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WHERE TO GO
Rwanda
An overview of where to go and what's on offer in Rwanda...
This lush and verdant country lies in the heart of the Great Rift Valley that runs through Eastern Africa and, while it is relatively smaller than many of its neighbours, it packs a big “punch” in safari terms with one of the most famed populations of highland gorillas in the world. Since the brutal atrocities of the 90s, Rwanda can, today, claim to be one of the cleanest, fairest and most well run countries in Africa. Where many will only consider it as a short stop to see the gorillas, it has plenty more to offer.
The best parks & regions in Rwanda
World famous for its easy and well managed access to see the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda offers plenty more than just gorillas.
For those that are keen on seeing more primates the Nyungwe Forest is excellent for chimps, black and white colobus and has some of the largest bird diversities in Africa. In the eastern border park of Akagera it is possible to see many of the “big name” safari animals such as elephant and giraffe with a growing population of lion and leopard. Lake Kivu provides a beach-like location to recline for a few days between activities.
Do see Parks & Regions on this page.
Best time to visit Rwanda
As with its sister countries in East Africa, it is generally held that the best time to head here is in the dry seasons between June and November and again from the middle of December to the end of February which allows for easier trekking to see the gorillas in Volcanoes NP.
This being said, the periods in between offer lower rates and fewer other tourists so, for those that are happy to trek in wetter climes, it can be a good choice.
Please see our When to Go section for a more detailed breakdown of the areas and months below.
Safari & safari holidays
Certainly the dominant safari experience to Rwanda is to see the gorillas for an hour or two and so, for many, a 2 or 3 night stay followed by a flight into the Serengeti in Tanzania is the first choice. This being said, the country has plenty more to offer and so it is worth looking at the other parks such as Nyungwe and Akagera.
With so many nuances to factor in, there is no substitute, in our experience, for having a talk through with someone but, to get you started we have also developed a Safari Finder that should allow you to get a few options initially.
Do see Best Safaris & Holidays on this page for more ideas of what is on offer.
Rwanda Wildlife
Rwanda has definitely made a name for itself for those wanting to see the gentle and powerful gorillas of the Volcanoes National Park. It is often also possible to see the golden monkeys on a visit to this area.
Less known, however, are the chimpanzees and black and white colobus monkeys of Nyungwe NP and the plains game such as zebra, elephant, lion and giraffe in Akagera.
Don’t miss our Rwanda Wildlife Guide on this page.
Get help with visiting Rwanda
As much as AI has changed the way we all approach our lives, there is still no substitute for picking up the phone and having a chat through the options with one of us on +44 1525 840 149
This allows us to completely tailor the property choices, costs and itinerary length to your needs…but we also understand that this is not always possible with the busy lives we all lead.
With this in mind, we have also put together a safari finder tool that should help you to narrow down the initial stages at which point we can jump in to “round off the edges” as it were.
Alternatively please feel free to >send us an email with your timings, group size and rough likes and dislikes and we can get the ball rolling.
Where to Go in Rwanda
Rwanda
Do visit our full guide to Africa Destination Guide page to take in all that Southern and East Africa has to offer.
What are the best parks & regions in Rwanda for 2026/27?
Take a look at the below links for more information about the best parks and regions in Rwanda for 2026/27.
Do also see our full Africa Safari Finder to find the best parks, trips and activities.
What safari & adventure holiday types is Rwanda recommended for in 2026/27?
With a range of activities on offer across Africa please see a selection of some of the more popular below:
Don't miss our full What to Do in Africa safari guides for full details and ideas.
What are your top safari trips & itineraries to Rwanda for 2026/27?
1 Serengeti and mountain gorillas
Africa, Rwanda, Tanzania
Visits : Kigali, Serengeti National Park, Volcanoes National Park
This incredible itinerary takes you to the Virunga Mountains in Rwanda to trek for the majestic mountain gorillas. The experience has been described as humbling, dramatic and simply extraordinary, and when you… More…
2 Virunga Mountains & Gorilla Highlights
Africa, Rwanda
Visits : Kigali, Volcanoes National Park
The mighty Virunga Mountains straddle the countries of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and home more than half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. The Virungas are made… More…
3 Trek with Giants
Africa, Rwanda
Visits : Kigali, Volcanoes National Park
If you are keen to see the habituated mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park during a short trip to Rwanda, then this itinerary is one to look at! The Five Volcanoes… More…
4 An Extraordinary Gorilla Experience
Africa, Rwanda
Visits : Kigali, Volcanoes National Park
Staying in the most luxurious lodge in all of Rwanda, this itinerary combines two gorilla treks with the comfort of Bisate Lodge in the evening to rest your head. Opening its doors… More…
5 Rwanda in 8 days
Africa, Rwanda
Visits : Akagera National Park, Kigali, Nyungwe National Park, Volcanoes National Park
This 8-day itinerary guides you through the lush green country of Rwanda. You will travel through Kigali, Nyungwe Forest, Akagera National Park, Lake Ihema and of course, ending up in the mighty… More…
Don't miss our new Africa Safari Finder to find safari ideas by destination, region and type...
