Rwanda Safari
Gorilla Tracking & Big Five

As a German citizen, you need a valid passport and a visa to enter Rwanda. You can apply for the visa for R uanda online or apply and pay at the airport on arrival. The costs in both cases are around 50 US dollars.

The official currency in Rwanda is the Rwandan franc (RWF). You can withdraw cash from ATMs in larger cities using major credit cards and EC cards for a fee. Payment by credit card is only possible in individual cases. We recommend that you take enough euros or US dollars (bills that are not older than 10 years!) with you and change them into cash on site.

Almost 90% of the locals speak the national language Kinyarwanda (one of the Bantu languages). French, English and Swahili are additional official languages. You can easily converse with younger locals in English. Many of the older locals understand French better than English.

The time difference to Central European Time (CET) is + 1 hour. There is no time difference during Central European Summer Time, as there is no distinction between summer and winter time in Rwanda.

No special vaccinations are required for entry from Germany to Rwanda. The Federal Foreign Office recommends all standard vaccinations according to information from the Robert Koch Institute. You should also look into the subject of malaria prophylaxis. It is best to talk to your family doctor or a travel medicine specialist about the various forms of prophylaxis. We recommend that you take out insurance with health cover abroad. You should still have room in your luggage for a small first-aid kit with painkillers, anti-diarrheal, plasters and disinfectant as well as mosquito repellent.

There are no direct flights. You always fly with one or two stopovers.
The best connection is Frankfurt via Doha to Kigali with Qatar Airways, total travel time around 15 to 18 hours. Good alternatives are Brussels Airlines via Brussels, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul or Emirates via Dubai.
Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa is often cheaper. The connection from Frankfurt or Munich works well, even if the layover in Addis is sometimes a little longer.
Prices range between 800 and 1,400 euros for a return flight, depending on the season and time of booking.

This depends on which country you are traveling from.
If you are flying directly from Germany to Rwanda, the yellow fever vaccination is not mandatory. Rwanda itself is not considered a yellow fever area.
However, if you are arriving from a yellow fever area – which includes Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya – you must present a yellow fever vaccination certificate. This is actually checked at Kigali airport.
Example: You are flying Frankfurt → Nairobi → Kigali. Then you need the vaccination because Kenya is considered a yellow fever area.
Our recommendation: Get vaccinated anyway, even if you are flying in directly. The vaccination is valid for life, and if you want to visit other African countries later, you’ve already done it. In addition, there are sometimes discussions at the border, even if you would actually be exempt – with a vaccination certificate you have peace of mind.
Speak to a tropical medicine specialist 6 to 8 weeks before departure. They can also advise you on malaria prophylaxis – Rwanda is a malaria area in some regions, especially around Akagera.

Isombe is the classic dish: cassava leaves, similar to spinach, cooked with beef and peanut butter. It takes some getting used to, but tastes better than expected.
Brochettes are grilled skewers – goat, beef or chicken, marinated and grilled. You can get them practically everywhere.
Ugali is the maize porridge that is served with almost everything. It is typically East African and very filling.
Akabenz is banana wine. Try it, but be careful – the alcohol content varies greatly and can be surprisingly high.
In Kigali, the “Heaven”, a rooftop restaurant with international cuisine and a beautiful view over the city, is well worth a visit. “Le Karibi” offers local specialties. An insider tip: “Ndizi” – grilled plantains with beans, simple but good.
In the gorilla lodges, the food is usually surprisingly good, often on an international level. So you don’t have to look specifically for gourmet cuisine.

No, better not. Take bottled water.
Hotels and lodges usually provide it free of charge, otherwise you can buy water anywhere. In malaria regions, you should also make sure that you take your prophylactic tablets with clean water.
The tap water in Kigali is actually better than in many other African cities, but still risky for European stomachs. It is also better to use bottled water to brush your teeth.

For your safari guide and driver, 10 to 15 dollars per day and vehicle is usual, this is divided among the team.
At the lodge, give about 3 to 5 dollars per person and day for the staff (waiters, housekeeping, etc.).
It is best to have cash in US dollars or Kenyan shillings with you, small bills. Many collect tips over the week and give an envelope on the last day – expect about 50 to 100 dollars per person for a week, including guides.
Tipping is voluntary and should recognize good service, not be given out of a sense of duty.

Yes, very safe in the tourist areas. Kigali is one of the cleanest and best organized cities in Africa. The national parks are strictly guarded.
The Federal Foreign Office only warns against the border areas with the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially north of the RN4 and RN8 roads. You should also be careful on the road through the Nyungwe Forest at night.
When gorilla tracking, you are always accompanied by state-certified guides. Going it alone is neither permitted nor advisable.
Normal caution at markets and bus stations is sufficient – as in any major city. Rwanda is noticeably safer than many other countries in the region.

