Rwanda safari and tour options
People searching for a Rwanda safari usually mean one of three things: gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, a game-drive safari in Akagera National Park, or primate and forest walks in Nyungwe National Park. They are different in kind. Gorilla trekking is a guided, scheduled visit with a permit. In Akagera you may drive yourself. In Nyungwe, hikes are led by community freelance guides.
This is an independent guide, not Visit Rwanda or the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). It does not sell permits or park entry. The fees below are the 2026 figures for international adults, published by the park operators. They are not package prices, so add up transfers, lodging, meals, permits and guides in the actual offer before you compare.
Rwanda tour types compared
What each type gives you and how it is arranged.
| Type | Where | Fee in 2026 | How it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gorilla trekking | Volcanoes National Park | $1,500 per person and day | Permit for a set day, guided, 07:00 meeting at Kinigi, 1 hour with the group |
| Golden monkey tracking | Volcanoes National Park | $100 | Guided, minimum age 12, 07:00 meeting |
| Volcano and Fossey grave hikes | Volcanoes National Park | $75 each | Guided, minimum age 15, 07:00 meeting |
| Game drive safari | Akagera National Park | $100 entry, plus vehicle fee | Drive yourself or with a guide, open 06:00–18:00 daily |
| Boat trip on Lake Ihema | Akagera National Park | $35 adult, $20 child | Scheduled departures, coordinate with the park |
| Chimpanzee tracking | Nyungwe National Park | $150 plus $100 entry | Guided, minimum age 15, up to 8 adults per community |
| Canopy walk | Nyungwe National Park | $40 plus $100 entry | From Uwinka, groups of 2 to 8 |
| Congo Nile Trail | Lake Kivu | – | Walking or mountain biking, 227 km in total, sections possible |
If your main goal is the gorillas, read the gorilla trekking guide first, because the permit fixes the date for the rest of the trip.
Our picks: tours compared
A gorilla trek with the permit included, an Akagera safari and a day in Nyungwe.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided gorilla trekking with permit and park entry
The gorilla permit, park entry, lunch, soft drinks, an English-speaking guide and vehicle transport are included. Tips and personal expenses are extra.
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Nyungwe day trip from Kigali with canopy walk and zipline
Transfer from Kigali, a driver-guide, a private 4x4, lunch, coffee and water. Zipline, canopy and waterfall fees apply only to the option you choose, and park entry ($100 per person) is not included.
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Full-day Akagera safari with optional boat ride
A private 4x4 with a driver-guide, transfer from Kigali, lunch and water. Park entry ($100 per person without the option) and the boat ride are booked as options.
Check availability →Rwanda tours and safaris
Gorilla and wildlife trips, Kigali city tours and day excursions, with live prices and availability.
How to book each piece
Each activity has its own booking route.
Gorillas and primates
The RDB links its booking portal, visitrwandabookings.rdb.rw, for gorilla and primate permits, trekking and other tourism services. If you book through an operator, the RDB recommends licensed operators and guides. This site is not a permit office.
Akagera
The park takes activity reservations by email at akagera@africanparks.org or by phone at the park reception on +250 786 182 871. Payments are cashless: MTN MoMo, DPO, bank transfer and Visa or Mastercard. Entry can also be paid on arrival.
Nyungwe
Activities are booked at nyungwe@africanparks.org, and lodging at guests.nyungwe@africanparks.org. Ask for the exact meeting point of a chimpanzee trek in advance, because the communities are at different places.
Akagera safari: fees in 2026
Akagera is the park where Rwanda's safari idea fits best. Lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and rhinos are present, which is what "Big Five" refers to here. It is not a sighting guarantee. The park is open daily from 06:00 to 18:00, and you may drive yourself. An accompanying community guide is an option.
| International visitor | 1 day or night | 2 nights | 3 nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult, 13 and older | $100 | $150 | $200 |
| Child, 6 to 12 | $50 | $75 | $100 |
Children up to 5 enter free. A Rwanda or EAC-registered car or minibus pays $10, a foreign-registered vehicle $40. A guide in your own vehicle costs $25 for a half day or $40 for a full day. See the Akagera guide for the boat trips and the gates.
Nyungwe: entry plus activity
In Nyungwe the park entry and the special activity are charged separately, and a single-day visit adds them together. International adults pay $100 entry for a day. The canopy walk adds $40, which makes $140. Chimpanzee tracking adds $150, which makes $250. Travel to the park is not included.
The canopy walk starts at the Uwinka visitor center, which is open 07:00–17:00, and is run in groups of 2 to 8. Chimpanzee tracking has a minimum age of 15, and the guide fee is included. Children aged 6 to 12 pay only the park entry fee for the regular trails. The zipline and rope course added in 2025 are separate activities and not the canopy walk. See Nyungwe National Park.
What to check before you book
Offers differ more in what they include than in the headline price.
Is the permit included?
Ask whether a gorilla permit is part of the price, and for which date. Also ask who pays if the day is changed.
Entry fees and activities
Park entry and activity fees are separate in Nyungwe, and Akagera adds vehicle and activity charges. Check which of these the offer covers.
Transfers and drive times
Kigali to Nyungwe takes 6 to 7 hours by road, and there is no railway. Local roads can be hard to drive in the rainy season. Do not plan two parks on one day.
Guides and licensing
Hikes in Volcanoes and Nyungwe must be led by registered guides, according to German travel advice. Do not plan an unguided summit hike.
Safety near the border
Read the current advice for the border regions with the DR Congo, including the areas around Nyungwe and near Volcanoes, before you fix a route. The travel tips page lists the sources.
Travel tips →Plan the rest of your trip
Tours work best when the season and your base fit.
Rwanda safari and tours: frequently asked questions
Can I go on safari in Rwanda?
Yes, mainly in Akagera National Park in the east. Lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and rhinos are present. You can drive yourself, and entry for one day is $100 for international adults in 2026. Sightings are never guaranteed.
Do I need a tour to see the gorillas?
You need a permit and a guided trek. You can book the permit yourself through the official portal, or buy a trip from a licensed operator that arranges it. Either way the trek is guided, and the permit is for a set day.
How much does a Rwanda safari cost in total?
There is no single figure. Permits, park fees, transfers, lodging, meals and guides are priced separately, and the park fees on this page are not package prices. Compare offers by what they include.
Can I visit Nyungwe in one day?
Yes. International adults pay $140 for entry and the canopy walk, or $250 for entry and chimpanzee tracking, without travel. The drive from Kigali takes 6 to 7 hours, so most visitors stay overnight.
Are tours here run by Visit Rwanda?
No. This is an independent guide. Permits, fees and park rules come from the RDB and the park operators, and tours are run by independent operators.