Rwanda Safari Cost 2026 and 2027
The gorilla permit is fixed. The rest of the price depends on your lodge, your days and your group. This guide shows each part, so you can compare quotes with confidence.
A Rwanda safari costs US$3,460 to US$19,000+ per person sharing for 3 to 7 days in 2026, with the US$1,500 gorilla permit included. The permit is fixed by the Rwanda Development Board and is the largest fixed cost. Lodge level, trip length and the number of parks decide most of the difference.
Prices are 2026 guide prices per person, two travelers sharing. 2027 prices are confirmed in your written quotation.
Rwanda safari cost at a glance
- Price from
- US$3,460 per person sharing (3-day gorilla trek, 2 travelers). One traveler pays more; groups of three or more pay less
- Full safari range
- US$3,460 to US$19,000+ per person sharing, 3 to 7 days
- 1-day gorilla trek from Kigali
- US$1,950 per person sharing, permit included
- Permit
- US$1,500 per person, international non-resident, set by the Rwanda Development Board
- Low-season permit
- US$1,050, November to May, with at least 2 nights in Akagera or Nyungwe
- Lodge per night
- mid-range US$250 to US$500; luxury US$600 to US$1,500; ultra-luxury US$2,500 to US$4,000+, per person
- Includes
- gorilla permit on every itinerary with gorilla trekking, transport, accommodation, park fees, guide, airport transfers
- Excludes
- international flights, visas, travel insurance, tips, personal items
- Booking
- 50% deposit more than 90 days before departure, balance 60 days before; reply within 24 hours, usually 1 to 4 hours
What decides the cost of a Rwanda safari
A Rwanda safari price has two parts. One is fixed and one is not.
The fixed part is the gorilla permit. The Rwanda Development Board sets it, and it is the same at every licensed operator. The variable part is everything we arrange around it: lodges, vehicle and guide, transfers and park fees. This is where two quotes can differ by thousands of dollars.
Five things move the variable part. The lodge matters most.
- Lodge level. Nightly rates run from US$250 to US$4,000 or more per person, so the lodge usually decides whether a trip is mid-range, luxury or ultra-luxury.
- Trip length and parks. 3 to 4 day trips focus on Volcanoes National Park. 5 to 7 day trips usually cover two national parks. Each extra park adds entry fees and drive time.
- Group size. The vehicle and guide are shared, so the price per person falls as the group grows.
- Room sharing. Prices assume two travelers sharing a room. A traveler without a roommate pays a single supplement, quoted trip by trip.
- Vehicle and guide. Your vehicle, guide and rooms are for your party only. We do not mix clients.
Season does not change trip prices. Only the gorilla permit discount depends on the month. For the full list of trips, see our Rwanda safari packages, and for the top of the range, our luxury Rwanda safaris.
Rwanda safari cost by trip length and level
The table below shows what each trip length costs at each level. All figures are US$ per person, two travelers sharing, with the gorilla permit included. Larger groups pay less per person; a single traveler pays more.
| Trip | Parks and nights | Mid-range | Luxury | Ultra-luxury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-day gorilla trek from Kigali | Volcanoes, day trip | US$1,950 | n/a | n/a |
| 3-day gorilla trek | Volcanoes, 2 nights | US$3,460 to US$3,900 | US$4,000 to US$5,500 | US$5,800 to US$8,000+ |
| 5-day safari | Volcanoes plus 1 park, 4 nights | from US$4,500 | US$6,500 to US$9,000 | US$9,500 to US$13,000+ |
| 7-day safari | Volcanoes and Nyungwe, 6 nights | US$5,500 to US$7,500 | US$9,000 to US$12,500 | US$14,000 to US$19,000+ |
The 4-day ultra-luxury gorilla safari at One&Only Gorilla’s Nest is US$14,450 per person sharing, above the 5-day ultra-luxury band because the lodge is the main driver of that price.
