tented Camp

Our only disappointment from Ruzizi Tented Camp was that none of the hippos or crocodiles came to graze or relax on the grass in front of our lakeside luxury tent, which apparently occurs frequently. Kim did send me out of bed to investigate some late-night rustling just outside our tent, though.

Ruzizi exceeded our expectations otherwise. Glamping on our own private swathe of lakefront jungle felt adventurous, the fireside dinner on the lakeside dock was delicious, and the sunrise at breakfast was as spectacular as the balls of the vervet monkeys that watched us eat were blue.

Karenge Bush Camp

Karenge is on a hill overlooking Kilala plain at the end of a rough road through leopard territory and swarms of tsetse flies (don't worry, they disperse as soon as you park). There are only six two-person sleeping tents and one main dining tent, all of which are made without cement or other permanent construction materials to leave a minimal footprint.

Despite the basic facilities, Karenge Bush Camp is luxurious in its own way. Each tent (and its accompanying shower and toilet) has a pristine view over the plain, the staff go out of their way to make sure you're enjoying yourself, and the dinners are delectable.

Tip : Charge our camera and phone batteries before staying here. The nearest plug is 20 minutes away at the old park entrance building.

The name, Volcanoes National Park, buries the lede. Sure, there are volcanoes, but this place is all about the gorillas.

Musanze, Rwanda's third or fourth biggest city, is 30 minutes away. Mid and low-budget travelers typically base their visit from there. Those who don't think twice about the $1,500 US fee to hang with gorillas tend to stay in more remote camps closer by.

✓  Gorillas

✓  tourist friendly(-er).

Thanks to all the tourist attention and money the gorillas attract, the area around Musanze and Volcanoes National Park has the most developed tourism infrastructure in Rwanda. That's not saying much, but it is easier to find other things to do, see, and eat here than elsewhere in the country.

✗  Uganda and Congo are less extraordinarily expensive

Gorilla trekking costs a lot more in Rwanda, 1,500 USD, than in neighboring countries. It costs 600 USD in Uganda and 450 USD in Congo.

✗  Not much to see in Musanze

We didn't find much appeal to the busy city of Musanze itself.

Mount Bisoke Hike

The hike up Mount Bisoke turned out to be a lot more than we bargained for, in both good ways (gorillas!) and bad (mud and fog!). We don't recommend it to everyone, as we share in our practical guide ( /warning ) to the hike .

Italian Food at La Locanda

The three-course meals (13,000 RWF) we had in our guesthouse's relaxing restaurant, which is open to the public, hit the spot after our hike. Apparently, the pizza's even better, but they only make it when there are ten or more people.

La Paillotte

Despite its name, this restaurant's pretty much the opposite of French. Service is friendly and meals are reasonably fast, surprisingly cheap, and enormously portioned.

Not knowing this, we ordered a 1,500 RWF guacamole salad for a starter. Out came a whole soup bowl full of pure, if slightly too peppery, guac. After devouring it, there was no way we could also finish the 5,000 RWF daily menu of soup, a heaping main course, and dessert.

Nyirangarama Akabanga HQ

Nyirangarama HQ is along the road between Kigali and Musanze. Legend has it that it's on the exact spot where around 1983 a man named Sina Gerard began selling snacks to passersby. His customers particularly enjoyed his hot sauce, so he started selling it on its own. And people didn't stop buying it.

Today, you'll find the eyedropper bottles of his Akabanga hot sauce on nearly every dining table in Rwanda and the highway where he started is now the headquarters of his empire.

Buy some 500 RWF bottles of Akabanga to take home. Or buy some of his Rwandan wine for 8,000 RWF or 14% alcohol banana beer for 1,000 RWF. (But only do so if you're curious because we promise it tastes nasty). Teetotalers can try his Agashya passion fruit juice instead.

Somewhere with lots of warm water and fast laundry

We were grateful to have a strong warm shower and a fireplace waiting for us amidst the peaceful gardens of La Locanda after getting scratched, bruised, and filthy dirty trekking in Volcanoes National Park. They also did our laundry for us in the evening after we returned, so we didn't have to carry muddy gear with us for the rest of our trip.

We were too exhausted to deal with going out for dinner, so it was also a relief to eat at their aforementioned restaurant.

Africa's eighth biggest lake by area and the world's seventeenth biggest by volume , Lake Kivu is landlocked Rwanda's top destination for relaxing by the water.

✓  Rwandan beach life

The cheap plastic beach chairs, beer-branded umbrellas, and palapa at Gisenyi's Tam Tam Beach's grill and the pool and beach chairs at Lake Serena Hotel next door felt like any tropical seaside destination, minus the salt.

✓  Swimming

The water's refreshing and no hippos or crocodiles live in the lake.

✓  Fish

Eat some fresh-from-the-lake fish, catch your own on a night fishing tour with local fishermen, or swim with them in the pleasantly-temperatured waters.

✓  Views

Rwanda's luscious hills are more impressive when they're reflected in the lake below.

✗  A bit boring

The Lake Kivu area teeters on the fine line between relaxing and boring. Once we did our boat tour with Emmanuel (see below), we had a hard time finding things to do other than chill.

✗  The lake may explode

A cloud of CO2 and methane sit at the bottom of the lake, held down by the massive weight of the water above it. If were to ever squeeze out onto the top in what's called a limnic eruption , it would be the world's deadliest fart, creating a cloud of deadly suffocating gas.

For 20,000 RWF an hour, you can hire a captain to boat your around to feed monkeys, startle fruit bats, hike hills, spot birds, and swim and chill on the Kivu Lake's islands.

As with any tour, your enjoyment will largely depend on the quality of your guide. For that reason, we recommend reaching out to Emmanuel of Blue Monkey Tours . He's a go-getter who speaks good English and understands the importance of delivering word-of-mouth-worthy service. He can also guide you on the Congo-Nile trail and Mount Kibuye.

Hike the hills

On our last morning in the Lake Kivu area, we didn't know what to do, so we opened Maps.Me, looked around for signs of trails, and picked out one (this one) near Kibuye that looked to take us up to the top of a hill.

While the trail vanished halfway up, we found our way to the top without too much difficulty. The 360-degree view of Kibuye and Kivu from up top was fantastic, walking in the rural countryside and greeting the people there was wonderful, and our swim in the lake afterward, was extra refreshing.

Sambaza are sardine-like fish endemic to Lake Kivu. I had them at every opportunity. Kim didn't because she refuses to eat any sort of small fish. Too bad because I bet if she had sampled them the surprisingly un-fishy flavor and lack of bones might have changed her mind.

Sunset drinks

Being on the eastern edge of a big lake you often can't see the other side of makes for magnificent sunsets.

Kibuye's swanky Cormoran Lodge gives you a great vantage point and, aside from the 4,000 RWF coffees, the restaurant is a reasonably good deal for dinner after.

Paradis Malahide

We met our friends here, just south of Gisenyi, after their Congo volcano crater trek . The food didn't impress too much but the location on the lake certainly did.

Sauna and swimming

A hot tip from a Canadian Rwanda resident we met in Nyungwe: Moriah Hill Resort in Kibuye has a Finnish-built sauna. For around 6,000 RWF you can spend as long as you want jumping between it and the lake.

A freshwater version of our adventures in Coron, Philippines , paddling from island to island, would make for a great day for those who, like us, like to stay fit and active while traveling . We missed out on it because we didn't realize it was a possibility until the day we had to leave.

Consider the Congo

Tours of the Democratic Republic of Congo's Virunga National Park depart from the Gisenyi-Goma border.

Our good friend and fellow pretiree , Francisco, did a two-day, one-night hike up Mount Nyiragongo before meeting up with us. By his account, and that of others we read online, the sight of the bubbling lava at night is as much a once-in-a-lifetime experience as gorilla trekking, which you can also do in Congo for cheaper than in Rwanda.

Macheo Ecolodge

We enjoyed decent food, cold beers, nice views, a quiet vibe, and friendly staff at this tidy little budget hilltop eco-llodge and campsite .

Gisenyi vs. Kibuye

Gisenyi's more developed than Kibuye and more popular with weekending Kigalians, so if you want to party and generally have more action and things to do, Gisenyi's a better bet. It's also a couple of hours closer to Musanze and Volcanos National Park than Kibuye.

Kibuye's smaller for a quieter spot and for those continuing on to Nyungwe. And the road between Gisenyi, Kibuye, and Nyungwe is freshly paved.

Pronounced kneeooong-way , this national park in the southwest of Rwanda is the largest montane forest in East and Central Africa. It's also believed to be one of the oldest in Africa, so evolution has had tons of time to work its diversity-creating wonder.

✓  Beautiful views

The mist evaporating off of Nyungwe's rugged mountain jungles is a show-stopper. Or a drive-stopper. While driving towards and through the park, we parked our car on multiple occasions to take it in. And the sunrise views from Kitabe EcoCenter were the best of our entire Rwanda trip.

✓  Fresh air

The forest filtered air feels extra fresh and invigorating in densely-populated Rwanda, where every last parcel of non-parkland is some type of farm.

✗  Out of the Way

Adding Nyungwe to your Rwanda itinerary may be a bit of stretch if you're only coming for a short trip to see the gorillas and maybe hang out at the lake a bit. It takes at least four hours to get there from Gisenyi, another hour to drive through, and at least another four hours back to Kigali.

✗  The Expense

The hikes cost 40 USD each and the accommodation is expensive for what you get. For instance, a rustic hut at Kitabi Eco-Center with shared bucket showers and no internet (but an amazing view!) costs close to 50 USD a night. The One&Only 's more luxurious—we pretended to be interested in staying the night to have the chance to check it out—but costs 1,799 USD.

Free Jungle Game Drive

You have no choice but to drive slowly along the 50km paved road that cuts straight through Nyungwe because of the 40km/h speed limit 40km/h, but if you're like us you'll go even slower. That way you have a better chance of spotting some of the forest's 13 species of primate, 275 birds, 85 mammals, 32 amphibians, and 38 reptiles.

Sunset and sunrise at Kitabi Ecocenter

The One&Only on one side of Nyungwe National Park may be many levels of luxury above Kitabi Ecocenter on the other, but no matter how much you pay you can't top the views from Kitabi.

Jungle walks and hiking

We decided against squeezing a hike in Nyungwe's 130 kilometers worth of trails into our Rwanda travel itinerary (and squeezing out the 40 USD each to do so). A fellow Canadian we met who lives in the area and comes regularly to explore them told us (politely) that was a bad decision.

Inyambo Cows

Break up the four-plus hour drive between Nyungwe's eastern entrance and Kigali with a stop at the King's Palace Museum in Nyanza and pay 3,000 RWF to hang out with enormously horny Inyambo cows.

Cafe Connexion and Inzozi Nziza

Two more spots to stop at between Nyungwe and Kigali. Both are in Huye (Butare).

Cafe Connexion's goal is to get Rwandans to start consuming the coffee they produce by charging low prices (500 RWF) for high-quality coffee.

Inzozi Nziza was closed when we went by, which is too bad because multiple people raved to us about it.

Kitabi Ecocenter

Kitabi Ecocenter is a work in progress, but it has the makings of a masterpiece. The staff is fantastic, the traditional huts are unique, the buffet dinners are satisfying, and the social vibe is a welcome change from other lonely corners of the country. And, as already mentioned, the views are incomparable.

The American owner told us the cold bucket showers would change our lives. We tried and we're not convinced.

What's Your Plan?

Leave a comment with any questions we might be able to help you with planning your Rwanda travel itinerary. Don't miss our other three blog posts on Rwanda (links below). And please share your own suggestions, opinions, and experiences for other readers' benefit.

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6 thoughts on “Rwanda Itinerary Guide: Honest Advice for Planning an Awesome Trip”

Hi there, Since you are experienced travel-bloggers….maybe you can advise me….62 years old and travelling the world for 40 years mostly alone as a female traveler I turned to the " real Africa" just during Covid times…spent 3 months this year traveling Tanzania, Rwanda, Congo…..after some devestating experiences with two local tour operators ( lonely planet rec.) in Rwanda/ Congo….security wise but also moneywise ( lack of professional stuff probably due to covid human ressources shortage in the labour market) … I wonder….is there a website where you get advise how to make sure that your not ordinary travel plans and routes in Rwanda etc. will not turn out an " emotional disaster"….since I don't have the " protection " of economic shared interests…….maybe you know the " website landscape" better than I do… Thank's for replying…

I'm sorry to hear about your bad experiences, Wieland. It's hard to offer any tips without better understanding what kind of "emotional disasters" you're talking about. What comes to mind first and foremost is talking to fellow travelers on the ground and getting tips and recommendations from them. Warnings, too. They're more reliable than any blog, including mine.

Hi Chris, Thanks for your great blog! I'm staying for a few months in Gisenyi right now and just found your blog. I am very curious to the hike you did near Kibuye, but the website you link there is not working for me. Do you maybe have a working link for me so that I can check out the hike? Thanks!

Hey Laura. Thanks for letting me know of the broken link. Turns out I had the location of the top of the hill saved on my Google Maps, so I've updated the link in the post with it. The path's not on Google Maps, but maybe if you open up another hiking app (Maps.Me, AllTrails, Wikiloc, etc) and look there you'll find it. Enjoy

Hi Chris! Thank you for all this very useful information! We are soon going to Rwanda and still cannot decide whether to visit the Volcanoes National Park (although we wouldn't buy the gorilla permit, so would "just" do the Mount Bisoke hike), or to go to the Nyungwee National Park. We have set that it would only be one of these options since we don't have that much time. We like hikes and have never seen the wildlife that both places offer, so would not know how to prioritize (the distance also doesn't matter much). What would you say was the most worthy to you? Many thanks in advance! Daniela

Hi Daniela! We didn't hike in Nyungwe, so can't give a strong recommendation either way. In the jungle, you rarely see that many animals (nothing close to in a safari), so best to pick whichever hike has the most of everything you want aside from animals and doing that. Then, if you spot some monkeys, exotic birds, or gorillas, that'll be a big bonus.

What do you think? (Leave a Comment.) Cancel reply

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Rwanda day trips and tours starting from Kigali (with prices)

Business travelers that have just a day to spare and are looking for a day trip out of Kigali to experience Rwanda’s rich wildlife, marvelous scenery, rural life and culture of the Rwandan people, below are some of the great one-day tours (with price) you can choose from depending on what you want to see and do. Luckily Rwanda being a very small country and the capital Kigali well situated almost at the center, a number of the prime destinations can be easily reached for a tour in one day and get back to Kigali

1 Day Akagera National Park safari tour

Akagera National Park is the only savannah park that Rwanda has and thus the only destination to visit for one to experience the African savannah bush and see wild animals, including a chance to see some or all of the famous big 5 (Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant, Buffalo). The park is located in the east of the country, 2 hours drive from Kigali.

A one day Akagera safari trip itinerary will be as follows:

Leave Kigali at 6am and drive for 2 hours to Akagera National Park, check in via the southern gate in Kayonza district and right away start your 5+ hours safari drive through the park. You explore different habitats as you drive from the south of the park to the north and along the way see a variety of wildlife and enjoy wonderful views. The north is the main animal watching area of the park where you will see more animals roaming the plains. It also has an exit gate, so after safari you shall have picnic lunch in the park, exit and drive back to Kigali, a 3 – 3.5 hours drive from the north of the park (Nyagatare District) to Kigali

Price of tour depending on number of people:

Price covers for: transportation in 4X4 safari jeep, petrol, tour guide, park fees, lunch, bottled drinking water and taxes.

1 day trip of tracking the gorillas

The mountain gorilla trekking is the signature tour of Rwanda to say the least. In one day you can visit the home of a third of the world’s mountain gorillas, Volcanoes National Park , which is located in Musanze District in the north of Rwanda & 2.5 hours from Kigali, trek the awe-inspiring Virunga mountains and spend 1 hour with a family of mountain gorillas – a once in a lifetime experience – and you are back to Kigali by evening in time for your evening flight/night!

A one day gorilla trekking trip from Kigali is as follows:

Leave Kigali at 4.30am prompt and drive for 2.5 hours to north of Rwanda. Arrive at the park office in time to register for gorilla tracking and you will be allocated a gorilla family (preference for an easy to find family). A park ranger guide shall brief you on the tracking rules and thereafter head off into the jungles to find the gorillas. After the gorilla trek you shall drive back to Kigali.

Price covers for: transportation in 4X4 car, petrol, tour driver, gorilla tracking permit ($1500), lunch, bottled drinking water and taxes.

1 Day hiking tour in the Virunga mountains

For hiking lovers, you can take on the magnificent Virunga mountains by hiking one of the beautiful volcanic cones in Volcanoes National Park . The most popular mountain for day hikes is Mt. Bisoke (3711m) which has a stunning crater lake at the summit. The other two volcanic mountains you can hike on a day trip are Mt. Muhavura which is a relatively longer hike than Bisoke, and Mt. Gahinga which is a shorter hike.

1 day Mt. Bisoke hiking trip will be as follows.

Leave Kigali at 4.30am and drive to Volcanoes National Park. It is a 2.5 hours drive on a good road. You will arrive at the park office in Kinigi to meet the rangers for briefing and thereafter transfer to the trailhead just outside the park and set off on the hiking adventure in the stunning jungle. You may be lucky and stumble into gorillas along the way. The hike is 4 hours going up and 2 hours coming down, a total of 6 hours for the round hike depending on your fitness it can be more or less.

Upon climbing down you shall leave for Kigali arriving in the evening.

Price covers for: transportation in 4X4 car, petrol, tour driver, hiking permit, lunch, bottled drinking water and taxes.

1 day trip to Mbyo reconciliation village + Nyamata church genocide memorial

To better understand and appreciate Rwanda’s tragic history of the genocide against the tutsi and process of reconciliation thus far, you will find the day tour to Mbyo reconciliation village + Nyamata church genocide memorial very educating, emotional and inspiring. Mbyo village is located in Bugesera district, about an hour’s drive from Kigali. The village has the genocide perpetrators and survivors of the families that were killed by the perpetrators. These two categories have made peace and live and work together. You hear from the genocide perpetrator and a survivor. You will also visit the women’s cooperative who make hand-made crafts, and a farmer’s cooperative that will take you to a garden and see different crops grown.

1 day Mbyo reconciliation village trip is as follows

Leave Kigali at 7am and drive to Bugesera District.

Your first stop will be at Nyamata Church genocide memorial which is significant in the starting of the genocide in Rwanda. The genocide in Rwanda started in Bugesera and before it started in full swing there was a test of the genocide in Nyamata. Spend about 1 hour here

Continue to Mbyo reconciliation village where perpetrators and survivors live in harmony. You will get a testimony from the genocide perpetrator talking about his role in the genocide and the process of reconciliation, and then hear from a survivor. You will be treated to a traditional dance presentation from the village group which is mostly made up of children of perpetrators and survivors. You will then visit the women’s cooperative of basket weaving and learn how it was used to break the silence and bring peace, see what they make and purchase some souvenirs. Also visit a farm to see how the crops are grown.

Return to Kigali with lunch along the way.

Price covers for: transportation in 4X4 car, petrol, tour driver, all the day’s activities, lunch, bottled drinking water and taxes.

1 day Rwanda rural experience tour

A day in the life of an artisan by Azizi Life – is a perfect tour to give you an experience of the life of a local Rwandan in the village. During this tour, you visit a community in Muhganga district, that is about 2 hours drive from Kigali, and you are hosted by one of the village folks, an artisan. You will join in the day’s activities from morning till late afternoon. There are a variety of activities to engage in including: fetching water, gardening, cooking local meals, crafting/weaving, dancing, etc…

One day azizi life village tour will be as follows

Leave Kigali at 6am and drive to Muhanga, a 2 hours drive. Arrive and transfer to your rural host community and after being welcomed join the host for the morning activities that will be digging in the garden, planting crops or harvesting depending on the season. After garden work you will go fetch water in the valley spring for home use. Lunch will then be prepared and you can join in the cooking. After lunch you will go for crafting where you will have a one-to-one instruction in creating a simple item with the local fibers.

Later you will bid farewell to the host at about 4pm and return to Kigali

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Short Rwanda Safaris & Tours: Short Rwanda Gorillas & Wildlife Day Trips From Kigali

Our short Rwanda safari tours include short Rwanda gorilla trekking tours, short wildlife safaris in Rwanda, community, and day city tours, organized for visitors with very little time to visit Rwanda.

These short Rwanda trips can be personalized amazing wildlife and Rwanda gorilla trekking experiences to Volcanoes National Park coupled with local community village tours, wildlife viewing in Akagera National Park, as well as short Chimpanzee tracking in Rwanda trips.

Prime Safaris & Tours has for over 10 years, mastered the art of organizing remarkable affordable short Rwanda safari tour experiences for travelers with very limited time available to adventure, discover, and safari in Rwanda.

Our short Rwanda trips range from 1, 2, 3, and 4 days and can start from and end in Kigali Rwanda but if you wish, some can start from Kampala Uganda, or end there, where applicable.

Contact us for the best short Rwanda Gorilla treks, wildlife, and community adventures and we shall gladly offer you just the best short Rwanda safari experience!

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5 Days Rwanda Golden monkeys, Big 5 & Big Cats Safari

The tour was better than expected: Ronald, the tour guide, gave extra service to ensure our comfort and well being. He provided expert advice on the details of the tour,

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7 Days Rwanda Golden Monkeys, Big 5 & Big Cats Safari

Nicholas our guide was excellent! His knowledge of animals, birds, culture was great!! Very pleased with his service. As for the accommodations: Akagera Game Lodge was a great experience. 5 STARS. Food was exceptional and plentiful. Enjoyed the stay. Hotel Five to Five and The Garden Place were clean, accommodating for the one night stays. The Hotel Paradise Malahide was not acceptable. After staying at the Game Lodge to have a reservation at the Malahide was like 5 STARS to a 1 STAR hotel. Overall, a good experience and would use your service again.

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Did my day trip in Kigali on short notice for New Horizons. Did cooking class, Kigali Genocide memorial,Nyagogo market and Horse riding. Emmanuel was my driver and guide. I was happy to learn more about Rwanda history and the path made to rebuild the country. Very impressed by this country and highly recommend my guide.

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Rwanda safari tour reviews.

Great tour, guide was very knowledgeable and helped a ton! Saw some great sites and animals.

