Private Rwanda Luxury Safaris
A bespoke itinerary with your own vehicle, guide and rooms, planned around you by a safari company based in Kigali.
For lodge tiers and the wider range of trips, see our luxury Rwanda safaris.
A private Rwanda luxury safari starts from US$4,000 per person sharing for three days and reaches US$12,500 for seven days at luxury level. You travel with your own vehicle, guide and rooms, and we never mix clients. A gorilla permit costs US$1,500 per person. Hope Tours Africa builds every itinerary for one guest or group.
A private Rwanda safari at a glance
- Price from
- US$4,000 per person sharing (3 days, luxury). Guide price, final price in a written quotation
- Trip length
- 3 to 12 days
- Best season
- June to September and December to February
- Group size
- Private for your own party. We do not mix clients. Gorilla families are limited to 8 visitors, so you trek with other travelers unless you buy an exclusive permit
- Starts and ends in
- Kigali
- Includes
- Private vehicle, guide and rooms for your party; accommodation; airport transfers; park fees; gorilla permit in every itinerary with gorilla trekking
- Permit
- US$1,500 per person for the gorilla trek. Exclusive permit to trek a gorilla family alone: US$15,000 for the group (the low-season permit rate does not apply to it)
- Booking lead time
- 3 to 6 months, earlier for June to September and December to February
- Languages
- English, French, Kinyarwanda
Private Rwanda safari itineraries, from three days to twelve
Every itinerary below is private. We change the nights, the lodges and the order to suit you, and we plan the return around your flight.
Trips of three to four days focus on Volcanoes National Park. Most trips of five to seven days cover two national parks, for example Volcanoes with Nyungwe Forest for chimpanzees, or Volcanoes with Akagera for the Big Five. The exception is the 5-day double trek, which stays in Volcanoes National Park for two gorilla treks on consecutive days. The 6-day luxury safari with Akagera adds a game drive safari to the gorilla trek. Trips of more than seven days can cover all three parks: Volcanoes, Nyungwe and Akagera. A twelve day route covering all three is planned on request, because it is not yet listed on the website. To see every itinerary we offer, browse our Rwanda safari packages.
| Itinerary | Days | Nights | Parks | Level | Price from (US$ per person sharing) | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Day High end Gorilla Trekking & Golden Monkeys Rwanda | 3 | 2 | Volcanoes | Luxury | 4,970 | A short private trek |
| 4 Day Ultra Luxury Rwanda Gorilla Safari | 4 | 3 | Volcanoes | Ultra-luxury | 14,450 | Travelers who want the top lodges and a short trip |
| 5 Day Luxury Rwanda Gorilla Safari – Double Gorilla Trekking | 5 | 4 | Volcanoes | Luxury | 9,076 | Travelers who want two gorilla treks on consecutive days |
| 6-Day Luxury Rwanda Safari: Gorillas & Akagera Big Five | 6 | 5 | Volcanoes, Akagera | Ultra-luxury | 17,200 | Gorillas plus a classic game drive safari |
| 7-Day Rwanda Luxury Gorilla & Chimpanzee Safari | 7 | 6 | Volcanoes, Nyungwe | Ultra-luxury | 16,185 | Gorillas plus chimpanzees |
What is included in a private Rwanda luxury safari
Included in every private itinerary
- A private vehicle and a guide for your party only
- Rooms for your party only, at the lodges we plan with you
- Gorilla trekking permit, in every itinerary that includes gorilla trekking
- Park fees
- Airport transfers
- Planning and a written quotation, with no fee and no obligation
Not included: international flights, visas, travel insurance, tips and personal items.
Arranged on request, priced separately
- Helicopter transfers with Akagera Aviation
- Exclusive gorilla permit to trek with a family alone: US$15,000
- Golden monkey tracking: US$100 per person
- Porters: about US$10 a day, tips optional
- Stretcher carry: US$200 per guest for the whole carry
Visas, insurance and flights are the responsibility of the traveler. We recommend travel insurance for every guest. Payment and cancellation terms are in our booking policy.
Who a private safari suits, and who it does not
It suits travelers who:
- Value privacy and want their own vehicle, guide and rooms, with no other clients mixed in.
- Want an itinerary built for them, not a fixed departure.
- Want to trek the gorillas alone, as a solo traveler, a couple or a family, and are happy to buy an exclusive permit.
- Want to move between parks quickly, for example by helicopter.
It may not suit travelers who:
- Want a set group tour. We do not run shared departures.
- Choose the lowest possible price over privacy. Every itinerary we plan is private, so the price reflects that.
- Expect to choose their gorilla family. The park assigns the family on the morning of the trek, and no family is guaranteed.
Good to know: if you do not buy an exclusive permit, you trek the gorillas in a group of up to 8 with other travelers.