The trips behind these figures, with their guide prices:
| Trip | Level | Guide price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Day Gorilla Trekking from Kigali | Day trip | US$1,950 |
| 3 Day Gorilla Trekking Rwanda | Mid-range | US$3,460 |
| 3 Day Luxury Gorilla Trekking Rwanda | Luxury | US$4,970 |
| 5 Day Luxury Rwanda Gorilla Safari | Luxury | US$9,076 |
| 4 Day Ultra Luxury Rwanda Gorilla Safari | Ultra-luxury | US$14,450 |
| 7 Day Rwanda Luxury Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari | Ultra-luxury | US$16,185 |
| 6 Day Luxury Rwanda Safari: Gorillas and Akagera Big Five | Ultra-luxury | US$17,200 |
The 5-day luxury trip stays in Volcanoes National Park with two gorilla treks. For shorter plans, see our Rwanda short safaris and day trips from Kigali. For the trek on its own, see gorilla trekking cost on its own. For luxury detail, see luxury Rwanda safari cost.
How much is a Rwanda gorilla permit in 2026?
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park needs a permit, and it is the largest fixed cost on most itineraries. The Rwanda Development Board sets the price. It is the same at every licensed operator and for every age, and it is non-refundable once purchased. The minimum age is 15. The park issues 96 permits a day across 12 habituated gorilla families, with 8 visitors per family.
The permit price depends on who you are and when you travel.
| Traveler category | Season | Permit price |
|---|---|---|
| International non-resident | Any month | US$1,500 |
| International non-resident, with at least 2 nights in Akagera or Nyungwe | November to May | US$1,050 (30% off) |
| Foreign residents of Rwanda and citizens of other African countries | November to May | US$500 |
| Foreign residents of Rwanda and citizens of other African countries | June to October | US$1,500 |
| East African Community citizens and Rwandan nationals | November to May | US$200 |
| East African Community citizens and Rwandan nationals | June to October | US$1,500 |
| Conference delegates (MICE rate) | Not in the high season | US$1,275 (15% off) |
The MICE rate applies only when the conference is listed on the Rwanda Convention Bureau calendar and the traveler holds a delegate invitation and a delegate badge.
The low-season discount is open to anyone who travels from November to May and spends at least 2 nights in Akagera or Nyungwe. How the low-season discount works is explained in its own guide. To reserve a permit, see how to book a Rwanda gorilla permit. For the trek day itself, read what the permit includes and the trek day, or see gorilla trekking in Rwanda for the trips.
Other permits and park fees to budget for
Other activities carry their own permits, and Akagera and Nyungwe charge an entry fee on top. These are the parks’ own prices for international visitors, not Hope Tours Africa package prices. Golden monkey tracking is included in any itinerary that lists it.
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Golden monkey tracking, Volcanoes National Park | US$100 | Minimum age 12 |
| Chimpanzee trekking, Nyungwe National Park | US$250 for the day | US$150 permit plus US$100 park entry. Minimum age 15 |
| Canopy walk, Nyungwe National Park | US$140 for the day | US$40 plus US$100 park entry |
| Park entry, Akagera or Nyungwe: day visit or first night | US$100 | Per person |
| Park entry, two nights | US$150 | Per person |
| Park entry, three nights | US$200 | Per person |
| Park entry, fourth to seventh night | Free | |
| Akagera boat trip | US$35 | Sunset trip US$45 |
| Akagera night drive | US$40 | |
| Rwanda tourist visa, single entry | US$50 | |
| East Africa Tourist Visa, 90 days | US$100 | Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya |
Park entry is charged for the stay, not per day. Details of each park are on the Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park and Nyungwe National Park pages.
What lodges cost, by level
The lodge is the single biggest reason one trip costs more than another. In my experience, it is also where guests misread quotes most often. The rates below are per person per night, not per room.
| Level | Price per person per night | Lodges we use |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range | US$250 to US$500 | Ingagi Park View Lodge, Tiloreza |
| Luxury | US$600 to US$1,500 | Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Virunga Inn Resort and Spa, The Bishop’s House, Sambora Kinigi |
| Ultra-luxury | US$2,500 to US$4,000+ | Bisate Reserve, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest |
Two of my own picks. For ultra-luxury, Bisate Reserve, for its architecture and its connection with nature. For warm, comfortable luxury at a lower price, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel. Outside Volcanoes, our trips also use Nyungwe Forest Tea Resort (formerly One&Only Nyungwe House) in Nyungwe and Magashi Camp in Akagera.
Our guide to the best luxury lodges in Rwanda compares them in detail. For the top of the range, see ultra luxury Rwanda safaris and luxury Rwanda safari cost.