Where to even begin with this overwhelmingly amazing life-changing experience? Firstly, just DO it. Book it. It was worth it. This 9 day tour really opened our eyes to both the beauty and the historic tragedies of Rwanda. We were taken to literally every corner of Rwanda's gorgeous countryside after a tour through Kigali on Day 1. Admittedly, traveling during COVID-19 protocols with face masks made it a little miserable at times, and it's VERY strict right now in Rwanda, so if wearing masks is an issue for you, wait until that mandate is lifted. I personally have skin sensitivity issues and definitely a bit of claustrophobia when it comes to wearing a mask over my face and nose. I never really had to do it in our country consistently during the lockdown because I worked from home...so I didn't know how much this would bother me. Especially on the airplane going and leaving...but this is not part of our review of the tour itself. It is, however, a consideration for you travelers who may not have worn a surgical mask a whole lot. You will indeed have to do it the ENTIRE trip, even in a car...even outdoors. In terms of COVID tests- even the PCR, is very rapid in Rwanda, and you'll have your results very soon after you arrive. The tour company and our guide went out of their way to reorganize the trip around our final PCR test to see gorillas so that we could also use that one to leave on the international flight. But...the stress we felt entering a country full of unknowns, with a really big risk of testing positive (even falsely) for COVID, almost tipped the scale too far into the stress zone, and too far away from the fun zone. Still, we were committed to traveling and enjoying a vacation across the world after a year of lockdown. We were very excited to see something totally new and different. And that's what we got!  Pre-trip:  The tour company New Horizons is wonderful at communication through the TourRadar website. We really had no issues with them at all, and their responses to my questions were quick and thorough. They adjusted things a bit for the explosion of Nyiragongo, but we got to choose our level of activity and even got a private tour when it could have been a much larger group. I honestly think it turned out better in this way, because of the COVID thing...less travelers. We would have had a hard time if we got stuck on a tour with out of shape, or worse- obnoxious or rude people. In the grand scheme, we could never have done this trip without their expertise and guidance. The tour: I will begin my detailed and honest review of the tour itself by saying that we LOVED our driver Emmanuel. He is highly educated, articulate, and very proud of his country's heritage. He puts a great, smiling face to the tour company (when we rarely got a glimpse of it, because he was following mask protocol VERY strictly). He's soft spoken and was flexible when we wanted to modify a few things here and there. I have some critiques in my review below that will help you, the potential traveler, and also help him and the tour operator to do a bit better next time though. So beginning with Day 1: Emmanuel, as always, was right on time and congenial. He loves to help you learn a few words in Kinyarwanda like "good morning" and "thank you"...I loved learning about the history and the monuments, and really everything he said was riveting.  The biggest letdown of the tour though: the car that we had to ride in all week. It was a really elderly, poorly aligned Toyota Land Cruiser that squealed around right turns when taken above about 20mph. I was never completely confident about its braking either. I know now that this is what they are using for a two-person tour, but it has issues. We were expecting something like one of the newer Toyota Prados with nice leather seats, at least a decent cup holder or two, and maybe AC!  We were quite afraid we were going to be stranded on the side of a road in the middle of nowhere with a really big unknown of how to get help out there when the engine quit or the belt slipped off. There is also some sort of exhaust leak in the engine, because I felt sick quite often from the stinky fumes throughout the tour unless we were moving at a pretty high speed and the air from outside could come in. Despite the car's obvious alignment and fume issues, the interior seats were relatively comfy. I sat in the front as I am prone to motion sickness in cars, and I was glad I did with the windy roads. My husband sat in the back where the seats didn't recline at all, and there wasn't a great amount of leg room. It would have driven me crazy if I had to sit in this car in the back seat for the whole 9 days- there is a LOT of driving on this tour. Luckily, my husband didn't mind. This vehicle had that feel of a very, very old car to me. The seatbelts continually tighten on your lap to the point of discomfort because the shoulder reels are worn out after years of ground in dust and dirt and use. So yeah...the low point of the tour was being given this vehicle, after reading the only prior review that said it was going to be a "very nice Jeep". We were quite envious of the many other people we saw on tour who got to ride in amazing looking Land Rovers with actual air conditioning and windows that rolled up all the way. That would have seriously made our tour much better. That said, the weather was nice pretty much every day if not a little chilly except for that day in Kigali. That first day, driving around that city with the disgusting black soot coming out of every car and motorcycle, and diesel smoke just choking us, we really wished to have a car where the windows rolled up and AC would have worked.  I totally understand those tours where you ride in nicer cars were likely way more expensive, but we did spend over $9,000 for a two person tour, and subtracting the $1500 for gorilla permits, this was about $667 per day. The meals in Rwanda are relatively cheap, as are hotels (I looked up prices on Expedia). I realize that tour companies must make money and we respect our driver's need for a paycheck too. I don't think this tour was overpriced at all, for what it was. Especially considering that we'd have had zero clue what to do on our own. I just think that you really need to let people know ahead of time what the vehicle is like to set expectations. I would have gladly paid extra for a better vehicle, in which we could have been safer and felt more comfortable. In terms of the daily plan, and the communication with Emmanuel, at times it could have been better; we were clueless a lot of the time about meals, specifically- I ended up paying out of pocket for a few dinners on the tour, which I thought were supposed to all be included. Nothing huge, and no big deal though as we always worked it out in the end. There were reasons for one of those times- we just could not stomach the food at the Ken Barham guest house and I wanted wine, so he took us to a hotel to eat down the street. I felt very bad that night when I realized he'd had to stay with us much longer than he planned because of our need to eat elsewhere, and honestly the food wasn't any better there. But I did get some amazing wine! And I really appreciate that extra effort he put in that evening without any complaint. I suspect Ken Barham's food and drinks are why we suffered terrible gastrointestinal issues for almost the entire trip after that. But more on that place in a moment...I can't confirm it but that's where we started feeling VERY ill for several days. So that's it with the negative part of our review. It seems like it would be an easy fix with the car issue. Just ask the tour company prior to booking which vehicle you'll be traveling in and perhaps consider requesting some sort of upgrade if these types of things bother you too. If you must stay at the Ken Barham guest house, do NOT drink the tea. Only bottled water there. The overwhelming positives of the tour far outweighed the issues with the vehicle and that one lodge. Day 1, as I said, was the Kigali tour. It was hot and the city just chokes you with exhaust. This was especially exhausting after a VERY long flight from the western U.S. over the two days prior. Our first two days, we stayed in the Heaven Boutique hotel as a transit hotel (required per COVID protocol). They totally ripped us off by refusing to include meals after our test results came in, even after charging us almost $200 for the room service as part of the transit hotel deal, when Expedia was literally half that much for the same thing. But that wasn't part of the tour, so I guess that's just a word of caution if you use them. We REALLY liked the resort and the food was top notch, so it wasn't worth arguing over. We just let it go. New Horizons was nice enough to refund us the first night of their lodging costs so we could stay at the Heaven Boutique hotel and not have to repack for two days. Starting the tour, we were still jet lagged, and began that first tour day very tired. The first stop was at the monument to the Belgian peacekeeping soldiers, which was interesting. Ironic though, in my mind. The Belgians were the cause of the mass murders with this Hutu/Tutsi creation! But we do get the fact that they were trying to keep the peace, and these men died because of their service with the U.N. The next stop was the Genocide Memorial. A sad and awful part of the tour, but we saw it as necessary for context. The Belgian designation of the Hutu and Tutsi tribes was all an ill-fated product of failed imperialism. I think you should go see it, because it really highlights the amazing progress this country has made in the past two decades. After we did that tour, we went to a local restaurant for lunch and it was our first, confusing meal event on the tour. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to pay or what, and it was awkward at the checkout, but Emmanuel did pay eventually. I don't know if it's just an American thing, but I really like to be directed clearly, especially if it's the first day and we are all new to each other. It would've helped us a few times if Emmanuel just said something clear and direct like, "I have the bill for lunch at each stop, so after you get your food, just go on up and eat". Dinners are usually included, but not if you change the plans and want to eat elsewhere. This is not so much the tour's fault, or Emmanuel's, but really just the way I personally understand things best. Directive. I was in the U.S. military and that style seems to suit me...we had to guess what was going on about 30% of the time. The final stop for us that day was a strange, eclectic little art museum perched high on a hillside in the city. This stop would have been pleasant had it not been for the very high pressure of the artists themselves lurking in every room, sweating us like crazy to buy the ridiculously high priced work! I mean...$8,500 on an abstract painting may be someone else's cup of tea, but not mine! To make matters worse, we were probably literally the only visitors to that place in a long while, and you could just feel the desperation as they followed us around asking us what we liked about the art. Dan and I are very uncomfortable in these situations. I would have enjoyed strolling through the art and looking at the works...maybe asking an artist a question or two if I were actually interested, knowing the prices included shipping to the U.S. if I wanted anything...but that is not the way they do business. I say if you take visitors to that place again, talk to the owner about less pressure to buy. One comment from the owner at the door about shipping and prices would have sufficed, as there was absolutely no way we were going to buy anything in there. I was so worried I'd say something insulting in front of the artists!  I really do appreciate all sorts of artistry, but this wasn't a museum, this was like an ambush. We could not have gotten out of there fast enough. Honestly, I felt the same way about the market we visited in the morning, before the art place. Quite the cultural experience though!!! I never need to go into another African market. I felt overstimulated and borderline threatened by all the people pressuring me to buy everything and the unnecessary porters trying to charge tips for carrying your stuff. It was impossible to say "no" to them. Maybe my own issue...I can't stand big city markets and being the only white people getting stared at and followed around made it much worse. At that point, we just called it a day because we were totally exhausted from the air in the city and the very emotionally taxing memorials, and the high pressure at the market and art store. We went back to the Heaven resort and relaxed, had a massage, and ate dinner on our dime, since we bailed out of the tour early that day. Day 2 was mostly travel across the country to the rainforest. We were floored that it was going to be a straight 6+ hour drive, but it went really fast! There were so many interesting and colorful things to look at on the roads. The farms and the people are beautiful in Rwanda. We heard the story of the Kamegeri Rock, and it was interesting...but a little weird! A good introduction to the storytelling of Rwandan culture. We stopped and had an EXCELLENT tour at the King's Palace and the Kandt House. I think we did that the 2nd day...it's all sort of running together with the museums. We really enjoyed it all though. Eventually, we arrived at the canopy walk in the rain, just as they were closing and again a mis-communication. Emmanual mentioned something about "10 minutes," and we thought we were literally going to go out to an overlook and come back. I think what he meant was that there were 10 minutes left until the final departure on the tour. So we got out of the car kind of unprepared to walk for the better part of 2 hours in the cold rain in the forest! Still, because we took all of our gear (except my husband was wearing shorts and he would have changed), it turned out great. It was really cold! We thoroughly enjoyed the walk to the canopy though, after the long day in the car. When we got done, we tipped our two guides and headed out to the Ken Barham guest house. What a BEAUTIFUL spot in a tea plantation! And such nice, smiling faces. Such a friendly, awesome staff. Language was a big barrier, but we could communicate at least. They brought us a modem after much confusion over the internet, which was nice of them. We really wanted to like this guest house. However, there are some complaints. The food. Terrible...and we don't have high standards. Just food we can eat. The service at the restaurant was exceedingly weird. They didn't ask if you wanted anything to drink, and when we asked, they made it clear they had nothing to drink... so we walked back to the room to get a bottle of water...it took at least an hour to get anything to eat, and even if we pre-ordered for a certain time, the service was just weirdly slow. We got used to this in Rwanda. You cannot be in a huge hurry to eat. There didn't appear to be too many places (at least hotels) where food was quick. All well and good. We learned to exercise patience, which is not a common virtue in America. The beds were nice and comfy, but we struggled staying warm. It was freaking FREEZING that night, and there was barely one naked light bulb in that room. Nothing on the walls, and it was just a weird, weird place. Let's just be nice here and call that room "rustic". It was a bit like camping outdoors, but with a decent bed. There was obviously no heat or AC...all fine usually, but we were wet and muddy and tired. The shower took about 20 minutes to get hot, but at least it got hot. It was very, very rustic! The toilet didn't flush twice in a row unless you waited about 20 minutes, so our gastro problems were a real nightmare there. We became much closer as a couple...LOL. Anyhow, that place was where we stayed two nights in a row, and we really did enjoy the ambiance, but we were wicked sick the entire time. They also had zero cleaning service for the room. So our really dirty towels never got changed, and we had to ask for new ones, which they took hours to bring...and by that time, we had just reused the wet dirty ones.  Day 3 was a BRUTAL one. We LOVED it! If only we hadn't been so ill, it would have been much better...we would have felt much stronger. Truthfully, it could have been caused at Heaven, where they were refilling water bottles with "reverse osmosis" water that tasted a little off. That could have been where it started. Or the African coffee we drank with way too much ginger at the King's Palace. So we did two separate hikes this day- we started with chimps, and got so lucky! It was magical. A quick 20 minute trek and we were surrounded by chimps everywhere! A family group of about 25 joined us, and they were joined by many other amazing species of animals and plants. We were totally blasted tired from being ill, and being cold and rained on made it a lot harder, but this is why we came! To truly experience the RAIN forest. We certainly got what we came for! We had just enough time for a really, really slow lunch at the Ken Barham guest house. We went to the room to freshen up and rest a bit, and they took our hiking shoes! That was weird to do without asking us. I half thought someone had stolen them, and began to freak out! I think they were trying to solicit tips, and that's fine- I am totally OK with that, but the shoes were gone FOREVER and ever. It takes about 2 minutes to scrub mud off shoes, not an hour. We had to tiptoe around the building barefoot finally and find someone to get them back to go to lunch. They were our only shoes. This also happened at the last place we stayed! I think we were meant to walk in their rubber flip flops provided, but it was absolutely freezing and raining and we had to get lunch and meet Emmanuel for the second hike of the day.  This second hike was to the Isumo Waterfalls, and it was BRUTAL but AMAZING. This time we were joined on the tour by one very rich guest from One & Only, which is the exclusive resort near the hike. He was fun to hang with though. Some sort of Belgian aristocrat. We all had a really brisk hike...the guides were very broken with their English and really just dragged it out too long. We ran out of water, and we were really REALLY tired from jet lag, being sick, and the super early morning departure (0450), so we were kind of anxious to return from the falls quickly. So when he wanted to stop every 10 yards to give us a rundown on every plant and animal in extremely broken English, we were too polite to say "can we just walk please?" but our Belgian friend politely told them to hurry it up, because he had a COVID test to take. We were grateful. Back to Ken Barham and this was the night I cried Uncle on that food and had Emmanuel take us to a hotel. I mentioned this before. Poor Dan nearly fell asleep on the table, we waited so long for food. And there were only two other guests there in the huge restaurant! But the wine was great! Silver linings... Day 4 was our favorite day of the tour I think. This is hard to say, because chimp and gorillas and the helicopter tour at the end (which we added) were all super amazing too. But this was the day we got to Lake Kivu, took a cool tour through the Environmental Museum (very nice!) where we learned about the world's first industrial sized methane plant on Lake Kivu. Then, we took a quick bike ride with our adorable guide Bona, and then lunch at a very spectacular resort followed by a boat ride with the same awesome guide. We really enjoyed Bona, and hiking on Napoleon's island. It's full of bats!! We were SO amazed at those creatures, and the monkey island stop was fun, too. We really had quite the magical experience, and to top it all off, the Moriah Hill Resort was AMAZING. Dinner there was a welcome relief. We were basically back at a full 4 star resort, and the people were also fun to talk to. The room was great...all the more appreciated after the very rustic Ken Barham guest house. A hot shower and a flushing toilet were awesome, but the views! The views!!!   Day 5 was our least favorite day of the tour. I really can't describe how weird it was to be walked through the slums, constantly followed and stared at. Why did we do this?? The hike across town through a market wasn't as high pressure as the Kigali city market, but it was just weird to be stared at like that. The workers building a trench had dug up the path we were supposed to use, so we had to balance very carefully on a big pile of loose dirt over a 10' precipice on one side full of workers digging. They stared at us too. The whole thing was a little bizarre. We walked through fields of bamboo and heard the church choir singing...that was kind of cool! We also could see over the entire town of Ribavu from the top, and the DRC town of Goma in the distance. I sincerely wish that was as close as we got to it...but the guide (a very nice kid!) took us directly through the beat up, washed out, volcano-earthquake-gutted downtown. This is where it got so weird, it was scary. We were very grateful to have our guide, but sweating this very much. My stomach was doing flip flops. So we went traipsing through the slums, and I truly felt unsafe for the first time on the tour. This part seemed to drag on for hours. We were VERY anxious to say the least, to see Emmanuel and the car. When we finally got through that city and he was there, I sighed with relief, but it wasn't over! He drove us to the middle of another weird place right at the border, so we could view the "last house in Rwanda". There were really menacing looking armed guards everywhere, the streets were just running with mud and dirty children and lots of people staring at us and following us and demanding money. This is all during an outbreak of COVID at the border, so we really did not understand why we were there, doing any of this on foot. Not only gutted by the earthquakes from the recent volcanic eruptions, it was also the poorest and most depressing place we saw while in Rwanda. After we finally got back in the car, we went to lunch at a sketchy little place, and we were a little more comfortable there, but then the guide took us back through the absolute WORST neighborhood imaginable after lunch, where hungry kids were wallowing in the mud. We gave out the leftovers from our lunch and that was a light moment among the darkness. The kids who received the food smiled and devoured it with their friends and family, and it was truly heartbreaking because we can't feed or save all of them. The houses on one strip of town near this poverty-stricken village were super exotic mansions and the juxtaposition of the muddy slums right next door was a chilling reality check for us as we walked through on FOOT. This is the place where the "haves" versus the "have-nots" is very much a sickening reality. Rubavu and especially Goma was a terrible, awful sight with a smoking, active volcano looming just above the cities. The whole border town had an unfriendly vibe to us white Westerners...kind of an other-worldly, poverty stricken, post apocalyptic, dystopian feel. Our tummies by this point were revolting completely because we were very ill, so the quick tour of the methane plant and the hot springs was even quicker, as we asked to go to the hotel. We had no interest in going to sit in a hot spring when we had just seen the sludge pouring into the lake from the very nearby Heineken factory. There weren't even fish around the area where we stayed, presumably because of this sludge! The Paradis Malahide resort was super fun, and very cute...but the fact that we saw the sludge and the lack of fish there kind of gave it a bitter aftertaste. Still, we had a great time. We had to switch rooms for bad plumbing, but the little huts were pretty, and right on the lake. The dinner was great and the service was even better there. We had so much fun hanging with some crazy Slovakians after dinner...that may have been the highlight of the trip. We loved breakfast in the morning too. All in all, a VERY stressful day ended well. We started feeling better after that night. Maybe the food and drink was just higher quality there, and for the rest of the tour. Day 6 was the transfer to Musanze, which was our driver's hometown. Definitely by far the nicest city we visited. The stopover at the pottery place was so cool! They danced and sang for us, and we got to watch them make pots out of clay from the earth. We didn't know until after that tour that these people were newly integrated indigenous people. That made it all the more intriguing to meet them and interact with them. We really fell in love with the restaurant we ate at for lunch, and had a good night of sleep in the Gorillas Volcanoes hotel. It was really weirdly empty for such a big place because of COVID, which was kind of depressing though. Part of the reason we travel internationally is to meet other guests from other countries and interact with people from everywhere. Anyhow, I can't seem to place this in the right day or the right part of the day when we traveled to Musanze, but the sorghum beer making experience was also super fun! How crazy, the way they do it by hand!! I couldn't taste it though- my tummy was completely in knots and I was afraid of getting even more ill, or worse- contracting a new strain of COVID by sharing a cup with strangers. But Emmanuel was nice enough to drive us to a store where I could buy a can of it made in a factory. Also, the huge hike to the overlook of the twin lakes during this day was really spectacular, and we had a lot of fun! We thought this for sure would be the hardest hike of the tour, but we were WAY wrong. It was a VERY busy and strenuous day...like all the others on our tour. We were certainly never ever bored! Day 7 was a very, very long and strenuous hike, which we totally loved. We really had the whole Rwandan farmer culture put into a startling context as we carried nothing but a light day pack to the top of this beautiful mountain, and we could barely make it. And I mean it...the climb was grueling, and my knees are not getting any younger, so the hike down was even harder. Even at age 50 and 42, we still consider ourselves great athletes by Western standards!! We do yoga and strenuous exercise daily, and spend the whole winter on skis, with mountain bike racing in the spring. I am an Ironman triathlete who's competed many times, including a full long-course tri! My husband has spent his whole life riding a bike every day. And this blew us away...this hike. I won't bore you with all the details, but we had fun with the kids along the way, and at the top it was very very cold, so if you go on this event, pack an extra jacket. We had a very slow meal there, but the ambiance was amazing, despite the teeth-chattering cold. They also tried to feed us like we were teenage boys. It was like a four course meal! I didn't know this going in, and ate extra soup which was warm and delicious. But that was only the appetizer. I thought that was going to be lunch. I felt rude but I could barely eat any of the beef and veggies and rice and certainly couldn't stuff in all the fruit salad for dessert. I couldn't believe people packed all of that stuff up to the top of that peak! It was truly awesome. Walking down hurt, and we were sore and tired after that. It was like an 8 hour day of hiking almost continuously, except for the aforementioned lunch. Needless to say, we slept well that night at the hotel! Day 8 was the biggest event of the trip: the gorilla trekking. Our guide for the day was amazing! I loved Edward. I also thought the whole thing was just a surreal, and amazing adventure. We left the starting point and the hike to the gorillas was so picturesque! I thought it couldn't get prettier in this country but it did! We actually encountered a big herd of wild buffalo in our path, so we were grateful to have not only guide and trackers, but four armed military men with us. They got the herd to move and we went on our way. The gorilla family we met was just...stunning. Too much joy to even express that hour of our lives, but we will never forget it. Just do it! The expense is a lot for most of us, but it really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it goes towards conservation projects for the gorillas. In the afternoon, we transferred to the Rusiga Highland Resort where we enjoyed the views through the haze and mist. The dinner was slow but good.  Day 9 was our departure from the Rusiga Highland Resort, to the airport. This was our final day and we decided to splurge and book a helicopter tour around the Akagera game reserve. So we were kind of anxious when our guide appeared to no-show on us. Later, we realized it had just been another communication breakdown. We had quite the language/culture barrier with the people who worked at the resort. Our guide told us to meet him at 11 a.m. but didn't mention anything about meals. He apparently ended up coordinating with the hotel staff to feed us lunch there before our departure...but nothing was ever said to us. We assumed we were eating somewhere enroute to Kigali. So in the morning, we got up and ate breakfast, got packed, and stood for an entire hour with our bags from 11-12 getting more and more worried about Emmanuel while the hotel staff just sat around looking at us. It was so weird! No one mentioned lunch or anything. Emmanuel showed up and asked us why we hadn't eaten, and we were like...ummm huh? But all was corrected swiftly. The restaurant he took us to was actually delicious and quick, and best of all, had great coffee! We had a power outage at the resort, and the coffee turned into sludge at breakfast. We are coffee people, so this stop was greatly appreciated. It was sad to say goodbye to Emmanuel after all the adventures we had together, but he got us to the helicopter ride on time, and we had a fabulous ride with Akagera Aviation, flying low over the beautiful wildlife in the reserve. I couldn't imagine a better way to tie up our trip.  So I hope this review helps both the tour company and potential visitors!

