Rwanda vacations

Visiting Rwanda is a bit like doing a triathlon. It’s challenging, exciting, tiring and emotional. It also has three important aspects: people and culture, national parks and gorilla watching. Most celebrated for strictly managed gorilla safaris in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda has two other national parks that are wildlife havens. Nyungwe boasts chimps and other primates and Akagera is a veritable ark. It’s the people, their history and culture that will make your heart skip a beat though – as you’ll discover not only in the moving genocide memorials, but also by immersing yourself in the infectiously life-affirming culture.

Introducing Rwanda

Discover the best of Rwanda.

Rwanda is nicknamed the "Land of a Thousand Hills" for a reason. Its landscape doesn't stop rolling, and the hills are dotted with plunging ravines, waterfalls, and ancient forests. Rwanda is also one of the only places on earth where travelers can trek among 13 species of primates, including the world-famous mountain gorillas and the rare golden monkey. With a serene and modern capital city and excellent national park infrastructure, the country's tumultuous past can feel worlds away—for travelers interested in learning more about Rwanda's somber history and honoring the victims of genocide, there are many opportunities in Kigali and beyond.

When is the best time to visit?

Rwanda has a tropical climate, meaning there's a chance of rain no matter what time of year you visit. There are technically "dry" and "wet" seasons—which unsurprisingly align with the high and low seasons for tourism. Rwanda can be visited year round, but the best time for gorilla trekking is during the short dry season from December-February, or the long dry season lasting from June-September. You may need to procure a permit further in advance, but you'll appreciate the mud-free trails.

Where should you go?

Most travelers fly into Kigali, the pristine capital city. It's worth staying a day or two and taking a guided city tour—there's a lot to take in, from culture at the Inema Art Center to colorful markets and the critically important Kigali Genocide Memorial Museum. From there, you'll be hopping between some of the world's most heralded national parks. To book with us click here! Also don't forget to Contact usPerhaps the most unique and sought-after activity in Rwanda is trekking among the famed gorillas of the Virunga Mountains in Volcanoes National Park. While there, you can also spot golden monkeys, visit the Diane Fossey Museum, take a mountain biking tour, and more. For chimpanzees, head to Nyungwe Forest National Park, and Akagera for birdwatching. Rubavu, on the shores of Lake Kivu, is an hour away from Volcanoes and makes a good stopover on the way to or from Nyungwe.

How many days do you need?

With 5 days in Rwanda, travelers should prioritize visiting the gorillas. Head straight to Volcanoes National Park for two days of gorilla trekking, and spend the last half of your trip in Nyungwe Forest for a canopy walk and chimpanzee trek. Double that timeframe, and your options double along with it. In ten days, you can start with a game drive and boat cruise in Akagera National Park, continue to Nyungwe and Volcanoes parks for chimpanzee and gorilla tracking, and end in Gisenyi with a Lake Kivu boat cruise. Two weeks is equally easy to fill—add a visit to Buhanga Eco Park, observe golden and colobus monkeys, and enjoy guided city tours in Kigali and Kibuye. Best time to go to Rwanda Don’t be put off by the rains of November or March to May, as you will have the forests, lakes and mountains to yourself. And occasionally cheaper gorilla watching permits, too. The majority of visitors come to see these fascinating great apes, and so travel dates are often dictated simply by whenever you can get a highly in-demand permit. Keen wildlife photographers may even prefer the rainy season, as there is less light contrast coming through the trees, allowing you to focus solely on your subject matter. The American primatologist and conservationist Dian Fossey, who was murdered in 1985, is credited with bringing the plight of Rwandan mountain gorillas to wider attention, and possibly saving them from extinction. Gorilla watching safaris in Rwanda are well-managed, and could easily prove one of the most memorable moments of your life. But permits for a one-hour visit don’t come cheap, and they sell out months in advance, so using a specialist company pays dividends. And by the way – if you have accessibility requirements, they’re no barrier to gorilla safaris here, as porters can carry you in a throne chair. Gorillas hog the limelight – ironically, given how shy they are – but Rwanda’s three national parks are absolutely teeming with other wildlife too. Nyungwe Forest National Park boasts one of Africa’s highest canopy walks, an excellent way to spot the many primate species that hang around the treetops. And Akagera National Park, on the border with Tanzania, is a safari dream, with giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, and even the odd lion and elephant on display. Porters and guides are indispensable and, though not cheap, their services ensure that local communities view wildlife watching as a sustainable source of income. here!