How group size, rooms and season change the price
Prices on this page are per person for two travelers sharing a room. A vehicle and guide serve the whole party, so every extra traveler shares those costs and the price per person falls. A vehicle holds a limited number of guests, and a bigger group needs a second vehicle, so the sharing continues gradually as the group grows. A traveler without a roommate pays the single supplement, which is quoted trip by trip.
| Travelers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per person | US$4,445 | US$3,460 | US$2,850 | US$2,650 | US$2,600 | US$2,500 |
The same logic applies to every itinerary, and each trip page shows its own table.
Season does not change these prices. Trip prices are the same in every month. Only the gorilla permit discount depends on the season.
For parties that want their own plans, see our private Rwanda luxury safari, family luxury Rwanda safaris and luxury Rwanda honeymoon safaris.
What a package price includes, and what it does not
Before comparing two totals, compare what each one contains. In my experience, the most common misreading is the lodge category: one quote built on a luxury lodge, another on a mid-range lodge, and nothing else checked.
Included in a Hope Tours Africa price
- Gorilla permit, on every itinerary with gorilla trekking
- Transport
- Accommodation
- Park fees
- Guide
- Airport transfers
Not included
- International flights
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Tips
- Personal items
Extras, with amounts
- Carried trek by stretcher: US$200 per guest, for the whole carry, arranged in advance
- Porters: about US$10 a day. Most guests tip US$20 to US$30; tipping is optional
- Gorilla Guardians Village visit: US$25 per person
- Helicopter transfers: not in the standard price, quoted per route by Akagera Aviation on request. The rates are on our ultra luxury page
A quote with a lower total usually leaves one of these out, or uses a different lodge. Ask which lodges, activities and parks each quote includes.
Rwanda or Uganda: what each costs
The gorilla permit is the clearest difference. Rwanda charges US$1,500 and Uganda US$800 for a foreign non-resident. That gap is real money, and I sometimes send guests to Uganda for exactly that reason.
| Rwanda | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Gorilla permit, foreign non-resident (US$ per person) | US$1,500 | US$800 |
| Drive to the gorillas | Kigali to Volcanoes National Park, 2.5 to 3 hours | Long drives, from Kigali or from Entebbe to Bwindi |
| Terrain | Volcanoes National Park | Bwindi, a tropical forest. In my experience, a harder trek |
| Best suited to | Shorter transfers and a concentration of luxury lodges | Guests who need to spend less on the permit |
We arrange Uganda gorilla trips too. The permit is only part of the total, so compare the full trip once drives and transfers are counted. For the experience itself, see Rwanda vs Uganda gorilla trekking.
How to get the most from your Rwanda safari budget
None of this is about cutting corners. It is about spending where the experience changes.
Choose the number of days deliberately. In my experience, a 3-day trip gives better value than the 1-day trek. You do more, with smooth transfers and no long drives against the clock. The 1-day trek is right for someone attending a conference in Kigali who has one day. As a guide, a 3-day luxury gorilla trek is US$4,970 per person sharing.
Use the low-season window. From November to May, the permit falls to US$1,050 if you spend at least 2 nights in Akagera or Nyungwe. Our guides to the best time for luxury Rwanda safaris and the best time for gorilla trekking show how the seasons compare.
Decide where luxury matters. The lodge is the biggest cost lever, and the gorilla trek itself is the same at every lodge level. Read luxury gorilla trekking in Rwanda and luxury vs mid-range Rwanda safari before choosing.
Settle your activities before the quote. Adding chimpanzee trekking, the canopy walk or a second gorilla trek changes the price. So does swapping a second gorilla trek for golden monkey tracking. It is easier to decide first than to amend later.
Book early. We recommend 3 to 6 months ahead, and earlier for June to September and December to February.
Note from Eric
When guests compare quotes, the lodge category is what they misread most. One quote may be built on a luxury lodge and another on a mid-range lodge. Unless they check which lodges, activities and inclusions each contains, one looks low and the other high for reasons that have nothing to do with value.
Group size changes the price because people share costs. Two travelers share the room and the vehicle. A bigger group may need a second vehicle, and they share that cost too, so the price per person falls step by step.
The 1-day trek suits someone in Kigali for a conference with one day free. For everyone else, the 3-day trip gives better value: more activities, flexible plans and smooth transfers, with no long drive and no pressure on the day.
Eric SabiFounder and RDB-licensed guide
How to request a quote and pay for a Rwanda safari
- Send your request through our tailor-made itinerary form, or by WhatsApp, email or phone. There is no fee to plan, and no obligation.