Safari Tours

• Gorilla Trekking (28)
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Travel Styles

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• Luxury Gorilla Trek – 04 Days
• Singita & Magash Camp – 07 Day
• One & Only Resorts Rwanda – 05 Day
• Bisate & Magashi Camp – 07 Day
• Luxury Gorilla Rwanda Uganda – 08 Day
• Rwanda Kenya Tour – 13 Day
• Nyiragongo Trek – 03 Day
• Mikeno Mist – 04 Day
• Le Petit Virunga Mikeno – 4 Day
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• Great Ape Trek – 5 Day
• Virunga Classic – 6 Day
• Rutshuru Expedition – 10 Day
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• Kenya Rwanda Gorilla – 09 Day
• Migration Gorilla Trek – 08 Day
• Luxury Tanzania Rwanda – 10 Days
• 01 Day Gorilla Trek – Mgahinga
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7 Day Uganda Safari

• 8 Days Rwanda Uganda Gorilla
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• Fly-In Tours
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• 12 Day Rwanda Safari Holiday
• 3 Day Nyiragongo Hike Congo
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• 4 Day Uganda Gorilla – Nyiragongo Hike
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• 6 Days Rwanda Culture Safari
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• 7 Days Rwanda Culture, Wildlife tour
• 8 Days Rwanda Wildlife & Gorilla Tour
• 11 Day Rwanda Culture – Gorilla Tour
• Kwitonda Lodge & Kataza House
• One & Only Gorilla’s Nest Lodge
• One & Only Nyungwe House
• Bisate Lodge
• Magashi Camp
• Virunga Lodge
• Sabyinyo Silver Back Lodge
• Nyungwe Forest Lodge
• Ruzizi Tented Lodge
• Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
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• Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
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Visit Rwanda! We offer Bespoke Gorilla Tours in Rwanda. Book Gorilla Safaris, Wildlife Safaris, Cultural Tours, Local Community Tours and More.

Ecotours Rwanda offers sustainable gorilla safaris and Rwanda tours to all fragile ecotourism destinations like Rwanda Parks, forests, wetlands, cultural sites and beach holidays. Ecotours has launched more special gorilla tours from 02 Day Uganda Gorilla Trek and 09 Day Rwanda Uganda + Kenya and this include one way domestic Aero Link flight from Entebbe to Maasai Mara or vice versa.

Looking for the best gorilla safari itineraries to take in Rwanda and Uganda, here are the suitable Rwanda safari itineraries which starts and ends in Kigali. Book Rwanda Gorilla – 07 Day or Uganda Gorilla – 07 Days and we can customize any of the trip of choice based on your travel group. During low season from November to May we discount these packages 30% off the price of high season. With our sister sites we offer eco tours in Uganda , Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya & Tanzania. We offer combined Rwanda Kenya Tour in East Africa. Read our unforgettable BOOK experience from our eco travelers!

Here at ecotours Rwanda we offer a range of scheduled trips in small groups from 2 – 6 travelers per vehicle along unique routes around Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. The Rwanda safari itineraries and upcoming dates are set in advance with all services including primates and wildlife logistics. All our trips are customized based on ground transfers and air services to itineraries that connects to other East African regions like Kenya and Tanzania .

07 Day Rwanda Gorilla

Upcoming Dates Sept 4th – 10th 2024/5 Sept 15th – 21st 2024/5 Trip OPEN to enrollment

07 Day Uganda Gorilla

13 Day Rwanda Kenya Tour

Upcoming Dates Dec 2nd – 14th 2024 Dec 17th – 29th 2024 Trip OPEN to enrollment

Rwanda’s stunning lush and undulating landscapes, rain forests and the remarkable biodiversity has attracted some of the international chain Eco Lodges and Exclusive Camps which includes the Singita Kwitonda Lodge and Kataza House , Bisate Lodge , Magash Camp and One and Only Resorts, Rwanda (Nyungwe House & Gorilla’s Nest Lodge) . Therefore, Rwanda has rebranded as the newest luxury gorilla safari destination in East and Central Africa.

Last year Rwanda was ranked as the 09 th safest state country in Africa. Therefore, to cater for the increased interest of luxury travelers local tour operators like ecotours Rwanda has customized exceptional and amazing experiences with different trips like 04 Day Luxury Gorilla Trek , 07 Day Singita & Magashi Safari , 05 Day One and Only Resorts and then 07 Day Bisate and Magash Camp Safari Holiday. More so, for travelers interested in taking East African luxury safaris you can take one of our luxury and exclusive itineraries like Rwanda Kenya Exclusive Tour – 13 Day , 10 Day Luxury Tanzania Rwanda Safari , 08 Day Volcanoes Safaris and then the luxury safari camps 08 Day Governor’s Camp Photo Safari in Kenya and Rwanda.

With our trained staff both in office and field guides about ecotours we aim at providing affordable and quality eco tours in Rwanda visiting Rwanda gorillas, Chimpanzees, SPECIAL OFFERS 2023 – 2024, birding tours Rwanda, cultural tours and nature walks and stay in Rwanda eco-friendly lodges and safari camps which blend with nature and these Rwanda gorilla lodges offers accommodation to our ecotourists participating in our special Rwanda Gorilla Tours offers in 2023 – 2024. Join our affordable all-year round discounted gorilla trek and experience short gorilla excursions from Kigali.

Rwanda gorilla permits have been increased but there is a great discounted $ 1050 USD gorilla permit per person during the low season from November – May and here you have to visit 2 or 3 Rwanda National Parks and we offer 05 Day Rwanda Gorilla Adventure and the 07 Day Rwanda Safari Holidays package.

More so for travelers in Rwanda for the conferences and seminars we offer a discounted gorilla permit of $ 1275 USD per person and to enjoy one of these travel deals contact us and our tour consultant +256 – 751-915-622 will respond to all your questions in time. And for those interested in experiencing Discounted 4 Day Congo Gorilla & Nyiragongo Trek in Democratic Republic of Congo we are ready to serve you on this great Congo safari deal.

Safari Category

Gorilla Safaris

We offer gorilla trekking tours to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park one of the best places to see the endangered gorillas.

Cultural Tours

Rwanda has unique cultural sites and experiences that we would like to share with you and crafted cultural tours.

Wildlife Safaris

Wildlife safaris takes travelers to Rwanda’s National park; Nyungwe Forest, Akagera and Volcanoes National Park.

Top Rwanda Safaris

1 Day Gorilla Trek

1 Day gorilla trek takes you to Volcanoes Gorilla National Park for gorilla safaris in Rwanda.

2 Day Gorilla Tour

2 Day gorilla tour takes you to Volcanoes National Park, via the amazing undulating hills.

3 Day Rwanda Gorilla

3 Day Rwanda gorilla trek takes you to Volcanoes for gorilla safaris & golden monkey.

4 Day Gorilla Tour - 2 Treks

4 Day Rwanda double gorilla offers you chance to trek gorillas 2 times, visiting 2 families.

4 Day Rwanda Gorilla

4 Day Rwanda gorilla trekking takes you to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla and Dian Fossey.

5 Day Rwanda Safari

5 Day Rwanda Safari takes you to Volcanoes & Nyungwe National Park for tours in Rwanda.

Uganda & Congo Safaris

3 Day Uganda Gorilla

Book a discounted gorilla safari in Uganda and it starts and ends in Kigali.

Enjoy 4 Day Double gorilla trekking safaris in Bwindi Forest National Park.

Encounter gorilla trekking, wildlife tours in Uganda, chimps in Kibale.

3 Day Nyiragongo Hike

Enjoy 3 Day Nyiragongo Hiking Tour Congo in Virunga National Park.

4 Day Congo Gorilla Trek

Enjoy 4 Day Congo gorilla trek, Nyiragongo with Senkenkwe gorilla.

7 Day Congo Experience

Enjoy 7 Day Congo Gorilla, Hike Nyiragongo & Lowland Gorilla in Congo.

We promote responsible tourism in East Africa such that local communities benefits from ecotourism and hence motivated to protect resources and adopt passion and love for conservation of nature. Therefore, ECOTOURS AFRICA a very reputable ecotours and travel company promotes Sustainable Cultural Tours in Rwanda , Uganda, Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo such that locals can directly generate income from ecotourists who visit East and Central Africa for gorilla & culture and wildlife safaris, with our offices in Rwanda & Uganda and other Regions we are ready to customize for you a tour of your priority! Book a discounted 02 Day Gorilla Trek Uganda among others due to that the Uganda gorilla permit is half way Rwanda gorilla permit and all these gorilla trips begins from Kigali and then end in Kigali again or in Entebbe depending on the structure of the trip or the your advise.

We customize our gorilla tours starting from Kigali and customize them while staying in some of the well designed and sophisticated Rwanda hotels and these includes the Heaven Retreat, Marriott Hotel, Radison Blu Hotel, Serena Hotel, Four points by Sheraton and Mille Collins Hotel among others that you many choose from our lodges catalogue of your choice.

Are you planning for the best East African gorilla wildlife photo safaris and staying in eco-friendly lodges and camps in Rwanda? We have a very experienced team to customize for you the best African gorilla photo tours including other primates, sightseeing, culture & wildlife in East Africa.

We use modern, custom-built fleet of 4×4 wheel drive safari Landy Land Cruisers with open top-ups, for easy observation and photography. Vehicles are fitted to provide comfort large windows and windscreens improve all round game viewing and room for those with cameras with big lenses, tripods to take photos. Read More

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Rwanda Gorilla Trekking & Safari Tours

Rwanda is famous for its gorilla trekking opportunities in the Virunga Mountains. This is where Dian Fossey researched and habituated mountain gorillas in the 1960s. Although gorilla trekking is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the country has a lot more to offer. In fact, if gorilla trekking is beyond your budget, Rwanda is still worth visiting as an up-and-coming destination offering primate walks, volcano hikes and bird watching in Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe National Park, plus boat trips on Lake Kivu in the Rift Valley and classic safaris in search of the Big Five in low-key Akagera National Park.

3-Day Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Park

$1,264 pp (USD)

Rwanda: Private tour Budget Guest House

You Visit: Kigali (Start) , Nyungwe NP (Chimps) , Kigali (End)

Hermosa Life Tours and Travel   Tour operator has an office in Rwanda

5.0 /5  –  105 Reviews

6-Day Rwanda Adventures - Great Apes & Lake Kivu

$4,985 pp (USD)

Rwanda: Private tour Mid-range Lodge & Hotel

You Visit: Kigali (Start) , Volcanoes NP (Gorillas) , Lake Kivu, Nyungwe NP (Chimps) , Kigali (End)

Kingfisher Journeys   Tour operator has an office in Rwanda

5.0 /5  –  1 Reviews

4-Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking

$3,570 pp (USD)

You Visit: Kigali (Start) , Volcanoes NP (Gorillas) , Kigali Airport (End)

Ranger Buck Safaris

5.0 /5  –  28 Reviews

7-Day Highlights of Rwanda

$6,164 to $7,178 pp (USD)

You Visit: Kigali (Start) , Nyungwe NP (Chimps) , Lake Kivu, Volcanoes NP (Gorillas) , Kigali (End)

4.9 /5  –  149 Reviews

6-Day Chimpanzee and Golden Monkey Trekking

$2,838 pp (USD)

You Visit: Kigali (Start) , Nyungwe NP (Chimps) , Karongi (Town) , Volcanoes NP (Gorillas) , Kigali (End)

Golden Rwanda Safaris   Tour operator has an office in Rwanda

5.0 /5  –  194 Reviews

4-Day Primates and Culture Adventure

$3,691 pp (USD)

Rwanda: Private tour Mid-range Lodge

Premier Transport and Tour Services   Tour operator has an office in Rwanda

5.0 /5  –  6 Reviews

3-Day Gorilla and Golden Monkey Trekking Tour in Rwanda

$2,640 to $2,860 pp (USD)

Rwanda: Private tour Mid-range Hotel

You Visit: Kigali (Start) , Musanze (City) , Volcanoes NP (Gorillas) , Kigali (End)

5.0 /5  –  122 Reviews

4-Day Mountain Gorillas & Golden Monkeys Budget Safari

$1,352 pp (USD)

Rwanda & Uganda: Shared tour (max 6 people per group) Budget Lodge & Resort

You Visit: Kigali (Start) , Musanze (City) , Volcanoes NP (Gorillas) , Bwindi NP (Gorillas) , Kigali Airport (End)

Big Apes Africa

4.9 /5  –  65 Reviews

14-Day Customized Safari Holiday & Tour of Rwanda, Uganda

$5,185 pp (USD)

Rwanda & Uganda: Private tour Budget Lodge & Tented Camp

You Visit: Kigali (Start) , Kigali Airport (Kigali) , Nyungwe NP (Chimps) , Volcanoes NP (Gorillas) , Bwindi NP (Gorillas) , Queen Elizabeth NP, Kibale NP (Chimps) , Murchison Falls NP, Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch, Mabamba Swamp, Entebbe (End)

Home To Africa Tours and Travel

4.9 /5  –  278 Reviews

3-Day Nyungwe Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk Trip

$990 pp (USD)

Moroka Expeditions

4.8 /5  –  12 Reviews

4-Day Gorilla and Golden Monkey Trekking Rwanda/Uganda

$1,760 to $1,980 pp (USD)

Uganda & Rwanda: Private tour Mid-range Lodge

You Visit: Kigali (Start) , Volcanoes NP (Gorillas) , Bwindi NP (Gorillas) , Kigali Airport (End)

NGONI Safaris Uganda

5.0 /5  –  140 Reviews

3-Day Affordable Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

$2,390 to $2,600 pp (USD)

Discover Africa Safaris

4.9 /5  –  420 Reviews

4-Day Akagera Wildlife and Bwindi Gorilla Trek

$1,969 pp (USD)

You Visit: Kigali (Start) , Akagera NP, Bwindi NP (Gorillas) , Lake Bunyonyi, Kigali (End)

Frena Adventures

4.8 /5  –  93 Reviews

3-Day Rwanda Gorillas and Golden Monkeys Trek Safari

$2,358 pp (USD)

You Visit: Kigali (Start) , Volcanoes NP (Gorillas) , Kigali (End)

Epic Uganda Vacation   Tour operator has an office in Rwanda

4.7 /5  –  24 Reviews

8-Day Rwanda-Uganda Safari

$3,696 pp (USD)

Rwanda & Uganda: Private tour Mid-range Lodge & Banda

You Visit: Kigali (Start) , Volcanoes NP (Gorillas) , Mt Bisoke (Virunga Mountains) , Bwindi NP (Gorillas) , Queen Elizabeth NP, Lake Mburo NP, Entebbe (End)

Vibrant Holiday Safaris

4.9 /5  –  31 Reviews

3-Day Rwanda City Tour & Mountain Gorilla Experience

$3,630 to $4,290 pp (USD)

You Visit: Kigali (Start) , Kigali Airport (Kigali) , Volcanoes NP (Gorillas) , Kigali (End)

Makario Safaris   Tour operator has an office in Rwanda

4.8 /5  –  64 Reviews

4-Day Budget Rwanda Uganda Golden Monkey & Gorilla Tour

$1,375 pp (USD)

Rwanda & Uganda: Shared tour (max 12 people per group) Budget Lodge & Hotel

You Visit: Kigali (Start) , Volcanoes NP (Gorillas) , Bwindi NP (Gorillas) , Lake Bunyonyi, Kigali (End)

Safari 2 Gorilla Tours

4.8 /5  –  49 Reviews

3-Day Rwanda Mountain Gorillas & Golden Monkeys Tour

$2,728 pp (USD)

Lion Safaris   Tour operator has an office in Rwanda

5.0 /5  –  16 Reviews

3-Day Nyungwe Forest National Park Tour

$1,023 pp (USD)

You Visit: Kigali (Start) , Nyungwe NP (Chimps) , Lake Kivu, Kigali (End)

New Horizon Africa Safaris   Tour operator has an office in Rwanda

5.0 /5  –  22 Reviews

10-Day Best of Rwanda-Uganda Safari

$4,015 pp (USD)

Rwanda & Uganda: Private tour Mid-range Lodge & Hotel

You Visit: Kigali (Start) , Kigali Airport (Kigali) , Volcanoes NP (Gorillas) , Bwindi NP (Gorillas) , Queen Elizabeth NP, Hoima (Town) , Murchison Falls NP, Entebbe (End)

Lulu Safaris Uganda

5.0 /5  –  76 Reviews

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8 Questions About Rwanda Safaris

Answered by

Ariadne van zandbergen.

When is the best time to visit Rwanda?

“Rwanda safari trips are available year-round and the best time depends a bit on your personal interest and tolerance for rainy conditions. Most people come to Rwanda for gorilla trekking, which can be done throughout the year. However, the wet climate in the Virunga Mountains (home of the gorillas) can make trekking a challenge, especially in the peaks of the Wet season (March, April, October and November). The driest months (June to August) are best for gorilla trekking and also recommended for hiking in Nyungwe National Park. Most of the primates in Nyungwe can also be located throughout the year, but chimps are easier to track during the Wet, as they tend to move farther into the forest when food becomes scarce. Having said all that, if you have good weatherproof gear and you don’t mind being caught in the rain on occasion, the Wet season months have their advantages as they tend to be less crowded and lodges often offer lower rates. Gorilla permits are also easier to obtain in the Wet season.”

What are the major attractions in Rwanda?

“Rwanda is a beautiful little country most known for the genocide of 1994. The good news is that the country largely recovered from this terrible event and is now very safe and totally geared for tourism. The Rwandan authorities managed to keep their gorillas safe throughout this turbulent time, and seeing these gentle giants has become one of the top attractions in Africa. So, mountain gorilla trekking is by far the prime attraction in Rwanda and most tourists will visit the country for that reason alone, often adding a few days in Rwanda to a safari in Kenya or Tanzania. However, there is a lot more to see and do in Rwanda than gorilla trekking. Other attractions include golden monkey treks and climbing one of the volcanoes in the Virungas. Nyungwe National Park is worth a visit as well. This beautiful, high-altitude forest is remarkably accessible and home to 13 primate species, including chimpanzees. Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s only savannah reserve. It doesn’t quite compare to the likes of the Serengeti and the Masai Mara, but this scenic park has a lot to offer in terms of wilderness appeal. Following recent reintroductions, it is also home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo).”

What does Rwanda gorilla trekking cost?

“Tracking mountain gorillas doesn’t come cheaply. In 2017 Rwanda doubled its prices for a gorilla trekking permit, which brings the current price to US$1,500. The justification for this high fee is that there are only 12 habituated groups of gorillas that can be visited by tourists in Volcanoes National Park , and each group can be visited by a maximum of eight tourists per day. So this makes a limit of 96 permits a day. Is it worth it? If you can afford it, it is worth every penny. How can you put a price on such an amazing experience, described by many who’ve done it as a travel highlight of their life?”

What wildlife can I expect to see when on safari in Rwanda?

“A Rwanda safari is quite different from most classic East African safari holidays. Most of the activities here require hiking in rainforests. Aside from gorillas, other primates can be tracked, such as chimpanzees and golden monkeys. Viewing any of these primates is a very rewarding experience but difficult to compare to a safari in the Masai Mara, for example. Longer Rwanda holidays can include a trip to Akagera National Park for a more conventional safari. Akagera suffered hugely from human encroachment and poaching in the past, but this is now mostly under control thanks to the commitment of African Parks. Animals are still quite skittish and you have to work a bit harder for your sightings than in some other iconic savannah parks, but a trip to Akagera shouldn’t be missed.”

How safe is Rwanda for tourists?

“Rwanda is a safe destination. Unfortunately, the country is still stained by the memory of the genocide, which occurred as a result of historical conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi peoples. The genocide took place in 1994 and there have been no incidents since. Today, Rwanda feels like quite a well-run country and the people are very gracious and friendly. Many have returned after years of exile, which gives Rwanda quite a cosmopolitan feel as many of the returnees have studied abroad. As in any country, most crime occurs in cities and urban areas and visitors should take normal safety precautions in these places. You are unlikely to encounter any problems on guided activities if you have booked with a reputable operator.”

How do you choose a reliable tour operator for a Rwanda trip?

“Most specialist Africa tour operators will be able to add a Rwanda gorilla trekking package to any African safari. If you’re considering a holiday in Rwanda, as opposed to an add-on to a trip to another country, you should carefully choose your operator to ensure you end up in the right hands. Checking the operators and Rwanda gorilla trekking tours offered on SafariBookings.com is a good start. Always read the customer reviews (but never base an opinion on a handful of reviews only) and consider using a local operator. This means all your money will go into the Rwandan economy and you’ll be doing your bit to support local communities. The downside is that small operators don’t always have the backup and resources to deal with a situation if things go wrong, such as a vehicle breakdown. International operators, on the other hand, can include your flights in a Rwandan safari package.”

What type of accommodation can I expect?

“Rwanda has come a long way since its early days of safari tourism a few decades ago. There are now top-notch accommodation options in all the main tourist destinations. Where once there were only a handful of local guesthouses available, there are now tourist-class hotels in or around Volcanoes, Nyungwe and Akagera National Parks. In recent years, several small, exclusive safari lodges (so popular in more mainstream safari countries) have opened as well. This should help put Rwanda on the map for the repeat African visitor who loves the classic safari holiday.”

What can I expect from a safari in Rwanda?

“Although Akagera National Park is developing as a great savannah safari destination, Rwanda safaris are not on the same level as classic safaris offered in countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and Botswana. So, the word ‘safari’ might be slightly misleading. Most people come to Rwanda for the activities offered in the rainforest environment: gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, volcano hikes and bird watching. Seeing mountain gorillas is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and most people walk away in awe of these magnificent gentle giants living their life in this stunning rainforest setting. Spending an hour with them is an absolute privilege. Because of this, and since gorilla trekking has been publicized more in recent years, it has become a bucket-list activity for many general tourists. The other activities will mostly appeal to the more active traveler. Rwanda has high rainfall throughout the year, so you’ll be walking a lot on slippery forest paths and you might well get wet on a few occasions. The daily limit on the gorilla permits means tourist numbers tend to be low wherever you go, and you’ll enjoy a feeling of exclusivity and discovery. The Rwandan people are extremely proud of their country and very welcoming to visitors.”

Rwanda Safari Reviews

Sue is an award-winning writer who specializes in African travel and conservation. She writes for national newspapers, magazines, Rough Guides and Lonely Planet.

Reconciliation and renaissance

Rwanda is one of the most inspiring countries I’ve visited. I first went in 2004 and have returned many times since: each time, I’ve been amazed at the country’s ongoing regeneration and resilience. Rwanda is known for two things:...

Full Review

Philip is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many guidebooks, including the Bradt guides to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa.

East Africa’s Phoenix State

Once regarded to be among the most fractious of African countries, Rwanda suffered multiple outbreaks of civil war and ethnic violence during its first 30 years as an independent state, culminating in the Genocide against the Tutsi that...

Rwanda is a hidden gem for wildlife observation

Our group of three pretty active seniors (63 ,66, 72) were traveling to Rwanda to observe mountain gorillas and do a more traditional safari. Two of us were birders, so naturally we focused on avian creatures a lot, but saw plenty of other...

I had an amazing experience about Rwanda

About wildlife in Rwanda is good as in National Parks there are animals that can't be found any where in world, like Mountain Gorillas in Virunga Park, Lions, Rhinos and other wild animals in Akagera National park. In Nyungwe national park...

A definite "bucket list" adventure and I would do it again!

The entire trip was a positive overwhelming experience. It is one of the cleanest countries I have visited. The people seemed to be happy and proud of the culture and their country. I was never concerned for my safety. It is about a 3...

Life-changing, life-affirming!

Foremost, the individualized attention that I received was incredible - from personal pick-up and transportation to the orientation and assisted itinerary. It was almost fate to be taken to a local restaurant - the Ogopogo - how terrific...

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Rwanda is one of the few places to see wild mountain gorillas.

Rwanda safaris and holidays

To come face to face with a mountain gorilla is one of the most compelling natural experiences on earth.

