Rwanda: gorillas and the lake
Two treks, one lake, six nights.
Why go
Private Rwanda journeys: mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, Lake Kivu, and a quiet, well-organised country.
Rwanda is a short, intense trip. Gorilla trekking is the reason to go and the single most moving hour most of our travellers have had anywhere.
We add a lake, a few days of slow travel, and sometimes Akagera for a small safari. The roads are good, the lodges are excellent, and six nights is enough.
Gorilla permits are limited and sell out, so dates fix the plan. We hold permits first, then build the days around them: one or two treks, a day for Kigali, and a few nights at Lake Kivu or in Nyungwe forest to recover and see a different side of the country.
Trekking can be steep and muddy; porters make a real difference and support local communities. Most travellers find the hour with a family of gorillas worth every minute of the walk.
- Best time
- June to September and December to February for drier trekking. Permits are limited year-round and should be booked early.
- Journeys
- 1 example itinerary
What to see and do
The Rwanda we would show you
- Mountain gorilla permits confirmed in advance
- Lodges on the edge of Volcanoes National Park
- Lake Kivu for a slow finish
- Golden monkeys and Akagera as additions
Example journeys
Itineraries in Rwanda
Starting points with a guide price. Each is redrawn around your dates, party and pace.
Ways to travel here
Rwanda by the kind of trip
Rwanda gorilla trekking
Two treks, a lodge by the park, and a lake to recover beside.
Where to stay
Stays we use in Rwanda
Volcanoes lodge
On the edge of the park, a short drive from the trek.
From the journal
Planning notes
How far ahead to plan: lead times by season
The honest answer to when you should start, destination by destination, and what happens if you have left it late.
Good to know
Questions about Rwanda
How hard is the trek?
One to four hours of hillside walking at altitude. Porters help. We request family groups that suit your fitness.
Can we combine Rwanda with Kenya or Tanzania?
Yes. Rwanda makes a strong three or four night start to an East Africa safari.
How hard is gorilla trekking?
Treks last from one to six hours depending on where the family has moved overnight. Porters help, and we request shorter treks for anyone who needs them.
How many permits should we plan for?
One trek is the minimum; two gives you a different group and a second chance at good weather. Permits are limited and should be booked as early as possible.
Plan a private journey to Rwanda
A specialist replies within one working day with a first private proposal: stays, pacing, and a guide price. No planning fee for the first conversation.