Rwanda Travel Guide
Four national parks, one compact road network and a Rwandan guide’s view of where to go, how long to stay and when to travel.
Rwanda has four national parks, and the three main safari parks lie 2.5 to 7 hours from Kigali by road. Volcanoes National Park, 2.5 to 3 hours away, is where you trek mountain gorillas, with a US$1,500 permit. A trip of five to seven days usually covers two parks; more than seven days covers all three.
Rwanda in numbers
- National parks
- 4
- Kigali to Volcanoes National Park
- 2.5 to 3 hours (about 105 km)
- Kigali to Akagera National Park
- 2.5 hours
- Kigali to Nyungwe National Park
- 7 hours
- Gorilla permit
- US$1,500what the gorilla permit covers
- Tourist visa
- US$50Rwanda safari and gorilla trekking FAQs
- Dry months
- June to September and December to February
One small country, four national parks
Rwanda is a small country, about 26,000 square kilometres, and that works in a traveller’s favour. Volcanoes National Park is 2.5 to 3 hours from Kigali by road, Akagera is 2.5 hours and Nyungwe is 7, so mountain gorillas, savannah wildlife and chimpanzee forest can sit in one trip without crossing the country twice.
Ten percent of tourism revenues goes back to the community around the park. You can read more about our sustainability policy and about Hope Tours Africa. Guests tell us the same things in their first 24 hours: the roads are clean, the countryside is very green, there are a lot of motorbike taxis, and people are friendly, from the airport meeting through to the hotels and the sites.
In my experience Rwanda suits a first gorilla trek well: Volcanoes National Park is a short drive from Kigali and easy to connect with flights, and the trails are well organised. Our gorilla trekking guide compares Rwanda and Uganda in full.
Where to go in Rwanda
Each park has its own landscape and pace. Here is how the four fit together.
Volcanoes National Park
2.5 to 3 hours from Kigali
Mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and volcano hikes. About 105 km, 2.5 to 3 hours from Kigali.
Akagera National Park
2.5 hours from Kigali
Savannah, lakes and a boat safari, with all five of the Big Five living in the park. 2.5 hours from Kigali.
Nyungwe National Park
7 hours from Kigali
Chimpanzees and the canopy walk in a large forest. 7 hours from Kigali, 5 hours from Volcanoes.
Lake Kivu
4 h 30 to Rubavu
A lakeshore place to rest between treks. Rubavu (Gisenyi) is 4 hours 30 minutes from Kigali by road.
Also in Rwanda
Gishwati-Mukura National Park: Rwanda’s fourth national park, created in 2015, protecting the Gishwati and Mukura forests.
Kigali and culture: the genocide memorial and the city, in day trips from Kigali and Rwanda cultural tours.
What to do across Rwanda
Gorilla trekking and golden monkeys, Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is where you trek mountain gorillas. You trek with a guide to a gorilla family and spend one hour with them. Groups are limited to eight visitors per family, and trekkers must be 15 or older. Golden monkey tracking is open from age 12 and takes place on a separate day, and volcano hikes are also possible from the park. We never promise sightings. Read our gorilla trekking guide or see how we arrange gorilla safaris.
Big Five and boat safari, Akagera National Park
Akagera is a small park, which means short drives and more time watching animals. In my experience it is less crowded than the big parks in Kenya and Tanzania, with fewer vehicles at a sighting. The landscape of bush, small hills and plains sits beside one of the largest protected wetlands in the region, and a boat safari on Lake Ihema is part of the experience. All five of the Big Five live in the park, but a game drive can never promise any one animal. Explore Akagera National Park.
Chimpanzees and the canopy walk, Nyungwe National Park
Nyungwe is where chimpanzees are tracked, for visitors aged 15 and over, and where a canopy walk takes you into the forest canopy. It is the longest drive from Kigali, 7 hours, so we break the journey with a stop at the King’s Palace Museum in Nyanza, about 2.5 hours from Kigali, for the museum, lunch or a coffee and the craft shops. Chimpanzee sightings cannot be promised either. Plan Nyungwe National Park.
Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is a lake rather than a park, and it works best as a pause between treks, away from the forest trails. Rubavu is 4 hours 30 minutes from Kigali by road. See the Lake Kivu guide for how it fits into a route.
Culture and Kigali
We send almost every guest to the Kigali Genocide Memorial at the start of the trip. It shows the history of the genocide against the Tutsi and how far Rwanda has come since, and from the airport onward we brief guests on what to expect, including the history and the grave gardens. For the rest of the city, see Rwanda cultural tours and day trips from Kigali.
How the parks fit together
The most common planning mistake is not knowing the driving distances between parks. Three parks in five days is not feasible, so we plan fewer parks and more time in each.
From Kigali by road
| From | To | Road time |
|---|---|---|
| Kigali | Volcanoes National Park | 2.5 to 3 hours |
| Kigali | Akagera National Park | 2.5 hours |
| Kigali | Nyungwe National Park | 7 hours |
| Volcanoes National Park | Nyungwe National Park | 5 hours |
| Akagera National Park | Volcanoes National Park | 4 hours |
| Kigali | Gisenyi (Lake Kivu) | 4 hours 30 minutes |
| Trip length | Usual plan |
|---|---|
| 3 to 4 days | Volcanoes National Park for gorillas, with golden monkeys on a separate day. See our Rwanda short safaris. |
| 5 to 7 days | Two parks. Seven days is usually Volcanoes with Nyungwe; guests who want more safari, or are connecting to other safari countries, choose Volcanoes with Akagera. See Rwanda safari packages. |
| More than 7 days | All three parks, with time at Lake Kivu if you wish. |
In what order. With two parks, start with Nyungwe or Akagera and finish with Volcanoes; with three, your flights decide the order. Read why I order the parks this way.
Luxury travellers with five days can also stay in Volcanoes alone with two treks. See our Rwanda luxury safaris.
Where to stay in each region
Lodges are chosen to match the trip and the length of each drive. Rates are in the Rwanda safari cost guide.
- Volcanoes
- Kinigi and Musanze, near the park.
- Akagera
- in or near the park, so a morning starts with a game drive rather than a transfer.
- Nyungwe
- near the forest, after the long drive from Kigali or Volcanoes.
- Lake Kivu
- hotels on the lakeshore, named in the Lake Kivu guide.
See where to stay in Rwanda, our Rwanda luxury safaris and the blog on where to stay for gorilla trekking.
When to go to Rwanda
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Dry | Dry | Wet | Wet | Wet | Dry | Dry | Dry | Dry | Wet | Wet | Dry |
Dry months. June to September and December to February are the dry seasons.
Wet months. March to May and October to November are wetter. Gorilla trekking runs all year, so the forest stays open in every month.
Planning around the seasons. We suggest planning three to six months ahead, and earlier for June to September and December to February. The Rwanda safari cost guide explains the November to May permit discount. Our blogs on the best time for gorilla trekking and the seasonal guide to Rwanda go into more detail.
Planning basics for Rwanda
- Visa
- A single entry tourist visa is US$50. The East Africa Tourist Visa, valid 90 days for Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya, is US$100. Citizens of African Union, Commonwealth and Francophonie countries receive a free 30 day visa. You can apply online or on arrival. Visas are the traveller’s responsibility. See the Rwanda safari and gorilla trekking FAQs.
- Health
- A yellow fever certificate is needed only if you arrive from a risk country, including more than 12 hours in transit there.
- Plugs
- Types C and J, 230 volt, 50 hertz.
- Money
- Rwandan franc.
- Time
- Central Africa Time, UTC+2, no daylight saving.
- Tipping
- Never required. The Rwanda safari and gorilla trekking FAQs give typical ranges.
- Safety
- In my experience Rwanda is very safe. Read our safety guide.
- Airport
- Kigali International Airport. Airport transfers are included in every itinerary. See our booking policy.
- Beyond Rwanda
- We also arrange safaris in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
Advice from Eric Sabi
How I order the parks
If a guest has two parks, I start with the long drive and finish with the gorillas. Kigali to Nyungwe is seven hours, and Volcanoes to Kigali is three. The gorillas are the highlight, and I want the trip to end on it, not on a long road to the airport. With three parks I look at the flights first: nobody should face a long drive on the day they fly out.