Roaming the thick forests of Volcanoes National Park , these gentle, communicative animals are without doubt Rwanda’s greatest attraction. With their complex personalities and extraordinary depths of understanding and emotion, they leave a lasting impression on every human visitor. As you watch a lounging silverback tolerating the toddlers tumbling around him, or a nursing mother adjusting the weight of her infant and peering up in bemusement through the trees at a high-altitude jet, they seem to be persons of another kind. While the gorillas are an absolute must-do, the quilt-like “Land of a Thousand Hills” has much more besides. Head south-west on switchback roads to track chimpanzees and watch stunning birdlife in the verdant cloudforests of Nyungwe Forest National Park . Swim or kayak in the clear, warm waters of Lake Kivu , with its Mediterranean-like shoreline. Or venture east to the archetypal savannahs and lakes of Akagera National Park where the “big five” can all be seen, along with (if you’re extremely lucky) the elusive shoebill stork. Rwanda came to the world’s attention during the 1994 genocide. Much of the healing process since has comes from the way this remarkable country has coped with the tragedy – from neighbourhood courts reconciling survivors with perpetrators to numerous monuments and museums, including Kigali’s poignant Genocide Memorial. Combined with the many opportunities you’ll have to discuss the country’s past and present with your driver-guide and other hosts, the memorial leaves an indelible impression.

Rwanda’s safari areas & key destinations

Volcanoes National Park in the north-west of the country is the most famous of Rwanda’s parks, renowned for its resident mountain gorillas. Not surprisingly, it is also the place that most people come to on holiday: Rwanda’s gorilla trekking is its biggest attraction.

Less well-known holiday options are Akagera National Park on its eastern border and Nyungwe Forest National Park in the south.

The only park with a savannah environment in Rwanda which can offer more “traditional" 4WD safaris is Akagera, which has good wildlife and opportunities to view it, albeit not on the scale of the parks in Kenya or Tanzania. But Akagera’s scenery is beautiful – it could be described as Rwanda’s Lake District – and it’s worth visiting for that alone. In stark contrast, Nyungwe features dense cloudforest, offering interesting hiking trails, birdwatching and primate spotting.

Rwanda’s national parks are easily accessible by road, so a circuit of all three, perhaps including the beautiful shore of Lake Kivu and the capital, Kigali , can make a fascinating and diverse holiday.

8 places to stay

Volcanoes National Park is home to more than half the world's mountain gorillas – a handful of family groups moving gently through the high forests. It's the best place in Africa to meet them.

6 places to stay

Kigali is Rwanda's attractive capital, and invariably features on Expert Africa road tours as an overnight stop. Stays invariably include a visit to the poignant Genocide Memorial.

5 places to stay

The Rwandan side of Lake Kivu is a picturesque lakeshore region with some comfortable lodges. The new lakeside road weaves above the lake through eucalyptus and banana groves.

3 places to stay

Scenic Akagera covers 1,100km² of grasslands, lakes, swamps and woodlands and is home to the so-called Big Five as well as many other mammals and hundreds of species of birds.

Nyungwe Forest

2 places to stay

Nyungwe Forest National Park is the largest swathe of tropical montane forest in East Africa, and home to a bewildering range of flora and fauna, including 13 species of primates.

Gishwati-Mukura

1 places to stay

This new national park connects the Gishwati and Mukura forests in western Rwanda and aims to provide first-class forest birding and eventually chimpanzee-viewing.

Our best wildlife holidays in Rwanda

If the focus of your trip to Rwanda is exclusively gorilla trekking , you can accomplish this in just a few days. However, Rwanda has much more to offer, so a longer trip would allow you to visit parks such as Nyungwe Forest and Akagera . Or consider combining the country with one of the neighbouring wildlife destinations.

The suggestions below have a range of durations, each incorporating all-inclusive safari lodges, excellent guiding and gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Longer trips take in a suggested circuit of this beautiful country, while still others take you from Rwanda to Tanzania or Kenya, or – for the truly adventurous – on an epic “highlights of Africa” trip.

As all our trips are tailor-made, these are just ideas. Whatever your interests – whether canoeing on Lake Kivu , tracking chimpanzees or spotting the “big five” – take a look, then give us a call and let us help you create your dream trip to Rwanda.

Golden Monkey Safari

12 days • 5 locations KIGALI AIRPORT TO KIGALI AIRPORT

Combine four key areas of Rwanda on this excellent-value trip, for a true wildlife and cultural experience. The perfect itinerary for those who want to see all the highlights of Rwanda.

US$9,710 - US$11,270 per person

Mona Monkey Safari

9 days • 3 locations KIGALI AIRPORT TO KIGALI AIRPORT

This example of a luxury holiday explores the wildlife of Nyungwe Forest, the scenic shores of Lake Kivu and the mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park, all accompanied by a private guide and vehicle.

US$12,160 - US$17,600 per person

L'Hoest's Monkey Safari

7 days • 3 locations KIGALI AIRPORT TO KIGALI AIRPORT

Meet three iconic primates – gorillas, chimps and golden monkeys – and explore Rwanda's fascinating culture on this excellent value privately guided adventure.

US$5,570 - US$6,320 per person

Gorillas and Serengeti Safari

11 days • 4 locations KIGALI AIRPORT TO KILIMANJARO AIRPORT

Combine three iconic experiences – mountain gorillas in Rwanda, and the Serengeti plains and awe-inspiring Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania.

US$12,620 - US$14,390 per person

Gorillas and Maasai Mara Safari

9 days • 3 locations KIGALI AIRPORT TO NAIROBI AIRPORT

This trip combines two of Africa's most unforgettable wildlife experiences – Rwanda's mountain gorillas and Kenya's Maasai Mara.

US$10,590 - US$13,490 per person

Mountain Gorilla Safari

5 days • 2 locations KIGALI AIRPORT TO KIGALI AIRPORT

Staying in great-value lodges, with a private driver-guide and 4WD, this adventure includes two treks to get up close with groups of mountain gorillas.

US$5,830 - US$6,120 per person

Gorillas and Migration Safari

9 days • 3 locations KIGALI AIRPORT TO KILIMANJARO AIRPORT

This luxury safari combines two iconic wildlife experiences: trekking to see the mountain gorillas in Rwanda, then flying to the northern Serengeti in search of the wildebeest migration and spectacular river crossings.

US$17,070 - US$23,410 per person

The Highlights of Africa

17 days • 7 locations CAPE TOWN AIRPORT TO KIGALI AIRPORT

An epic adventure taking in some of Africa’s most incredible sights and wildlife experiences, from Cape Town to the Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls, the Maasai Mara and an encounter with mountain gorillas.

US$14,320 - US$18,190 per person

Silverback Gorilla Safari

4 days • 1 locations KIGALI AIRPORT TO KIGALI AIRPORT

Fly into Rwanda and you can be trekking to meet a family of mountain gorillas the next morning. An itinerary like this could easily be combined with a safari in Kenya or Tanzania.

US$10,170 - US$13,040 per person

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Our travellers' most recent reviews of Rwanda holidays

Whenever our travellers return from their trips to Rwanda, and elsewhere, we ask for their feedback; their honest reviews are integral to the way we work.

Not only do they help us and other travellers to plan their own trips, they also help us to keep fully up to date. They’re also appreciated by those working in Rwanda, who value feedback that is guaranteed to be genuine.

All of our Rwanda holiday reviews are published in full, without us editing them. See all 171 reviews here , or click on a card below to read one of our most recent reviews in full.

Arrived 28 Jan 2024, 11 nights

"Fantastic Jan 2024 trip"

Overall rating: Excellent

Arrived 23 Dec 2023, 14 nights

"My Dec 2023 trip"

Arrived 18 Dec 2023, 20 nights

Arrived 6 Oct 2023, 11 nights

"My Oct 2023 trip"

Arrived 14 Oct 2023, 10 nights

Arrived 15 Jul 2023, 19 nights

"Africa - Our Long-Awaited Adventure - July 2023"

Arrived 15 Jul 2023, 18 nights

"My Jul 2023 trip"

Arrived 21 Jul 2023, 7 nights

Arrived 7 Jul 2023, 11 nights

Arrived 11 Jan 2023, 8 nights

"My Jan 2023 trip"

See all Rwanda reviews

Our travellers' wildlife sightings across Rwanda

Rwanda is renowned for its wildlife, above all the primates. Whenever our travellers set off on a safari to this extraordinary country, we ask them to consider keeping a record of their sightings of key species, from mountain gorillas and chimpanzees to lion and to black rhino .

For many travellers, this adds another layer of interest to their trip, and in turn their information helps us to build up a unique picture of where and when you are likely to find Rwanda’s key wildlife species: citizen science in action. Read how this survey works .

For more detail on what you’re likely to spot from individual camps and lodges, see our interactive map showing the best locations for key wildlife species in Rwanda.

100% success

80% success

60% success

50% success

40% success

39% success

16% success

10% success

Where to find Rwanda’s key wildlife species

Every wildlife sighting report from one of our travellers enhances our understanding of the best places and times for sighting the country’s main animal species.

You can find these results on our website – on our reviews of individual camps and reserves, on our dedicated wildlife pages, on our maps and on our individual holiday pages.

Whether your primary interest is mountain gorillas , or you’d love the thrill of spotting a giraffe in Rwanda, take a look at our data to work out the best places for seeing them amidst the country’s varied wildlife.

For a map of the best locations to see a given species, click on a card:

Syncerus caffer

One of the ‘Big Five’, buffalo earned a fearsome reputation in hunters’ tales. By contrast, big herds of these sociable bovids are placid, but mount formidable defences against predators.

83% SUCCESS

2,507 sightings from 3,030 observations

Where to see buffalo in Rwanda

Pan troglodytes

The chimpanzee is our closest living relative. This highly intelligent great ape is a forest animal with a sophisticated social life. Any encounter in the wild is a memorable experience.

100% SUCCESS

28 sightings from 28 observations

Where to see chimpanzee in Rwanda

Loxodonta africana

By far the biggest of the so-called Big Five – indeed, the largest land animal on the planet – the elephant shapes the very landscape it inhabits and is a defining presence on any safari.

91% SUCCESS

3,551 sightings from 3,906 observations

Where to see elephant in Rwanda

Giraffa camelopardalis

The world’s tallest land mammal, giraffes are herbivores which have evolved many unique adaptations. Their iconic outlines tower above the bush in many of Africa’s wildlife areas.

86% SUCCESS

3,429 sightings from 3,970 observations

Where to see giraffe in Rwanda

Hippopotamus amphibius

The territorial calls of the hippo create a signature soundtrack to Africa’s rivers & wetlands. Despite an endearing smile, this aquatic herbivore has a notoriously aggressive disposition.

89% SUCCESS

2,599 sightings from 2,918 observations

Where to see hippo in Rwanda

Spotted Hyena

Crocuta crocuta

The spotted hyena may be thought of as ‘ugly’ and ‘cowardly’. In fact, this versatile and intelligent carnivore is one of Africa’s most fascinating and warrants attention on any safari.

55% SUCCESS

2,132 sightings from 3,857 observations

Where to see spotted hyena in Rwanda

Panthera pardus

The most numerous of Africa’s big cats, leopard occur across many habitats, from wild tracts to populated areas. Their grace and their elusive nature make them a unique safari drawcard.

47% SUCCESS

1,895 sightings from 4,046 observations

Where to see leopard in Rwanda

Panthera leo

Lions are at the top of the food chain and also most safari wish-lists, but with their numbers falling fast, any encounter with these majestic apex predators always feels like a privilege.

81% SUCCESS

2,980 sightings from 3,658 observations

Where to see lion in Rwanda

Mountain Gorilla

Gorilla beringei

The world’s most impressive primate, the mountain gorilla inhabits a handful of locations in Africa’s equatorial cloud forests, where guided treks offer an intense wildlife experience.

42 sightings from 42 observations

Where to see mountain gorilla in Rwanda

Black Rhino

Diceros bicornis

The black rhino is the smaller and rarer of Africa’s two rhino species but has the more fearsome reputation. Shy and heavily persecuted, it tends to stick to cover.

31% SUCCESS

618 sightings from 2,004 observations

Where to see black rhino in Rwanda

Smutsia sp.

Pangolins appear to be more pine cone than animal in their unique armoury of scales. These nocturnal, ant-eating oddities are not only highly elusive but also increasingly rare.

54 sightings from 3,251 observations

Where to see pangolin in Rwanda

Orycteropus afer

The aardvark is one of Africa’s most bizarre and enigmatic animals. A shy, nocturnal termite-eater, signs of its presence may be scattered about the bush whilst sightings remain elusive.

67 sightings from 3,253 observations

Where to see aardvark in Rwanda

Taurotragus oryx

Africa’s largest antelope, eland are culturally important from prehistoric rock art to modern game farms. Though widespread, they are also shy so sightings are uncommon and often fleeting.

49% SUCCESS

1,446 sightings from 2,931 observations

Where to see eland in Rwanda

The zebra is a quintessential African animal: the horse in stripy pyjamas at the end of every child’s A–Z. There are three species, of which the plains zebra is much the most common.

84% SUCCESS

3,737 sightings from 4,428 observations

Where to see zebra in Rwanda

Roan antelope

Hippotragus equinus

Africa’s second largest antelope and one of its most handsome, with a powerful build and distinctive markings, roan are wary of people, but renowned for their bravery against predators.

23% SUCCESS

462 sightings from 1,973 observations

Where to see roan antelope in Rwanda

Sable antelope

Hippotragus niger

Perhaps Africa’s most beautiful antelope, sable are renowned for their combative nature, even holding off lions. Shy and restricted in range, sightings of sable are always special.

22% SUCCESS

440 sightings from 1,964 observations

Where to see sable antelope in Rwanda

Tragelaphus spekii

The sitatunga is the most aquatic of Africa’s antelopes and specially adapted to its swampy habitats. Though widespread across Africa, only a handful of places offer reliable sightings.

19% SUCCESS

60 sightings from 317 observations

Where to see sitatunga in Rwanda

White Rhino

Ceratotherium simum

The white rhino is the largest and most numerous of the world’s five rhinoceros species. They are larger, easier to see and generally more approachable than the black rhino.

44% SUCCESS

483 sightings from 1,094 observations

Where to see white rhino in Rwanda

When to see gorillas & safari in Rwanda

A holiday in Rwanda is possible all year, but the most popular times to travel are in the long dry season, from June to September, and the shorter dry season around December to February.

With the trails relatively dry, these can be the best months for gorilla trekking, but you’ll need to plan your holiday well ahead to secure permits – especially around the busiest season, between July and September.

Rwanda’s main rainy season is from March to May, with shorter rains in October and November. During these times, slippery trails can make gorilla trekking more challenging, but the landscape is lush and green, and it’s an excellent time for birdwatching.

To find out more, see Rwanda’s weather and climate information.

Rwanda in January

January falls into the shorter dry season in Rwanda and conditions can be good, however expect some showers during your stay. Christmas and New Year can be a very popular time of year to travel and lodges book up early. The high demand and favourable conditions lead to high prices for the more luxurious lodges. Travellers spending at least two nights in another of Rwanda’s national parks, in addition to the Volcanoes National Park, can take advantage of lower prices for one gorilla permit. This makes it great-value to do a longer trip to Rwanda, taking time to explore Nyungwe Forest and Akagera National Park. January can be fantastic for birding too, with plenty of migrant species found in the forests.

• Generally good weather although with some rainy spells.
• Popular time of year to travel, particularly around New Year.
• Advance booking advised, particularly for high-end trips.
• Good for birding with migrant species present.
• Special offers are great for exploring the other national parks.

A very good time to visit

Weather in January

Rwanda in February

As February progresses the likelihood of more rain increases as Rwanda heads towards the heavy rains in March and April. This can still be a good time of year to visit, particularly at the start of the month, and you are a likely to experience a mix of dry days and rainy spells. Your days are likely to be warm, however as with the rest of the year nights can be cold. This is particularly true of the Volcanoes National Park which is at higher altitude. February can be a good time of year to combine gorilla trekking in Rwanda with seeing the wildebeest migration in Tanzania as the vast herds gather in February on the southern Serengeti plains for the calving season.

• Transitional month, with the chance of rain increasing towards March.
• Warm days and cold nights, particularly in Volcanoes NP.
• High-end lodges are expensive, although demand is lower.
• Migrant birds present with great birding to be had.
• Good time of year to combine with the wildebeest migration.

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in February

Rwanda in March

The heavy rains typically start in March , often continuing through to early May. This is generally not a great time to visit Rwanda and conditions are likely to be fairly wet and muddy underfoot. Many people still visit at this time, taking advantage of lower prices at the more luxurious lodges and good availability of gorilla permits. The rain clears the air and it is likely to be far less hazy at this time, making it very good for photography. The green season can be particularly good for bird watching with many migrant species visiting Rwanda at this time. This can also be a good time of year for chimpanzee trekking, as their food is plentiful in March and troops are not likely to travel as far.

• Heavy rains make gorilla trekking conditions not ideal.
• Lower prices and good availability for gorilla permits.
• Good for bird watching with plenty of migrant species present.
• Typically shorter distances to walk for chimpanzee trekking.

This is not a great time to visit

Weather in March

Rwanda in April

April is typically one of the wettest months in Rwanda, with an average rainfall of around 150mm. It is still possible to visit during April, however be prepared for heavy rain and muddy conditions in the mountains. April is the low season for high-end lodges and prices can be significantly cheaper at this time. Comparatively few people choose to visit during April, meaning that it is likely to be fairly quiet and relatively easy to secure gorilla permits. The 7th of April marks ‘Kwibuka’, an annual ceremony which begins three months of remembrance for the victims of the genocide. During this time the whole nation enters a period of reflection, with a number of events being held in commemoration.

• Expect heavy rains throughout the month.
• Few visitors means it is fairly easy to secure gorilla permits.
• It is the green season for luxury lodges, with much lower prices.
• Good time of year for birding.
• Kwibuka remembrance ceremony on 7th April.

Weather in April

Rwanda in May

May is often a transitional season in Rwanda, following on from the rains in April. Heavy bursts of rain can be expected at times, however it will often start to dry up as the month progresses. Any rainy spells are likely to last a few hours rather than all day. With the heavy rain earlier in the year it can often remain muddy underfoot when trekking the gorillas and chimpanzees and it’s advisable to wear gaiters. Following the rains the air can be clear, without any haziness, and this leads to great photographic opportunities at this time of year. For many of the high-end lodges May is classed as the low season, which can make this month great value for money, with fairly good weather and comparatively low prices.

• Weather can be variable, mostly dry with some rainy spells.
• Be prepared for muddy conditions when trekking the gorillas.
• Good air clarity leads to great photographic opportunities.
• Can be good value for money if you’re looking at a high-end trip.

Weather in May

Rwanda in June

The weather in June can be fantastic and this is one of the best times of year to visit Rwanda. This is the start of the main dry season in Rwanda and the rainfall in June typically averages only around 20mm. It is likely to be warm and dry during the day, however the odd rainy shower remains possible. Conditions for gorilla trekking can be very good, although you are still likely to experience mud underfoot in parts. This is the peak season for the high-end lodges and prices rise significantly. Rwanda is exceptionally popular between June and September and the luxurious lodges regularly fill up well over a year in advance, so we advise planning early.

• Dry weather can lead to excellent conditions for gorilla trekking.
• High-end lodges increase their prices and trips can be costly.
• Very popular time of year, advance booking is strongly recommended.

Fantastic: the very best time to visit

Weather in June

Rwanda in July

July is a great time of year to visit Rwanda, this is in the middle of the longer dry period and conditions for gorilla trekking can be excellent. Expect long dry days, although always with the off-chance of rain at some point during your stay. As with the rest of the year, temperatures are likely to average around 20-25ºC during the day, though nights can be chilly. July is a very popular time of year to travel to Rwanda and we advise booking at least 12 months ahead, particularly if you’re looking for a high-end trip. Prices at the top end of the market can be very high in July, however many of the mid-range lodges have the same prices throughout the year, making these options great value at this time.

• Excellent conditions with dry weather for much of the month.
• Very popular time to travel with a limited number of gorilla permits.
• Advance booking is required to for the best choice of accommodation.
• High-end trips can be expensive at this time of year.
• Many mid-range lodges have the same price throughout the year.

Weather in July

Rwanda in August

August is one of the most popular times of year to visit Rwanda. This is the middle of the longer dry season and conditions can be very good. While it can still be muddy underfoot this is unlikely to impact your trek. Our top advice for travel in August is to plan early as many of the more popular lodges will regularly book up well over a year in advance at this time. Many people visiting Rwanda will choose to combine this with a safari in the Serengeti and August is one of the best months for this. The wildebeest migration is in full swing, with the vast herds being up near the Mara River and river crossings likely.

• Fantastic time to visit with dry weather and great conditions.
• Very popular time to travel, we advise booking early.
• Lodges book up and gorilla permits can be hard to secure.
• Higher prices for the top-end lodges.
• Great time of year to combine with a safari in the Serengeti.

Weather in August

Rwanda in September

The dry season comes to an end in September , with the rains increasing towards the end of the month. For the most part you are likely to experience dry conditions, but be prepared for rainy showers and cold nights. September remains a popular time to travel, especially for those combining the gorillas with the wildebeest migration. The Kwita Izina festival (the official naming ceremony for all baby gorillas born in the past year) takes place ever year, usually in September. It’s a time of celebration for everyone involved in their conservation. The exact date varies. Chat to us if you’d like to plan your trip around this event.

• Conditions typically good but expect some rain.
• Popular time to travel and early booking is advised.
• Great time of year to combine gorillas and the wildebeest migration.
• The Kwita Izina festival, usually in September, names baby gorillas.

Weather in September

Rwanda in October

The short rains have typically started by October with the month’s rainfall averaging around 110mm. This rain normally falls in short, heavy bursts and you’re likely to have plenty of dry spells too. As with the rest of the year, days can be warm, although nights can be cold, and this is especially true around the Volcanoes National Park where lodges set log fires to keep you warm in the evening. Lots of people choose to visit Rwanda at this time and prices remain high for the top-end lodges. Booking early is recommended, particularly if you plan to stay at one of the smaller, more exclusive lodges around the Volcanoes park.

• Good time of year to travel although with an increased amount of rain.
• Days are warm however nights can get cold.
• October is popular, particularly for the high-end lodges.
• Prices remain high at the top end of the spectrum.

Weather in October

Rwanda in November

The rains typically continue into November and this can be one of the wetter months of the year. This can still be a good time to travel, as there are still likely to be plenty of dry periods and the gorillas can still be trekked. However, expect quite a bit of mud. The high-end lodges drop their prices in November, making it much more affordable for luxury accommodation. Between November and April there is also a special offer from the parks authorities, providing a discount on your first gorilla permit if you spend at least two nights in one other national park. This special offer combined with lower prices for luxury lodges makes Rwanda great value for money in November.

• One of the wetter months however gorilla trekking is still possible.
• Far less busy, making it easier to secure gorilla permits.
• Reduced prices for high-end accommodation.
• Special offers to encourage travel to multiple national parks.

Weather in November

Rwanda in December

Rwanda has a second short dry season which typically runs from December to January. Conditions at this time can typically be fairly good, although not as ideal as June – August, and you can still expect rain at this time. Many of the forest tracks can be muddy and nights can be cold. Many people choose to travel to Rwanda over Christmas and New Year and we advise booking early, particularly if you have preferred lodges in mind. The special offer for a your first gorilla permit at a reduced price remains in place for all travellers spending at least two nights in another park, making Rwanda excellent value for money in December.

