5-Day Rwanda Gorillas and Game Adventure

The safari starts from $3,000 per person, but the final price depends on several factors. The main ones are how many travellers share the vehicle, the accommodation category you choose (budget, mid-range or luxury), and the season you travel in. Solo travellers and couples usually pay more per person than larger groups because fuel, vehicle, and driver-guide costs are shared among fewer people. The starting price reflects the budget option, and your final quotation confirms the exact figure for your dates and group.

Yes. International flights, visas, travel insurance, accommodation before or after the safari, souvenirs, and tips are not part of the package. The Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village visit and the canopy walk are optional extras, and porters on trekking days are paid separately. Drinks other than bottled water, laundry, and personal items are also your own expense. Tell us which optional activities interest you, and we will include them in your quotation so there are no surprises.

Yes. Visitors must generally be at least 15 years old to track mountain gorillas in Rwanda, and the same age limit is usually applied to golden monkey tracking. Younger children may therefore not be able to join the trekking days of this itinerary, although they can usually take part in the Akagera game drive and boat cruise. If you are travelling as a family, send us everyone’s ages before booking so we can confirm eligibility and suggest alternatives where needed.

Day 5 is the busiest day of the safari. You track golden monkeys in the bamboo forest, then hike to the Dian Fossey research site on steep, often muddy trails at high altitude, and finish with a drive of roughly 2.5 to 3 hours to Kigali. The hike takes several hours round trip, so you should be reasonably fit and rested. If you prefer a lighter final day, we can adjust the plan, such as skipping the Dian Fossey hike.

Arrive in Kigali early enough on Day 1 to be met by your driver-guide and fit in the city stops before the drive to Akagera. A morning arrival works best. Because Day 5 includes trekking, a hike, and a drive back to Kigali, we recommend booking an evening departure flight rather than an afternoon one. If your flights do not match this schedule, tell us your times before booking and we will suggest an extra night in Kigali.

Akagera is home to lions, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, and many antelope species. Leopards and rhinos are present too, but they are harder to spot. Because these are wild animals roaming freely, sightings cannot be guaranteed. Early morning game drives with an experienced driver-guide give you the best chance, and the Lake Ihema boat cruise reliably offers hippos, crocodiles, and a wide variety of waterbirds. Patience and good binoculars make a real difference.

Follow your ranger’s instructions throughout. Keep the distance set by park authorities, which is at least 7 metres from the gorillas. Speak quietly, avoid flash photography, and never touch or feed the animals. Do not eat, drink, or smoke near them, and avoid sudden movements. Face masks are usually required at the gorilla encounter, because these primates can catch human illnesses. Anyone with a cold, flu symptoms, or diarrhoea may be refused entry to the trek, so tell your guide early if you feel unwell.

Health requirements depend on your nationality and where you are travelling from, so speak to your doctor or a travel clinic well before departure. Akagera lies at a lower altitude where malaria is a risk, so many travellers take preventive medication and use repellent. A yellow fever certificate may be required if you arrive from a country where the disease occurs. Make sure your routine vaccinations are up to date, and carry any personal medication in your hand luggage.

Entry rules depend on your nationality. Many visitors can obtain a visa online before travel or on arrival at Kigali International Airport, while citizens of some countries enter without a visa. Your passport must be valid for at least six months and have blank pages. Rules can change, so check the official Rwanda immigration website for your nationality before you book flights. If you are unsure, send us your nationality and we will point you in the right direction.

Rwanda is widely regarded as one of the safest and cleanest countries in Africa for visitors. Kigali is orderly and easy to move around, and your driver-guide accompanies you on the entire safari. Parks are patrolled by rangers, and trekking groups are always escorted. As anywhere, take sensible precautions: keep valuables out of sight, avoid walking alone at night in cities, and follow your guide’s advice. Check your government’s travel advice shortly before departure for the latest information.

Yes. Solo travellers are welcome, and the safari runs as a private tour with your own driver-guide and vehicle. Solo travellers pay more per person because costs are not shared, and a single room supplement may apply in some lodges. During gorilla trekking, rangers assign visitors to a family in groups of up to 8, so you may trek with other travellers from different lodges, even though your transport and itinerary remain private.

Tips are not included and are entirely optional, but they are warmly appreciated in Rwanda’s tourism industry. Many travellers tip their driver-guide at the end of the safari, and give smaller amounts to the porter, trackers, and rangers after the gorilla trek. Amounts depend on your satisfaction and budget, and US dollars or Rwandan francs are both accepted. Carry small notes with you, because there is rarely a chance to change money on trekking days.

Send us your preferred dates, group size, and accommodation level. We check permit and lodge availability and prepare a detailed quotation. Once you approve it, a deposit is usually requested to secure permits and reservations, with the balance due before travel. Changes or cancellations after permits are purchased depend on Rwanda Development Board rules and the lodges’ policies, so refunds are not always possible. Travel insurance that covers cancellations and medical issues is strongly recommended.

Rwanda’s currency is the Rwandan franc, and US dollars are accepted by many tourism businesses. Cards work in Kigali and at most lodges, but cash is useful in rural areas, and ATMs are mostly found in towns, so withdraw money in Kigali. Mobile coverage is generally good in towns but can be patchy in parks and mountain areas. Many lodges offer Wi-Fi, though speeds vary. A local SIM card from the airport is a convenient option.