​Rwanda is a small country wedged between some of Africa’s largest countries, but it certainly makes up for it in terms of wildlife experiences. Rwanda is home to approximately half of all mountain gorillas left in the wild and this is what most visitors come here on safari for. Tracking a family of mountain gorillas on the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes has to rank as one of the top wildlife experiences in the world.

The mountain gorillas of Rwanda are a conservation success story as they were on the brink of extinction, but through a huge conservation effort their population is now on the increase. A gorilla safari is not only an incredible wildlife experience, but by tracking gorillas in Rwanda, you are directly supporting this conservation project that is benefitting wildlife all over Rwanda. There are several habituated families of gorillas living on the Virunga slopes and each group has a maximum of 8 guests that get to spend 1-hour with them each day. 

There is more to a safari to Rwanda that just gorilla tracking. Guests on a Rwanda safari can also track chimpanzees of Nyungwe Forest National Park, Lake Kivu and the bustling Kigali City with its very moving Genocide Memorial. A safari to Rwanda combines perfectly with Tanzania and Uganda where the general wildlife is more prolific. Combine the best of both worlds by visiting the mountain gorillas of Rwanda, with the great migration of the Serengeti before ending off on the pristine beaches of Zanzibar.

​One of our Stanley Safari Signature Safaris, is combining the mountain gorillas of Rwanda with the wild dogs of Mana Pools in Zimbabwe. Or why not combine the gorillas of Rwanda with the lemurs of Madagascar for the ultimate primate safari? With a little more work, you could even track the mountain gorillas of Rwanda with the lowland gorillas of the Congo with an ultimate gorilla safari. 

Luxury Safaris to Rwanda

Rwanda has come a long way since the years of genocide and is now one of the top safari destinations in Africa. For such a small country it really packs a punch when it comes to safari experiences including gorilla tracking in the Volcanoes National Park, chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe National Park and then the wildlife of Akagera which is being restocked with wildlife that had become extinct over the years. 

All our safaris to Rwanda are bespoke to suit your interests and budgets. Rwanda combines very well with a wildlife safari to Tanzania, so you can get the best of gorilla tracking in Rwanda and the best wildlife safari in Tanzania.

Where are the best areas to go on safari in Rwanda?

The Best Safari Areas of Rwanda

Volcanoes National Park

About 2-hours from the Rwandan capital, Kigali is the Volcanoes National Park which is home to about half the population of mountain gorillas left in the wild. This is Rwanda’s top tourist destination as people from around the world come to track the mountain gorillas living on the slopes of the extinct volcanoes.  

Nyungwe National Park

In the south corner of Rwanda lies Nyungwe National Park which is a densely forested region home to colobus monkeys and chimpanzees. This is a walkers paradise with several trails leading through the forests to waterfalls and rivers. There is even a canopy walkway getting guests high into the treetops and giving them a bird’s eye view of the forest below. Chimpanzee tracking here is tough as chimps are very active and spend a lot of their time in the treetops foraging for berries, fruits or hunting.

Lake Kivu

Not far from Volcanoes National Park towards the border with the DRC is Lake Kivu which can make for a relaxing stop after the adventures of gorilla tracking.

Akagera National Park

Akagera is a success story when it comes to conservation within Rwanda. Money generated through gorilla tracking is being put back into conservation within Rwanda and that is evident at Akagera where partnerships have led to rhino and other endangered animals being re-introduced back into the park. 

Kigali

Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali is a clean, thriving city and is a good place to explore either at the beginning or end of your gorilla safari to Rwanda. One of the things we highly recommend to see whilst in Kigali is the Genocide Memorial which highlights the atrocities that took place in the country back in the 1990’s. It is a very moving memorial and will give you an idea of what went on in the country. 

Volcaboes National Park

Home to half the population of Mountain Gorillas

When is the best Season to go to on a safari to Rwanda?

Rwanda Seasons