Luxury Safaris in Rwanda

Rwanda offers a remarkable range of wildlife experiences within a relatively small country. A Rwanda safari can take you from the volcanic forests of Volcanoes National Park, where mountain gorillas can be tracked, to Nyungwe National Park, one of Africa’s oldest rainforests and home to chimpanzees and 12 other primate species.

Rwanda is one of only three countries where you can trek to see mountain gorillas in the wild, alongside Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The experience is carefully managed, with expert trackers and guides leading small groups into the forest to observe habituated gorilla families. There is something profoundly moving about walking through the misty forest and suddenly finding yourself in the presence of these extraordinary animals.

“To meet the gaze of our closest primate cousins, who share 98% of our DNA, in the peaceful surroundings of an ancient rainforest is one of the world’s most rarified and moving wildlife experiences.” – Deborah Calmeyer, CEO & Founder, ROAR AFRICA

Travel to Rwanda should also include time in Nyungwe and Akagera national parks. Nyungwe’s dense Afromontane forest is home to chimpanzees, Rwenzori black-and-white colobus and a variety of other primates, offering a quieter, more intimate forest experience. In Akagera, the landscape opens onto savannah, lakes and wetlands, where elephants, lions, rhino, giraffe and zebra move across the plains. We particularly appreciate Magashi Camp, set on the shores of Lake Rwanyakazinga, where days can unfold between game drives across the savannah and time on the lake by boat.

Rwanda is one of only three countries where wild mountain gorillas can be tracked, our closest cousins with whom we share 98% of our DNA. In Volcanoes National Park, guided treks lead through the forest to habituated gorilla families, offering the rare privilege of watching these extraordinary animals at close range, often as they groom, play and interact with one another. Carefully managed to protect the gorillas and their habitat, the experience is guided by expert trackers who know the forest intimately and can bring you closer to understanding this remarkable world.

Golden monkeys are endemic to the Albertine Rift and can be tracked in Volcanoes National Park, where they move through the bamboo forests on the lower slopes of the Virunga Mountains. Rwanda, alongside Uganda, is one of only two countries where these rare primates can be seen up close. Guided treks offer the chance to watch them as they feed, leap through the bamboo and interact within their lively groups, an intimate encounter with one of the Virunga Mountains’ most distinctive residents.

Nyungwe National Park is home to habituated chimpanzee communities, offering a rare opportunity to encounter our closest living relatives in the depths of the rainforest. Treks begin early, often with the sound of chimpanzees calling through the trees before they come into view. Once found, there is time to watch them forage, socialize and move through the canopy, with expert trackers helping you read the forest and follow the rhythms of the group.

Nyungwe is also home to a remarkable supergroup of Rwenzori black-and-white colobus monkeys. Their striking coats and long, flowing hair make them unmistakable as they move through the forest canopy, and their highly social nature makes watching them particularly rewarding. Tracking these extraordinary primates offers another perspective on the richness of Nyungwe, one of Africa’s great Afromontane forests.

Akagera National Park brings a very different dimension to a Rwanda safari, with open savannah, lakes and wetlands supporting elephants, lions, giraffe, zebra and both black and white rhino. A game drive offers the freedom to move through these varied landscapes, with the possibility of encountering wildlife against the backdrop of Rwanda’s rolling hills and shimmering lakes. The experience also reveals the remarkable conservation story behind the park’s recovery and return of key species.

Rwanda’s forests can also be explored on foot, with trails through the high-altitude landscapes revealing a quieter side of the country. In the misty forests of Nyungwe, walks pass beneath ancient trees and through a world of giant lobelias, orchids, tree ferns and birds, including the striking Rwenzori turaco. There is something wonderfully absorbing about moving slowly through this landscape, listening and watching for the life around you.

Traditional embroidery and basket weaving offer a more intimate way to connect with contemporary Rwandan culture. The techniques and designs have been passed between generations, carrying stories of community, identity and everyday life. Spending time with local makers allows you to see the patience and skill behind these crafts and to understand the meaning held in something made by hand.