Rwanda Safaris
Land of a
Thousand Hills.
Meet the mountain gorillas. Trek ancient rainforests with chimpanzees. Safari the savannahs. Rwanda is small in size but extraordinary in depth — one of Africa's most intimate and transformative destinations.
Africa's Most Remarkable Story
Rwanda has undergone one of the most extraordinary transformations in modern history — from tragedy to triumph, it is today one of Africa's safest, cleanest, and most forward-thinking nations. For wildlife lovers, Rwanda offers something no other country can match: the intimate experience of sitting with a family of mountain gorillas in ancient volcanic forest. Combined with chimpanzee trekking, Big Five safaris, pristine lakes, and the remarkable warmth of the Rwandan people, it is a destination that leaves every visitor changed.
5 Unmissable Destinations
Rwanda's Wild Places at a Glance
Volcanoes National Park
Mountain Gorillas · Virunga Volcanoes
Nyungwe Forest
Chimpanzees · Only Canopy Walkway in E. Africa
Akagera National Park
Big Five · Lake Ihema Boat Safaris
Lake Kivu
Scenic Inland Sea · Congo Nile Trail
Kigali
Africa's Cleanest Capital · Cultural Hub
Only 96 gorilla permits issued per day — book well in advance
Our Promise
Why Book With The Extreme Wilderness
Born in Arusha
Our guides grew up next to these parks. Local knowledge, no middlemen.
Private 4×4 Vehicles
Every safari is in a dedicated, custom-fitted 4×4 — never shared.
Small Groups Only
Maximum 6 guests per vehicle. Closer wildlife, better photos.
Fully Insured & Licensed
TATO-registered, fully bonded, and government licensed.
24/7 Support
Your dedicated planner is reachable before, during, and after.
20+ Years Experience
Hundreds of safaris led. Every park, every season, mastered.
The Records
Rwanda in Numbers
~1,000
Mountain gorillas on Earth
Only great ape population growing
12
Primate species in Nyungwe
Africa's most diverse primate forest
$1,500
Gorilla permit cost
Funds conservation & communities
4,507m
Mt Karisimbi summit
Highest Virunga volcano
700+
Bird species recorded
29 Albertine Rift endemics
1 hour
With a gorilla family
Most intimate wildlife encounter on Earth
The Process
How to Book Your Safari
Share Your Vision
Tell us your travel dates, group size, budget, and dream wildlife. No rigid packages — every trip starts from scratch.
We Design Your Itinerary
Your dedicated Arusha-based planner crafts a tailor-made route. You review, adjust, and perfect it together.
Confirm & Secure
Lock in your safari with a deposit. We handle all park fees, lodge bookings, transfers, and permits.
Arrive & Experience
Your private guide meets you at the airport. From here, Rwanda unfolds exactly as you imagined it.
Mountain Gorilla Permits — Book Well in Advance
Rwanda issues just 96 gorilla permits per day (8 per habituated family, 12 families). Permits are in high demand year-round and sell out months ahead for peak season. We handle all permit bookings as part of your itinerary — contact us early for the best availability.
Permit Cost
$1,500 USD per person
Groups Limited To
8 people per family
Time With Gorillas
1 hour maximum
Families Available
12 habituated families
Minimum Age
15 years old
Trek Duration
30 min – 6 hours
Discover Rwanda's Wild Places
From volcanic gorilla forests to savannah plains, ancient rainforests to lakeside towns — Rwanda packs remarkable diversity into a country smaller than Belgium.
Home of the Mountain Gorilla
Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is one of the most extraordinary wildlife destinations on Earth and the centrepiece of any Rwanda itinerary. Situated within the Virunga massif at elevations reaching 15,000 feet, the park shelters roughly half of the world's remaining mountain gorilla population — a critically endangered species numbering fewer than 1,000 individuals. Gorilla tracking involves a guided forest trek of around 90 minutes through lush bamboo and rainforest before spending a magical hour with a habituated gorilla family. The park also protects the playful golden monkey, and its five dormant volcanoes — Karisimbi, Bisoke, Sabinyo, Gahinga, and Muhabura — offer spectacular high-altitude hiking. The late primatologist Dian Fossey conducted her famous gorilla research here, and her story adds a powerful conservation dimension to every visit.
