Are you planning to visit Rwanda in 2025 – 2026? You need to know some of the Rwanda safari highlights before planning it and booking. First and foremost, Rwanda is a land locked country that is found in the East African block and it being a small country it is highly manifested to be the most loved tourism destination to visit in Africa.

Rwanda within 02-weeks can be easily covered on your tourism holiday since the most attractions are few and easily near each other in the short distance. Rwanda before was seen as un – security country if you read the history back but thanks to the natives and the running government that has managed to re-unite the country and the love is so paramount now within the country.

Today, the country has scored the first view of eye catching to the globe and if you talk about Rwanda first you will get a response as the best and the smartest country in the East Africa, and followed by the best gorilla trekking destination in the region.

Before, Rwanda was so number-one gorilla safari destination to all travelers from budget to luxury due to so many easing factors and one was the short distance of driving from Kigali to the Volcanoes National Park. For your own information especially the first-time travelers to Rwanda we offer the 01-day gorilla trek experience as low as from $2,000 for one person and the more the number of participants the price lowers down.

As of now the number of gorilla travelers reduced a bit due to the price change increment from $750 to $1,500 per person during the high/peak season. But if you want to secure discounted price it is also possible as you can see in that if you come during low season from November 2025 to May 2026 but visiting 02 or 03 Rwanda parks you get a gorilla permit at $1,050 per person and then if you are in Rwanda on a recognized MICE tourism you can see the mountain gorillas at $1,275 per person.

Last but least regarding tourism in Rwanda there are other new price tags that are introduced to the luxury travelers and if you are interested in the “personalized and exclusive experience” in the Volcanoes mist with the mountain gorillas you will pay $15,000 per person and you visit the specific gorilla family of your interest alone. Then the “behind the scene” is also available at $30,000 for the minimum of 3 visitors for 3 consecutive 3 days but visiting different gorilla families.

While exploring Volcanoes National Park here are some of the mid-range and luxury gorilla lodges to stay and they include the Singita and Kataza House, One & Only Gorilla’s Nest Lodge, Wilderness Bisate Reserve, Wilderness Bisate Lodge, Wilderness Sabyinyo Lodge, Virunga Lodge, 5 Volcanoes Boutique Lodge, Tiloreza Eco Lodge among others and you can book in advance with your Rwanda tour operator to secure you rooms.

Wilderness Bisate Reserve

Therefore, to go to Rwanda there are various issues you should know such that you can easily prepare your packing list well.

Rwanda cities and towns

When you are planning your holiday to Rwanda first of all know which city are you land and the airport. All those coming to Rwanda with the various airlines your entry point is Kanombe – Kigali International Airport and it is situated in Kigali city and it is almost 20 minutes’ drive from airport to the city on the good days without the traffic but with traffic jam it may take you an hour to reach your hotel.

More so, if you are to spend some days and nights in Kigali which is highly recommended before and after your Rwanda tour you can decide from the so many hotels to stay. Here you will find the endless hotels to stay that is from budget to luxury facilities and among them includes the Kigali Serena Hotel, Kigali Marriott Hotel, Radison Blu Hotel and Convention, Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Onomo Hotel, Heaven Retreats and the Boutique, Mythos Boutique Hotel, 5 Swiss Hotel, Mille Collins Hotel among others and with in and out call restaurants and café points.

 

While in Kigali you can deeply explore the city visiting the famous historical places like museums, craft shops, local markets and the Kigali genocide memorial. After exploring Kigali day time then you can see it the night version by going to the night clubs, cinema halls and bars.

Apart from Kigali city there are other Rwanda towns to go while on your holiday and the few of them includes the Musanze town and it is from here you find the Volcanoes National Park famously known for the gorilla trekking in Rwanda, golden monkey tracking experience, Dian Fossey hike and visit to the Karisoke research center and the museum and campus, the beautiful twin lakes (Burera and Ruhondo) that are situated at the foothills of the Volcanoes.

The Musanze Cave is another interesting hike to include on your travel list to Rwanda and may be after this you can also think of the nature walk at the Buhanga eco – park and then lastly the visit to the Azizi Life Experience and here it is a typical involvement of your time into the lifestyle of the locals in the area.

