Trekking in the dense tropical forests of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, the trees clear to reveal a scene few others have witnessed, and one that remains under serious threat: a troop of mountain gorillas. Some sit munching on leaves in pensive silence. Younger ones squabble as they tumble through the branches. The large silverback lazes, stretched out, in the dappled sunlight. And, with the help of our safari specialists, you could be right there, just a few steps away.
Having explored the country extensively, our specialists will use their first-hand experience to plan your vacation to Rwanda, tailored to your interests and budget. As well as gorilla tracking, they can help you discover other parts of the country. See chimpanzees and up to 12 other primate species in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Or, relax on the sandy shores of Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s largest lakes.
Suggested tours for Rwanda
These tours give you a starting point for what your vacation to Rwanda could entail. Treat them as inspiration, as each trip is created uniquely for you.
Suggested activities for Rwanda
Whatever your interests, our specialists will build activities into your trip that connect to how you want to experience Rwanda.
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Golden Monkey Tracking Golden Monkey Tracking
Volcanoes National ParkGolden Monkey Tracking
The golden monkeys live in the bamboo vegetation toward the base of the volcanoes and have overcome their initial shyness to accept their daily visit by researchers and tourists.
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Gorilla Tracking in Volcanoes National Park Gorilla Tracking in Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National ParkGorilla Tracking in Volcanoes National Park
Mountain gorilla tracking is one of Africa's most superb wildlife experiences. It is difficult to describe the exhilaration attached to first setting eyes on a wild mountain gorilla.
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Visit to Dian Fossey's Grave Visit to Dian Fossey's Grave
Volcanoes National ParkVisit to Dian Fossey's Grave
Forest hogs, buffalo and various species of monkey live in the forest, so keep your eyes peeled as you trek! Once you get to the Karisoke Research Camp you will be shown around, and can see Dian Fossey's grave as well as the hut where she spent so many years living close to the gorillas.
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More choice for your safari
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Best time to visit
Our specialists advise on the best months to visit Rwanda, including information about climate, events and festivals.
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Useful information for planning your vacation in Rwanda
The national language is Kinyarwanda. Most Rwandans also speak another language which is usually English or French in visitor destinations.
The currency of Rwanda is the Rwandan franc (RWF). You’ll find ATMs in Kigali and can choose to withdraw Rwandan francs or US dollars. Credit cards are accepted in larger hotels and restaurants, and in some lodges.
In Rwanda you should try grilled tilapia (lake fish), liboke (chicken or fish steamed in banana leaves), and matoke (green banana mash). Wherever you go, you’ll also see ugali served. It’s a maize porridge that you roll into balls and use to scoop up stews, meat, and fish dishes. Other dishes you might see are sambaza (fried sardines) or kachumbari (tomato and onion salad).
Sweet treats include mandazi (a fried pastry) and mizuzu (glazed plantain slices). Most Rwandans drink icyayi, a piping hot black tea.
For the latest travel advice for Rwanda, including entry requirements, health information, and the safety and security situation, please refer to the Canadian Government Travel & Tourism website.
Tracking gorillas in the forested mountains and watching chimpanzees swinging through the trees. For most visitors, it’s Rwanda’s mountain gorillas that are the main draw, and a few days spent tracking these elusive animals helps you learn about the threats they face as well as conservation efforts to protect them.
You could follow it up with some time chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest, exploring markets and learning about Rwanda’s troubled past in Kigali, or relaxing on the sandy beaches of palm-fringed Lake Kivu.
In Rwanda you can stay in simple guesthouses, basic forest camps, or luxurious lodges. Since Rwanda is still an off-the-beaten-track destination, the choice of places to stay here is more limited than in other destinations, but we’ve found a good range of options where service is always enthusiastic. You could stay in a luxury lodge or stylish but rustic bandas in Volcanoes National Park, or opt for a small, stilted lodge with a more traditional design. For some ideas, take a look at our collection of places to stay in Rwanda.
Most visitors to Rwanda arrive in the capital Kigali, then make their way to Volcanoes National Park or Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Volcanoes National Park and its mountain gorillas are a highlight of a trip, and although challenging, hiking through the dense rainforest here can reward you with close sightings of these great apes. Meanwhile, the abundance of primates in Nyungwe Forest National Park makes it another popular destination.
