Rwanda Safari

Africa’s Most Accessible Gorilla Trekking

Rwanda’s unique environment and kind, welcoming people provide one-of-a-kind experiences. This is a country characterized by its impressive biodiversity, volcanoes, and highland rainforests that are home to the gorillas. Rarely experienced in isolation, a Rwanda gorilla trekking safari combines well with other East African destinations such as Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania.

There is more to green and hilly Rwanda than meets the eye: it is also home to the primate-filled Nyungwe Forest National Park, where boisterous chimpanzees frolic and the skies are filled with a myriad of birds. And in low lying eastern Rwanda, Akagera National Park offers big game viewing in a diverse savannah setting with safari heavyweights including lions and elephants. Here are some of our best reasons to go on a Rwanda safari:

1. Soul Stirring Encounters with Mountain Gorillas & Wildlife

Rwanda is home to some of the world’s greatest primate tracking, situated against a setting of rolling hills, forest canopies and majestic mountain peaks. With over half of the world’s surviving mountain gorilla population, it’s no wonder that most wildlife-enthusiasts come to Rwanda to track and spend time with these critically endangered primates up-close.

Highlights: 

• Embark on year-round Rwanda gorilla trekking tours
• Encounter golden monkeys, chimpanzees and forest birds
• Gain insights into Dian Fossey's life and work
• Explore the Nyungwe Forest National Park & famed Volcanoes National Park

2. Kigali: The Modern Heartbeat of Rwanda

Kigali is clean, safe and has risen from its tumultuous past to become one of Africa's friendliest cities and the perfect starting point of a Rwanda safari. From vibrant shopping malls in the city centre showcasing boutiques and coffee shops to its lively markets, this is the beating heart of Rwanda. The city is scattered over several hills and has enough to do to keep you occupied for a couple of days.

Highlights: 

• Stop at the Kigali Cultural Village for live music and art workshops
• Sample the greatest Fair-Trade coffee in the world at Hingakwa Women's Coffee Cooperative
• Time your stay with the Kigali Film Festival, Hobe Rwanda Festival or the Kigali Fashion Show
• Pay your respects at the sombre Genocide Memorial Centre

3. Sustainable Gorilla Safaris: Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund & Ellen DeGeneres Campus 

It was on the bamboo-covered slopes of Rwanda's Virunga Volcanoes that the late Dian Fossey studied the behaviour of the endangered mountain gorilla for 20 years, followed by the filmmakers who shot Gorillas in the Mist. You can now not only experience one of the most memorable wildlife encounters on Earth but also actively participate in the gargantuan efforts to save the species – gorilla trekking and engaging with local scientists in their innovative research spaces.

Highlights: 

• Take a 2-hour behind-the-scenes campus tour with a gorilla researcher
• Immerse yourself in a half day activity at the Price Research Center
• Join a private, 2-hour masterclass in gorilla conservation
• Experience gorilla trekking with a Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund researcher

4. Convenient Travel & Easily Combined with Other Destinations 

Small, compact and easy to travel around, the main draw card of a Rwanda safari is that it has the easiest and most accessible gorilla trekking. After arriving at the capital city of Kigali, you are only a few hours’ drive away from the legendary Volcanoes National Park and its habituated but still wild gorilla families for authentic and awe-inspiring gorilla treks in Rwanda. Rwanda is also easily combined with other celebrated safari destinations from Kenya and Tanzania and their vast open plains to the white-sand beaches of Zanzibar.

Highlights: 

• Easily combined with Big Five safari destinations and island escapes
• Fly-in travel and customizable itineraries
• The most accessible gorilla trekking experiences
• Extend your gorilla trekking with a trip to Uganda or the Congo