- Include your travel dates or month, the number of travelers and their ages (gorilla trekking minimum age is 15), your country of residence (permit rates differ), the places and activities you want, your lodge level, your budget range and how you prefer to be contacted.
- We reply within 24 hours, usually within 1 to 4 hours, with a written quotation. Website prices are per person guide prices; the final price is in the quotation.
- A 50% deposit starts a booking made more than 90 days before departure. For bookings within 90 days, full payment is due at booking. The balance is due 60 days before departure.
- Pay by bank wire transfer or credit card. Credit card payments carry a 4% processing charge, covered by the client.
Gorilla, chimpanzee and golden monkey permits are non-refundable once purchased. Prices can change before final payment if permit fees, park fees, taxes, fuel, accommodation rates, exchange rates or supplier charges rise. The full terms are in our Booking Policy.
Rwanda safari cost questions
How much does a Rwanda safari cost?
A Rwanda safari costs US$3,460 to US$19,000+ per person sharing for 3 to 7 days in 2026. The 1-day gorilla trek from Kigali is US$1,950 per person sharing. The US$1,500 gorilla permit is included on every itinerary with gorilla trekking. Lodge level, trip length and the number of parks decide most of the difference.
How much is a Rwanda gorilla permit?
The Rwanda gorilla permit costs US$1,500 per person for international non-resident visitors, set by the Rwanda Development Board. It is US$1,050 from November to May when you spend at least 2 nights in Akagera or Nyungwe. Foreign residents and other African citizens pay US$500 from November to May. East African Community citizens and Rwandan nationals pay US$200 from November to May and US$1,500 from June to October.
Is the gorilla permit the same price at every tour operator?
Yes. The Rwanda Development Board sets the permit price, so it is the same at every licensed operator and for every age. The minimum age is 15. If another quote shows a lower total, compare what it includes, especially the lodge category, before assuming the permit is the difference.
What is included in a Rwanda safari package price?
A Hope Tours Africa price covers the gorilla permit on every itinerary with gorilla trekking, transport, accommodation, park fees, a guide and airport transfers. It excludes international flights, visas, travel insurance, tips and personal items. When you compare quotes, check the lodge category first, then the activities and parks each one includes.
How much should I budget per day for a Rwanda safari?
Excluding the permit, mid-range travelers budget US$550 to US$850 per person per day and luxury travelers US$850 to US$1,500. Ultra-luxury lodges cost US$2,500 to US$4,000 or more per person per night on their own. Treat these as planning figures. Your written quotation gives the exact total for your dates and group.
Is Rwanda more expensive than Uganda for gorilla trekking?
For the permit, yes. Rwanda charges US$1,500 and Uganda US$800 for foreign non-resident visitors. Uganda means long drives to Bwindi, and in my experience the forest trek is harder than in Volcanoes National Park. Guests focused on spending less on the permit sometimes do better in Uganda, and we arrange both.
Does the price change between high and low season?
Trip prices do not change between high and low season. The only seasonal difference is the gorilla permit, which falls to US$1,050 from November to May if you spend at least 2 nights in Akagera or Nyungwe. Changing your activities or lodges after a quote does change the price.
Why does a solo traveler pay more per person?
Per person prices assume two travelers sharing a room, a vehicle and a guide. A solo traveler pays the single room supplement and carries the vehicle cost alone. On the 3-day mid-range gorilla trek, one traveler pays US$4,445 and two pay US$3,460 each. A group of six pays US$2,500 each.
How much extra should I budget for tips, porters and visas?
Porters cost about US$10 a day and most guests tip US$20 to US$30. A carried trek by stretcher is US$200 per guest. The Rwanda single-entry visa is US$50, and the East Africa Tourist Visa is US$100 for 90 days. Flights, insurance and tips for guides and rangers are not in the package price.
How far ahead should I book, and how do I pay?
Book 3 to 6 months ahead, and earlier for June to September and December to February. A 50% deposit starts a booking made more than 90 days before departure, and the balance is due 60 days before. Pay by bank wire or credit card, which carries a 4% charge. The Booking Policy has the full terms.
Request a tailor-made itinerary
Tell us your dates, your lodge level and your party size. We reply with a written quotation, within 24 hours and usually within 1 to 4 hours.
Speak with a safari specialist
WhatsApp: +250 788 602 524 · Email: info@hopetoursafrica.com · Phone: +250 788 602 524