Rwanda is a country that surprises almost everyone who visits. It is small, green and beautifully organised, with immaculate streets, rolling terraced hills and a calm confidence that feels very different from what many travellers expect. It is also one of the most moving places in Africa, a nation that has rebuilt itself with extraordinary resolve and now welcomes guests with warmth and pride.
For wildlife lovers, Rwanda offers something rare: mountain gorillas within a short drive of the capital, chimpanzees in an ancient montane rainforest and, in the east, a Big Five savannah park that has been brought back to life through determined conservation. Because distances are short, Rwanda is easy to experience in a few days, which makes it a perfect partner for Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania.
Experiences and activities
Volcanoes National Park, in the north west of the country, is home to Rwanda's mountain gorilla families. After a briefing at the park headquarters, you set out through farmland and bamboo forest to meet your gorilla family, with the Virunga volcanoes rising behind you. The treks vary in length and difficulty, and the park service matches guests with a family accordingly. In the same park, golden monkey tracking is a lively and delightful addition, and a hike to the site where primatologist Dian Fossey made her home gives context to the conservation story of these animals.
In the south west, Nyungwe Forest National Park protects one of the oldest rainforests in Africa. Chimpanzee tracking is the highlight, and a canopy walkway suspended above the treetops gives a bird's eye view of the forest. In the east, Akagera National Park offers game drives, boat cruises on Lake Ihema and the chance to see lions, rhinos, elephants and giraffes. In Kigali, visits to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, local art galleries, coffee experiences and restaurants round out the journey with culture and context.
Best time to visit
The drier months, typically June to September and December to February, offer the easiest trekking conditions and clearer skies for mountain views. Gorilla trekking runs all year, so you can still travel in the wetter seasons when forests are lush and lodges are quieter, as long as you are prepared for mud and rain gear. Akagera is generally best for game viewing in the dry months, when animals gather near water.
Getting there and around
Most visitors arrive at Kigali International Airport, with connections from Australia typically through the Gulf, Nairobi or Johannesburg.
By road. Volcanoes National Park is roughly two to three hours by road from Kigali on a good, smooth route. Akagera is about the same distance in the opposite direction, and Nyungwe is a longer drive of around five to six hours. A private vehicle with an English speaking driver guide makes the journey part of the experience.
By helicopter and light aircraft. For those who want to save time, helicopter transfers and light aircraft charters between Kigali and the major parks can be arranged, shortening the journey to a scenic flight. We can also combine road and air so that you travel one way by land and the other by air.
Luxury lodges and camps
Rwanda is home to some of the most sophisticated lodges in Africa. In the volcanoes region, Bisate Lodge is a celebrated eco lodge with sculptural thatched villas set within a restored forest, Singita Kwitonda Lodge offers refined, contemporary suites with volcano views, and One&Only Gorilla's Nest brings a polished, resort style experience to the foot of the mountains. In Akagera, Magashi Camp offers a tented safari experience in a wild, secluded corner of the park. In Nyungwe, One&Only Nyungwe House sits above the tea fields at the forest edge.
