Rwanda travel advice
Itinerary tips
Itinerary tips
Marta Marinelli from our Rwanda supplier, Exodus Travels:
“The encounter with the gorillas was obviously the most special moment and one of the most memorable travel experiences to date. But Rwanda has so much more to offer. Some of my personal favourite places include Nyungwe National Park, an ideal place to trek in the nature reserve, to go chimp tracking and take a breathtaking canopy walk 60m above the forest with a 200m walkway -the first of its kind in East Africa and third on the continent after South Africa and Ghana. It allows visitors to see the forest from above the trees and be at eye level with birds and monkeys that inhabit the upper storeys of the forest. Lake Kivu is also picturesque and a perfect place to relax half way through the trip.”
Transport tips
Transport tips
“Self-drive is possible but not recommended if you are planning to take a longer tour around the country and in remote areas. If you have mechanical issues it may be hard to get help due to language barriers and remoteness of some small villages. So if going on a guided group tour is not your thing, you could always choose to hire a car + driver/guide to tailor your itinerary and get a good level of support and assistance.”
Our Rwanda Vacations
3 day Rwanda gorilla safari
A gorilla safari taking in some of Rwanda’s iconic locations
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£1250
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Rwanda highlights tour
Visit the "land of a thousand hills" in comfort and style
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Tailor made safari, gorillas, Masai Mara & Zanzibar
Mountain gorilla trekking, Masai Mara safari and Zanzibar
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£3950 to £6000
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Gorilla tracking vacation in Rwanda
A unique safari taking in the wildlife highlights of Rwanda
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£3180
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Gorilla and chimpanzee tracking vacation in Rwanda
A great trip when short on time but want to see gorillas
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£1800
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Best of Africa vacation, Nairobi to Cape Town
Experience the ultimate overland Africa adventure
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US $7899 to US $8529
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Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya camping safari, gorillas & the Mara
See gorillas in Rwanda and the big five on the Masia Mara
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US $4185 to US $6665
16 days
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Congo & Rwanda, apes of Africa vacation
Rwanda & Congo in search of chimps & eastern gorillas
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£4315
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Gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda
Incredible wildlife experience in Uganda and Rwanda
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£3075
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Rwanda vacation, gorillas and wildlife adventure
Gorilla, Golden Monkey & chimp permits & trekking included
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US $6846
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Gorillas and big game, Nairobi to Kigali tour
See classic African game
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US $4185 to US $6665
16 days
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Cairo to Cape Town overland truck tour, the Nile route
Explore the length of Africa on this epic overland journey
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US $9380
142 days
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Rwanda primates & Mafia Island tailor made vacation
Trek to visit the gorillas and swim in the Indian Ocean
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€2995 to €4369
12 days
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Gorilla safari & vacation in Rwanda, tailormade
Dramatic scenery & gorilla tracking
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£7650
11 days
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Rwanda, Kenya & Uganda wildlife vacation, on a shoestring
Journey from Kigali to Nairobi in 11 days
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US $1599 to US $1729
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Gorilla safari in the DR Congo
Track the world’s largest gorillas in DR Congo.
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£5845
13 days
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Rwanda highlights, tailor made tour
Enjoy highlights of this amazing place with a turbulent past
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£3225
9 days
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Primate tour in Rwanda and Uganda
Track down mountain gorillas and chimps in Uganda & Rwanda
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£4595
11 days
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East Africa adventure vacation, safari, gorillas & beach
An extensive journey through east Africa
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US $3789 to US $4089
22 days
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Responsible tourism tips
Responsible tourism tips
“Rwanda is extremely committed to responsible tourism and a lot of efforts, including the recent spike in gorilla permits, have been made to preserve the gorilla population but also to support various community projects around the parks. To help spread the positive impact of tourism to other communities outside of Ruhengeri, more should be done to promote the other treasures of this destination and to encourage tourists to go beyond the gorilla experience.”
Gorilla trekking tips
Paul Calcutt at our supplier of gorilla trekking vacations in Rwanda, Natural World Safaris:“All the guides that we use are the best of the best. Some safari companies are more about offering a copper bath, but we are more about the experience, the wildlife viewing and the quality of the guides first. And our clients are, too. That is not to say that luxury lodges and services are not available, they certainly have their place in a location such as this, just that our priority is always in providing luxury experiences. I would always recommend that people take more than one visit to the mountain gorillas. Every time is so very different from the others, after your first visit you will relax significantly and perhaps spend less time so focused on taking pictures but actually absorb the experience a lot more.”
Natasha Preston, from our supplier, Exodus:
“You only get to spend an hour with the gorillas due to the strict code of conduct put in place for their protection. Those 60 minutes will fly by! Before the trek, double check your camera battery is fully charged and make sure there’s plenty of space on your memory card. That said, don’t spend the whole hour taking photos. You’re only likely to do this once in a lifetime, so take the time to enjoy this very special encounter through your own eyes, not just though a lens. I limited myself to 30 minutes of taking photos and then I put the camera down so I could simply sit there and soak up every precious moment with these gentle giants.”
Discover the history
Discover the history
Natasha Preston, from our supplier, Exodus:
“To learn more about Rwanda’s history, take the time to visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial. It offers a powerful and poignant insight into the civil war that shook the country in 1994, which saw around one million people systematically slaughtered over a period of 100 days. After a couple of hours in the museum, take a wander through the tranquil gardens, leave a rose on the mass grave and gather your thoughts before heading back into the city.”