• Short dry season, however rain is still possible.
• Conditions for gorilla trekking can be good, but expect mud.
• Cold at night, warm clothes are recommended.
• Very popular over Christmas and New Year, early booking advised.
• Special offers make December good value for money.

Weather in December

Country guide

Useful information for a Rwanda safari

Not much bigger than Wales, or New Jersey, Rwanda packs quite a punch. Many visitors come just to see its famous mountain gorillas, or as an add-on to a safari in Kenya or Tanzania. Yet there is so much more to see on a Rwanda holiday.

With three established national parks ( Volcanoes National Park , Nyungwe Forest and Akagera ) and a fourth – Gishwati-Mukura National Park – newly gazetted in 2015, wildlife is far more diverse than you many expect, including chimpanzees, golden monkeys and other primates, as well as all of the “big five”.

Spectacular mountain scenery at every turn, the calm of Lake Kivu , and the thriving capital, Kigali , deserve further exploration – as does the opportunity to understand a little of the country’s history and culture.

Where to go on a Rwanda safari

Without doubt the jewel in the crown of Rwanda’s wildlife destinations is Volcanoes National Park , home to more than half the world’s population of mountain gorillas. Here, too, you’ll find troops of golden monkeys in the lower bamboo forests, making this an ideal introductory walk before embarking on a gorilla trek. Not to be outdone, Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to 13 species of primate, among them troops of chimpanzees. Although they tend to remain in dense forest, making sightings harder than those of gorillas, their playful nature is exceptionally engaging, even from a distance. Entirely different is the scenic Akagera National Park , who’s rolling hills, deep valleys and low-lying savannah harbour the classic safari “big five”: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and both black and white rhino. Akagera also boasts a population of shoebill storks, though access is far from easy. Better by far for birding in Rwanda is Nyungwe, where the lucky may spot endemics such as the Albertine owlet.

How many gorillas are in Rwanda?

The Virunga Mountains that straddle the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are home to around 480 mountain gorillas, more than half of the world’s entire population; the rest live in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. In Volcanoes National Park , the Rwandan part of the Virungas, ten gorilla groups are currently habituated for gorilla safaris, more than anywhere else in the world. Look into the eyes of a large silverback gorilla and he'll look back with a thoughtful, intelligent gaze, mindful that you're another individual. Any apprehensions or nerves you might have had during your trek will melt away the minute you see your gorilla family. Gorilla-trekking safaris offer a magical encounter that transcends any other “wildlife” experience we know.

Primate holidays in Rwanda

Although mountain gorillas are the unrivalled stars of the show, there are plenty of other primate-tracking opportunities while on holiday in Rwanda. In Volcanoes National Park , where the mountain gorillas live, two groups of endangered golden monkeys have also been habituated for visitor tracking. Pretty and playful, they’re a delight to watch. Seeking them out also offers an opportunity to acclimatise before a day of gorilla trekking . In the south of the country, Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to 13 different primate species, among them chimpanzees and Rwenzori colobus monkeys, both of which can be tracked. Indeed, Nyungwe’s colobus monkeys can sometimes be seen in spectacular troops of several hundred, believed to be among the largest numbers worldwide.

Travelling around Rwanda

Lush and mountainous, Rwanda is ideally suited for exploration by road. Surfaces are generally good, with many new asphalt roads being constructed to replace dirt roads, and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful views at almost every turn. For travellers on our privately guided trips , Rwanda is very comfortable. You’ll have a private 4WD vehicle with air conditioning and plenty of space, and your own driver-guide, who will have a significant role in your trip. Flexibility is key to these trips. Typically you’ll discuss the options with your guide each evening, from where you’d like to stop on a journey to how you’d like to spend your free afternoons, but there’s room for spontaneity, too. Focus on the things that are important to you, whether it be gorillas or chimpanzees, history and culture, hiking or kayaking. Take time to chat to your guide and to the people of Rwanda.

Rwanda’s genocide

Rwanda is a surprising and inspiring country for a holiday, not least because of the remarkable way it has united in the years since it tore itself apart during the horrific genocide of 1994. While it would be naïve to suggest that the entire nation has moved on, a visit here leaves you with an overwhelming sense of the people’s optimism and national pride, and their determination that genocide must never happen again. Today, people call themselves Rwandans, with no distinction between Tutsis and Hutus. Yet with remembrance as much a part of the country’s healing process as reconciliation, commemorations called Kwibuka take place each year, from April to July. At any time of year, a visit to Kigali’s Genocide Memorial is important in understanding Rwanda’s history and the events leading up to the genocide. A beautiful, peaceful place, it is testament to Rwanda’s strength and spirit of reconciliation.

Maps of Rwanda: two styles

With our two different styles of mapping, the topography of Rwanda is thrown into relief. Zoom into the areas and then the lodges and reserves on our maps for a vivid indication of the lie of the land, dotted with hills or “collines”.

At a glance, it’s clear that the country’s western fringe is dominated by Lake Kivu, which in turn leads up to the lush forests of ( Volcanoes , Nyungwe Forest and Gishwati-Mukura national parks – beloved of the primates.

Heading east brings you to the lower-lying plains of Akagera National Park , whose swathes of savannah are populated by more traditional safari animals.

Click onto any of the markers and follow the links in the bubbles until you find maps of these areas, with precise locations for the various safari camps and lodges.

Need inspiration?

Let our trip chooser narrow down the options for you

Understand more about Rwanda

For most visitors to Rwanda, the focus of their trip – often a holiday of a lifetime – is the mountain gorillas.

Whether or not you choose to explore further, there is information that will underpin your trip, and practical details that will help to make your trip run smoothly.

Here we take a look at some of these, from the history behind gorilla trekking in Rwanda to how our privately-guided trips work. You’ll also find a little about the background to the country, along with information on Rwanda’s attitude to LGBT travellers, and our advice on the subject of tipping.

Gorilla trekking

Rwanda general info

LGBT travel in Rwanda

Tipping in Rwanda

Privately guided trips

Gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda

Tracking mountain gorillas in Rwanda is the ultimate wildlife experience and the reason why most people come here on holiday: for serious wildlife enthusiasts, sitting within a small family group of gorillas is a must. Rwanda is where Dian Fossey first brought the world’s attention to the plight of these majestic primates in the late 1960s, when only around 250 survived. The 2011 census recorded some 880 individuals and, encouragingly, numbers since 2017 have stabilised at over 1,000 mountain gorillas, split between Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. About half of them live in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park . The survival of mountain gorillas is one of Africa’s greatest conservation success stories, and tourism has played its role in this. Rwanda is regarded as probably the best destination for a gorilla-trekking safari. Although permits aren’t cheap, the hour that you’re allowed to spend with these great apes promises to be a priceless encounter that will remain with you long after your holiday is over.

Rwanda general information

In 1994, Rwanda's civil war dominated the world's headlines. With hundreds of thousands of people killed, this became known as the “Rwandan genocide”. It is still what most people think about when Rwanda is mentioned. Today, the country has been at peace for many years. Rwanda's democratic government promotes harmony, many Rwandese are eager to tell of their past, to let the world know what happened – and to protect their country against it ever happening again. Rwanda has one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. It has more women in Parliament than any other country in the world (holding at more than 60% for some years) and is considered to be one of the safest and most friendly countries on the continent. Compared with most of its neighbours, Rwanda is tiny, just 26,338km², but its high volcanic mountains have earned it the nickname “Switzerland of Africa”, or “the land of a thousand hills”.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel to Rwanda

We’ve sent many people to Rwanda since 2004, including LGBT travellers, and we have yet to hear of any issues raised or problems encountered as a result of a visitor’s sexuality. Although same-sex marriage remains illegal, there are no laws against homosexual behaviour. Rwanda is party to the UN statement condemning violence against LGBT people, and in 2016, President Paul Kagame stated that living as an LGBT citizen in Rwanda “…hasn’t been our problem. And we don’t intend to make it our problem”. That said, openly amorous behaviour, for both hetero- and homosexual couples, can cause offence, especially in rural areas, so we’d still advise all our travellers to be cautious, regardless of sexual orientation. In general, we’d suggest that you stick to a “don’t ask, don't tell” approach while travelling.

Although giving gratuities can be a complicated subject, it is a normal part of Rwanda’s culture and service industry. Here, as in most countries, tips are at your discretion, usually dependent on the quality of service received. In Rwanda, your private driver-guide will be key to a successful trip, and is normally tipped separately. The same goes for trekking guides and rangers, whereas it’s normal practice to tip trackers as a group. When staying in a lodge, do remember that many people are involved in the smooth running of your trip. Contributing to the general tip box at the end of your stay will ensure that each individual is rewarded for their work. Do remember, though, that more affluent travellers can impact disproportionately on the local economy, tipping the balance of social and economic factors, so keep that in mind when tipping staff and guides during your holiday in Rwanda.

Privately guided Rwanda safaris

With its compact size and diverse landscapes, Rwanda is an ideal destination for privately guided trips. These journeys offer unparalleled flexibility and immersion in the country's culture and natural beauty. Hence all of our Rwanda safaris include a private driver-guide and vehicle, travellers can explore at their own pace, focusing on their interests, whether it's encountering mountain gorillas, kayaking, or delving into Rwandan history and culture. This highly personalized approach allows for very natural and genuine interactions with locals and plenty of spontaneous moments along the way, whilst you relax in the care of a top professional guide. We’ll work with you to choose your accommodation and main activities along the way, to help provide an authentic Rwandan experience, from rustic camps to upscale lodges. Traveling by road cmakes it easier for travellers to gain a comprehensive understanding of Rwanda's landscape and culture, with opportunities to visit villages, coffee plantations, and historical sites. Your guides will be very knowledgeable about Rwanda's past and present, and ensure a personalized experience tailored to your individual preferences. Starting from Kigali, the capital city, you’ll embark on a route visiting iconic destinations like Volcanoes National Park, Akagera, or Lake Kivu, all accessible via well-connected roads.

Safaris to Rwanda: beyond gorilas

Rwanda’s mountainous terrain and rainforest national parks are a major attraction, and many visitors' primary focus is visiting the mountain gorillas. If time is tight, that makes sense – and it’s possible to fulfil your dream in just four days.

Broadening the options, you could incorporate chimpanzees into your trip, or extend it to explore the whole country, from the cultural heart of Kigali to the “big five” that roam the plains of Akagera.

Whatever your interests, however long you have, remember that all our trips are tailormade. Take a look through the suggestions below, then give us a call – and let us create your perfect holiday.

Looking further afield, Rwanda works well in combination with other countries in the region, perhaps with a safari in Kenya or Tanzania , or – on a true adventure of a lifetime – transforming into a full-scale “highlights of Africa” trip.

Let us help you customise your trip

All of our holidays on this site are just ideas; none are fixed. All of our trips are tailor-made, so we'll always adapt them to suit you. Talk to an Expert and let us help you to work out your perfect trip.

Talk to an Expert

Call us now! We’ll match you with the Specialist in our team who is best suited to help you. Then together we can start planning your trip.

Set up your itinerary

Based on our experience and your ideas, your specialist will create a detailed, costed itinerary. We’ll refine it together, until we have a trip that you’re perfectly happy with.

Prepare for your trip

The same Specialist will make the seamless arrangements for your trip, send you detailed travel documents, and be available to answer any questions before you depart.

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After you set off, you’ll be cared for by our partners in Africa, most of whom have worked with Expert Africa for decades. And if you ever need us urgently, we’re available 24/7.

When you return

We love to learn about your trip, and so will always be grateful if you’ve the time to give feedback to your Specialist when you return.

What to do in Rwanda besides gorillas

On our Rwanda safaris, there’s a remarkable array of possible experiences. Your guide will suggest some along the way, but many of the key activities need arranging in advance - see below for some of our favourites.

Gorilla Trekking Safari

Half day: one hour with the gorillas

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is a magical experience, transcending any other wildlife encounter we know. Meeting a gorilla family in their forest home, led by a dominant male silverback and a cluster of females and young, is a natural adventure that fully repays the cost in unforgettable memories and images. Your driver-guide from Kigali will operate your transfers to the park headquarters and introduce you to your trekking group and parks guide.

Golden Monkey Trekking

Half day; one hour with the monkeys

Spend a morning trekking to find the golden monkeys in the Volcanoes National Park. These endangered monkeys are endemic to the Albertine Rift area and are characterised by their golden-orange fur. You’ll be able to enjoy an hour watching them jump through the bamboo and hunker down to chew bamboo leaves, curiously watching you, as you watch them. Your driver-guide from Kigali will operate your transfers to the park headquarters and introduce you to your trekking group and parks guide.

Kigali Tour and Genocide Memorial Visit

You'll be driven around Kigali to see the highlights of the city, with a main stop at the Genocide Memorial and museum. This will give you a fascinating, though sobering, insight into Rwanda's modern history. It is remarkable to learn just how far Rwanda has come in such a short period of time and it certainly adds a deeper understanding about the Rwandan people.

Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest

Half day - one hour with the chimpanzees

Trekking to see the chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park can be exhilarating. While sighting them in dense forest can be challenging, to watch them cavorting in the tree tops, their all-too-human characteristics to the fore, makes this an exceptionally rewarding half-day excursion.

Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest

Two - three hours

The Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest opened in 2010 and was one of the first high-level bridges of this kind to cross a forest canopy on the African continent. You'll be amazed by this easy walk high above the forest canopy.

King’s Palace & Museum Visit

If your trip in Rwanda incorporates travelling south from Kigali, a visit to the King’s Palace and Museum gives an interesting insight into Rwanda’s cultural history and monarchy. It's also ideally placed to break up the long journey to Nyungwe Forest.

Canoeing in Rwanda

Half day - approx. 3 hours on the water

This half-day adventure takes place through lush farmland, on the meandering Mukungwa River near Musanze town. Discovering Rwanda’s countryside in a canoe is great fun: the launch spot is just half an hour from Volcanoes National Park and you'll be guided along the shallow waterway by an expert local canoeist. Your driver-guide from Kigali will operate your transfers and introduce you to your canoe group and guide.

Colobus Trekking in Nyungwe

Two hours approx, morning or afternoon

Visiting the black-and-white colobus monkeys of Nyungwe Forest is a highly enjoyable excursion. A gentler walk than trekking in search of chimpanzees, it takes you through lush green tea plantations surrounding an isolated patch of rainforest, where these striking primates can be spotted jumping around the trees.

Mount Bisoke Trek

For something a little different, set out on a one-day hike to the summit of Mt Bisoke in the Volcanoes National Park, home to Rwanda’s famous mountain gorillas. Discover the beautiful scenery of the Virunga Mountains, spot birds and wildlife, and enjoy spectacular views from the crater lake.

Bird Walk in Nyungwe Forest

Two–four hours

For many, the wealth of birds that inhabit Nyungwe Forest is the park’s greatest attraction. Spend a morning or afternoon exploring in the company of a birding specialist, following forest trails as you watch out for the colourful, the secretive and sometimes the extremely rare birds of this ancient tropical rainforest.

Akagera Sunset Boat Safari

Half day - one hour on the water

Akagera’s Lake Ihema is a beautiful contrast to the rolling hills of the east of Rwanda, and the flatter plains to the north. Relax and enjoy the peace and quiet on your cruise, while watching the sunset over the lake and the national park beyond.

Trek to Dian Fossey’s Grave

Half day, usually five hours

Dian Fossey is best known for her research and conservation work with the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. She dedicated her life to researching and protecting these ‘gentle giants’ from harm, however she was tragically found murdered at her research camp in 1985. Today visitors can join a local guide to trek through the tropical forest to visit her grave, and learn about the impact of her work.

Mount Karisimbi Trek - 2 day trek

Two days - overnight on Mt Karisimbi

Set out on a two-day hike to the summit of Mount Karisimbi, which at over 4,507m is one of the highest in Africa. This is a challenge for the adventurous! With a local guide, you’ll traverse bamboo forests and rugged terrain, then camp on the slopes of this dormant volcano before enjoying sunrise from the summit.

Special types of holiday to Rwanda

If wildlife is your passion, Rwanda would be hard to beat. Not only does it offer Gorilla-trekking in the Volcanoes National Park , but it also harbours 13 species of primate in Nyungwe Forest National Park , including chimpanzees, and the “big five” in Akagera National Park .

Hikers , too, will be in their element in the mountains – when the treks to see the primates can be an adventure in themselves. Check out, too, the swamps and waterfalls of Nyungwe Forest, or the canopy walkway through the tops of the trees.

Not far from Volcanes National Park, canoeing comes into its own on the Mukungwa River. You’ll explore with a qualified guide, paddling past local communities and through the occasional small rapids, whereas on Lake Kivu, kayaking is a peaceful way to explore the lake and its islands.

Exploring Rwanda on a privately guided trip offers the perfect opportunity to understand something of the local culture as you drive through bustling villages, lush farms and plantations of tea and plantations. But for a truly eye-opening introduction to the country, it’s worth starting at Kigali’s genocide memorial.

These and more can be included in a trip designed specially for you. Take a look at the options, then talk to us and let us help you plan your trip.

Birdwatching

Diverse habitats, discreet hides and superb guiding.

Cultural experiences

Get an insight into Africa's cultures and history.

Romantic safaris and castaway island retreats.

First-class service, scenic vistas and unparalleled comfort await you during these carefully selected luxury holidays. 

Photography holidays

Great holidays to suit the keen photographer.

Solo Travel

Trip ideas ideally suited for a solo traveller.

Explore Africa's most scenic trails on foot.

Walking safaris

Explore Africa's untouched wildernesses on foot.

Wildlife safaris

These trips include hard-hitting game and fascinatingly elusive species alike, as well as superb guiding and a variety of diverse ecosystems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rwanda FAQs

Mention Rwanda, and many people raise their eyebrows – leaving a confused impression with lots of unanswered questions.

Yet such questions are important, so here we’ve tried to answer some of those that are likely to come up in conversation, from how to prepare for gorilla trekking to what you can expect to eat.

Our team of experts know Rwanda well from personal experience. No matter how apparently trivial your question, we will do our best to help, so please do give us a call .

How hard is gorilla trekking in Rwanda?

You don’t have to be super-fit for a gorilla-trekking safari but it does help if you have a general level of fitness, if only to enhance your overall enjoyment of the experience. It also helps to have the right clothing. Depending on which group of gorillas you track, and the time of year you go (gorillas tend to move down the mountains in the rains), you might find yourself walking on some pretty steep and sometimes muddy slopes for several hours. On the other hand, you could reach your group after a leisurely 30-minute stroll. Either way, walking will be at a slow pace, with time for breaks if needed. But slopes are often steep, and the altitude, at over 2,500m, can be tiring, so it’s best to be prepared for the most active option. If nothing else, a few hill walks before you leave home would be beneficial.

What do I need to take for a gorilla-trekking safari?

Paths on gorilla treks can be slippery, muddy and steep so sturdy walking boots are essential. Some people take thick gardening gloves because of the brambles and nettles along the way, and you should wear long trousers rather than shorts. Though bear in mind that temperatures can be warm; it’s easy to over-heat. A waterproof jacket could well come in handy and take some water and a snack in case it’s a long trek. You might also find a walking stick or pole helpful; these are available at the start of the trek. For a small fee of around US$10, porters are available at the trailheads to carry your backpacks and to offer a hand during tricky parts of the hike. Even if you don’t really need this service, hiring a porter is a helpful way to contribute directly to the local economy, and chatting to them as you walk can broaden your understanding of local life as well as enhancing your gorilla trek.

How can I get the best photographs of the gorillas?

For keen photographers, a camera is a must: taking your own pictures of mountain gorillas is one of the most magical photo sessions you’ll ever experience. That said, this isn’t an environment for a massive, tripod-mounted lens; it's better to work with something that can be hand-held, or perhaps steadied with a monopod. We’ve found a zoom lens (80–200mmm f2.8) is very good, coupled with a high ISO setting. It’s as well to remember that the light can be poor in the rainforest and that use of flash is not permitted. You would be wise to have a bag which limits the effect of humidity on your camera, and perhaps even a cover to protect it against rain whilst you’re holding it.

What can I expect from the hotels in Rwanda?

The location of the camps on our private guided trips around Rwanda is very important. You can expect to be somewhere with a real feel for the destination, perhaps in the foothills of the Virunga Mountains, home to the mountain gorillas, or overlooking the expansive waters of Lake Kivu . Although Rwanda is not renowned for its luxury accommodation, times are changing, and while the simpler options remain, there are now more upmarket lodges, with accommodation and service to match. Even so, the quality of service and food can, at times, be a little lower than you'd hope for, as many staff are new to tourism.

What is the food like in Rwanda?

The food in Rwandan lodges and hotels varies from mediocre to very good. Fresh fruit and the Belgian-inspired cuisine are usually good; otherwise, whilst hygiene standards are generally high, results can be variable. For most local Rwandan people, the diet consists mainly of sweet potatoes, peas, corn, beans, millet and fresh fruit, including avocados, mangos and papayas. Umutsima (cassava and corn), isombe (cassava leaves with eggplant and spinach) and mizuzu (fried plantains) are some of Rwanda's traditional dishes. Drinks include local beer and ikigage, a locally brewed beer made from sorghum.

How much does it cost to see gorillas in Rwanda?

You can only make a visit to the gorillas in Rwanda when in a group guided by the national park’s guides – it’s very strictly regulated. We will book your ‘gorilla-trekking permits’ well in advance, with the rest of your trip. Securing permits for trekking gorillas, especially during the popular periods between July and September, can be difficult at short notice, so you should plan well ahead. Our team of experts will make all the arrangements for buying your permits. For 2024, no more than 96 gorilla-trekking permits are available each day, each costing US$1,500 per person for a one-hour visit . Travellers who are also spending a minimum of three days in either Nyungwe Forest National Park or Akagera National Park between November and May are entitled to a 30% discount, reducing the costs to US$1,050 per person. Amongst other things, the permits pay for a 24-hour guard for each gorilla group (armed teams constantly track each habituated group – like royal bodyguards in the UK!). The fees also help to strengthen conservation efforts and to support the development of local communities.

Our other African destinations

At Expert Africa , we specialise in safari destinations, each of them unique – and none more so than Rwanda.

While the “big five” are present in Rwanda, take a look at its eastern neighbours, Tanzania or Kenya , for a more traditional safari – either alone or in combination with Rwanda.

To the south, Zambia and Zimbabwe – on either side of the great Zambezi River and both bordering the Victoria Falls – also offer superb game viewing.

Equally compelling, albeit far more exclusive, are the superb private concessions of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, while for a self-drive adventure, Namibia comes out on top.

Many travellers want to finish a safari holiday with a watersports or beach destination, and here Kenya , Mozambique , Malawi and South Africa all excel. You could even consider an idyllic island add-on to Zanzibar , or the Seychelles .

The choices are many and varied, so do get in touch ; we’re here to help.

With big game, glamorous lodges and one of the greatest unspoilt wildernesses on Earth, Botswana is perhaps Africa's most exclusive safari destination.

Humanity’s ancestors lived in Kenya, which is now home to people speaking 42 languages, and some of Africa’s rarest, most magnificent wildlife.

With tropical rivers, Rift Valley plateaux, the crystal-clear waters of Lake Malawi and a stunning lakeshore, Malawi invites relaxed exploration.

