How much does a Rwanda gorilla permit cost?

A gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda costs $1,500 per person per trek (2026 rates). While this is higher than Uganda's $800 permit, Rwanda offers a highly curated, luxury experience with fewer trekkers, well-maintained trails and excellent lodge infrastructure around Volcanoes National Park.

Rwanda or Uganda — which is better for gorilla trekking?

Both are excellent. Rwanda offers a smoother, more luxury-oriented experience with premium lodges, shorter treks and easier access from Kigali. Uganda offers more gorilla families, lower permit prices and a wider wildlife circuit. Many travellers combine both on a cross-border itinerary.

How far in advance should I book Rwanda gorilla permits?

Six to twelve months ahead for peak season (June–September, December–January). Rwanda's daily visitor quotas are strictly enforced — each of the 12 habituated families receives only 8 visitors per day. We secure permits for all our clients.

What else can I do in Rwanda besides gorilla trekking?

Rwanda combines beautifully with chimp tracking and the forest canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park, and a Big Five safari in Akagera National Park on the Tanzania border. A 7–10 day Rwanda itinerary can include all three.

Is Rwanda safe for safari travel?

Rwanda is widely regarded as one of Africa's safest and best-governed destinations. Kigali is clean and well-organised, roads are good and tourist infrastructure is first-class. We have been running Rwanda safaris for years without incident.

What is Nyungwe Forest and why should I visit?

Nyungwe is one of Africa's oldest and most biodiverse montane rainforests — home to 13 primate species including habituated chimpanzees, Angolan colobus monkeys and L'Hoest's monkeys. The 70-metre-high canopy walkway is a highlight not found anywhere else in the region.

What is the best time to visit Rwanda?

The dry seasons — June to September and December to February — offer the best trekking conditions. Trails are firmer, visibility is good and there is less chance of rain on the volcanic slopes. Gorilla trekking runs year-round however.

Can I combine Rwanda with Uganda or Tanzania?

Absolutely. Kigali is served by direct flights to Entebbe (Uganda) and Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), and the border crossing into Uganda near Cyanika or Gatuna is straightforward. A Rwanda–Uganda gorilla circuit is one of our most popular multi-country itineraries.

+254 722-595-916·info@divinetravelnestsafaris.com

↗Google Reviews↗

Divine Travel Nest

Plan My Safari

Mountain gorilla family in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Rwanda gorilla
trekking.

Habituated gorilla families

Iconic national parks

$1,500

Gorilla permit · premium access

Trek the gorillas of Volcanoes.

Tell us your dates and we'll secure your permit, match you to the right family and lodge, and handle every transfer from Kigali. Free, no-obligation, answered by a real person.

Plan my Rwanda safari→

Silverback gorilla in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Wildlife in Akagera National Park, Rwanda

Why Rwanda is unmissable

The land of a thousand hills.

Rwanda punches far above its size. In three distinct ecosystems — misty volcanoes, ancient rainforest and open savannah — you can tick off mountain gorillas, chimpanzees and the Big Five within a single week.

i
12 habituated gorilla families · in the Virunga Massif — part of a cross-border ecosystem with Uganda and DRC
ii
Compact country, easy logistics · — all three main parks are within 2–5 hours of Kigali International Airport
iii
World-class luxury lodges · — Rwanda has the finest gorilla trekking accommodation on the continent
iv
Nyungwe canopy walkway · — 70 metres above the forest floor, unique in East Africa
v
Akagera's Big Five · — rhinos reintroduced in 2017, making it the only Big Five park in Rwanda

Rwanda's national parks

Three parks, three worlds.

Rwanda's three main safari parks are strikingly different from each other — volcanic highlands, ancient rainforest and open savannah all within a few hours of Kigali.

Mountain gorilla in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

01 · Volcanoes

12 habituated families · Virunga Massif

Volcanoes National Park

The jewel of Rwanda — five dormant volcanoes rising above 2,400 metres, home to twelve habituated mountain gorilla families. This is where Dian Fossey conducted her famous research, and where some of the most moving wildlife encounters on Earth take place daily. Golden monkey trekking is an excellent add-on.

Gorilla highlights

12 habituated families — daily treks available
Part of the Virunga ecosystem (Uganda, DRC)

Also in the park

Golden monkey trekking
Dian Fossey tomb hike · Karisimbi volcano

Best forGorilla & golden monkey trekking

13 primate species · Canopy walkway

Nyungwe Forest National Park

One of Africa's oldest and most biodiverse montane rainforests, spread across Rwanda's south-west corner. Nyungwe is home to habituated chimpanzees, thirteen primate species and over 300 bird species. Its 70-metre-high canopy walkway — a suspension bridge above the forest — is one of the most unique experiences in East Africa.

