Rwanda • Volcanoes National Park • Luxury Lodge
Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge
Stone-built cottages set into the hillside at 2,600 metres, with fireplaces and views across the Virunga volcanoes.
Rwanda Destinations
The Land of a Thousand Hills — explore the parks, forests and hillsides that make Rwanda one of Africa's most rewarding destinations.
Discover the Land of a Thousand Hills
Rwanda has transformed itself into one of Africa's most compelling safari destinations — a compact, immaculately clean country where volcanic peaks, ancient rainforest, and rolling green hills sit within a few hours' drive of each other.
From intimate, premium gorilla trekking permits in Volcanoes National Park to the remarkable return of lions and rhinos to Akagera, Rwanda proves that world-class wildlife experiences come in small, unforgettable packages.
- Trek mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park
- Track golden monkeys on the slopes of the Virungas
- Canopy walk high above Nyungwe's ancient rainforest
- Spot the Big Five in a resurgent Akagera National Park
- Relax on the shores of Lake Kivu
Premium Gorilla Trekkingmost intimate permits in Africa
What Makes Rwanda Special
A small country with an outsized reputation for premium wildlife encounters and remarkable conservation success.
- 01 Premium Gorilla Trekking Small, tightly managed groups make Rwanda's gorilla encounters among the most intimate in Africa.
- 02 Cleanest Country in Africa Famous for its plastic-bag ban and spotless streets, Rwanda is as tidy as it is beautiful.
- 03 Big Five Comeback Lions and rhinos, once locally extinct, have been successfully reintroduced to Akagera National Park.
- 04 A Thousand Hills Volcanic peaks, terraced hillsides, and Lake Kivu make for some of East Africa's most dramatic scenery.
Top Destinations in Rwanda
From volcanic slopes to ancient rainforest, each park offers a distinct Rwandan experience.
Akagera National Park
Rwanda's Big Five park, where reintroduced lions and rhinos roam savanna, wetlands and Lake Ihema's shores.
Golden Monkey Trekking
Track the rare, endangered golden monkey through bamboo forest on the lower slopes of the Virunga mountains.
Nyungwe Forest
Africa's oldest rainforest, home to chimpanzees, thirteen primate species and a canopy walk high above the forest floor.
Volcanoes National Park
Home to Rwanda's habituated mountain gorilla families, trekked through bamboo forest on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes.
Rwanda Lodges
Handpicked places to stay across Volcanoes National Park and Akagera.
Rwanda • Volcanoes National Park • Boutique Lodge
Mahogany Springs Lodge
A family-run lodge on the edge of Musanze, with suites overlooking a private garden minutes from the park headquarters.
Rwanda • Volcanoes National Park • Boutique Hotel
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Thatched cottages tucked among tree ferns and bamboo, with a fire pit terrace built for cool Musanze evenings.
Rwanda • Akagera National Park • Safari Lodge
Akagera Game Lodge
Thatched rooms and a hilltop pool overlooking Lake Ihema, with hippos and elephants often visible from the terrace.
Rwanda • Akagera National Park • Tented Camp
Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Rwanda's only lakeshore camp, with just nine tents facing the water where hippos and buffalo come down to drink.
Rwanda Activities
From volcanic slopes to the shores of Lake Kivu, here's what fills the days on a Rwanda trip.
- Gorilla Trekking
- Golden Monkey Trekking
- Chimpanzee Trekking
- Canopy Walkway
- Lake Kivu Boat Cruise
- Game Drives
- Cultural Village Visits
- Kigali City Tour
Spend an hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family in Volcanoes National Park.
Plan Your Trip
Essential Travel Tips for Rwanda
A few practical things worth knowing before you go.
- 1
Visa & Entry
- Visa on arrival or e-visa for most nationalities
- East Africa Tourist Visa covers Rwanda, Kenya & Uganda
- Passport must be valid for 6+ months
- Yellow fever certificate required if arriving from an endemic country
- 2
Health & Safety
- Malaria prophylaxis recommended for lower-altitude areas
- Volcanoes National Park treks are at high altitude — pace yourself
- Comprehensive travel insurance is essential
- Drink bottled or purified water
- 3
What to Pack
- Neutral-colored clothing (khaki, green, brown)
- Sturdy hiking boots and warm layers for cold mountain mornings
- A rain jacket — showers are common at altitude
- Gardening-style gloves for gorilla trekking
- 4
Money & Currency
- Rwandan Franc (RWF) is the local currency
- USD widely accepted at lodges and for permits
- ATMs available in Kigali and larger towns
- Plastic bags are banned — pack accordingly at the border
Read More
Rwanda Travel Guides
In-depth articles and guides to help you plan your Rwanda trip.
National Park Guide
Volcanoes National park
The Virunga chain that gave the world Gorillas in the Mist. Rwanda's flagship park for mountain gorilla trekking, golden monkeys and volcano climbs.
Read ArticleNational Park Guide
Gishwati-Mukura National Park
Rwanda's newest and smallest national park, created in 2015 to protect the chimpanzees of two threatened forests on the Congo-Nile divide.
Read ArticleNational Park Guide
Nyungwe Forest National Park
The largest remaining tract of montane rainforest in East Africa, stretching over 1,000 square kilometres of mountainous south-west Rwanda.
Read ArticleNational Park Guide
Akagera National park
Rwanda's only savannah park, and the one place in the country to see all of the Big Five, along the border with Tanzania.
Read ArticleReady to Explore Rwanda?
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