Rwanda is the size of Wales and has an international airport two hours from a mountain gorilla. That single fact explains why it charges US$1,500 for a permit and why people pay it.
Volcanoes National Park
Rwanda's gorillas live on the slopes of five volcanoes in the north-west, in Volcanoes National Park — the forest where Dian Fossey worked and is buried. Twelve families are habituated for tourism, treks start from a single briefing point at Kinigi at 07:00, and the walking is at altitude through bamboo and hagenia woodland. It is a different forest from Bwindi: more open, higher, colder, with volcanic mud that gets everywhere.
What a Rwanda gorilla safari looks like
- Day 1 — land at Kigali, drive two hours to Musanze, sleep near the park.
- Day 2 — trek. Afternoon free for the Dian Fossey tomb hike, the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, or the Iby'iwacu cultural village.
- Day 3 — drive back to Kigali, see the Genocide Memorial, fly out in the evening.
That is the three-day trip, and it genuinely works. Add two days and you can put Lake Kivu or Akagera on the end.
Beyond the gorillas
- Kigali — clean, safe, and the Genocide Memorial is essential. Give it a full day.
- Nyungwe Forest — chimpanzee tracking, thirteen primate species and a canopy walkway, about five hours south.
- Akagera National Park — savannah with all of the Big Five since rhino were reintroduced, two and a half hours east of Kigali.
- Lake Kivu — Rubavu and Karongi for a couple of quiet days after the trek.
- Golden monkeys in Volcanoes NP, US$100 for an hour.
Practicalities
- Visa: available on arrival for most nationalities at US$50; the East Africa Tourist Visa at US$100 covers Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya.
- Yellow fever certificate required if arriving from an endemic country; check current rules before you fly.
- Plastic bags are banned and bags are checked at the airport. Do not bring them.
- Roads are the best in the region; a 4x4 is still sensible for the park approach.
- Masks are required during the gorilla visit.
The routing worth considering
Fly into Kigali, drive four to five hours to Bwindi's southern sectors and trek in Uganda on an US$800 permit. You keep Rwanda's flights and lose US$700 from the bill. It is our most-booked itinerary — see the 3-day Bwindi safari from Kigali.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Rwanda gorilla permit?
US$1,500 per person for foreign non-residents, US$500 for foreign residents of Rwanda and US$200 for East African citizens. It covers park entry, guides, trackers and one hour with a family.
How far is Volcanoes National Park from Kigali?
About two to two and a half hours on good tarmac, via Musanze. That is the shortest airport-to-trailhead transfer of any gorilla park, and the main reason Rwanda works for three-day trips.
Is Rwanda worth the extra cost?
If your time is tighter than your budget, yes. If you have ten days and want chimpanzees, savannah and boat safaris as well, Uganda gives you more for less. See our full comparison.
Next
Keep planning
- Volcanoes National Park — the park in detail
- 3-day Rwanda gorilla safari — the classic short trip
- Uganda vs Rwanda — where the extra US$700 goes
- Lodges near the gorillas — including the Volcanoes cluster
Enquire
Start planning your gorilla trek
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