Interestingly you will do activities like fetching water, digging, cultivating the food and then prepare it in the local way style and after served it for lunch and with a bottle of soda. This experience is a hands-on between the travelers and the local guides and costing between $90 – $100 per person and the fee that is charged goes towards the improving of the lives of the center artisans and the locals within the area.

Rwanda Culture

Rwanda is an African country with its historical culture that has been preserved and protected to maintain the identity of their norms in Africa. Today, when you talk about Rwanda internationally the people their minds drive to the Intore Dance which is now an international dance that is always showcased in the Arsenal stadium.

Parks

Rwanda has got few national parks but worthy visiting every year for travelers from the globe. If you think of tours in Rwanda the parks to know includes the Volcanoes National Park where gorilla tours are taking place every year and after that famous tourism activity you can add-on the golden monkey, Dian Fossey, IbyI’wacu cultural village which is a collection of all the once gorilla hunters and now Eco-warriors and visiting this guardian place is worthy to add on your travel trip in Rwanda.

A lot can be experienced from this park and if you have enough time, you can exhaust and after add-on the parks like Gishwati Forest Reserve en-route the way and here you can experience the eco-friendly nature walks, bird watching, butterflies watching, primates watching among others.

Later on, through the undulating green tea plantation drive towards the Nyungwe Forest National Park and en-route stop at the shores of Lake Kivu and here you can take one overnight stay or as many as you can depending on time you have to stay in Rwanda.

After relax at the shores of Lake Kivu with the boat ride to the hot springs and landing sites, beautiful night view of the volcanic lava at the mount Nyiragongo in Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo transfer Nyungwe Forest National Park via the Kibuye town and here you can visit to some of the land mark museums and then to the park and here since there is few accommodations around the park you can choose to stay in the nearby hotels.

For the mid-range travelers, you can think of the Mantis Marina Bay Kivu Hotel with the nice of the Lake Kivu and then the Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel that is nearly located at the foothills of the tea plantation and then the forest. Then with the luxury travelers it is the One & Only Nyungwe House waiting for you to offer you the extra 5-star services and the location of the lodge is so amazing from the green tea plantation cover and then forest.

One & Only Nyungwe House

The unique activities to encounter from this park include the wilderness chimpanzee trekking, canopy walk, nature walks, waterfalls hikes and then relaxingly enjoy the agro-tourism activities that is offered in the Gisakura tea plantation and purely understanding the growing of tea from garden until to reaches to the cup taste after the factory processing.

After exploring Nyungwe Forest National Park get prepared and transfer to Akagera National Park via the Butare town famously known for the Intore Dance which is an international cultural dance for Rwanda and highly earning for the country the foreign currency and it highly describes their culture and norms differently from the other African countries in East African block though Burundi seems to have the similar dance performances when you visit the countries rural and the towns.

Through the main capital city “Kigali” of Rwanda proceed to Akagera National Park and it is here that you will experience all the African wildlife species that is the big5 and others and this is much possible on your morning, evening or night game drive safaris. You can spend as many days as you may want to exhaust this park activities from game drives, boat ride, nature walks, bird watching.

To deeply to explore this park on viewing you can take a full game drive in the northern sector of this park and on this experience, you will go with the packed lunch and enough water and it starts early enough in the southern sector driving to the north. But if you don’t want to early start from southern sector you can on your day directly drive to the north and stay at Mantis Akagera Safari Lodge that is situated in the north.

Then in the following you can take a short and leisurely relaxing game drive in the southern sector and thereafter take boat ride along the Lake Ihema or Lake Rwanyakazinga spotting the wildlife and bird species at the shores of the Lakes. Among the accommodations to stay in while in the Akagera National Park includes the Wilderness Magashi Peninsula Camp, Wilderness Magashi Camp, Ruzizi Tented Lodge and Mantis Akagera Game Lodge among others.

After exploring the entire Akagera and the wildlife corridor that harbors some of the wildlife from the Tanzania game reserves drive back to Kigali and you can take like 2 days relaxation in this city before you flight back home and if you are planning to Visit Rwanda this is your useful Rwanda safari guide to read before you plan your Rwanda holiday in 2025/2026.