Rwanda’s primate tourism runs on efficiency. Volcanoes National Park, a short drive from Kigali, holds both habituated gorilla families and golden monkey troops within the same forest, so both treks can happen on consecutive mornings without changing lodges. Nyungwe Forest National Park, further south, adds chimpanzee trekking and a canopy walkway above the forest floor.
Rwanda’s gorilla permit is the most expensive of the three trekking countries, a deliberate choice to manage visitor numbers and fund conservation, but it comes with some of the best road infrastructure and shortest transfer times in the region, which matters if your trip is on a tight schedule.
Trip Planning Basics
Best Time To Visit: June to September and December to February
Gateway: Kigali International Airport
Visa: E-visa or visa on arrival for most nationalities
Typical Permit Cost: Gorilla permit around USD 1,500