Rwanda Safari

As for the documentation you need for your holiday in Rwanda, keep in mind entry requirements can change, so please contact your local Rwanda embassy or high commission to verify that the following information below is up to date.

-A passport is required for all foreign visitors and has to be valid for at least six months.

-Passports must have a clean and full visa page for endorsement.

– Citizens of all countries are allowed to get visa upon arrival without prior application. More details at www.migration.gov.rw.

-For people visiting Rwanda in conjunction with Kenya and/or Uganda, it is possible to buy a joint visa for all three countries. See www.migration.gov.rw for details.

-When arriving from a yellow-fever-infected country in Africa or the Americas, a yellow-fever vaccination certificate is required.

-Citizens of country members to the African Union, Commonwealth and La Francophonie can get free visas upon arrival in Rwanda for a visit of 30 days.

-A citizen of East African Community Member States can receive a pass/entry visa free of charge upon arrival for a six-month stay in Rwanda.

-Visitors from the following countries can be granted 90-day visas at no cost upon arrival in Rwanda: Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, The Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Haiti, Mauritius, Philippines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Singapore and the State of Qatar.

-Citizens of countries that are not visa exempt have an option of applying online or at the Rwanda Diplomatic Mission of the country of residence before departure. Those applying online have the option to pay online or upon arrival. There is no single affiliated agent that is authorised to apply for a visa on your behalf.

-For more information, please visit the website of your local Rwanda embassy/high commission or the government travel advisories below:

Australia     –   www.smartraveller.gov.au

Canada     –   travel.gc.ca

EU Member States     –   ec.europa.eu

Ireland     –   www.ireland.ie

New Zealand     –   www.safetravel.govt.nz

United Kingdom     –   www.gov.uk

United States     –   travel.state.gov

As for 2025, the cost of gorilla trekking or rather cost of a single gorilla permit (known in full as a mountain gorilla tracking permit) in Rwanda is US$1,500 for all foreigners from outside Africa. This price for all Rwandan citizens and East African citizens is US$200 for citizens of Rwanda and other East African countries. The permit cost for both foreign residents in Rwanda, and African citizen/Foreign resident in Africa is US$500. Keep in mind, all these are (subject to change).

All travelers are advised against making erroneous, incomplete or false applications. Such cases may include among others, applying for the wrong product, uploading a false ID / Visa and uploading an expired ID/ Visa. Please be advised that verification of tourist documents is done at park entry gates. Tourists who made erroneous, incomplete or false applications WILL be denied entry to the park regardless of whether they paid and acquired a system-generated permit.

About medicine for your safari trip to Rwanda, we recommend anti-malarial medication no matter what time of year you plan on visiting Rwanda for safari. Kindly consult with your doctor at home for advice on the right choice of prophylaxis for your body well in advance of your departure date. Additionally, if you live in a yellow fever region or plan to travel through a region where it is endemic during your stay, you will need a yellow fever vaccination and certificate. It’s best to seek advice from a specialist travel doctor when planning your East Africa trip.

Rwanda has come a long way with wildlife safari tourism. There now exists lots of luxury Rwanda safari lodges in all its main tourist destinations in or around Volcanoes, Nyungwe and Akagera National Parks. For the best experience, we advise visitors to stay either in Volcanoes National Park or in the nearby town of Ruhengeri. Listed below are some of the top 13 places to stay on a Rwanda safari holiday.

That said, the best places to stay on a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda include;

1. Magashi Camp
2. Ruzizi Tented Lodge
3. One & Only Nyungwe House
4. Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
5. Kigali Serena Hotel
6. The Bishop’s House
7. The Retreat
8. Volcanoes Virunga Lodge
9. Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
10. Singita Kwitonda Lodge
11. Singita Kataza House
12. One & Only Gorilla’s Nest
13. Wilderness Bisate Lodge

These luxury Rwanda safari lodges and camps are also a popular option in the grassland game parks. That said, there are budget-friendly options available for the budget traveler. So, you can choose between luxury accommodations in Rwanda or just comfort hotels.

Listed below are some of the best places to visit in Rwanda; these destinations also sum up as the top Rwanda national parks to explore while on your safari. They include the following;

1. Volcanoes National Park: provides the best gorilla treks & bird watching. To add some more fun on your trip, take a 2-hour behind-the-scenes campus tour with a gorilla researcher. In addition, hiking, canoeing, mountain biking and village experiences offer something for everyone to enjoy here.
2. Nyungwe Forest National Park: discover the playful chimpanzees, primates, both birds and butterfly in this park. This is also the oldest rainforest full of life, and hosts a collection of flora and fauna.

What’s more, Nyungwe is a popular primate safari destination, and home to the chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, and the striking black and white colobus. 

On top of that, canopy walking adventures Rwanda’s Nyungwe, offers exciting experiences on the raised pathways; remember to keep your eyes open for the blue monkeys playing on the treetops.

3. Akagera National Park: This is the only place in Rwanda where to see the Big Five on safari drives. Akagera is made up of savannah grasslands, woodland, wetland and a dozen lakes. Moreover, you can go on relaxing private boat trips, sunset cruises, and night safaris.
4. Lake Kivu; A waterside gem that offers rewarding hiking, chimp trekking, bird watching and canopy walks. Lake Kivu has also become a top Rwanda tourist attraction with unequalled, from the northern shore you can go kayaking, fishing, swimming and sunset boat cruises.
5. Kigali; the heartbeat of Rwanda, and doorway to all Rwanda safari holidays & tours. Make a stop at the Kigali cultural village for live music entertainment and explore the art workshops. Explore and get to know more about the Hingakawa Women’s Coffee Cooperative, and if your African safaris to Rwanda timing is good, discover Kigali film festival or the Kigali fashion show.
6. Virunga Mountains; the Virunga Mountain range in Rwanda lies in the Great Rift Valley, more specifically the Albertine Rift. Derived from the local Kinyarwanda word meaning volcano, this impressive chain of dormant volcanoes is separated by lakes Edward and Kivu, whose waters add a majestic shimmer to the landscape as you adventure through the breathtaking jungle terrain.