Wildlife
Activities
Africa's Most Diverse Primate Destination
Nyungwe National Park
Nyungwe National Park is a phenomenon of nature — one of Africa's oldest and most biodiverse rainforests, draped across Rwanda's southwestern highlands. The park harbours 12 primate species, making it the most diverse primate destination on the continent. Chimpanzee trekking is the headline experience, but Nyungwe's signature attraction is its breathtaking canopy walkway — the only one in East Africa — suspended 60 metres above the forest floor. With 1,068 plant species, 140 orchid varieties, 322 bird species, and 15 marked hiking trails, Nyungwe rewards slow, thoughtful exploration. The park is also home to the owl-faced monkey, endemic to the Albertine Rift and found almost nowhere else.
Wildlife
Activities
Rwanda's Big Five Savannah Safari
Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park in northeastern Rwanda is a triumph of conservation — a park that was once devastated by conflict and poaching, now fully restored to its former glory. The park spans 1,122 km2 of savannah, acacia woodland, papyrus swamps, rolling highlands, and a necklace of beautiful lakes, making it the largest wetland park on the continent. Akagera achieved a historic milestone in 2015 and 2017 when lions and black rhinos were reintroduced after decades of local extinction, completing the Big Five once more. Lake Ihema offers exceptional boat safaris where hippos, crocodiles, and over 500 bird species can be observed at close quarters, including the prehistoric-looking shoebill stork.
Wildlife
Activities
Rwanda's Serene Inland Sea
Lake Kivu
Lake Kivu is one of Africa's Great Rift Valley lakes — and one of the most beautiful. Spanning 2,700 square kilometres along Rwanda's western border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, the lake sits at altitude in a landscape of rolling green hills tumbling dramatically into shimmering water. Unlike most East African rift lakes, Kivu is completely safe for swimming with no hippos or crocodiles. The lakeside town of Rubavu retains charming colonial architecture and offers some of Rwanda's finest restaurants and sundowner bars with panoramic lake views. The 220-kilometre Congo Nile Trail follows the shoreline south to Rusizi, offering world-class cycling and trekking through terraced hills and fishing villages.
Wildlife
Activities
Africa's Cleanest, Greenest Capital City
Kigali
Kigali is one of Africa's great surprises — a spotlessly clean, green, and vibrant capital that defies every preconception about African cities. Surrounded by hills and mountains, the city's dramatic topography makes it one of the most photogenic capitals on the continent. Rwanda's extraordinary recovery after 1994 makes Kigali a city of profound emotional resonance: the Kigali Genocide Memorial is essential and moving. But the city also throbs with creative energy — a radiant arts scene, locally owned boutique hotels, rooftop restaurants serving Rwandan and international cuisine with panoramic hill views, and a modern spirit that has made it a hub for tech startups and pan-African business.
Wildlife
Activities
Best Time to Visit Rwanda
Rwanda is a year-round destination. Gorilla trekking is possible every day, but dry seasons bring easier trails and more comfortable conditions.
Jun – Sep
Long Dry Season
Best gorilla tracking — dry trails, less rain in forests. Peak season: book permits 6+ months ahead.
Oct – Nov
Long Rains
Lush green landscapes. Gorilla tracking still possible. Good birding. Fewer tourists.
Dec – Feb
Short Dry Season
Excellent second-best season. Comfortable temperatures. Great for all Rwanda activities.
Mar – May
Short Rains
Heaviest rainfall. Trails can be muddy. Lower permit demand — better availability. Lush scenery.
Rwanda + Tanzania:
Gorillas to the Serengeti
Rwanda's gorillas and Tanzania's Serengeti plains are the two most iconic wildlife experiences in Africa. Combining them in a single itinerary gives you the complete East African picture — ancient rainforests, volcanic mountains, sweeping savannahs, and the world's greatest wildlife spectacle.
Your Visit Funds Gorilla Conservation
Rwanda's gorilla permit fees directly fund conservation programmes and benefit local communities. Since tourism resumed, mountain gorilla numbers have grown from around 620 in 2008 to nearly 1,000 today — the only great ape population that is increasing. Every visitor plays a real role in keeping these animals alive.
Let's Plan Your Rwanda Adventure Together
Gorilla permits are the most sought-after wildlife permits in Africa. Reach out now and our team will secure your dates, design your itinerary, and handle every detail.
Solo travellers · Couples · Families · Private groups — all welcome