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Introducing Rwanda

Discover the best of Rwanda.
Rwanda is nicknamed the "Land of a Thousand Hills" for a reason. Its landscape doesn't stop rolling, and the hills are dotted with plunging ravines, waterfalls, and ancient forests. Rwanda is also one of the only places on earth where travelers can trek among 13 species of primates, including the world-famous mountain gorillas and the rare golden monkey.

With a serene and modern capital city and excellent national park infrastructure, the country's tumultuous past can feel worlds away—for travelers interested in learning more about Rwanda's somber history and honoring the victims of genocide, there are many opportunities in Kigali and beyond. 

When is the best time to visit?
Rwanda has a tropical climate, meaning there's a chance of rain no matter what time of year you visit. There are technically "dry" and "wet" seasons—which unsurprisingly align with the high and low seasons for tourism. Rwanda can be visited year round, but the best time for gorilla trekking is during the short dry season from December-February, or the long dry season lasting from June-September. You may need to procure a permit further in advance, but you'll appreciate the mud-free trails. 

Where should you go?
Most travelers fly into Kigali, the pristine capital city. It's worth staying a day or two and taking a guided city tour—there's a lot to take in, from culture at the Inema Art Center to colorful markets and the critically important Kigali Genocide Memorial Museum. From there, you'll be hopping between some of the world's most heralded national parks.

Perhaps the most unique and sought-after activity in Rwanda is trekking among the famed gorillas of the Virunga Mountains in Volcanoes National Park. While there, you can also spot golden monkeys, visit the Diane Fossey Museum, take a mountain biking tour, and more. For chimpanzees, head to Nyungwe Forest National Park, and Akagera for birdwatching. Rubavu, on the shores of Lake Kivu, is an hour away from Volcanoes and makes a good stopover on the way to or from Nyungwe.

How many days do you need?
With 5 days in Rwanda, travelers should prioritize visiting the gorillas. Head straight to Volcanoes National Park for two days of gorilla trekking, and spend the last half of your trip in Nyungwe Forest for a canopy walk and chimpanzee trek. Double that timeframe, and your options double along with it. In ten days, you can start with a game drive and boat cruise in Akagera National Park, continue to Nyungwe and Volcanoes parks for chimpanzee and gorilla tracking, and end in Gisenyi with a Lake Kivu boat cruise. Two weeks is equally easy to fill—add a visit to Buhanga Eco Park, observe golden and colobus monkeys, and enjoy guided city tours in Kigali and Kibuye.

Rwanda Travel Insights

Beautiful Lake Bunyonyi
Map of Wildlife & Culture in Rwanda and Uganda - 10 Days
Wildlife & Culture in Rwanda and Uganda - 10 Days

This adventurous itinerary checks off two of Rwanda and Uganda's top national parks. Trek with gorillas and golden monkeys, see art and historical sites in Kigali and visit a rural village to learn about traditional life. End your journey with a trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park to see Africa's largest game—elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and possibly the elusive African leopard.

Mountain Gorilla in Rwanda
Map of Remarkable Rwanda - 6 Days
Remarkable Rwanda - 6 Days

This exciting itinerary hits Rwanda's top cultural and natural sights. Try your bargaining power at a busy market, shop for local art, and visit the Kigali genocide memorial. Trek in Nyngwe Forest National Park to see reclusive chimpanzees in their natural habitat. End your journey with a visit to Volcanoes National Park to see where renowned naturalist Dian Fossey worked to protect the endangered mountain gorillas.

A gorilla with her baby in Rwanda's mountains
Wildlife & Culture in Rwanda - 14 Days

Start your adventurous trip in Kigali and visit historical museums, browse local art, and see the 1994 Genocide Memorial. Visit Ibyi Iwacu and Gastura villages to learn about traditional life and support local tourism, then trek into the forest to see golden monkeys and rare mountain gorillas. End your journey with a trip to Akagera National Park to see Africa's largest game—elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and the magnificent African lion.

Baby chimpanzee
Rwanda Wildlife Highlights - 5 Days

This exciting itinerary hits Rwanda's cultural and natural highlights. Try your bargaining power at a busy market, see art and historical sites in Kigali, and visit Ibyi Iwacu cultural village to learn about traditional life. End your journey with a trek deep into Nyungwe Forest National Park to see wild chimpanzees in their natural habitat.

A mountain gorilla with her baby
Rwanda Highlights - 12 Days

This adventurous itinerary checks off Rwanda's top 3 national parks. Start in Kigali and visit historical museums, browse local art, and see the 1994 Genocide Memorial. Visit a rural village to see everyday life, then trek into the forest to see wild chimpanzees and Dian Fossey's gorilla research station. End your journey with a trip to Akagera National Park to see Africa's largest game—elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and the magnificent African lion.

Tracking gorillas in Rwanda
Map of Rwandan Gorilla & Monkey Safari - 5 Days
Rwandan Gorilla & Monkey Safari - 5 Days

This 5-day safari trip is an ideal introduction to Rwanda's wildlife, stunning landscapes, and cultures. You'll track gorillas and golden monkeys in Rwanda's forests, visit Volcanoes National Park, paddle along Lake Kivu by kayak, and explore the happening capital city of Kigali.  