It depends on how much time you have and what is important to you.
Rwanda makes sense if you have little time. From Kigali, you can reach the gorillas in 2 to 3 hours. In Uganda, it will take you 8 to 10 hours from Entebbe airport to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. However, you don’t have to drive this distance in one go – our Uganda trips are designed so that you can experience other highlights along the way, such as Queen Elizabeth National Park or the Kibale Forest for chimpanzees. But if you really only have 5 to 7 days, Rwanda is the more relaxed choice.
Rwanda is also better organized for short trips. The roads are paved throughout, the lodges are more modern and everything runs more smoothly. If you value comfort and don’t fancy bumpy roads, you will prefer Rwanda.
If you have more time or want to save budget, Uganda is the wiser choice. The gorillas are just as impressive – no difference biologically. You see more of the country, experience more diversity, and you save about 600 dollars per permit. With the money you save, you can do chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest or a multi-day safari in Queen Elizabeth Park.
What we observe with our guests: The vast majority of them don’t regret Rwanda, the experience is great. But many say afterwards that Uganda would probably have been just as good – for much less money. To be honest, that is also our assessment.

Definitely. Rwanda has over 700 bird species, of which around 30 are endemic. For serious ornithologists, this is really worthwhile.
Nyungwe Forest is one of the best spots with 322 species. Here you will find the Rwenzori turaco, the Stuhlmann’s sunbird and the endangered Kivubu warbler. The canopy walk is perfect for photography – you are at eye level with the birds in the canopy.
There are over 180 species in Volcanoes National Park, including Shelley’s mountain auk, mountain buzzard and Lagden’s shrike. The area has the status of an Important Bird Area (IBA).
Akagera has another 480 species. The highlight is the shoebill, one of the most sought-after birds in Africa. There is also the critically endangered thick-billed heron and gray cranes. You can observe various birds of prey on night safaris.
The best time to go birdwatching is November to April, when the migratory birds from Europe are here.

The gorilla permit costs 1,400 dollars per person (as of 2026). This is just the permit for one hour with the gorillas, without accommodation or transfers.
A complete 10-day trip with lodge and transfers costs between 4,000 and 6,000 euros, depending on the accommodation. Our country combination Uganda-Rwanda is also available from around 3,000 euros – with permit costs on top. Chimpanzee and golden monkey tracking are already included in some of our trips. You can find exact details in the service description of the respective tour.
Tracking groups are limited to a maximum of 8 people and you have one hour with the gorillas. Book 6 to 12 months in advance via the Rwanda Development Board or an experienced tour operator – the permits are very popular and book up quickly.
For comparison: in Uganda the permit costs around 800 dollars, in the Democratic Republic of Congo 400 dollars. Rwanda is the most expensive, but also the best organized.

In Uganda, the gorilla permit costs 800 dollars, in Rwanda 1,400 dollars. Almost twice as much.
Rwanda is deliberately positioning itself as a luxury destination. The strategy is: fewer visitors, but higher prices. This is intended to better protect the gorilla populations and at the same time generate more income for nature conservation.
There is also better infrastructure. The roads are asphalted throughout and in good condition, many things are more tightly organized and the journey from Kigali to the national parks usually only takes two to three hours. In Uganda, the journey can take eight to ten hours. So you are not only paying for the permit, but also for comfort, shorter distances and smoother processes.
However, the gorillas themselves are the same – no difference biologically. Some groups in Uganda are even considered to be more habituated and therefore more relaxed when dealing with visitors.

Officially, the minimum distance is 7 meters. In practice, however, the gorillas often come much closer – sometimes as close as 2 or 3 meters.
The gorillas decide this for themselves. If a curious young animal approaches you, you must stop and not move. The rangers make sure that no one backs away or provokes the animals. The gorillas could see backing away as a threat.
Sometimes a silverback will walk right past you – so close that you can feel its breath. This is completely normal and not dangerous as long as you remain calm and follow the instructions.
This is ideal for photography. You don’t need a huge telephoto lens – a 70-200mm lens is easily enough, some people even take usable pictures with their cell phone. At such a short distance, the light in the dense forest is more of a challenge, not the distance.