An ocean paradise protected by world-class marine parks, Mozambique’s idyllic archipelagos offer heavenly hideaways, outstanding diving and laid-back luxury.

Spectacular scenery, diverse wildlife and a rich cultural heritage await discovery by air, with a guide or on a self-drive adventure.

The ultimate glamorous getaway: the lush islands of Seychelles are enchantingly beautiful and stylish sanctuaries for both wildlife and ocean-lovers.

South Africa

Cosmopolitan Cape Town, world-class wineries, brilliant ‘Big Five’ safaris and spectacularly diverse scenery make South African holidays fabulously exciting and enjoyable.

East Africa’s biggest country has a wide range of parks to explore and some of the Indian Ocean’s best island retreats.

Home to walking safaris, exceptional wildlife, superb guiding and the mighty Victoria Falls, Zambia is Africa at its most alluring.

The ultimate Spice Island: Zanzibar’s mystique, marine life and chic beach retreats make it Africa’s most alluring archipelago.

Stunning national parks teeming with game, plus Africa's finest professional guides and the spectacular Victoria Falls: Zimbabwe is enthralling.

Elephant safari in Linyanti

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Kigali Rwanda 1 Day Trips Excursions Safaris

Adding item to wishlist requires an account, already a member, don't have an account create one., rwanda 1 day tours, trips & safaris starting from kigali city.

Kigali Rwanda 1-Day Trips Excursions Safaris are a mini vacation, a shot adventure squeezed delightfully into 24 hours while visiting Rwanda. These tours begin and end in Kigali, the capital and largest city of Rwanda. Some of the most popular one-day vacations in Rwanda include going on a safari in Akagera National Park , Sorwathe Tea Plantation tour, a scenic lake cruise on Twin Lakes (Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo) in Musanze, a Canopy walk experience in Nyungwe National Park, visit Rwanda’s largest lake, Lake Kivu, and the Gisenyi and Kibuye towns, visit Lake Muhazi for fishing, boating, swimming or bird watching, visit the Dian Fossey Tomb and the Karisoke Research center.

Learn more about Rwanda’s history and culture at the Ethnographic Museum, visit Inema Arts Center, Kigali Genocide Memorial Museum, Kimironko Market, visit Genocide Memorial Sites -Nyamata and Ntarama Memorial Sites, visit the Gorillas at Volcanoes National Park, visit the King’s Palace Museum, go sightseeing in Kigali city, visit Gishwati Mukura National park for primate watching, bird watching, hiking and nature walking and community tours, visit the famous Hotel Rwanda, full day Mt. Bisoke hike and visit Ibyi’wacu Cultural Village.

Book, save money and enjoy a hassle-free one-day getaway in Rwanda. There’s a huge range of great escapes below. It’s time you took a short break and booked with us!

Our 1-Day Kigali trips & tours are budget-friendly holidays in Rwanda starting from Kigali, in the morning from your hotel residence, fill your day with adventures, then end back in Kigali to relax in your hotel. 

Our one-day getaway ideas or day vacation ideas visit Rwanda’s top destinations and ideally, the tours involve a few hours of driving so that you can make the most of your time at the destination you choose.

These include a o ne-day Akagera National Park Game Drive with a 4×4 safari vehicle, 1 Day Gorilla trekking volcanoes national park, 1 Day Canopy Walk Adventure in Nyungwe Forest National Park, a Tea Plantation Experience, c ultural entertainment tour, Lake Kivu on this full-day excursion, one-day hike to the summit of Mt Bisoke in the Volcanoes National Park, and 1-day Kigali City tour.

Other places to go on excursions & day trips in Rwanda, when you are near the city of Kigali, include a f ull-day Gorilla trek in Volcanoes Park. full-day culture & heritage experience (Nyanza & Butare), canoeing on the Mukungwa River – Rwanda’s twin lakes of Ruhondo and Burera, half day Kigali City tour & genocide memorial tour,  and a 1-day trek to Dian Fossey’s Grave among others.

African Spice safaris one-day tours in/from  Kigali are designed to give you an intimate view of Kigali on a fun, action-packed day. Our tours are a great way to start your visit to Rwanda and learn about the country’s culture and history. Select any of our tours below and we shall be more than happy to arrange it for you.

Agahozo Shalom Youth Village Orphanage 1 Day Visit Tour – Rwanda

After Breakfast at your hotel in Kigali we depart by road to the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village for victims of the Rwanda genocide located about 49 km away. The tour of the village includes a visit to a family home, the amphitheater, farm, the science and art centers, the school, and the dining hall. The Agahozo Shalom Youth Village serves as a home for more than 500 vulnerable teenagers. You are allowed to bring items to donate to the Village. The tour includes a significant amount of walking.

1 Day Gorilla Trekking Trip Volcanoes National Park from Kigali – Rwanda

1 Day Rwanda gorilla trekking trip from Kigali takes you to Volcanoes Gorilla National Park, where the 200 species of endangered mountain gorillas are found. The tour departs at 4:30 am for a 2 hour drive to Volcanoes National Park. After breakfast you transfer to the starting point of the gorilla trek. The trek may last from 1 – 8 hours depending on the movements of the gentle giants. On return we will transfer you back to Kigali for drop off at your hotel/ residence.

1 Day Kigali City Tour – Rwanda

Kigali City Tour is a guided day excursion to the main sights of Kigali, visit to Rwanda Genocide memorial center as you pay your respects to the victims of Rwanda's genocide, then visit the Kandt Museum of Natural History, visit of Ivuka Arts studios – a place where talented local artists make fine arts, visit the country's Presidential Palace, site of an infamous plane wreck in 1994. There is also a visit to the Muslim quarter of Nyamirambo, Karisoke gorilla research center. Lunch is included.

Akagera National Park Full Day Trip (4x4 Safari) from Kigali – Rwanda

Akagera National Park Full Day Trip Safari from Kigali departs from your Kigali hotel/ residence at 0530 hours and drive to Akagera National park located 2 hours away. The park is home to elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles and more. At 1200 hours you enjoy a picnic or hot lunch at Akagera Game Lodge. At 1300 hours enjoy another game drive in the park and later in the afternoon, return to Kigali to arrive at 1800 hours. This safari is conducted in a 4x4 Toyota Landcruiser, a modified closed safari vehicle.

Banana Juice Making at a Local Community – Rwanda

Banana Juice Making Day Tour Muhanga village includes collect the green bananas and the leaves needed to begin the process. You will peel, mash, and strain ripe bananas using traditional techniques to make the beer. Boil the juice so it is ready for you to taste and take away. Fetch water and enjoy a local lunch. Traditionally shared during weddings and other celebrations, banana juice has long been a central part of Rwandan parties. Muhanga about an hour southwest from Kigali.

Boat ride at the Twin Lakes of Ruhondo and Burera – Rwanda

Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo are located at the base Volcano Muhabura closer to the border of Rwanda and Uganda in the northern part of Rwanda, on the outskirts of Musanze. They are located close to the Volcanoes national park of Rwanda known as “gorilla’s home”. Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo activities include walks, scenic Lake cruises with an opportunity to spot many water birds such as herons, kingfishers, cormorants, darters, hammerkops, stalks, cranes etc.

Congo Gorilla Trekking Virunga National Park 1 Day Rwanda Safari

Congo Gorilla Trekking Virunga National Park 1 Day Rwanda Safari begins and ends in Rwanda The drive takes about takes close to 4.5 hours from Kigali city to the Virunga National Park Park’s Headquarters. Only a maximum of 8 guests are allowed to track per day between 0800 to 1900 Hours. Children’s age limit is 15 years. The length of the trek could last from 20 minutes to several hours. Congo gorilla permits costs 400 US Dollars per person per trek. You spend an hour with the gorillas.

Cultural Belt Experience Tour Kigali – Rwanda

Cultural Belt Experience Full Day Tour departs from Kigali and visits a women's co-operative that supports and sells the handy work of talented village women in the form of colorful weaved basked, earrings and home wares. The tour includes a visit to the former kingdom of Rwanda – Nyanza to learn about the history of the region. It also visits a museum which has description of Rwanda people, culture, customs, habits, and mutual differences. Optional lunch is available at an extra cost.

Dian Fossey’s Grave 1 Day Trek Volcanoes National Park– Rwanda

Dian Fossey’s Grave 1 Day Trek Volcanoes National Park: You will set off early in the morning for a 2 hours drive from Kigali to Kinigi Volcanoes National Park headquarters. The trek begins by a 30 minutes drive to the main trailhead along the park boundary. The Rwandan Development Board guide leads you into the forest. The hike lasts about 2 to 3 hours to reach the grave but depends on your fitness. On reaching the site you will be able to see the ruins of her house and of course pay a visit to her grave. After spending time at her grave you will head back down the mountain to meet your vehicle.

Experience Traditional Construction – Rwanda

Experience Traditional Construction 1 Day tour Muhanga village offers you a chance to learn something about the traditional building techniques. In the morning you will collect water and soil, which you will then be taught how to make into mud bricks. After making your own bricks, you will dig the foundations and learn how to lay the bricks in a way to ensure the building will be strong. Sample home-cooked lunch with your host family. Muhanga about an hour southwest from Kigali.

Golden Monkey Tracking Volcanoes National Park 1 Day Trip – Rwanda

Golden Monkey Tracking Volcanoes National Park 1 Day Trip Safari takes place in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park located about 105 km (65 miles) away from Kigali city. The tour begins by a 2 hour transfer from Kigali to Volcanoes. After a briefing at Volcanoes Kinigi Park headquarters at 0700 Hours, you proceed to the trail head and begin on the search for the golden monkeys. The golden monkey tracking last about 4 hours with 1 one full hour viewing and close encounters.

Golden Monkey Tracking Mgahinga National Park 1 Day from Kigali

Our 1 Day Mgahinga National Park Uganda Golden Monkeys Trek Tour begins and ends in Rwanda Kigali. The Golden monkey tracking starts by arriving at the Park headquarters by 0730 Hours for a briefing (on the dos and don’ts of tracking the golden monkeys). At 0800 Hours we begin to hike through the forests to look for the golden monkeys. The trek lasts about 3 or so hours. We spend an hour to spend with them (taking photographs and observe their behavior).

Gorilla Trekking Bwindi Forest National Park 1 Day from Kigali

0300 Hours: Depart Kigali, Rwanda for a day trip to Bwindi Forest in Uganda. The drive takes approximately 4 hours. Bwindi Forest National Park is home to about 340 Mountain Gorillas which is estimated to be half of the world's gorilla population. 0800 Hours: After a briefing you will be assigned a group/ join other trekkers to make 8 members and set off for the gorilla trek. The trekking time range from 30 minutes to several hours but the interaction with gorillas last for an hour.

Half Day Kigali City Tour Rwanda – Rwanda

Half Day Kigali City Tour offers guests the best way to see Kigali in a short time. Learn more about Rwanda's history at the Presidential Palace Museum and the Historic Museum, visit a bustling craft market and visit the heart-wrenching Genocide Memorial. The tour includes lunch at the famous 'Hotel Rwanda', which was featured in a 2004 film about a Hutu who is the manager of a hotel in Kigali, Rwanda during the 1994 genocide.

Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village Day Excursion – Rwanda

1-Day Rwandan Cultural Tour Ibyiwacu offers a glimpse into traditional Rwandan culture in the Iby’Iwacu village, located in the Musanze district of Rwanda in Ruhengeri on the outskirts of the Volcanoes National Park. Ibyiwacu cultural village is a 2.5 hours drive from Kigali city. Get an opportunity to interact with the local people in this village, learn about the culture and heritage and have a hand in some of the activities, and projects employing the community that provide alternatives to poaching. This cultural tour begins with a collection from your residence in Kigali followed by a 2.5-hour drive to Musanze district, Northern Province. Once at Ibyiwacu Cultural Village, we get a guided community walk to visit different sites and experience the everyday lives of the local people. You will get a brief history of Rwanda, grind grain traditionally, visit the king’s house replica and listen to all the Kings stories, learn about the traditional wedding ceremony, watch drumming and some of the 8 different types of traditional dances performances by men, women, and the children, try out a bow and arrow, visiting a local traditional healer and sample some Rwanda local food during lunch. Later in the afternoon, drive back to Kigali.

Kigali Day Trip Lake Kivu Cruise – Rwanda

Kigali Day Trip Lake Kivu Cruise involves a round trip transport from Kigali in a luxury vehicle to Lake Kivu from Kigali Rwanda. Lunch is taken at a local hotel before you enjoy a cruise on the lake viewing the local islands and scenic views of the surrounding countryside. Stop for a hike on Napoleon Island to view the local fruit bat population and vistas from the island's peak. Re-board the boat to finish the cruise and depart for Kigali with souvenir shopping en-route.

Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre Tour – Rwanda

Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre Tour visits the memorial and the memorial centre are in Gisozi which is a ten-minute journey from the centre of Kigali. The centre commemorates the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. The remains of over 250,000 people are interred there. There is a visitor centre for those wishing to understand the events leading up to the events of 1994. The visit begins with a film of about 10 minutes. Tour the museum through multiple rooms with the story of the tragic genocide.

Kigali Rwandese Cultural Day Tour Muhanga Town – Rwanda

Kigali Rwandese Cultural Day Tour Muhanga Town offers visitors the unique opportunity to really connect and gain insight into the life of rural Rwandans and their families. There is a range of different cultural experience days which include a day in the Life of an Artisan, traditional building, Banana Juice Making, Traditional Cooking, Traditional Drumming & Dancing and visiting the local markets. Muhanga about an hour southwest from Kigali.

Mount Bisoke Volcanoes National Park 1 Day Hiking Tour – Rwanda

Mount Bisoke is possibly the most climbed peak in Volcanoes National Park – Rwanda. It is located approximately 35 km northeast of the town of Goma and adjacent Lake Kivu. The mountain stands at 3711 meters/ 12175 feet above sea level. Your trek takes about 6 to 7 hours to complete. 2 to 3 hours is spent returning to the base. The hike begins after a briefing at Kinigi at 0730 Hours. There is no much experience need to hike although some physical fitness is needed.

Nyungwe National Park 1 Day Chimpanzee Trekking Tour – Rwanda

Nyungwe Forest National Park Full Day Tour begins from from Kigali town or Kigali Airport. The tour could also begin from hotels located near Nyungwe e.g. Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel or ORTPN Rest house. Nyungwe is a 4 to 5 hour drive from Kigali. The main activities include Chimpanzee trekking – home to 13 kinds of primates, Colobus Monkey tracking, Nyungwe canopy walk, forest hiking trails, bird watching and Congo-Nile Divide trail which has several trails.

Rwanda Genocide Memorial Sites 1 Day Tour Ntarama and Nyamata-+

Rwanda Genocide Memorial Sites 1 Day Tour Ntarama and Nyamata tour begins with a drive to Bugesera to visit Ntarama and Nyamata genocide memorial sites and later returns to Kigali. Ntarama Genocide memorial site – a former Catholic church were 5,000 people were massacred there on 15 August 1994 during the Rwanda Genocide. Visit Nyamata Genocide memorial site is where about 10,000 victims were killed in and around the Catholic Church compound on April 10th 1994 by the Hutu militias.

Traditional Drumming and Dancing Class – Rwanda

Traditional Drumming Dancing Class Tour offers you an opportunity to enjoy learning traditional drumming and dancing with your teachers. You will have fun and learn some basic dance steps and share a bit of the history of Rwandan dance. After practicing, you will have a demonstration and coaching from expert’s dancers. Here you will be taught how to move your feet, arms, the whole body. There is a wide range of high quality handicrafts for sale.

Inema Arts Center and Art Gallery located in Kigali – Rwanda

Inema Arts Center is located in the heart of Kigali City and is one of East Africa’s major art galleries, housing a collection of artists from around the African Continent. Founded in 2012 by brothers and self-taught painters Emmanuel Nkuranga and Innocent Nkurunziza, Inema Arts Center spurs creativity for personal, social, and economic growth. At its core, Inema provides space for 10 artists-in-residence to explore their creative talent. Specializing in contemporary African art, Inema's artists produce paintings, sculptures, and mixed media expressions, all of which are showcased at the Gallery at Inema Arts Center. Inema is also home to the following - Nziza Artworks, featuring bespoke jewelry, African linens, and leatherworks made by women at the onsite Nziza Workshop - Art with a Mission, training children with limitted resources art to give them livelihood;- Inema Dance, our youth cultural dance troupe, Inema art center provides a room for weekly traditional dance classes to the experts. The famous Art Museum of Rwanda displays contemporary art from Rwanda and abroad – a must when in Kigali. Local souvenirs are also sold here. Inema is open daily from 0800 hours to 2000 hours, located in Kigali in the suburb of Kacyiru on KG 563 Street.

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Amazing Road Trips Rwanda, Itinerary Ideas, Short Trips, Routes

If you’re planning a weeklong vacation to Rwanda, this article will lay out all the details for you. We outline the must-see attractions and provide an approximate itinerary for a road trip across this African nation. With this week-long plan, seeing Rwanda on your own is a breeze. Prepare for your Rwandan vacation with joy.

More over twelve million people call Rwanda home. The country is little bigger than half of the Netherlands. Thus, it ranks among the most populous African nations. Many people still think of the terrible 1994 genocide when they hear the word Rwanda. In just 100 days that year, approximately one million Tutsis and moderate Hutus were massacred. Despite the lasting effects of this tragedy on Rwandan society, the country has managed to recover and progress.

In today’s world, Rwanda is renowned for its advanced infrastructure and sophisticated culture. Sometimes called the Switzerland of Africa, Rwanda is known as the land of a thousand hills. While on vacation in Rwanda , be sure to see the mountain gorillas , explore the tea plantations, relax in Lake Kivu , and trek through Africa’s oldest rainforest.

We backpacked in Rwanda. In under a week, we leased a car and drove across the nation, enjoying breathtaking scenery along the way. In this Rwanda blog, we offer advice for a comparable vacation!

Visit Rwanda: An itinerary for covering all the hotspots

Thanks to its well-maintained roadways, Rwanda can be explored quickly. Kegali, Lake Kivu, Nyungwe National Park, and the world-renowned Volcanoes National Park are all must-sees on any trip to Rwanda. These must-see locations in the Land of a Thousand Hills should be part of your travel plan. One of the best ways to see this little African country is by renting a car and driving throughout Rwanda. So, what is there to see and do in Rwanda on vacation?

Travel Rwanda | Best things to do for a holiday in Rwanda

Which Rwandan attractions are the most popular? A road trip through Rwanda will allow you to see many of the country’s popular attractions. Visit Rwanda on vacation if you enjoy seeing animals. When it comes to the environment and landscape, Rwanda is just as diverse. A contemporary metropolis, vast lakes, savanna grasslands, jungles, and volcanic mountains are all there. To sum up, a fascinating nation to visit with many of attractions. In addition, Rwanda is an ideal location for travelers on a budget because it is a very safe country to visit.

Kigali | Things to do in Kigali, Rwanda

The capital of Rwanda has been Kigali since the country’s independence from Belgium in 1962. Rwanda has recently been named Africa’s cleanest city. The government has made it a major priority to combat pollution and the accumulation of (plastic) garbage. The stunning skyline of Kigali, a bustling African metropolis, is home to office towers, shopping malls, and five-star hotels. How would you recommend I spend my time in Kigali? Anyone interested in Rwandan history should make it a point to visit the Genocide Museum . There will be a lot of pictures, movies, and stories. You must visit the Caplaki Craft Market if you wish to get mementos in bulk.

Nyungwe Forest National Park | Activities: chimpanzee trekking, canopy walk and bird watching

Among Africa’s many tropical forests, the Nyungwe Forest is tallest and oldest. Hiking is the perfect activity in this tropical highland jungle. Taking a hike along the Isumo Trail as an example. A scenic five-hour trek through rural communities, waterfalls, and tea plantations. You can also do canopy walking or chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest . There are around 275 species of birds, 13 kinds of monkeys, and 100 kinds of orchids in this verdant park. For those interested in monkeys, avian life, plants, and wildlife, Nyungwe Forest National Park is an ideal destination.

Lake Kivu | Things to do: Congo Nile Trail, Napoleon Island and relaxing

The biggest freshwater lake in Rwanda is Lake Kivu. Because it is not home to any crocodiles or hippos, Lac Kivu is a safe place to swim in East Africa. The Albertine Rift Valley, which extends from Sudan to Zambia, includes Lake Kivu, which is also known as Lac Kivu. Lounging around and taking in the scenery is the perfect way to spend time at Lake Kivu. You may find two spots to stay along the lake’s shoreline: Kibuye and Gisenyi. If you are seeking tranquility, choose Kibuye. The city of Gisenyi is more livelier, with plenty of restaurants, pubs, and hotels.

Near Lake Kivu, you can go on a boat ride to Napoleons Island, tour the Pfunda Tea Estate, or hike a section of the famous Congo Nile Trail. There is a 227-kilometer trekking route known as the Congo Nile Trail . In ten days you can walk this trail, or in five days you can cycle it. Backpackers and hikers often stay in guesthouses or with locals while they travel.

Volcanoes National Park | Gorilla trekking in Rwanda, Dianne Fossey and volcanoes hikes

The 8 Virunga volcanoes stand tall and proud amid Africa’s oldest national park, Volcanoes National Park . Golden monkeys and endangered mountain gorillas both call this area home. Diane Fossey’s tomb is also accessible via this trail. For 18 years, Diane Fossey researched and protected gorillas. You can see a family of mountain gorillas and a wide variety of birds in this 160 square km park. Find out everything you need to know about hiking with gorillas here.

Mount Kabuye | Things to do: Climbing, hiking and visiting local villages in Rwanda

Mount Kabuye is an ideal day walk destination due to its manageable elevation of 2581 meters. In seven or eight hours, you can reach the peak of this mountain. Hikers will get a glimpse of a picturesque lake and stroll by charming little towns on this trail. Local kids will beg to accompany you on your journey and even offer to lead you for a little money.

Akagera National Park | Things to do: wildlife spotting and safari in Rwanda

A wide variety of sceneries may be found in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park , including mountain views, lakes, golden savannas, and numerous grasslands. The Tanzanian border is very near to this park. On a safari, you might see rhinos, hyenas, lions, elephants, and leopards. While on a Rwandan jeep safari, this is an excellent area to look for the big five. Akagera National Park offers a variety of safari activities, including jeep rides, boat rides, bird watching, and night safaris. During the dry months of June to August and December to February, visitors are only able to access the northern part of Akagera National Park.

Itineraries Rwanda: The perfect road trip through East Africa

The best possible schedule for a road trip across Rwanda is detailed in this article. Combining a trip to Rwanda and Uganda is our top recommendation. You can extend your vacation by visiting neighboring Kenya or Tanzania if you’re feeling very adventurous. Additionally, we have developed East African backpacking itineraries for your perusal.

Holiday Rwanda: the ultimate one-week backpacking itinerary Rwanda

Good highways traverse Rwanda, a little nation. There are speed traps all over the area, so you really shouldn’t drive too fast. It is a lovely hilly terrain. A driving trip through Rwanda becomes much more enjoyable with this! There are a lot of picturesque little towns and tea plantations to see along the road. A week-long trip throughout Rwanda will allow you to experience the majority of the country’s top attractions. You may enjoy it more and take your time if you have more time.