Marta Marinelli from our Rwanda supplier, Exodus Travels:
“Learn and get familiar with the history of Rwanda before you travel to make sure you arrive prepared - it will be emotional to see firsthand how much the country has changed and the incredible resilience of locals.”
Tips for families
Tips for families
Paul Calcutt at our supplier of gorilla trekking vacations in Rwanda, Natural World Safaris:
“You have to be 15 or over to get a gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda and so we don’t get many family inquiries due to the age limitation. However, if you want to go as a family, I would highly recommend mixing gorilla watching in Rwanda with Tanzania. So you can do gorilla watching and watch the wildebeest migration on the same vacation. That is the ultimate east African wildlife vacation, really – for any age!”
Accessibility
Simon Mills from our supplier Native Escapes on gorilla watching in a wheelchair:“In Rwanda, you can be carried in a throne chair by porters to see the gorillas of Virunga. The walk very much depends on the location of the gorilla families, so it can be as little as 30 minutes or as long as 4-5 hours. Of the seven groups that can be seen, there are a few that tend to be found on the saddle between Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Gahinga which is about two hours from the park entrance. You need to be ready for up-and-down terrain, and the odd overhanging branch, but it’s very doable”
Health and safety in Rwanda
HEALTH
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Our top Rwanda Vacation
3 day Rwanda gorilla safari
A gorilla safari taking in some of Rwanda’s iconic locations
From
£1250
3 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Helpdesk
Hello. If you'd like to chat about Rwanda or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help. Rosy & team.
Rwanda tips from our vacations reviews
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Rwanda travel advice that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation – and the space inside your suitcase.
Try and book early, carry good hiking shoes, old pants and a good shirt, insect repellent and sunscreen
- John Owens
“The cost is very high to see the gorillas, but it is worth it. You do get to see them and the experience is once in a lifetime. Plus, the journey there is also a great part of the experience as the drive is beautiful.” - Jacqui Wilson
“Get fit!! Don't worry about the hotels food etc as all fantastic and take a smaller lens than you think when visiting any of the apes, monkeys etc and use the porters!!” - Chrys Mellor
“Don't be put off for traveling in short wet season. We went at the end of Feb and still saw many animals.” - Chris Hehir
“Be aware that the gorillas can be quite high up. I personally found the walk from 2400m up to 3000m very, very testing.” - Stephen Cragg
“Get fit!! Don't worry about the hotels food etc as all fantastic and take a smaller lens than you think when visiting any of the apes, monkeys etc and use the porters!!” - Chrys Mellor
“Don't be put off for traveling in short wet season. We went at the end of Feb and still saw many animals.” - Chris Hehir
“Be aware that the gorillas can be quite high up. I personally found the walk from 2400m up to 3000m very, very testing.” - Stephen Cragg
Don’t over worry what you take. The trip is well run, food is great, accommodation works really well, and go with the flow. It’s just the best escape from our western lives.
- Mark Asquith
“There are nettles on the trek to the gorillas. You are going through very thick underbrush and should have long, relatively thick pants and shirts so the nettles don't poke through. Our pants were light weight and the nettles got through to our legs.” - Paul Oppenheimer
“Definitely take toilet roll and sweets as some of the journeys in the truck are long, maybe even a pack of cards. Wet wipes or hand gel is a must and make sure you enjoy the trip and don’t spend too much time seeing it through the lens of your camera!” - Angela Platt
“Do hire a porter when trekking as not only will they carry your bag, but they're happy to give you a helping hand when the track gets muddy and slippy. In addition, you will be giving someone a day's income. Do your research on tipping before you go so that you're familiar with the going rates.” - Siofra Brennan
“Definitely take toilet roll and sweets as some of the journeys in the truck are long, maybe even a pack of cards. Wet wipes or hand gel is a must and make sure you enjoy the trip and don’t spend too much time seeing it through the lens of your camera!” - Angela Platt
“Do hire a porter when trekking as not only will they carry your bag, but they're happy to give you a helping hand when the track gets muddy and slippy. In addition, you will be giving someone a day's income. Do your research on tipping before you go so that you're familiar with the going rates.” - Siofra Brennan
More about Rwanda
The best time to visit Rwanda is generally during the short and longer dry seasons. And, if you want to go gorilla trekking, whenever you can get a permit!..
Visiting Rwanda is a bit like doing a triathlon. It’s challenging, exciting, tiring and emotional. It also has three important aspects: people and culture, national parks and gorilla watching…
Volcanoes, verdant rainforest, Virunga Mountains and a vast array of wildlife. The most revered being the mountain gorilla. It is also now a country full of vitality…
There are many wonderful things to do in Rwanda, and all are thought provoking, exciting and, in many cases, life affirming…
Gorilla trekking through Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Virunga Mountains is one of the world’s most sought after wildlife experiences. Also one of the greatest…
Responsible tourism in Rwanda revolves around peace, respect and understanding. For the people, their lands, and their loss. Read on for more of our thoughts…
Why book with Responsible Travel
Photo credits: [Page banner: Ryan M. Bolton] [Nyungwe National Park: Justin Raycraft]
[Driver: Hjalmar Gislason]
[Vertvet Monkeys: Justin Raycraft]
[Gorilla trekking group photo: Scott Chacon]
[Close encounter: Scott Chacon]
[Kigali Genocide Memorial Gardens: Kigali Genocide Memorial]
[Local women: Kwibuka Rwanda]
[Wilderbeest migration: Timo Luege]
[Motorbikes: Brian Harries]
[Safari: Hjalmar Gislason]
[Hike: Hjalmar Gislason]
[What to pack: Philip Kromer]
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