Top 5 Safari Destinations in Rwanda:Gorillas, Big Five &More

The top five safari destinations in Rwanda are:

Volcanoes National Park: mountain gorilla and golden monkey trekking
Akagera National Park: Big Five game drives and boat safaris
Nyungwe Forest National Park: chimpanzee trekking and a canopy walkway
Gishwati-Mukura National Park: quiet primate walks in Rwanda’s newest park
Lake Kivu: beaches, boat trips and relaxation after the treks

Rwanda is small, so you can see mountain gorillas, chimpanzees and the Big Five in one trip of a week or so, with short drives in between. Kigali, the capital, is the gateway to every park.

Safari Destinations in Rwanda at a Glance

Destination	Best for	Distance from Kigali	Main activity
Volcanoes National Park	Mountain gorillas	About 2.5 to 3 hours	Gorilla trekking
Akagera National Park	Big Five, savanna safari	About 2.5 hours	Game drives and Lake Ihema boat trips
Nyungwe Forest National Park	Chimpanzees, birds	About 5 to 6 hours	Chimp trekking and canopy walk
Gishwati-Mukura National Park	Quiet primate walks	About 3 to 4 hours	Chimpanzee and monkey tracking
Lake Kivu	Relaxation, scenery	About 3 to 4 hours to Gisenyi	Boat trips, kayaking, beaches

The rest of this guide explains what makes each destination special, the best time to visit, and how to combine them into one Rwanda safari. For an overview of every protected area, see Rwanda’s national parks.

1. Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park in northwest Rwanda is the country’s most famous safari destination and one of the best places in the world to see mountain gorillas. The park covers about 160 square kilometres of the Virunga volcanoes, a mountain range shared with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and is home to around 12 habituated gorilla families.

Things to Do in Volcanoes National Park

Gorilla trekking: hike through bamboo and forest with a ranger guide and spend one hour with a gorilla family. Groups are limited to eight people. A permit costs USD 1,500 for foreign non-residents; see the Rwanda gorilla permit cost.
Golden monkey trekking: track playful, orange-gold monkeys in the bamboo zone. It is easier than gorilla trekking; read how difficult golden monkey trekking is.
Dian Fossey grave hike: visit the former Karisoke research camp and the grave of the famous primatologist.
Mount Bisoke hike: a day climb to a crater lake at 3,711 metres.
Culture and caves: visit the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village and the Musanze Caves.

Best time to visit: June to September and December to February, when trails are drier. Gorilla trekking runs all year.

Getting there and staying: the park is about 2.5 to 3 hours from Kigali; see the distance from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park and Volcanoes National Park accommodations.

2. Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda, on the border with Tanzania, is the country’s only savanna park and its only Big Five destination. Its grassland, woodland, swamps and lakes are a striking contrast to Rwanda’s misty mountains.

Akagera is one of Africa’s great conservation success stories. Managed since 2010 by the Rwanda Development Board and the non-profit African Parks, it has seen lions return in 2015, black rhinos in 2017 and 2019, and white rhinos in 2021, with 70 more white rhinos added in 2025.

Things to Do in Akagera National Park

Game drives: look for lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, giraffes, zebras and many kinds of antelope. Read about the Big Five animals in Rwanda.
Boat safari on Lake Ihema: see hippos, Nile crocodiles and water birds such as African fish eagles at close range.
Night game drives: a 2.5-hour guided drive after dark to look for leopards, hyenas and bush babies.
Birdwatching: almost 500 bird species have been recorded, including the papyrus gonolek and red-faced barbet, and, with luck, the shoebill. See bird watching in Rwanda.

Best time to visit: June to September, when animals gather near water and the grass is short.

Getting there: about 2.5 hours from Kigali, so it works as a 1 Day Akagera National Park Safari, though staying overnight is better. Check the current Akagera National Park prices.

3. Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe National Park in southwest Rwanda protects one of the oldest and largest montane rainforests in Africa, covering about 1,000 square kilometres. It is home to 13 primate species, including chimpanzees, and more than 300 bird species, many of them found only in the Albertine Rift. In 2023 it was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Things to Do in Nyungwe Forest

Chimpanzee trekking: set off at dawn to find a habituated chimp community. Sightings are good but not guaranteed, as chimps move fast through the forest.
Canopy walk: cross a suspension bridge strung high above a forest ravine, with views across the treetops. It is the only canopy walkway of its kind in East Africa.
Monkey tracking: look for large troops of Angola colobus, as well as L’Hoest’s, blue and grey-cheeked mangabey monkeys.
Birdwatching and hiking: walk forest trails such as the Isumo waterfall trail, and look for the great blue turaco and Rwenzori turaco.
Tea estates: the Gisakura tea plantations on the forest edge make a beautiful stop.

Best time to visit: June to August and December to February, when the trails are less muddy. Nyungwe is a rainforest, so pack rain gear in every month.

Getting there: about 5 to 6 hours from Kigali by road. See our 3 Days Nyungwe Chimps and Canopy Walk and the current Nyungwe National Park fees.

4. Gishwati-Mukura National Park

Gishwati-Mukura National Park is Rwanda’s newest national park, made up of two separate forest blocks, Gishwati and Mukura, in the west of the country. Much of Gishwati was cleared for farming in the past, and the park is part of a major effort to restore the forest and reconnect wildlife habitats. It has also been recognised by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve.