Planning a honeymoon or traveling with children? See our luxury honeymoon safaris and our family luxury safaris.
What a private Rwanda luxury safari costs
Four things shape the price: the lodges you choose, the number of nights, the parks you add, and the private extras you choose, such as the exclusive gorilla permit or helicopter transfers.
- The gorilla permit is US$1,500 per person.
- Luxury lodges cost US$600 to US$1,500 per person per night. Ultra-luxury lodges cost US$2,500 to US$4,000 or more per person per night.
- Price bands by trip length are in the table below.
| Trip | Luxury | Ultra-luxury |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days, Volcanoes only | 4,000 to 5,500 | 5,800 to 8,000+ |
| 5 days, Volcanoes and one more park | 6,500 to 9,000 | 9,500 to 13,000+ |
| 7 days, Volcanoes and Nyungwe | 9,000 to 12,500 | 14,000 to 19,000+ |
All prices are per person, for two people sharing, and they are guide prices. We send the final price in an official quotation. For every cost and what is in it, see our Rwanda safari cost guide. For a luxury-level breakdown, read luxury safari cost in Rwanda.
What private means on a Rwanda safari
Private means personalized and built for one guest or group. It has four layers, and each one changes something different. The table below sets them side by side.
| Layer | What it means | Extra cost | What we cannot promise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your own vehicle, guide and rooms | Standard on every safari. We do not mix clients | Included in the itinerary price | Exclusive access to a public park such as Akagera |
| An itinerary built for you | Lodges, parks, nights and order planned for one guest or group | Included in the itinerary price | Availability of a lodge or permit on a given date |
| A private gorilla group | You buy an exclusive permit for one family and trek with it alone. Works for a family, a couple or a solo traveler. A more flexible morning: if you prefer, your guide can give the briefing at your lodge and start the day from there | US$15,000 for the exclusive permit. The low-season permit rate does not apply | Choosing the family. The park assigns it on the morning. Park management prioritizes exclusive requests, but no family is guaranteed |
| Helicopter transfer | Akagera Aviation flies between tourist destinations in Rwanda | Priced per aircraft, quoted per route | Weather. Flights depend on suitable conditions and the pilot decides |
1. Your own vehicle, guide and rooms. This is standard on every safari we plan. We do not mix clients. Your vehicle, your guide and your rooms are for your party only.
2. An itinerary built for you. Each itinerary is customized for one guest or group. We choose the lodges, the parks, the nights and the order around your flights and your priorities. For the lodges themselves, read our guide to the best luxury lodges in Rwanda.
3. A private gorilla group. Each gorilla family receives up to 8 visitors a day. Without an exclusive permit, you trek in a group of up to 8 with other travelers. If you prefer to trek alone, you can buy an exclusive permit, which covers all 8 places with one gorilla family. This works for a family, a couple or a solo traveler. The exclusive permit costs US$15,000 for the group. The low-season permit rate does not apply to it, so the price is the same in any month. You then trek with the family alone. We need no extra notice to arrange it, as long as the booking system shows slots for your day.
There is one limit. You cannot choose the family. The park assigns the family on the morning of the trek, and no family is guaranteed on any day. When you buy an exclusive permit, we request a family for you. Park management, which assigns the groups, gives priority to requests from guests with exclusive permits. It cannot promise a family either.
What changes on the morning. With an exclusive permit, the morning is more flexible. If you prefer, your guide can give the briefing at your lodge and take you to the starting point from there. Other guests go to the park headquarters in Kinigi by 7:00 am for the briefing. For the trek day, the rules and the difficulty, read our gorilla trekking in Rwanda guide. For gorilla trekking itineraries and costs, see Rwanda gorilla trekking.
4. Helicopter transfers. We arrange helicopter transfers with Akagera Aviation between tourist destinations in Rwanda. A helicopter flight from Kigali to Musanze, near Volcanoes National Park, takes 25 to 30 minutes, against a drive of 2.5 to 3 hours. Helicopters are priced per aircraft, not per person. For the 2026 rack rates by route, the supplier terms, and the waiting and overnight charges, see our page on ultra luxury Rwanda safaris.
Where the other layers meet the parks. Akagera National Park is a public park, and a private vehicle does not give you exclusive access to it. What it gives you is your own schedule and guide. Every park activity has a group size limit set by the park. Golden monkey tracking, for example, takes up to 16 people. Your vehicle, guide and rooms stay private for your party.
Why plan your private safari with Hope Tours Africa
- Local expertise. We are based in Kigali. Eric Sabi has worked in Rwanda tourism since 2012.
- Private by design. We do not mix clients. Every itinerary is built for one guest or group.
- Helicopter transfers and the exclusive gorilla permit arranged for you, with a written quotation for each.
