/destinations/rwanda/
At a Glance
Rwanda is compact, mountainous, and unusually easy to travel — Volcanoes National Park sits roughly two to three hours by road from Kigali International Airport, making it one of the most accessible mountain gorilla destinations in Africa. For travellers adding primate trekking to a Tanzania safari, this accessibility is the main reason Rwanda is often chosen over the alternatives.
Why Add Rwanda to a Tanzania Safari
A Tanzania safari delivers open-plains wildlife at scale. Rwanda delivers something structurally different — an hour on foot in dense mountain forest with a habituated gorilla family, at close range, on their terms. The two complement rather than duplicate each other, and the connecting flight via Kigali is straightforward.
Where to Go in Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park — the country's mountain gorilla trekking destination, on the Virunga volcanic range, also home to habituated golden monkey groups.
Kigali — the arrival and departure city, with a strong design-hotel scene and the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which most visitors find worth the time.
Lake Kivu — a large freshwater lake on the western border, commonly used as a rest stop after trekking.
Gorilla Trekking Permits
Rwanda operates a limited-permit system for gorilla trekking, with permits allocated per day and per habituated family. Permits must be secured in advance and are subject to availability and current pricing set by the Rwanda Development Board — we handle this as part of your booking, and recommend confirming dates early given the limited daily allocation.
Best Time to Visit Rwanda
Gorilla trekking is possible year-round. The drier months — generally June to September and December to February — offer easier trail conditions underfoot, though forest rain is possible in any season.