Things to Do in Gishwati-Mukura

Chimpanzee tracking: Gishwati holds a small chimpanzee community, which you can track with a ranger in a quiet forest with few other visitors.
Monkey tracking: look for golden monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys and blue monkeys.
Nature walks and waterfalls: follow forest trails to waterfalls and viewpoints.
Birdwatching: more than 200 bird species have been recorded, including Albertine Rift endemics.
Community experiences: visit tea growers, beekeepers and local cooperatives around the park.

Best time to visit: the drier months, June to September and December to February.

Why go: Gishwati-Mukura sits between Volcanoes National Park and Lake Kivu, so it is an easy and peaceful addition for travellers who want primates without the crowds.

5. Lake Kivu

Lake Kivu is not a wildlife park, but it is a highlight of most Rwanda safaris. This huge lake of the Albertine Rift runs along Rwanda’s western border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, with steep green hills, quiet bays and island-dotted shores. It is the perfect place to relax after gorilla and chimpanzee trekking.

The main lakeside towns are Rubavu (Gisenyi) in the north, close to Volcanoes National Park; Karongi (Kibuye) in the middle, known for its islands; and Rusizi (Cyangugu) in the south, near Nyungwe.

Things to Do at Lake Kivu

Boat trips and island visits: visit Napoleon’s Island, home to a large colony of fruit bats, and Amahoro Island, known as “Peace Island”. See Lake Kivu tours.
Kayaking on Lake Kivu: paddle along the shore and between islands.
Congo Nile Trail: hike or cycle through hills, villages and coffee farms along the lakeshore.
Coffee and culture: tour a coffee washing station, and watch fishermen sing as they paddle out in the evening.
Beaches and swimming: relax on lakeside beaches at Gisenyi and Kibuye.

Best time to visit: all year, with the sunniest weather from June to September and December to February.

For more ideas, read things to do at Lake Kivu and the best hotels at Lake Kivu, or combine the lake with gorillas on the 5 Days Gorillas and Lake Kivu Safari.

Don’t Skip Kigali

Almost every Rwanda safari starts and ends in Kigali, one of Africa’s cleanest and safest capitals. Spend at least half a day here. Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which is essential for understanding modern Rwanda, and explore the markets, art galleries and cafés on a Kigali city tour.

How to Plan a Safari Across Rwanda’s Top Destinations

How Many Days Do You Need?

Trip length	What you can see
1 to 3 days	Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, or a quick Akagera safari
4 to 5 days	Gorillas plus golden monkeys and Lake Kivu
6 to 7 days	Gorillas plus Akagera’s Big Five
8 to 10 days	Gorillas, chimpanzees in Nyungwe, Akagera and Lake Kivu: the full Rwanda circuit

Read how many days you need for gorilla trekking for help choosing.

Sample Rwanda Safari Routes

Short and focused: Kigali → Volcanoes National Park → Kigali. Try the 1 Day Gorilla Trek Rwanda or the 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari.
Gorillas and Big Five: Kigali → Akagera → Volcanoes → Kigali, on the 6 Days Rwanda Gorillas and Big Five Safari.
The complete circuit: Kigali → Akagera → Volcanoes → Gishwati-Mukura or Lake Kivu → Nyungwe → Kigali, on the 10 Days Rwanda Safari Holiday.

Best Time to Go on Safari in Rwanda

The best time for a Rwanda safari is during the dry seasons, from June to September and from December to February. Trails in the forest parks are firmer, and Akagera’s wildlife is easiest to find.

The rainy months, March to May and October to November, are greener, quieter and often cheaper. Read Rwanda weather by month and the best time to visit Rwanda.

How Much Does a Rwanda Safari Cost?

The biggest single cost is the gorilla permit, at USD 1,500 per person for foreign non-residents. Akagera charges a daily park entry fee, and chimpanzee and golden monkey permits cost much less than gorilla permits.

Total trip prices depend on the number of days, lodges and activities. Our packages start from about USD 1,720 per person for a one-day gorilla trek from Kigali. See Rwanda safari cost for a full breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rwanda Safari Destinations

What is the best safari destination in Rwanda?

Volcanoes National Park is the best-known safari destination in Rwanda, because it is one of the few places in the world to see mountain gorillas. For a classic savanna safari with the Big Five, choose Akagera National Park.

Can you see the Big Five in Rwanda?

Yes. Akagera National Park is home to all of the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. Rwanda is one of the few countries where you can see the Big Five and mountain gorillas on the same trip.

How many national parks does Rwanda have?

Rwanda has four national parks: Volcanoes, Akagera, Nyungwe and Gishwati-Mukura.

Where can I see chimpanzees in Rwanda?

Nyungwe Forest National Park is the main place to see chimpanzees in Rwanda. Gishwati-Mukura National Park also has a small chimpanzee community.

Is Rwanda good for a first safari?

Yes. Rwanda is safe, compact and well organised, with good roads and short drives between parks. It is a very easy country for a first African safari.

Can I combine Rwanda with Uganda?

Yes. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda is only a few hours from the Rwanda border. Compare the two in gorilla trekking in Rwanda vs Uganda, or try our 12 Day Rwanda and Uganda Safari.

More Rwanda Travel Guides

Plan Your Rwanda Safari

From mountain gorillas in Volcanoes to lions in Akagera, chimpanzees in Nyungwe and sunsets on Lake Kivu, Rwanda packs remarkable variety into a small country.

Browse all our Rwanda safaris, or send us your dates through our contact page and we will design a route that fits your time and budget.