Gorillas, chimpanzees, golden monkeys, and mangabeys are just some of the wildlife you can see in Rwanda. The country’s diverse array of primates is the highlight here, but you could also spot buffalo, forest elephant, and a wide variety of birdlife in places like Akagera National Park.
Around half of the world’s mountain gorilla population lives in Volcanoes National Park, while you can see chimpanzees, Ruwenzori colobus, l'Hoest's monkeys, silver monkeys, golden monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabeys in Nyungwe Forest National Park. The forest is also home to forest hornbills, blue turaco, and endemic bird species.
It takes around 14 hours to fly from Toronto, Canada to Rwanda.
The time zone in Rwanda is UTC+2 hours. Daylight Savings Time is not observed here.
The best way to get around Rwanda is to use private transfers. You’ll get to your destination quickly and have the benefit of a knowledgeable local driver being on hand to give you an insight into the country as you drive. For longer distances, or to combine a trip with a safari elsewhere, we recommend short local flights.
Use our travel tool to find up-to-date visa and passport requirements for Rwanda. Enter where you’re traveling to and from (including any stopover destinations en route or flight layovers), along with your intended travel dates and passport details, for a full list of requirements.
Speak to your doctor about vaccine advice for Rwanda. You can check the suggested vaccinations on the Government of Canada - travel vaccinations website. You should also ensure you’re up to date with the recommended vaccinations for your home country.
If you arrive in Rwanda from a country deemed to be at risk of yellow fever, the government of Rwanda may require proof of yellow fever vaccination upon arrival.
Malaria is a risk throughout Rwanda. Please see your doctor for advice about which antimalarial medication you should take.
Taking precautions to avoid mosquito bites will reduce your risk of infection. Wear long, loose clothing, use repellent with 50% DEET on exposed skin, and make use of the mosquito nets provided, especially if windows are unscreened in your room.
Gorilla tracking in Rwanda involves hiking into the forest to search for clues to the gorillas’ location. As you hike, your guide will explain what to look for, point out where bark has been stripped, branches are broken, or grasses knocked flat, and you’ll follow the trail until the troop has been found. The hike could take as little as half an hour or up to four hours depending on where the gorillas are located.
As you hike, you’ll learn more about the gorillas, their habitat and lifestyle, and the threats they face. Low grunts and grumbles might alert you to a troop nearby and your small group will slow to standstill while your guide finds a location for you to observe from a safe distance.
You’ll spend an hour observing the gorillas in Rwanda as they munch on bamboo, carefully groom each other, or tend to their infants. Visits are limited in time and you’ll need to keep your distance to avoid causing the apes distress and to prevent the transmission of disease.
You’ll need to remain quiet and still as you observe the gorillas, but you’ll be rewarded with a view of fluffy youngsters wrestling and rolling, older females snoozing, scratching, or feeding, adolescents chest thumping, and a silverback keeping a quiet eye on it all.
You’ll have a prime position to take photographs, but we’d recommend spending most of your time simply observing these gentle giants as they interact with each other. Their facial expressions, hand movements, and obvious emotions are so human-like that it’s a moving and humbling experience just being in their presence.
Long trousers, good walking boots, a raincoat, and gloves (for steadying yourself on branches) are useful when tracking gorillas. Walking poles can also help in the uneven terrain.
Participants must be 15 years or older to track gorillas in Rwanda.
Rwanda in pictures
Our expert guides to traveling in Rwanda
Written by our specialists from the viewpoint of their own travels, these guides will help you decide on the shape of your own trip to Rwanda. Aiming to inspire and inform, we share our recommendations for how to appreciate Rwanda at its best.
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Chimpanzee trekking vacations in Africa Chimpanzee trekking vacations in Africa
Chimpanzee trekking vacations in Africa
Africa's most famous primates are its gorillas but there are places which reverberate to the hoots and shrieks of their closest relatives, chimpanzees. Discover more about Audley tailor-made trips to see wild chimpanzees.
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Gorilla tracking: Rwanda or Uganda? Gorilla tracking: Rwanda or Uganda?
Gorilla tracking: Rwanda or Uganda?
Tracking mountain gorilla in either Uganda or Rwanda is one of Africa's most memorable wildlife encounters. There are pros and cons to each country, but in each one, you will have an experience you will never forget.
Read this guide