Why I send guests to the memorial first
I send almost every guest to the Kigali Genocide Memorial at the start of the trip. It shows where Rwanda has come from and how far it has come, and it helps a guest understand why visitors are safe here today. From the airport onward I brief them on what happened and what they will see, so the visit is not a surprise.
Breaking the road to Nyungwe
On the way to Nyungwe we can stop at the King’s Palace Museum in Nyanza, to visit or simply for lunch and a coffee, so nobody sits through the seven hours in one go.
Eric SabiFounder and RDB-licensed guide
Start with a sample itinerary
Start from one of these itineraries, browse our Rwanda safari packages, or request a tailor-made itinerary built around your dates.
- 3 Day Gorilla Trekking Rwanda
- 7-Day Rwanda Primate Safari
- 3-Day Nyungwe Chimpanzee & Canopy Walk Safari
- 4 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safaris with Golden Monkey Trekking
Where to go next: gorilla trekking in Rwanda for the trek itself; Rwanda luxury safaris for lodges and service; the private Rwanda luxury safari for your own vehicle and pace; ultra luxury Rwanda safaris for the highest tier; luxury honeymoon safaris for couples; family luxury safaris for travelling with children; and the Rwanda safari cost guide for prices.
Rwanda travel questions answered
How many national parks does Rwanda have?
Rwanda has four national parks: Volcanoes, Akagera, Nyungwe and Gishwati-Mukura. Volcanoes, Akagera and Nyungwe are the three main safari parks, each with its own landscape and wildlife. Gishwati-Mukura, created in 2015, protects the Gishwati and Mukura forests. Lake Kivu is a lake rather than a park, but many itineraries include a stay on its shore.
How many days do I need in Rwanda?
Three to four days is enough for Volcanoes National Park and the gorillas. Five to seven days usually covers two parks, most often Volcanoes with Nyungwe, or Volcanoes with Akagera. With more than seven days you can include all three. Three parks in five days is not realistic because of the drive times, so we plan fewer parks and more time in each.
When is the best time to visit Rwanda?
The dry months are June to September and December to February. The wet months are March to May and October to November. Gorilla trekking runs all year in both. The Rwanda safari cost guide explains the November to May permit discount. Our best time and seasonal guides go into more detail.
Do I need a visa for Rwanda?
Visitors can apply online or get a visa on arrival. A single entry tourist visa costs US$50. The East Africa Tourist Visa costs US$100, lasts 90 days and covers Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. Citizens of African Union, Commonwealth and Francophonie countries receive a free 30 day visa. Visas are the responsibility of the traveller, so check current rules before you fly.
Is Rwanda safe?
In my experience Rwanda is very safe. Many visitors and media describe it as one of the safest countries in Africa and the world, though that is a view rather than an official ranking. Guests are met at the airport on arrival. Our safety guide covers the detail.
How do I get between the parks?
Parks are linked by road. From Kigali it is 2.5 to 3 hours to Volcanoes, 2.5 hours to Akagera and 7 hours to Nyungwe. Volcanoes to Nyungwe is 5 hours. We often break the road to Nyungwe with a stop at the museum in Nyanza, about 2.5 hours from Kigali. We set the order of parks around your arrival and departure flights.
Can I combine gorillas with Akagera or Nyungwe?
Yes. A seven day trip is usually Volcanoes National Park with Nyungwe, for gorillas and chimpanzees. Guests who are keener on safaris, or who are connecting to other safari destinations, often choose Volcanoes with Akagera. We usually finish with the gorillas. We never promise sightings of any species.
What does a gorilla permit cost?
A mountain gorilla permit costs US$1,500, and trekkers must be 15 or older. Permits are limited each day, so we advise booking three to six months ahead, and earlier for June to September and December to February. Our Rwanda safari cost guide explains what the permit covers, what else to plan for and how the discount works.
Plan your Rwanda safari
Tell us your dates, the number of travelers and what you want to see. We reply within 24 hours, usually within 1 to 4 hours.
WhatsApp: +250 788 602 524 · Email: info@hopetoursafrica.com · Phone: +250 788 602 524