What are the best hotels & lodges in Rwanda for 2026/27?
We highly recommend the following hotels & lodges for Rwanda for 2026/27. These are all tried and tested by The Africa Specialists™ so don’t hesitate to call us with any queries over them or to check availability for you to your schedule.
NB. All prices for properties exclude applicable park fees and are guide prices.
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Volcanoes National Park
From $450 per person per night
See the hotel now
Do also see our full Top Five Hotels & Lodges in Africa guide to the best safari accomodation in Southern and East Africa.
What kind of wildlife highlights should you expect to find across Rwanda in 2026/27?
For 2026/27, we expect you’ll be able to find the following wildlife in the Rwanda bearing in mind the quality of guiding, budgets, time of year and duration of stay all affect your chances of finding or seeing any of the following outstanding animals that dwell in Rwanda…
Please visit our full Africa Wildlife page for a full guide to Rwanda’s wildlife in and where to go to find it!
Do visit our Best Time to Visit Africa page for a full guide
What to do in Rwanda in 2026/27
Do visit our What to Do speciality guide pages for Rwanda for 2026/27. These have all been put together by The Africa Specialists™ for you but don’t hesitate to call us with any queries over the options and ideas seen or to check availability for you to your schedule.
Please visit our What to Do in Africa for our full guides
FAQ’s for Rwanda safaris in 2026/27
When is the best time to visit Rwanda for safari and gorilla trekking?
As one of the greenest and most luscious countries in Africa, there is never really a bad time to visit Rwanda but, for many who are focussing on the gorillas, the driest periods, between June and September and from December to February are when the trails are at their driest and so the trekking at its easiest.
Please see our in depth “when to go” section for more information.
How much does gorilla trekking cost in Rwanda?
Visiting the mountain gorillas of Rwanda is not a cheap undertaking with permits to spend an hour with them, as of 2026, up at U$D1,500 per person.
On top of this price is, of course, the accommodation and the transport that are needed to get from the capital, Kigali, up to Volcanoes National Park. In recent years properties such as Bisate and Sabyinyo have pushed the nightly rates up as high as approximately U$D3,000 per person per night but, on the flip side, with it being easily possible to spend just one night up at the park, some would argue that this “splurge” for the night and what is an unforgettable experience is worth it.
Is Rwanda safe for tourists?
Since its well known troubles of the 1990s Rwanda has become one of the cleanest, well managed and safest countries in Africa with all of the population going so far as to communally clean their neighbourhood on the last Saturday of every month.
The politics of the country do draw criticism from many outside observers but, with its one party state the pace and quality of life in the country is second to nowhere else on the continent.
Is gorilla trekking difficult or physically demanding?
With the high altitude and the often muddy and steep slopes of the mountains, many are put off gorilla trekking by the thought that it will be too strenuous.
These concerns are, to a certain degree, valid but, with each of the gorilla troops being constantly monitored as to location and terrain, there are plenty of ways to mitigate should you be less physically capable.
One of these is to be allocated a troop that is nearby and located in less harsh terrain resulting in shorter trekking times (of between 2 and 3 hours) and less arduous inclines. Another is to choose the drier periods of the season when the footing is more solid.
In the main, those with a reasonable level of fitness should be able to cope with most of the terrain that is encountered with those of a more energetic disposition able to trek for up to 7 hours should they choose.
Can I combine Rwanda with Kenya or Tanzania?
Rwanda is famed for being a destination of only a few nights as many opt to head here for only the gorilla trekking and then either head to the coastline for some time on a beach or on to the more famed safaris in Tanzania and Kenya.
These days it is very easy to combine 2 or even 3 countries in an itinerary with daily flights from Kigali to Nairobi (and then on to the Masai Mara) or directly from Kigali into the Serengeti in northern Tanzania.
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