›Habituated chimpanzee trekking
›70-metre forest canopy walkway
›Angolan colobus & L'Hoest's monkey
›Over 300 bird species · 29 Albertine Rift endemics

Best forChimps, canopy walk & birding

Chimpanzee in Nyungwe Forest National Park, Rwanda

02 · Nyungwe

Elephant at Akagera National Park, Rwanda

03 · Akagera

Big Five · Rwanda's only savannah park

Akagera National Park

Rwanda's only savannah park, bordering Tanzania along the Akagera River. A remarkable conservation success story — lions were reintroduced in 2015 and black rhinos in 2017, completing the Big Five. Game drives, boat safaris on Lake Ihema and night game drives make Akagera a natural complement to the primate parks.

The Big Five

Lion, elephant, buffalo — resident year-round
Black rhino (reintroduced 2017)

Safari activities

Game drives — morning & afternoon
Boat safari on Lake Ihema · night drives

Best forBig Five & boat safari

What happens on a trek

A morning in the Virungas.

Every Rwanda gorilla trek begins before sunrise at Kinigi — the village at the foot of the volcanoes — and ends with one of the most moving encounters in all of wildlife travel.

Step 01

6:30 AM

Briefing at HQ

Rangers at Kinigi headquarters assign you to a gorilla family and brief your group on etiquette and safety rules.

Step 02

7:00 AM

Start trek

You hike into the Virunga volcanoes with expert guides and trackers who have already located the family's morning position.

Step 03

1–4 hrs

Through the forest

Trails wind through bamboo, hagenia forest and stinging nettles — the scenery is extraordinary even before you find the gorillas.

Step 04

One hour

With the gorillas

One strictly protected hour with the family — silverbacks, mothers, playful juveniles — just seven metres away.

Step 05

Certificate

Awarded at end

You return with a trekking certificate and an encounter that almost everyone describes as the most moving wildlife experience of their lives.

Gorilla trekking permits

The permit,
explained.

Rwanda permits are strictly limited — each of the twelve habituated families receives a maximum of eight visitors per day. Book six to twelve months ahead in peak season. We source permits for every Rwanda client.

Foreign non-residents
Standard permit
$1,500
Foreign residents
Valid Rwanda residency
$1,000
East African citizens
EAC nationals
RWF 200k

✓ Gorilla tracking✓ Ranger guides✓ Park entry✓ Conservation fees✓ Security escort

Have us secure your permit →

Silverback gorilla in the Virunga mountains, Rwanda

Book 6–12 months ahead

Fitness, difficulty & packing

What to expect
& pack.

Rwanda's volcanic terrain makes trekking moderately strenuous — altitude and steep slopes are the main challenge. Good boots and reasonable fitness are essential; porters are available and strongly recommended.

DifficultyModerate–Strenuous

TerrainVolcanic slopes & bamboo

Altitude2,400–3,000 m

Trekking time1–5 hours

Viewing distance7 metres

Time with gorillasOne full hour

What to carry

Hiking bootsLong trousersLong-sleeved shirtRain jacketGardening glovesGaitersWater bottleEnergy snacksHat & sunscreenCamera — no flash

Best time to trek

June – September · dryDecember – February · dry

Where to stay

Lodges for every style.

Rwanda has some of the finest lodge accommodation in Africa — from welcoming mid-range properties at the forest edge to world-class ultra-luxury retreats in the Virunga foothills.

Mid-range

$400–$650

per person · per day

›Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
›Gorilla's Nest Lodge
›Comfortable rooms with Virunga views

Luxury

$750–$1,800

per person · per day

›Bisate Lodge · Singita
›One&Only Gorilla's Nest
›Private decks, forest immersion, fine dining

Ultra-luxury

$1,800+

per person · per day

›Singita Kwitonda Lodge
›Magashi Camp (Akagera)
›Rwanda's most exclusive, intimate properties

Rwanda safari packages

Rwanda itineraries.

Gorilla trekking, chimp tracking, Akagera Big Five, Lake Kivu beach — every itinerary fully customised around your dates and group size.

Rwanda safari packages coming soon — contact us to build a bespoke itinerary.

Request a custom Rwanda safari quote →

FAQs · Rwanda safaris

Before you go.

Call us for more information at +254 722-595-916 — fast replies, day or night.

Rwanda gorilla
trekking.

Habituated gorilla families

Iconic national parks

$1,500

Gorilla permit · premium access

Trek the gorillas of Volcanoes.

Tell us your dates and we'll secure your permit, match you to the right family and lodge, and handle every transfer from Kigali. Free, no-obligation, answered by a real person.

Plan my Rwanda safari→

Why Rwanda is unmissable

The land of a thousand hills.

i
12 habituated gorilla families · in the Virunga Massif — part of a cross-border ecosystem with Uganda and DRC
ii
Compact country, easy logistics · — all three main parks are within 2–5 hours of Kigali International Airport
iii
World-class luxury lodges · — Rwanda has the finest gorilla trekking accommodation on the continent
iv
Nyungwe canopy walkway · — 70 metres above the forest floor, unique in East Africa
v
Akagera's Big Five · — rhinos reintroduced in 2017, making it the only Big Five park in Rwanda

Rwanda's national parks

Three parks, three worlds.

Rwanda's three main safari parks are strikingly different from each other — volcanic highlands, ancient rainforest and open savannah all within a few hours of Kigali.

01 · Volcanoes

12 habituated families · Virunga Massif