The Virunga Massif serves as a dramatic backdrop to the Volcanoes National Park and offers an array of activities and adventures set among tree ferns and forests.

The above-mentioned top 6 areas sum up where to go in Rwanda for the best gorilla trekking tours.

The best time to visit usually depends on many things including your interests, where you want to visit and why you’re travelling. One traveler’s best time is another traveler’s worst time, making the question ‘when is the best time to go to Rwanda?’ a little tricky. 

Even so, the best time to visit best time to visit Rwanda for gorillas & safari is between June and September, which is during the Dry season when wildlife viewing is at its prime. This is also the best time of year to see mountain gorillas in Rwanda as these periods offer the best hiking conditions with a low risk of malaria. Primate walks in the misty rainforests are a big part of most of these luxury safaris in Rwanda. With that in mind, walking in the forest much easier during the dry season and that is also the recommended time for most primate trekking holidays, including silverback gorilla trekking experiences. Discover more of our month-by-month guide for travelling to Rwanda.

(1)-one hour is the maximum time you are allowed to spend observing the mountain gorillas as they go about their lives—playing, grooming, feeding, or simply relaxing. A single gorilla trekking day starts early in the morning, usually around 7:00 AM, with a pre-trek briefing at the park headquarters. The actual trekking to find the gorillas can take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours, depending on the location of the silverback gorilla family and trekking terrain conditions. Once you reach the gorillas, you are allowed one hour to observe them. It’s important to always follow your guide’s instructions.

A single gorilla trekking day starts early in the morning, usually around 7:00 AM, with a pre-trek briefing at the park headquarters. The actual trekking to find the gorillas can take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours, depending on the location of the silverback gorilla family and trekking terrain conditions. Once you reach the gorillas, you are allowed one hour to observe them. It’s important to always follow your guide’s instructions.

Yes! You can see all big 5 wildlife in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park, bordering Tanzania. It also has one of the largest hippo populations in Africa – with over 700 hippo (and plenty of crocodile) in its Lake Rwanyakazinga. You can also spot plenty of giraffe, zebra, topi, and eland.

Yes, you can take photos and videos during a gorilla trek. However, it’s important to follow and respect instructions provided by your mountain gorilla guides. However, keep in mind that flash photography is usually not allowed, as it can shock or annoy the gorillas. For travelers participating on our gorilla trekking photography tours, a full briefing will be issued with the do’s and don’ts while on this gorilla photo safari.

Both Rwanda and Uganda are excellent for gorilla trekking. However, Uganda gorilla trekking is cheaper as compared to Rwanda.

Yes! For gorilla trekking, children under 15 are not allowed on gorilla treks.

The best places on where to go on a gorilla photo safari include the following listed destinations;

1. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda: Home to nearly half the world’s mountain gorillas, this UNESCO World Heritage site offers dense forests and mist-cloaked hillsides—perfect for moody gorilla photography on your Uganda safari.
2. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda: Snag epic shots of the gorillas with the Virunga volcanoes in the distance in this park. It’s smaller than Bwindi but no less dramatic in its scenery.
3. Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda: This Rwanda safari park was made famous by legendary primatologist Dian Fossey. It is often considered an easier trekking experience due to less dense vegetation.

These impenetrable rainforests of East Africa, especially those in Uganda and Rwanda, are the best locations for gorilla trekking photo safaris. Additionally, it’s important to maintain a respectful distance while on the trek, and follow the instructions given by your guides.

While each of the mentioned mountain gorilla destinations offering exceptional chimpanzee photographic opportunities, Bwindi in Uganda is often considered the best choice for serious wildlife photographers.

Generally, it is necessary to wear proper safari clothing and gear to ensure your comfort and safety when chimpanzee trekking in the rainforests. That being said, below are some recommendations of what to wear during your gorilla trekking tours:

-The Footwear: Like mountain trekking, go for the sturdy, waterproof walking shoes or hiking boots with good traction. The rainforest terrain can be not level, muddy, and even slippery, so pack reliable footwear for a comfortable trek. Another tip about the shoes, try walking with them at home before your trip and see if they are comfortable to avoid getting blisters after the trip.

-The Rain Gear: Due to the unpredictable nature of rainforests, it’s highly advisable to bring with you a lightweight raincoat or waterproof jacket. This will protect you from unexpected showers, keeping you dry during the trek.

-The Clothing’s: Pack long trousers and long-sleeved tops, long socks to wear over your trousers as protection against ants, and thorny vegetation and insects. Pick lightweight, breathable fabrics that allow fast and easy movement – they are also quick drying.

-Your Gloves: The thick gloves, can be helpful for grabbing onto the branches for stability as you trek. They also offer protection against sharp plants.

-A Hat: Bring with you a safari hat – this helps protect you from the sun, as well as rain showers that may occur.

– Extras – The Mountains tend to be cold so pack a warm fleece in your day pack, along with sunscreen and insect repellent are advised.

Talking about safety while on gorilla trekking tours, by now you should know that gorilla trekking adventures involves safaris deep into wilderness rainforest, these tours are usually safe and well-regulated in the company of armed wildlife rangers and a professional mountain gorilla guide walking with you. As long as you follow what you are told to do and the strict rules provided, you will have no problems with on your safari, both humans and gorillas.