Rwanda Travel Maps

Get the lay of land, and understand distances between the places you want to visit
Rwanda map: Wildlife & Culture in Rwanda and Uganda - 10 Days
Wildlife & Culture in Rwanda and Uganda - 10 Days
View article
Rwanda map: Remarkable Rwanda - 6 Days
Remarkable Rwanda - 6 Days
View article
Rwanda map: Rwandan Gorilla & Monkey Safari - 5 Days
Rwandan Gorilla & Monkey Safari - 5 Days
View article

Meet our Local Travel Specialists

Experienced travel agents with a passion for Rwanda
Travel specialist Joseph Thuo
active 12 hours ago

Joseph Thuo

Born and raised in Kenya, in the land of the Maasai (Narok), I started traveling extensively around the country back in College, exploring unique destinations and cultural experiences one after...

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Travel specialist Nicholas Mwangi
active 11 hours ago

Nicholas Mwangi

It was in my early childhood that my love for traveling really began. I grew up at the slopes of Mount Kenya the second highest Mountain in Africa an area that was rich in biodiversity with many...

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Travel specialist Stephanie Louw
active 12 hours ago

Stephanie Louw

I'm based in Cape Town and have an eye for detail, enjoy planning and organizing. Outside of work I love adventure sports and playing tourist in my own City with my kids.

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Why travelers love kimkim

Custom trips for independent travelers who are too busy to plan

Customize your trip with the help of a local travel specialist

Kimkim has handpicked the world’s top local travel specialists so you will have peace of mind and an unforgettable trip that meets your exact requirements.

Authentic travel experiences

Kimkim’s local specialists ensure that you will have the best experience based on up-to-date local insights. On top of that, the vast majority of your money will go straight to support and grow local economies.

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Once you are happy with the trip, you can easily book via kimkim’s secure payment platform.

Local support during your trip

You can always reach your local specialist with a quick message or call in case you hit a snag during your trip, or simply want some great local recommendations.

100% satisfaction guarantee
Kimkim offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you are not fully satisfied with us, we’ll work with you to make it right.
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A portion of every kimkim trip goes toward the removal of carbon from the atmosphere. Learn more
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Seller of Travel Registration number: CST #2136279-40.
Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.

Trip Reviews for Rwanda

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim

A fantastic trip to Rwanda!
Rwanda | Aug 10 - Aug 17, 2022

V
Vamsi D.
Westbury, NY | Reviewed on Aug 24, 2022

Our trip was amazing and we are very grateful for all the hard work that went into planning it! We were able to see all the sites that we wanted to and Francis, our tour guide, was spectacular throughout the trip. He was very friendly, knowledgeable, and resourceful in making sure that the trip went smoothly—even when we encountered car troubles. The trip went very well, and I have no major complaints.

The only recommendation I would have for future people taking this trip is that they be... read more

Our trip was amazing and we are very grateful for all the hard work that went into planning it! We were able to see all the sites that we wanted to and Francis, our tour guide, was spectacular throughout the trip. He was very friendly, knowledgeable, and resourceful in making sure that the trip went smoothly—even when we encountered car troubles. The trip went very well, and I have no major complaints.

The only recommendation I would have for future people taking this trip is that they be given a safari car instead of a regular Toyota 4x4 since many of the roads we drove on require a safari car. Thank you very much for all your help planning a great trip!

Local specialist: Vivian Kironde

Culture and History
Rwanda | Jun 30 - Jul 12, 2019

Jennifer
Jennifer T.
Helper, UT | Reviewed on Jul 16, 2019

Agnes did a wonderful job helping me plan my trip! I wanted an in-depth look at Rwanda. No tour company offered an itinerary matching my desire. With Agnes, I was able to write more own itinerary. She organized the entire trip and arranged all the permits, no small feat in Africa.

She quoted me a price that was all inclusive. I took it, it was a great price. However, please note, she was willing to design a less expensive, less inclusive trip if I preferred.

I don't know if all Kim Kim... read more

Agnes did a wonderful job helping me plan my trip! I wanted an in-depth look at Rwanda. No tour company offered an itinerary matching my desire. With Agnes, I was able to write more own itinerary. She organized the entire trip and arranged all the permits, no small feat in Africa.

She quoted me a price that was all inclusive. I took it, it was a great price. However, please note, she was willing to design a less expensive, less inclusive trip if I preferred.

I don't know if all Kim Kim agents are as awesome as Agnes. I hope so. I will definitely work with Kim Kim in the future. I hope to say good-bye to large organized tour groups forever.

Local specialist: Agnes Mirembe

Rwanda
Rwanda | Feb 18 - Feb 23, 2019

K
Kiran G.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Feb 25, 2019

I booked a 6 day trip with Umoja to visit Rwanda together with my girlfriend

Agnes was very responsive on the KimKim chat at helping me tailor the trip I wanted (seeing some of Kigali, chimps in Nyungwe, gorillas and golden monkeys in Volcanoes NP), and the quote from Umoja combined with KimKim's relatively modest commission made the trip much cheaper than comparable quotes I got from traditional agencies.

Eric was the guide on the trip itself and he was excellent. Picked us up and made us... read more

I booked a 6 day trip with Umoja to visit Rwanda together with my girlfriend

Agnes was very responsive on the KimKim chat at helping me tailor the trip I wanted (seeing some of Kigali, chimps in Nyungwe, gorillas and golden monkeys in Volcanoes NP), and the quote from Umoja combined with KimKim's relatively modest commission made the trip much cheaper than comparable quotes I got from traditional agencies.

Eric was the guide on the trip itself and he was excellent. Picked us up and made us feel welcomed at the airport, and struck a great balance between being informative and helpful but also providing us the space and freedom we needed to enjoy the holiday.

Would definitely recommend talking to Agnes about your next trip to East Africa.

Local specialist: Agnes Mirembe