Exploring Rwanda in one week: A description of the itinerary

Starting in Kigali, the tour across Rwanda takes off. In this half-day tour, you can see the city’s highlights, like as the genocide museum. Next, hop in the car and head to Nyungwe Forest for some canopy walking or chimpanzee trekking. Traveling from Kivu to Kibuye is a section of the Congo-Nile Trail route.

You can cool off the following day by taking a boat ride to one of Lake Kivu’s numerous little islands. The following stop is to the stunning Volcanoes National Park , where you can see actual, live volcanoes. Hiking in stunning natural scenery or gorilla trekking are also possible here. Your next destination is Mount Kabuye, which is just a short drive away. Climbing this mountain will take you about seven or eight hours, and it is 2581 meters high. Akagera National Park is the last destination. The perfect place for a safari in a jeep and to see the fabled big five.

• Day 1: Kigali
• Day 2: Nyungwe Forest National Park
• Day 3: Lac Kivu (Kibuye of Gisenyi)
• Day 4: Volcanoes National Park
• Day 5: Mount Kabuye
• Day 6: Akagera National Park
• Day 7: Akagera National Park – Kigali

Itinerary Uganda and Rwanda: Travel East-Africa in a 3-week road trip

Take a vacation that includes both Rwanda and neighboring Uganda. Kampala and Kigali are equally good places to start a road trip. The opportunity to go gorilla trekking in Uganda is a major perk of joining these two nations. You may get a lot better deal on a gorilla safari in Uganda compared to a gorilla hike in Rwanda . On top of that, this is one way that safari parks provide additional variety. Overnight camping in Murchison National Park is a requirement. Naturally, accompanied by a ranger who keeps the savage beasts at a safe distance from your tent. Here is the trip schedule:

3-week itinerary for visiting Uganda and Rwanda:

• Kampala – Lake Bunyonyi – Kigali – Nyungwe Forrest National Park – Lake Kivu (Gisenyi or Kibuye) – Volcanoes National Park or Bwindi impenetrable forest – Queen Elisabeth National Park – Fort Portal – Murchison Falls – Rhino Sanctuary – Jinja – Kampala

Looking for a way to combine a vacation in Rwanda and Uganda without rushing through either country? You might want to bypass Jina and Murchison Falls National Park if that’s the case. If you’re not into high-octane pursuits like white-water rafting, Jinja might not be for you. If you’ve had your fill of safari parks and animals, you might want to skip Murchison Falls.

Travel East Africa: A 4-week itinerary for backpacking Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya:

Combining a Kenyan vacation with stops in neighboring Rwanda and Uganda is also a breeze. This is made feasible by the East Africa visa. You can visit all three countries with just one visa. Getting a visa for East Africa will save you a ton of money. Tanzania is oddly not covered by this visa. To enter Tanzania, you must get an additional permit.

A possible 4-week itinerary for backpacking through East Africa is as follows:

• Nairobi – Lamu – Masai Mara – Lake Naivasha / Lake Nakuru – Jinja – Kampala – Lake Bunyonyi – Kigali – Nyungwe Forrest National Park – Lake Kivu – Volcanoes National Park or Bwindi National Park – Queen Elisabeth National Park – Fort Portal – Murchison Falls National Park – Rhino Sanctuary – Kampala

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Travel itinerary Rwanda: One week itinerary for a holiday in Rwanda

In this Rwanda blog, you read all about the perfect itinerary and holiday for a week in Rwanda. We tell you the top things to do and how long you need for a road trip through this African country. This one-week itinerary makes it easy to travel and visit Rwanda by yourself. Have fun planning your holiday in Rwanda.

Rwanda blog: A great itinerary to travel Rwanda!

Rwanda is slightly larger than half of the Netherlands and has more than 12 million inhabitants. It is, therefore, one of the most populous countries in Africa. For many people, the first association with Rwanda is still the horrific genocide of 1994. In this year, nearly a million Tutsis and moderate Hutus were murdered in 100 days. Although this sad event has left deep marks in society, Rwanda has found a way to rebuilt and develop herself.

Today Rwanda is known as a modern country with a very good infrastructure. Rwanda is called the country of thousand hills and is sometimes referred to as the Switzerland of Africa. Great things to do during a holiday in Rwanda are visiting mountain gorillas, tea plantations, Lake Kivu and hiking through the oldest rainforest of Africa.

We travelled through Rwanda by backpack. We rented a car and made a beautiful road trip through the country in less than a week. In this Rwanda blog, we provide tips for a similar holiday!

Visit Rwanda: An itinerary for covering all the hotspots

The good quality of the roads makes it possible to discover Rwanda in a short time. No visit to Rwanda is complete without a visit to Kigali , Nyungwe National Park , Lake Kivu and the famous Volcanoes National Park . You should not miss these destinations on your itinerary through the land of thousand hills. Travelling Rwanda by car is a perfect way to experience all the top attractions of this small African country. So, what can you do and see during a holiday in Rwanda?

Map of Rwanda | Top things to do in Rwanda

For this Rwanda blog, we created a map of Rwanda with what we think are the highlights and top attractions. These destinations on the map below form a wonderful holiday through Rwanda. Scroll down this Rwanda blog to see the top things to do for backpacking through Rwanda within an itinerary for one week .

Curious what it costs to travel through Rwanda? Check out the  Rwanda budget blog!

Travel Rwanda | Best things to do for a holiday in Rwanda

What are the top attractions of Rwanda? Rwanda has many hotspots and sights that are worth visiting during a road trip. If you love spotting wildlife , Rwanda is a great holiday destination. Rwanda is also diverse when it comes to landscape and nature. You have volcanic mountains, savanna plains, rainforests, a modern city and large lakes. In short, an interesting country to travel to with many things to do. Besides, Rwanda is a safe country to visit, making it a perfect destination for backpackers too!

Kigali | Things to do in Kigali, Rwanda

Kigali has been the capital since 1962 when Rwanda gained independence from Belgium. Nowadays, Rwanda is the cleanest city in Africa. The fight against pollution and (plastic) waste is a top priority for the government. Kigali is a vibrant African city and has an impressive skyline with office buildings, shopping malls and luxury hotels. What are the best things to do in Kigali? Those who want to dive into Rwandan history should definitely visit the Genocide Museum . Prepare yourself for heavy photos, videos and stories. For stocking up on souvenirs you have to go to the Caplaki Craft Market .

Hotel tip: Ubumwe Grande Hotel 

Nyungwe Forest National Park | Activities: chimpanzee trekking, canopy walk and bird watching

The Nyungwe Forest is the oldest and one of the largest rainforests in Africa. This tropical mountain rainforest is ideal for hiking. For example, hiking the Isumo Trail . A beautiful 5-hour hike where you pass tea plantations, waterfalls and local villages. Nyungwe Forest is also the place for a chimpanzee trekking and a canopy walk. This bright green park has more than 275 bird species, 13 different monkey species and more than 100 different orchids. In short, Nyungwe Forest National Park is a hotspot for lovers of primates, bird species, flora and fauna.

Camping tip: Nyungwe Nziza Ecolodge

Read more: all that you need to know on spotting chimpanzees in the Nyungwe National Park !

Lake Kivu | Things to do: Congo Nile Trail, Napoleon Island and relaxing

Lake Kivu is the largest freshwater lake in Rwanda. Unlike other lakes in East Africa, you can swim here in Lac Kivu because it does not have hippos and crocodiles. Lake Kivu (also called Lake Kivu or Lac Kivu) is part of the Albertine Rift Valley that runs from Zambia to Sudan. The best thing to do in Lake Kivu is just relaxing and enjoying the view. On the coastal strip of the lake, there are two places where you can spend the night: Kibuye and Gisenyi. Pick Kibuye if you want peace and quietness. Gisenyi is more of a lively city with many hotels, bars and restaurants.

Things to do around Lake Kivu: visit Napoleons Island by boat, take a tour at the Pfunda Tea Estate or walk a part of the well-known Congo Nile Trail . The Congo Nile Trail is a hiking itinerary of 227 km long. This hiking trail can be walked in 10 days or cycled in 5 days. Hikers and backpackers usually sleep in a guesthouse or with locals among the way.

Hotel tip: Inzu Lodge

Volcanoes National Park | Gorilla trekking in Rwanda, Dianne Fossey and volcanoes hikes

Volcanoes National Park is the oldest national park in all of Africa and is dominated by the 8 Virunga volcanoes . This is the habitat of the endangered mountain gorillas and the golden monkeys. You can also hike here to the grave of Diane Fossey. Diane Fossey studied and protected gorillas for 18 years. The 160 square km park has many different bird species and is the place to visit a family of mountain gorillas. Read all about a gorilla trekking here .

Hotel tip: La Locanda

Mount Kabuye | Things to do: Climbing, hiking and visiting local villages in Rwanda

With a height of 2581 meters, Mount Kabuye is very suitable for a day hike . You can climb this mountain within 7 to 8 hours. During this hike, you pass small villages and you have a view of a beautiful lake. During the hike, local children will follow you and want to become your guide for a small fee.

Hotel tip: Ruhondo Beach Resort

Akagera National Park | Things to do: wildlife spotting and safari in Rwanda

The Akagera National Park in Rwanda has a great diversity of landscapes: mountain scenery, lakes, golden savannas and many grasslands. This park is situated close to the Tanzania border. During a safari, you can encounter lions, elephants, leopards, hyenas and even rhinos. This is a good place to spot the big 5 on a jeep safari in Rwanda. Things to do at Akagera National Park are jeep safari , boat safari, bird safari and a night safari. The north of the Akagera National park can only be visited in the dry months of the year, June to August and December to February.

Hotel tip: Akagera Rhino Lodge

Itineraries Rwanda: The perfect road trip through East Africa

In this blog, you will find the ultimate itinerary for a road trip through Rwanda. The best tip we can give you is to combine a holiday i n Rwanda with Uganda. If you have even more time for your holiday, you can even combine your trip with Kenya or Tanzania. For your inspiration, we created itineraries for backpacking through East-Africa as well.

Holiday Rwanda: the ultimate one-week backpacking itinerary Rwanda

Rwanda is a small country with good roads. You should even be careful not to drive too fast because in many places there are speed traps. The hilly landscape is beautiful. This makes a road trip through Rwanda a lot of fun! Along the way, you will encounter many tea estates and cute local villages. Travelling around Rwanda for one week is enough to see most of the highlights of the country. If you have more time, this is only better and you can travel around at a slower pace.

Exploring Rwanda in one week: A description of the itinerary

The itinerary through Rwanda starts in Kigali . Here you spend half a day to get to know the city and visit the genocide museum, for example. Then, you drive towards Nyungwe Forest for a chimpanzee trekking or a canopy walk. Via part of the itinerary of the Congo-Nile Trail, you drive via Lake Kivu to Kibuye.

The next day, you take a boat trip to one of the many small islands in Lake Kivu and cool off. Next, you travel to Volcanoes National Park , a beautiful park surrounded by (active) volcanoes. Here, you can do a gorilla trekking or hike through the breathtaking nature. Mount Kabuye , a short drive further is your next stop. This is a 2581 meter high mountain that you can climb in 7 to 8 hours. The last stop is the Akagera National Park . Ideal for a jeep safari and for spotting the famous big 5.

Itinerary Rwanda one-week:

• 1st day: Kigali
• 2nd day: Nyungwe Forest National Park
• 3rd day: Lac Kivu (Kibuye of Gisenyi)
• 4th day: Volcanoes National Park
• 5th day: Mount Kabuye
• 6th day: Akagera National Park
• 7th day: Akagera National Park – Kigali

Itinerary Uganda and Rwanda: Travel East-Africa in a 3-week road trip

Combine a holiday through Rwanda with neighbouring Uganda. You can start your road trip in both Kampala and Kigali . The advantage of combining these two countries is that you can do a gorilla trekking in Uganda. A gorilla safari in Uganda is much cheaper than a gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Besides, you have more diversity in safari parks in this way. An absolute must is camping overnight inside Murchison National Park . Of course with a ranger who ensures that the wild animals do not get too close to your tent. The travel itinerary looks like this:

3-week itinerary for visiting Uganda and Rwanda:

Kampala – Lake Bunyonyi – Kigali – Nyungwe Forrest National Park – Lake Kivu (Gisenyi or Kibuye) – Volcanoes National Park or Bwindi impenetrable forest – Queen Elisabeth National Park – Fort Portal – Murchison Falls – Rhino Sanctuary – Jinja – Kampala

Do you want to combine a holiday through Uganda and Rwanda but want to travel at a slower pace ? Then consider skipping Jina and/or Murchison Falls National Park. You can skip Jinja if you don’t like adrenaline activities such as rafting. You can skip Murchison Falls if you feel you have already visited enough safari parks and wildlife.

Travel East Africa: A 4-week itinerary for backpacking Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya:

A holiday in Kenya is also easy to combine with a visit to Uganda and Rwanda. The East Africa visa makes this possible. With this visa, you can easily visit all three countries with one visa. You save a lot of money by applying for an East-African visa. Strange enough, Tanzania is not included in this visa. You need to purchase a separate permit to enter Tanzania.

A possible 4-week itinerary for backpacking through East Africa is as follows:

Nairobi – Lamu – Masai Mara – Lake Naivasha / Lake Nakuru – Jinja – Kampala – Lake Bunyonyi – Kigali – Nyungwe Forrest National Park – Lake Kivu – Volcanoes National Park or Bwindi National Park – Queen Elisabeth National Park – Fort Portal – Murchison Falls National Park – Rhino Sanctuary – Kampala

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East Africa visit.... am glad ypu enjoyed the scenes, mostly the national parks... wow. Welcome to East Africa.much love.

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Rwanda Safaris Best Short & Long Gorilla Trekking Tours 2024

Rwanda safaris.

Rwanda also known as the land of a thousand hills welcomes you to its lively City Life spectacular vistas and opens for you an opportunity to meet the endangered mountain gorillas.

Rwanda has earned the nickname “Land of a Thousand Hills” for its stunning scenery. Its mountainous landscape is breathtaking, and it’s home to six active volcanoes.

A visit to the  East African  nation isn’t complete without exploring the Volcanoes National Park. Here, you’ll see the park’s famous attraction,  mountain gorillas  and golden monkeys. You’ll also enjoy a variety of flora.

How much does a Rwanda safari cost?

How much does a Rwanda safari cost? A night on Rwanda Safaris can cost from $100 to $1,500 per person.  An inexpensive Rwanda safari can be valued at $150 per person while midrange Rwanda safaris can be valued at $400. Luxury/ upmarket safari lodges might cost $1,500- $5,500 or more per night.

The Rwanda safari guide underneath gives a highlighted outline of the average cost of a Rwanda safari, it will also easily let you know how to select a destination that matches your budget.  Our website provides you with a diversity of trips ranging from 1 to 20 days therefore feel free to select the one that is suitable for your travel needs. READMORE!

Best time to go gorilla trekking

Best time to go gorilla trekking. It is paramount to keep in mind that Mountain gorillas can be tracked throughout the year because their movements are not affected by changing seasons. The best time to go gorilla tracking is in the dry season where the vegetation is not thick and the ground trails aren’t very slippery. Getting this time right is kind of complicated because global warming has affected weather patterns a lot in Africa making it very hard to predict the beginning and end of the wet and dry seasons. At the end of the day, the final decision of when to visit the gorillas remains with the traveler.  READ MORE!

Short Trips Uganda & Rwanda

Simba Africa Expeditions , tailor make your Short Trips so much thrilling and adventurous that will be stunning in  Uganda  and  Rwanda  at large and all have well-built and eco-friendly Accommodations facilities which range from Luxury, Budget and Midrange that cater for your budget safari plan be it individual, family or Group tour all throughout the year. They include 1 day, 2 days, 3 days and 4 days as listed below:

The best 2-day wildlife safari in Uganda is to none other than Murchison Falls National Park. Uganda’s largest national park, Murchison Falls boasts plenty of wildlife and beautiful scenery, experienced on the afternoon boat safari along the Nile, and an early game drive. Expect sightings of Lions, Hyenas, Hippos, Elephants, Buffaloes, so many species of antelopes, and cocktails of birds.

2 Days Safari to Uganda’s popular National Park, and arguably the most scenic of Uganda’s savannah parks. The tour includes the boat safari on the Kazinga Channel – home to an array of birds and animals, meanwhile the morning game drive offers a good chance at sighting the cats and Nocturnals, along with the big game, and spectacular scenery.

Lake Mburo National Park is the smallest of Uganda’s savanna parks. It is situated in the western part of the country in the Kiruhura District. The park has a number of different animal species such as Zebras, Buffalos, Hippos, and Elands. Important to note, that it is the only park with Impalas in Uganda. There is also a small population of big cats such as leopards and lions, but these are very elusive and hard to sight.

Take this short tour for a satisfying experience with the habituated Chimpanzees in Kibale Forest – home to the biggest population of Chimpanzees in Uganda. 12 other primates, several wild animals and more than 300 species of birds inhabit Kibale Forest.

Simba Africa Expeditions professional guide/driver will take you on the 3 days of chimpanzee trekking adventure which is stunning, and the great numbers of Chimpanzees are found in Uganda’s National Park known as Kibale forest. This forest habits another biodiversity like monkeys and birds. The activities encountered on this trip are  chimpanzee trekking , a Nature walk and on the last day take a stunning visit to stalagmites and stalactites!

The Uganda Gorilla tracking tour will take you to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is home to close to half of the world’s remaining Mountain Gorillas. Trekking through the lush rainforest you will enjoy the breathtaking scenery, spot a variety of plant life, several monkeys, and rare bird species and finally encounter the endangered Mountain Gorillas! The tour also offers winding views of the Kigezi region popularly referred to as the “Switzerland of Africa”…

The park lies in Masindi District, northwest of Uganda. Its spectacular and beautiful falls are definitely nature’s truest gifts to Uganda! and these falls have been for a long time the major attraction…

Explore Uganda’s best big game, beautiful scenery and birds. Queen Elizabeth national park tours include two game drives in this safari park and a wonderful boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel…

While on this trip you will view typical African home settings and other sceneries, and wildlife that Lake Mburo & Queen is much known to offer. Before you reach the park visit the equator line for snacks, coffee and photo shooting, en-route game drive to spot the variety of wildlife that this endless offers year-year, boat ride, foot safari as you bird!!

Ssese islands occupy the northwestern corner of Lake Victoria, the second-largest freshwater lake in the world. the island is called Bugala Island. and the town, Kalangala serves as the headquarters of the district that carries the same name (Kalangala District). its approximately 51 kilometers’, across the water, southwest of Entebbe.

Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the far northeastern corner of the country, Kidepo Valley National Park is one of Africa’s wildest national parks that has not been explored. Take a one-hour flight to the park and experience this spectacular wilderness immersed with a lot of wildlife.

Take the long drive to the far northeastern corner of Uganda and be rewarded with one of Africa’s top-rated unexplored wildernesses that is immersed with a variety of wildlife lot which is rare and not easily sighted in other parks, such as Lions, Cheetahs, Hyenas, Ostriches…

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• 2 days Tracking Gorilla Bwindi Via Rwanda
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A Guide To Gorilla Trekking In Rwanda (Updated 2024)

Book customized remarkable Rwanda Gorilla tours or Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda for exceptional Gorilla tours with Kabira Gorilla Safaris . Gorilla trekking is one of the Best Rwanda Safari activities popularly termed a unique wildlife experience.

Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda If there is any kind of safari that brings you closer to wildlife on foot, then it is a Rwanda Gorilla trekking tour. Living within a bamboo forest with Mountain Gorillas several times your weight and wild animals is such an experience that shouldn’t miss on a traveler’s bucket list.

Volcanoes National Park is the only place for Rwanda Gorilla tracking Tours Safaris just about 2 hours drive from Kigali International Airport. It’s the only Gorilla trekking park from its International Airport. There are 10 habituated mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park open for trekking by tourists. Each family receives 8 tourists on gorilla holidays per day for the trek. Rwanda Gorilla Safaris. Fortunately the Gorilla population of Rwanda is the easiest to trek. This is because they move for shorter distances and as well live in a bamboo forest which offers easy hiking experiences. 

It was in Rwanda where the popular American primatologist Dian Fossey did her extensive conservation on the Mountain Gorillas. She wrote a book titled Gorillas in the Mist 2 years before her death and it was later adapted into a film in 1988 with the same title. Today her legacy lives on at her Resting place in the Karisoke Research Centre . 

Rwanda Safaris/ Rwanda Tours – To see the Rwanda Mountain Gorillas here you must take Rwanda Gorilla Safaris tours /Rwanda Gorilla trekking whether on a short or long trip. The tour requires each trekker to go hiking/walking/trekking in the tropical dense forest.

Best-selling Gorilla Trekking Styles in Rwanda

Rwanda is such a beautiful country that accommodates all kinds of travelers including Luxury and budget travelers. Depending on the amount of time one has in Rwanda, one can take either a Short or Long Gorilla tracking tour . Here are the different itineraries to suit both Short and Long Rwanda Gorilla tours;

Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda: All You Need to Know

Because of the dire situation of gorilla populations, trekking in Africa’s gorilla parks is strictly regulated. You cannot hold a permit on a provisional basis; they are expensive, difficult to obtain, and final. If you want to travel to such isolated places and have the best chance of a gorilla trek, you need the kind of first-hand expertise and local knowledge that an Africa Safari Expert can provide. Make contact with an individual who has experienced this:

1 Day Gorilla Trek Rwanda Gorilla Trek Rwanda is the only possible Gorilla safari day tour created for tourists already in Rwanda. The tour starts with a very early morning pick-up and ends with a late evening drop-off in Kigali town. Volcanoes National Park Rwanda is the only park with Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda and the closest habitat to an international airport.

2 Days Gorilla Trekking Rwanda Gorilla Trek Rwanda is a short Gorilla safari well customized for tourists who would want to have only a Gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda in the shortest time possible but not much exhausting as the 1 Day Gorilla tour. Gorilla Trekking Rwanda is a perfect option for tourists already in Rwanda.

Gorilla Trekking And Kigali City Tour 3-Day Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Trekking Safari well customized to suit all kinds of tourists including budget, mid-range, and Luxury interested tourists. Gorilla Trek Rwanda is favorable for tourists who are coming in with international flights to the country or those coming from neighboring countries.

Gorilla And Dian Fossey Hike 3 days 2 nights Rwanda Gorilla trekking tour and hike to visit the grave of the famous primatologist Dian Fossey who lost her life to poachers in the park while conserving Mountain Gorillas. Taking time to visit her grave doesn’t only offer a great hiking experience but is a good time to learn about Mountain Gorilla conservation.

Gorillas And Golden Monkey Trekking The 4 Days Gorillas And Golden Monkey Trekking is very favorable for tourists who are coming in with international flights to the country or those coming from neighboring countries. This is because the first and last days are reserved for arrival and departure.

10 Days in Rwanda Itinerary This 10 days Rwanda safari takes to Nyungwe, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes National Park. Experience Chimp tracking. Canopy Walk. Gisenyi town. Lake Kivu. Golden Monkey Tracking. Cultural Tour, and Gorilla Trekking. Experience The tidy city of Kigali, with its historically significant Genocide Museums, Nyungwe National Park, which is home to chimpanzees and features a fantastic Forest Canopy Walk, and Volcanoes National Park

Rwanda Gorilla Flying Safari The 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Flying Safari starts and ends at Kigali International Airport where daily flights arrive and depart from different countries of the world. For tourists arriving at Kigali International Airport, your Driver Guide will ensure pick up and drop off at the airport. All road drives/transfers within Rwanda will be done by 4×4 Luxury Land cruisers along with a personal Rwanda Safari Guide.