Rwanda has much more to offer than just gorillas, but is often reduced to primates.
Akagera National Park in the east is a classic safari area with all the Big Five: lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo and leopards. Much quieter than Serengeti or Masai Mara, you often have the landscape to yourself. 2 to 3 days are enough for a proper safari.
The Nyungwe Forest in the south offers chimpanzee tracking. Spectacular in a completely different way, like the gorillas. The canopy walk is particularly impressive – a suspension bridge 50 meters above the ground that leads through the treetops. Worthwhile for birdwatchers and photographers.
Golden monkey tracking in the Volcanoes National Park costs 100 dollars per permit, significantly cheaper than gorillas. The golden monkeys are playful, fast-moving and more photographically demanding than the more leisurely gorillas.
Lake Kivu on the border with Congo is a great place to relax after gorilla tracking. Kayaking, boat tours, small beach resorts. The towns of Gisenyi and Kibuye are relaxed and not yet overrun by tourism.
Kigali is worth a day. The Genocide Memorial is moving and important if you want to understand what happened here. Allow 2 to 3 hours. The city itself is surprisingly clean and safe, with good restaurants and cafés – unlike many African capitals.

Yes, it works very well. The border is open and easy to cross.
The classic route: gorilla tracking in Uganda (Bwindi, 800 dollar permit), then over to Rwanda for golden monkeys or a second gorilla group. Or the other way around.

From Bwindi in Uganda to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda you need about 4 to 5 hours, depending on whether there are waiting times at the border.

Click here to go directly to our Rwanda & Uganda combination tour.

Yes, especially if you like classic safari and don’t just want to see gorillas.
Akagera is Rwanda’s only savannah park and has all the Big Five: lions (reintroduced in 2015), elephants, black rhinos (back since 2017), buffalo and leopards. This is unique in Rwanda.
The park is much smaller and quieter than Serengeti or Masai Mara. You often have the area to yourself, hardly any other vehicles. This is perfect for photographers and people who don’t want crowds.
2 to 3 days are enough. There is a beautiful mixture of savannah, lakes and hilly landscape. Hippos and crocodiles live at Lake Ihema, giraffes and zebras in the open savannah.
You have several options when it comes to lodges: Magashi Camp and Ruzizi Tented Lodge are exclusive, Karenge Bush Camp is the cheaper option.
When is Akagera particularly worthwhile? If you are in Rwanda anyway because of the gorillas and still have 2 to 3 days left. Or if you want to combine Uganda and Rwanda and combine a classic safari with primate tracking.
If you only have 4 to 5 days and the budget is tight, we would skip Akagera and concentrate on the gorillas. They are the real reason to come to Rwanda.

Golden monkeys are small primates with golden fur and black limbs. They live exclusively in the bamboo forests of the Virunga volcanoes, i.e. in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In Rwanda, you can find them in the Volcanoes National Park, the same park where the gorillas live. Tracking costs 100 dollars per person, much cheaper than gorillas, and usually takes 1 to 3 hours.
The animals are much more active and faster than gorillas. They jump through the trees, play with each other, are curious and come close. Photographically, they are more demanding – you need a faster camera, faster shutter speeds and the best possible light.
Is it worth it? If you want to do a second tracking session but don’t want to spend 1,500 dollars on a second gorilla permit, golden monkeys are a good alternative. They are cute, playful and fun to watch.
If you only have one day in Volcanoes Park and have to make a decision: Go for the gorillas. They are simply more impressive and the experience is more intense.

Strict rules apply to gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park – to protect the gorillas and for your own safety.
Distance and health
The official minimum distance is 7 meters. In practice, the gorillas often come closer, but you are not allowed to actively approach them. If you have a cold, cough or are otherwise ill, you must not participate in tracking – gorillas can contract human diseases and this can be fatal for them. If you have symptoms of a cold, your permit will not be refunded.
Group size and age
Maximum of 8 people per gorilla group. Observation time is strictly limited to one hour. The minimum age is 15 years, no exceptions.
What you should bring with you
Sturdy, waterproof hiking boots are a must – the terrain is steep and slippery. Long clothing protects you from stinging nettles and insects. Pack enough water and a few snacks, the trek can take between 2 and 7 hours, depending on where the gorillas are. Don’t forget your rain jacket, even in the dry season.
Permits and equipment
Book your permit with us months in advance – there are very limited places per day. Camera without flash is allowed, tripods are prohibited (too bulky in the dense forest). Drones are not permitted in the entire national park.
Behavior with the gorillas
Move slowly and quietly. Do not eat, drink or smoke near the gorillas. Speak only in hushed tones. Switch off the flash on your camera. If you need to cough, turn away and hold your arm in front of your mouth.
If a gorilla approaches you – which can happen – stand still. Do not run away, do not stare into its eyes, make yourself small. Most “attacks” are bluffs. The guides are trained in this and know exactly what to do. Just follow their instructions.