- Licensed Rwanda safari company, founded in 2021.
- Single-use plastic free operations. Reusable water bottles on every tour.
To go further: read about luxury gorilla trekking in Rwanda, check the best time for luxury Rwanda safaris, or read how a Rwanda vs Kenya luxury safari compares. For the top lodges, see our ultra-luxury Rwanda safari.
A note from Eric
Private means exclusive, personalized and built for one guest or group. We do not mix clients. Every itinerary is customized for that guest, with a private vehicle, guide and rooms.
I cannot give you a family of your choice. No gorilla family is guaranteed on any day. If you have an exclusive permit and trek alone, we request a family and park management gives exclusive requests priority. That is the honest limit.
Privacy has one limit on a safari. If you do not have an exclusive permit, you meet other travelers when you trek, because each gorilla family takes a group of up to 8. Anyone who values more privacy and exclusiveness can choose an exclusive permit.
Eric SabiFounder, Hope Tours Africa
What guests say
5.0 from 44 TripAdvisor reviews.
Questions about a private Rwanda safari
More questions about the gorilla trek itself? See our Rwanda gorilla trekking FAQs.
What does a private Rwanda safari include?
A private safari means your own vehicle, guide and rooms, on an itinerary built for you. We do not mix clients. Airport transfers and the gorilla permit are included in every itinerary with gorilla trekking, the permit at US$1,500 per person. International flights, visas, travel insurance and tips are not included. Helicopter transfers are arranged on request and priced separately.
Is private gorilla trekking possible in Rwanda?
Yes. Each gorilla family is visited by up to 8 people a day. With an exclusive permit, you trek with the family alone, whether you are a family, a couple or a solo traveler. The exclusive permit costs US$15,000 for the group, and the low-season permit rate does not apply. Without it, you trek in a group of up to 8 with other travelers.
Can we choose which gorilla family we see?
No. Park officials assign the family on the morning of the trek, and no family is guaranteed on any day. If you buy an exclusive permit, we request a family for you, and park management gives exclusive requests priority, but it cannot promise one. We share your fitness level and wishes with the park the evening before.
How much does a private Rwanda luxury safari cost?
From US$4,000 per person sharing for three days at luxury level, and US$9,000 to US$12,500 for seven days with the Volcanoes and Nyungwe. Ultra-luxury trips run from US$5,800 for three days to US$19,000 or more for seven days. These are guide prices. The final price comes in a written quotation.
Can you arrange helicopter transfers?
Yes. We arrange helicopter transfers with Akagera Aviation between tourist destinations in Rwanda. A flight from Kigali to Musanze, near Volcanoes National Park, takes 25 to 30 minutes. Helicopters are priced per aircraft, not per person, and are not part of the standard price. Rates on our website are one way. Children under 2 cannot fly. Waiting and overnight charges are extra. Tell us your route and group size and we add a quote to your itinerary.
How many days do we need?
Three days is enough for one gorilla trek and focuses on Volcanoes National Park. Five to seven days add a second park, Nyungwe for chimpanzees or Akagera for the Big Five. More than seven days can cover all three parks. We plan the order around your flights and your pace.
Will we meet other travelers?
At the gorilla trek, yes, unless you buy an exclusive permit. The park puts up to 8 visitors with each gorilla family. Other park activities also have group size limits set by the park, for example 16 people for golden monkey tracking. We do not mix clients, so your vehicle, guide and rooms are for your party only.
How far ahead should we book a private safari?
Three to six months ahead, and earlier for June to September and December to February. We book permits early and watch for cancellations, so we can sometimes find last-minute slots, but it is never guaranteed. An exclusive permit needs no extra notice, provided the booking system shows slots for your day.
How booking a private safari works
- Tell us your plans. Send your dates or month, number of travelers and ages (the gorilla trekking minimum age is 15), country of residence, the places and activities you want, your lodge level, your budget range and how you prefer to be contacted. Say if you want to trek the gorillas alone or travel by helicopter. We reply within 24 hours, usually within 1 to 4 hours. There is no fee to plan and no obligation.
- We plan and quote. We send a tailor-made itinerary and an official quotation in US$. Website prices are per person guide prices.
- Confirm your booking. For bookings made more than 90 days before departure, a deposit of 50 percent of the total tour cost is due. Your booking is confirmed when we receive the deposit and issue written confirmation. Bookings within 90 days are paid in full.
- Pay the balance. The balance is due 60 days before departure, unless we agree otherwise in writing.
Payment is by bank wire transfer or credit card. Credit card payments carry a 4 percent processing charge. Gorilla permit fees are non-refundable once purchased. Read the full terms in our booking policy.
Contact: WhatsApp +250 788 602 524, call +250 788 602 524 or email info@hopetoursafrica.com.