6 Days Rwanda Safari Chimpanzee and Gorilla Trekking Package include a Kigali city tour, chimpanzee tracking, gorilla trekking with chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest, and Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. Kigali city is such a very historical city with several museums that keep the artifacts and traditions of the people of Rwanda.

7 Days in Rwanda Itinerary 7 Days Rwanda safari experience watching primates i.e. chimpanzees and gorillas in Nyungwe and Volcanoes. In Africa’s oldest national park, get up and personal with mountain gorillas while hiking through the rainforest in search of chimpanzees. View gorilla families playing, observe chimps swinging through the vines, and stand in astonishment as a massive silverback muscled its way through the forest.

9 Days Rwanda Safari Itinerary On this custom vacation, spend nine days exploring Rwanda’s top attractions, from the stunning Lake Kivu to gorilla trekking in the mountains. Spend some time in Kigali, the country’s capital, where a guided tour will highlight the poignant Gisozi genocide memorial site and discuss Rwanda’s colonial heritage as well as its recent painful history.

Congo Nile Trail and Nyungwe Tour The 9-day Congo Nile Trail and Nyungwe Tour traverses the Congo Nile Trail, a trail that runs along Lake Kivu from Rubavu to Rutsiro via the Karongi and Nyamasheke districts and ends in Rutsizi District. 227 kilometers (141 miles) of breathtaking scenery, including undulating terrain and clear water. The entire journey can be accomplished in ten days.

Flying Safaris in Rwanda Book Private Flying Safaris in Rwanda by charter helicopter with us and fly to all Rwanda National Parks. Our Rwanda Flying Safaris make transportation easy in Rwanda. International flights into Rwanda land at Kigali International Airport in the capital city of Kigali. A helicopter can be chartered from here to travel between Kigali and Bisate, Kigali and Magashi, or Bisate and Magashi (and vice versa).

Mountain Gorilla vs Lowland Gorilla Mountain Gorilla vs Lowland Gorilla, Fight, Size, Who Wins. African gorilla safaris are once-in-a-lifetime experiences that everyone should include on their itinerary. There are two distinct gorilla species that are frequently lumped together. Mountain gorillas are larger and have longer hair and shorter limbs than their lowland counterparts.

Rwanda Gorilla And Chimpanzee Trekking A Detailed Rwanda Gorilla And Chimpanzee Trekking Itinerary Guide. Explore the World with Kabira Safaris & Tours Into the heart of Rwanda’s hilly woodland ecosystems, where some of the most elusive monkeys in Africa call home. On this nine-day Rwanda Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking itinerary, you’ll experience a range of temperatures and stay in tiny, elegant lodges on the outskirts of the wild rainforest.

Rwanda Primates Safari Set out on a once-in-a-lifetime Primates Safari through Rwanda’s most fascinating locations, experiencing things like breathtaking gorilla trekking and exhilarating chimpanzee tracking. Kigali, Rwanda’s cultural epicenter, will serve as your starting point. After that, you’ll head into Nyungwe National Park, where you can spend a few days at a rustic cottage in the woods, taking it all in.

Akagera vs Volcanoes vs Nyungwe Itinerary On this private detailed Akagera vs Volcanoes vs Nyungwe Itinerary Guide, multi-day safari, you’ll get to see three of Rwanda’s wildlife reserves. In Akagera National Park, you may go on game drives and boat rides to see giraffes, leopards, rhinos, and other famous animals.

Volcanoes And Akagera Safari Set out on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure through the Rwandan rainforest in search of golden monkeys and mountain gorillas. Gorillas are truly remarkable animals; to learn more about them, you can visit a facility established by Dr. Dian Fossey, who spent 18 years studying them in the Virunga Mountains with funding from National Geographic.

Trek Gorillas on Honeymoon in Rwanda Trek Gorillas on Honeymoon in Rwanda: A Prefect Itinerary. Gorilla interactions in Rwanda are very unforgettable. The breathtaking scenery of verdant mountain slopes teeming with gorilla families is sure to enchant you both. Seeing these massive apes in their native habitat, untouched, was an incredible experience.

Travel Advice for Visiting Rwanda Best travel advice for Visiting Rwanda for the First Time (by a Local!). Visit Rwanda: Explore the Land of a Thousand Hills & Travel Advice – Greetings from Rwanda. It is essential to engage the services of a tour operator like Kabira Gorilla Safaris to help you make the most of your stay in Rwanda. Coming to Africa, especially to Rwanda and the entire continent, requires some planning and preparation.

Gorilla Trekking Staying At Singita Anyone who takes the plunge and travels to Rwanda to see the mountain gorillas in their natural habitat will come away altered. Meeting these incredible animals in one of the few remaining habitats they have left has a profound effect on visitors, and ultimately on conservation efforts in East Africa.

Golden Monkeys Trekking in Volcanoes Learn about the golden monkey’s playful and curious character, a gorgeous creature native to the high-altitude woods of Volcanoes National Park. Spend the morning looking for a habituated group of golden monkeys, one of which is a large troop of more than 80 individuals, amid the dense jungle at the base of Mount Sabyinyo. An hour spent watching them play in the thin bamboo shoots or tumbling through the underbrush will feel like a lifetime.

Gorilla Tours From Kigali This page shows the best gorilla trekking tours from Kigali to Uganda. Trekking Gorillas in Uganda are done in the two national parks of Bwindi and Mgahinga both situated southwest of the country. These are both at the border with Rwanda. It’s just about 4 hour drive from Kigali-Rwanda to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and just 3 hours to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Gorilla Tours in Africa Guide to Gorilla trekking in Africa: Africa is home to the three best countries in the world for gorilla tours in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. Experience Ultimate Luxury on a Gorilla Tour in Africa. For those who have had the honor of taking advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime chance, seeing mountain gorillas in their natural environment is reported to be a life-altering and eye-opening event that has become an indelible memory.

Multi Country Africa Tours

In common usage, “Safari Africa” refers to both East and Southern Africa . Due to the vast geographical differences between the two regions, deciding whether to go east or south should be your first order of business when organizing a safari.

While safaris in East Africa often involve visits to the Serengeti in Tanzania and Rwanda , where visitors may also get the chance to see gorillas in their natural habitat, safaris in Southern Africa might begin in Cape Town and include stops to Victoria Falls and Botswana.

A massive “pan-Africa” safari that includes stops in both East and Southern Africa would be an incredible way to see the best of both regions.

The ideal approach to begin organising any safari is to speak with one of our experts over the phone because we personalise each one for you. After going over all of your options with you, they’ll send you an email with trip planning details that are specific to you. There is a lot of misleading “sale-focused” information online, so tread carefully when you do your homework.

Looking at our most popular pathways below will give you just a few ideas of what is actually possible if you aren’t quite ready to have a discussion.

If we had to give you one piece of advise, it would be to stick with the region you’ve always imagined. Travel to East Africa if, for instance, witnessing the vast Serengeti grasslands is your greatest desire. Similarly, if the Okavango Delta in Botswana is your ideal vacation spot, you should definitely give Southern Africa your full attention. The correct choice is usually to stick to your initial idea; it’s that easy.

The response to an often requested question—”Where can I have the best safari?”—supports this belief. Actually, we can arrange tours to any location with a great safari camp, so there really is no bad place to go on a safari! No matter where you are in Safari Africa, we are certain that we can create a memorable safari just for you. That’s our general guideline for safaris: the correct property in any country may provide for an unforgettable experience.

2 Weeks in Rwanda And Uganda The main attraction of this 2 Weeks in Rwanda And Uganda Itinerary is seeing mountain gorillas, and the plan permits you to undertake that activity twice for the best experience. The gorilla tracking experience is so engrossing that your enthusiasm may overshadow the subjective experience the first time, and it’s only the second time you take on the task that you’ll record eternal memories.

Gorilla Trekking Uganda vs Rwanda vs Congo One of the most singular, memorable, and life-altering travel experiences is tracking the endangered mountain gorilla through the strange intimacy of the rainforest, filled with the calls of colorful birds and the chattering of the rare golden monkey. The best places to go gorilla trekking are in Rwanda, Uganda, and the D.R. Congo.

Rwanda Gorilla Tours from South Africa Remarkable Rwanda Gorilla Tours from South Africa to Volcanoes National Park with Kabira Safaris. Our Favourite Rwanda Gorilla Tours from South Africa. Fortunately, Kigali International Airport has daily international flights, and therefore easy to have a short gorilla safari to South Africa from Kigali. Tourists trek Ugandan Gorillas via Rwanda because the permit in Uganda is cheaper and the parks are nearer to an International Airport.

Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania And Zanzibar Itinerary This is the ultimate Rwanda Kenya Tanzania And Zanzibar safari for someone looking to see every bit of what East Africa has to offer within 15 days. This itinerary also includes accommodations at handpicked best-in-class hotels and lodges. So, welcome to the ultimate East Africa experience.

Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania Itinerary This Safari in Uganda, Rwanda & Tanzania is unique in nature as it grants a great opportunity for travelers to experience Uganda’s gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Tour Rwanda’s Capital, Kigali, and at the same time Visit the wildlife extravaganza, Tanzania. The 14 Days Safari in Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania Safari through Rwanda offers a variety of safari activities among others; City Tours, Cultural experiences, Gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, and lots of game drives in Tanzania.

Uganda and Rwanda Safari The 11 Days Uganda and Rwanda Safari (The Great Apes of Africa). This Uganda and Rwanda Safari includes Watching Gorillas, Chimpanzees & Wildlife Game Viewing. Set out on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure across the lush hills of Uganda and Rwanda in search of chimps and mountain gorillas in the wild. Observe chimps and gorillas with a primatologist in the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Volcanoes National Park.

Tanzania, Zanzibar And Rwanda Itinerary A private lecture at Oldupai Gorge, where the remains of early man were found; a hot air balloon ride at dawn over the Serengeti, followed by breakfast; an ocean safari on a private dhow boat, with lunch on a secluded beach; and a one-hour interactive visit with a silverback gorilla family in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, with an expert guide and a personal porter, in small groups of just 8 guests.

Big 5 Safari And Gorillas Itinerary How to Plan The Big 5 Safari And Gorillas Itinerary for Your First Time. Take note. Meet… Interact! The endangered mountain gorilla and other plains-dwelling big game are revealed by our one-of-a-kind safari itinerary. In our specially designed 6-passenger open-top jeeps, our knowledgeable safari guides will bring you closer to the Big Five, giving you a front-row seat to every exciting encounter!

Gorilla Trek and Masai Mara Safari 9 Days Gorilla Trek and Masai Mara Safari in Rwanda and Kenya. A Customized Safari in Rwanda and Kenya best for Gorilla Trekking and Wildebeest Adventure. Combine two of East Africa’s most iconic wildlife experiences on a trip that includes gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and three days on safari in the Masai Mara.

Wildebeest Migration and Gorilla trekking 8 Days Wildebeest Migration and Gorilla trekking Flying Safari; Rwanda and Tanzania safari is a unique safari package that offers a great opportunity for travelers to witness one of Africa’s natural wonders, the Great Wildebeest Migration, and at the same time do gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Wildebeest and Gorilla Trek – Tanzania safari is one of the best safari packages for those who crave gorilla trekking at the same time wish to witness the wildebeest migration in Tanzania.

The Great Apes of Africa Set out on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure across the lush hills of Uganda and Rwanda in search of chimps and mountain gorillas in the wild. Observe chimps and gorillas with a primatologist in the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Volcanoes National Park. Stay at breathtaking lodges, ranging from a lakeside house at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains to a hilltop eco-lodge with panoramic views of Rwanda’s volcanoes.

Gorilla Trek and Tanzania Safari A well-planned 16 Days Gorilla trek and Tanzania Safari is a classical adventure expedition to Tanzania through Rwanda and Uganda. This safari Package is unique in nature as it grants a great opportunity for travelers to experience Uganda’s gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Tour Rwanda’s Capital, Kigali, and at the same time Visit the wildlife extravaganza, Tanzania.

Frequently Asked Questions

To help you make your Rwanda Gorilla Tours Trekking package a memorable experience, we offer you all of the most important Gorilla trekking information . There are several frequently asked questions about Gorilla trekking in Rwanda and here is everything you need to know.

How much does it cost to see the Gorilla in Rwanda

ORDINARY PERMIT: USD $1500 per person for all trekking visitors to Rwanda. The behind the scenes gorilla Tour for 3 days costs US$ 30,000 for 3 persons.

Is gorilla trekking worth the money

Yes, Gorilla trekking is absolutely worth the money, effort & time spent. Travelers that have experienced gorilla trekking will definitely agree with me that the experience of coming face-to-face with these gentle giants is very worth every effort, money, and time put into planning the gorilla trekking holiday.

When should I go to Rwanda

The best time to visit Rwanda is during the drier period from June to September, when you have the best chance at spotting the country’s undoubted highlight: the mountain gorilla. The rainy seasons, from March to May and in November, are the optimum times for tracking chimpanzees. It’s also quieter then.

Why is Gorilla Trekking So Expensive/Costly

Why is Gorilla Trekking so Expensive in Rwanda, Uganda. Because Mountain Gorillas are endangered and only in three countries of the world. Because of this, many people have wished to go Gorilla trekking which has made governments increase the cost of permits as a way of minimizing the numbers visiting these natural habitats daily.

Why Are Gorillas Endangered

Mountain gorillas have endured unrestricted poaching, sickness, habitat degradation, and the effects of armed warfare for many years. Since their population fell, they are now regarded as endangered. However, as Gizmodo’s George Dvorsky notes, there is good news for these magnificent primates. According to a recent census, there are now 1,063 confirmed mountain gorillas, an alarmingly low number but evidence that conservation efforts are having an impact.

What to Pack for Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla trekking is a once-in-a-lifetime experience! However, in order to fully appreciate the experience, you must arrive prepared. Although Uganda has a tropical environment, the mountain gorillas reside at a high altitude, where the temperature drops dramatically at night and remains cold well into the morning. Mist and rain are typical throughout the year, and daytime hours are generally humid and cool. Trekking with gorillas is not for the faint of heart.

Kwita Izina

The ceremony of giving a name to a newborn baby commonly known as ” Kwita Izina ” has been part of the Rwandan tradition for centuries. This ceremony has also been used for the past 3 decades now to give names to newborn gorillas. The names attributed to the gorillas play a great part in the program of monitoring each individual and Gorillas group in its habitat. Since it started, the gorilla naming ceremony has been essential to Tourism and Conservation as well as its partners. The goal of Kwita Izina is to raise awareness of the protection of the mountain gorillas and their habitat.

Nyungwe Forest National Park

The Nyungwe Forest National Park is located in southwestern Rwanda, on the border with Burundi, where it is contiguous with the Kibira National Park to the south, and Lake Kivu and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. The Nyungwe rainforest is probably the best preserved montane rainforest in Central Africa. It is located in the watershed between the basin of the river Congo to the west and the basin of the river Nile to the east. From the east side of the Nyungwe forest comes also one of the branches of the Nile sources.

Gorilla Safari Lodges

Mountain gorillas: Sadly, a trekking safari to observe these gorgeous primates is a once-in-a-lifetime event due to their highly endangered status and a low natural population of less than 1,000. The good news is that most of the money made from gorilla trekking tourism is invested directly back into efforts to protect the gorillas and their rainforest habitat, and those funds are growing as more and more charming lodges draw even more charming trekkers (like you!). Check out this page if you want to know which nation is best for your gorilla safari . However, this one focuses on the best gorilla safari lodges to stay at while on a gorilla trekking safari. Check out our favorites below…

Gorilla Trekking Age Limit

Gorilla trekking Age limit in Uganda and Rwanda is the set minimum age/years for mountain Gorilla trekking in Uganda for any persons. Rwanda and Uganda Gorilla Trekking Age Limit are currently at 15 years and any person below 15 is not eligible to Trekking Gorillas. This is the age limit for all persons visiting the two gorilla parks in the country – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Therefore, individuals below the age of 15 are not allowed to go Gorilla trekking in Uganda.

Can you see the Gorillas in Rwanda

Trekking gorillas in Rwanda is safe and relatively accessible. At the latest count, there are approximately 1,000 mountain gorillas in the wild, with 604 in the Virunga Massif. The population is slowly increasing, thanks to concerted efforts between our governments, communities, and NGOs.

Where should I stay for Gorilla trekking in Rwanda

• Volcanoes Virunga Lodge. You would never guess that  gorilla trekking  could be glamourous – yet Virunga Lodge makes the experience exactly that. …
• Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge. …
• Singita Kwitonda Lodge. …
• Singita Kataza House. …
• One & Only  Gorilla’s  Nest. …
• Bisate Lodge.

Is it safe to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda

Is it safe to Trek Gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park at present? The answer is a resounding yes. Rwanda remains one of the safest countries to visit in Africa. The security breaches in 2019 have been dealt with, and Rwanda has further increased security measures for tourists.

How many gorillas are left in Rwanda

According to Dec 16, 2019 – The results show that the population there has increased to 459 individuals, from 400 at the last census. Including the mountain gorillas living in the Virunga mountain range of Rwanda and Congo, the overall total of mountain gorillas is now 1,063.

What Do Gorillas Eat

One of the most intelligent animals in the world, gorillas are the largest of the great apes. There are two living gorilla species, both of which are indigenous to Sub-Saharan Africa. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) , Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo all have tropical woods where the more common variety, the western gorilla, can be found. In contrast, the less common eastern gorilla inhabits the DRC’s lowland forests as well as the mountains of Rwanda , Uganda, and DRC. Both species are classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN because to habitat loss and hunting.

Walking With Gorillas

The Perfect Gorilla Walking Safaris – Walking with gorillas can be an amazing and unforgettable experience for those who have the opportunity to do so. Gorillas are the largest primates in the world and are known for their intelligence, strength, and gentle nature. They are also endangered, with only a few thousand remaining in the wild. All our gorilla walking safaris support communities and preserve nature – which helps you get closer to both.

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park Rwanda (also known as Parc National des Volcans) is arguably the best place in the world to observe the critically endangered mountain gorilla. This is where Dian Fossey started the habituation of these gentle giants decades ago. Other activities in the park include golden monkey trekking, a hike to Diane Fossey’s former camp, and the more strenuous volcano summit.

Gorilla Safari Destinations

The Top Gorilla Safari Destinations; Bwindi Impenetrable, Mgahinga Gorilla and Volcanoes National Parks and Other Uganda Safari Parks; Murchison Falls, Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth, and Kidepo National Parks.

A safari to Uganda is awful in general though it becomes more magical if we take you through the top highlight of the country, the pearl is a fantastic place for honeymoon vacationists or holiday vacations. Kabira Gorilla Safaris is a locally based Tour and Travel Company proven and registered under Uganda Tourism Board that can help you plan your safari to the country with a guaranteed wilderness experience.

Gorilla Trekking Guide

Here’s everything you need to know about mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda, from where and when to go to the best trips and places to stay. Dreaming of gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda? Here’s everything you need to know about gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda – from where and when to go, to how to prepare and what to pack, to the best place to stay, and best gorilla trekking safaris on offer.

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1-day Short Gorilla trip – Rwanda will start and end in Kigali: Very early morning, you will drive a 2-3 hours scenic drive to Volcanoes national park in Ruhengeri, a home of the endangered mountain gorillas to reach early enough by 8:30am for briefing before heading in the forest to track the gorillas.

This may take 2-8 hours depending on the movements of the animals. On return, your driver will drive you back to Kigali and then to Kanombe airport for your departure flight if it is on schedule.

End of Short Gorilla trip – Rwanda .

Africa Adventure Vacations Driver/ Guide will arrive at the air port or hotel to pick you start 1 day Short Gorilla trip Rwanda Proceed to the park headquarters to meet your guide and attend a briefing about gorilla trekking rules and guidelines. Receive your assigned gorilla family and group.

Embark on a thrilling 1 day Short Gorilla trip Rwanda for gorilla trekking adventure in the Volcanoes National Park. Hike through the lush rainforest, following the guidance of experienced trackers who will lead you to the location of your assigned gorilla family.

Afternoon: Spend approximately one hour observing and photographing the magnificent mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Witness their behavior, interactions, and social dynamics while maintaining a respectful distance.

After the gorilla trek, return to the park headquarters and receive a certificate of participation for your memorable experience. Transfer back to your accommodation.

Relax and unwind at your lodge, reflecting on the incredible encounter with the mountain gorillas. Enjoy a delicious dinner and share stories with fellow travelers about your adventure. Note: This itinerary assumes that you have already arranged your flights, accommodations, and necessary permits for gorilla trekking in Rwanda. It’s important to book your permits well in advance, as they are limited in number and highly sought after.

Remember to adhere to the rules and regulations set by the park authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of the gorillas. Additionally, be prepared for physically demanding terrain during the trek and bring appropriate gear, such as sturdy hiking boots, rainproof clothing, and a backpack with essentials like water, snacks, and a camera. End of 1 day Short Gorilla trip Rwanda

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Africa Adventure Vacations Ltd Plot 85 Kanjokya Street, Uganda Phone: +256 752 974500 +256785025022 Email: [email protected] [email protected]

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US condemns attacks on DR Congo camps for displaced people

T he State Deparment suggested Rwanda or the M23 rebel group were responsible for the deadly attacks in the North Kivu province.The United States strongly condemned an attack on a displaced people camp in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday.

At least 12 people have been killed and dozens more seriously injured when displacement camps in Lac Vert and Mugunga on the outskirts of Goma were shelled.

The US State Department said the attack on the Mugunga camp came from "Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) and M23 positions."

"We are gravely concerned about the recent RDF and M23 expansion in eastern DRC, which has contributed to the displacement of more than 2.5 million people," it said in a statement.

Congolese armed forces and M23 blame each other

Fighting between the Congolese army and M23 rebels has moved closer to Goma in recent months, prompting thousands to seek refuge in the city.

Kinshasa, United Nations officials and Western powers have long accused neighboring Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, something Kigali denies.

A spokesman for the Congolese armed forces said M23 rebels fired on the refugee camps after the military destroyed a rebel weapon and ammunition depot on Friday morning.

The M23 rebel group denied any role in the attacks and blamed Congolese forces.

The United Nations said the attacks were a "flagrant violation of human rights and international humanitarian law and may constitute a war crime."

Tshisekedi returns home early from Europe

Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi cut short a trip to Europe following Friday's attacks.

Earlier in the week, during a stop in Germany to meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz, he told DW his country was "being attacked by Rwanda, which is disguising this aggression by means of M23."

Even before Friday's attacks, Tshisekedi blamed Rwanda's President Paul Kagame for trying to sabotage Angolan President Joao Lourenco, mediating between the DR Congo and Rwanda on behalf of the African Union (AU).

"There is now what we believe to be a last-ditch attempt, and I want to give peace a chance as much as possible...we're not always going to be patient like this, wishing for peace," Tshisekedi told DW.

During a joint press conference with Tshisekedi in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron called on Rwanda to halt its support for the M23 rebel group.

lo/msh (AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters)

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