Rwanda,
Land of a
Thousand Hills
Home to more habituated gorilla families than anywhere else on earth. Rich in culture, shaped by resilience - and small enough that its volcanoes, ancient rainforests, and Big Five savannah are never more than a few hours apart.
(Trip Information)
Your Questions,
Answered
Best Time to Visit
Rwanda has a pleasantly mild climate year-round, with temperatures rarely straying far from comfortable. The main dry seasons - June to September and December to February - offer the clearest trails and most reliable conditions for gorilla trekking and game drives in Akagera. All parks can be visited in any month; we account for seasonality when drafting your itinerary.
Permits & Logistics
How Long to Spend
A focused Rwanda safari can be done meaningfully in seven nights - enough for the gorillas, Akagera, and a night in Kigali. Ten nights allows for Nyungwe Forest and a slower overall pace. Rwanda rewards those who linger; a second gorilla trek or an afternoon on Lake Kivu changes the experience entirely.
Health & Preparation
Yellow fever vaccination is required for travellers arriving from countries with yellow fever risk. Anti-malarial medication is recommended, particularly for Akagera. A detailed pre-departure health brief, packing guide, and destination dossier are sent to every traveller at least six weeks before departure.
Our Approach to Conservation
A portion of every Rwanda itinerary fee is directed to gorilla conservation and community benefit programmes. Rwanda’s model - where communities surrounding the parks receive direct revenue from tourism - is one of the most successful on the continent, and we are proud to be part of it.
Is Rwanda Safe for Travel?
Rwanda is widely regarded as one of Africa’s safest and most visitor-friendly destinations. Kigali consistently ranks among the continent’s most secure capitals, and the national parks operate under the close management of the Rwanda Development Board and African Parks, with professional rangers throughout. Gorilla trekking is strictly regulated, with no recorded tourist harming incidents.
The country’s infrastructure is excellent by regional standards - roads are well-maintained, guides are highly trained, and the welcome is genuine. We brief every traveller on their specific itinerary and remain in close contact throughout the journey. Your experience is in careful hands from arrival to departure.
What’s
Included
In Your
Trip
Every journey to Rwanda is designed to move you - through volcanic forests, across open savannah, and into a culture of extraordinary warmth and resilience. From the flight that brings you here to the last meal before departure, each detail is thought through and taken care of. You arrive with nothing to arrange and everything to discover. What follows is what every Territory Explorers Rwanda itinerary holds - great memories.
I
Inbound
Air Travel
Where the itinerary calls for it, scheduled or charter flights are arranged and included - so the journey begins well before the forest does. No layover confusion, no separate bookings.
II
Gorilla Trekking Permits
Rwanda’s gorilla trekking permits are issued by the Rwanda Development Board and must be secured well in advance. For itineraries that include Volcanoes National Park, yours are obtained and confirmed before you travel.
III
Ground
Transportation
All overland movement is in a custom 4x4 Land Cruiser safari vehicle - well-suited to Rwanda’s paved roads and mountain tracks alike. Comfortable, reliable, and with you throughout.
IV
Accommodation
Each lodge is chosen for how fully it brings you into Rwanda’s world - whether that is a forest-edge property in the Virungas, a tented camp on the shores of Lake Rwanyakazinga in Akagera, or a considered retreat above Nyungwe’s canopy. Every property is pre-vetted by our team.
V
All
Activities
Every gorilla trek, game drive, forest walk, and cultural excursion listed in your itinerary is included. Nothing is an afterthought - if it’s on the programme, it’s taken care of.
VI
Other Primates Tracking Permits
For itineraries that include time in Volcanoes National Park, golden monkey tracking permits are arranged alongside your gorilla documentation. A gentler, equally enchanting encounter in the same volcanic forest. The same applies to chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe.
VII
Professional
Driver-Guides
Your guide is also your driver - fluent in English and other languages on request, deeply familiar with Rwanda’s parks and history, and attuned enough to know when to speak and when to let the ecosystem do the talking.
VIII
All Meals
From early breakfasts before a pre-dawn departure for the gorillas to dinners overlooking crater lakes, meals are included throughout your journey. Sourced locally where possible, prepared with care at every property.
