Rwanda

About the Destination Photo gallery Accommodations Experiences

Stepan Borovec

Chief Private Consultant

"Gorillas in the mist, an entire troop all around you. Chimpanzees in a Congo Basin rainforest, returning your delighted gaze. Big game safari on open plains and beautiful volcanic hills rolling into the distance. Rwanda is a magnificent destination, famous for mountain gorilla trekking but memorable for countless reasons. Unlike its African neighbours, Rwanda is small and super easy to explore. Plus, the country’s clear focus on luxury tourism means a superb choice of accommodation and a continual feeling of exclusivity. Many once-in-a-lifetime experiences are made accessible to the explorer and let’s not forget Rwanda’s people - welcome to one of the most vibrant and positive countries in the world."

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Explore Rwanda

Rwanda would already be one of the world’s most popular destinations if it wasn’t so difficult to get to. This is changing however. You can now fly to Kigali from Amsterdam or Brussels. Combining Rwanda with a Kenya, Tanzania or South Africa safari is now possible with a direct flight. Getting around is a dream. Rwanda’s roads are better than in most European countries and the country is small, so you can experience a lot in only a week. Consider flying between Volcanoes and Nyungwe national parks - it’s fast and the views are insane.

Climate & seasons

Traditionally, the best times to visit are the dry seasons from January to March and June to September. However, the climate is no longer so clear cut. Located only a few degrees south of the equator, Rwanda is warm and humid for most of the year. We usually recommend avoiding April and May, when intense rains make wildlife experiences more difficult. Some lodges close during these months as well.

Where to go

All trips start and end in the small capital city Kigali, where the well-known Kigali Serena and upcoming Retreat are your best accommodation options. Volcanoes National Park in the northwest is your base for gorilla trekking, with Bisate Lodge, Singita Kwitonda and One&Only Gorillas Nest all highly recommended. Nyungwe National Park, with its One&Only lodge, is the best destination in Africa if you love primates. At Akagera National Park they’ve reintroduced big mammal species that were once abundant here - Magashi Camp is low-key, five-star savannah camp.

What to do

Gorilla trekking more than exceeds its hype - spending an hour with a wild mountain gorilla troop, without any fences or barriers, will give you goosebumps for years to come. Some visitors fly in for two to three days, the minimum required to go gorilla trekking. We recommend staying longer. Walk with chimpanzees and 12 other primate species. Do a classic big-five safari in the revitalised Akagera National Park. Connect with Rwanda’s history at the moving genocide memorials. And go gorilla trekking twice - it’s worth it.