Visit Rwanda - the Land of a Thousand Hills
Rwanda arrives gently. There is no single dramatic landmark that announces its greatness, no vast plain, no iconic skyline. Instead, the country reveals itself incrementally, one rolling green hill at a time, until the cumulative beauty of what surrounds you becomes quietly overwhelming. The Land of a Thousand Hills is an apt name for a nation whose landscape ripples endlessly in every direction, terraced hillsides stitched with tea plantations and banana groves, misty volcanic peaks breaking through the clouds, and a horizon that always seems to be doing something extraordinary with the light. But Rwanda's deepest magic lives in its forests. In the mist-wrapped bamboo and hagenia woodland of Volcanoes National Park, mountain gorillas move through the undergrowth with a weight and presence that makes everything else feel small. To spend an hour in the company of a gorilla family watching a silverback pull bamboo shoots with casual authority while infants tumble over his vast shoulders is to encounter something so ancient, so dignified, and so achingly close to human that the experience tends to dismantle travellers entirely. Rwanda does not offer gorilla trekking as an activity. It offers it as a transformation. Beyond the gorillas, Rwanda is a country…
Rwanda arrives gently. There is no single dramatic landmark that announces its greatness, no vast plain, no iconic skyline. Instead, the country reveals itself incrementally, one rolling green hill at a time, until the cumulative beauty of what surrounds you becomes quietly overwhelming. The Land of a Thousand Hills is an apt name for a nation whose landscape ripples endlessly in every direction, terraced hillsides stitched with tea plantations and banana groves, misty volcanic peaks breaking through the clouds, and a horizon that always seems to be doing something extraordinary with the light.
But Rwanda's deepest magic lives in its forests. In the mist-wrapped bamboo and hagenia woodland of Volcanoes National Park, mountain gorillas move through the undergrowth with a weight and presence that makes everything else feel small. To spend an hour in the company of a gorilla family watching a silverback pull bamboo shoots with casual authority while infants tumble over his vast shoulders is to encounter something so ancient, so dignified, and so achingly close to human that the experience tends to dismantle travellers entirely. Rwanda does not offer gorilla trekking as an activity. It offers it as a transformation.
Beyond the gorillas, Rwanda is a country of layered surprise. Nyungwe Forest holds one of Africa's oldest rainforests and a canopy walkway that suspends you above a sea of ancient green. Akagera's golden savanna carries lions, elephants, and black rhinos across a landscape that tells a story of extraordinary conservation recovery. Lake Kivu shimmers along the western border with a beauty so composed and unhurried that it seems to exist outside of time entirely.
And then there is Kigali, immaculately clean, intellectually alive, and quietly proud of how far it has come. Rwanda is a country that has chosen, deliberately and with great courage, to build something extraordinary from something devastating. Every visitor becomes part of that story. Travel here meaningfully. Travel here gratefully.
Season guide
Rwanda can be visited year-round, with its mild climate and relatively consistent temperatures making travel possible in any season. However, conditions vary between dry and wet periods, influencing trekking and safari experiences. The dry seasons from June to September and December to February are considered the best times to visit, offering easier hiking conditions for gorilla trekking and clearer wildlife viewing. Trails are less slippery, and visibility is generally better. The rainy seasons bring lush, green landscapes and fewer visitors, creating a more tranquil experience. While trekking can be more challenging, the scenery is at its most vibrant, making it ideal for photography and nature lovers.
Dry conditions; ideal for gorilla trekking and overall travel.
Last updated: June 16, 2026
Bwindi’s gorillas in Uganda live in a high altitude rain forest, while the gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda live in a bamboo forest. These habitats result in some behavioral differences and definitely result in different hiking and viewing differences. Budget issues often impact whether our guests visit both parks and only one. If time and budget permit, we recommend that our guests view in both parks.
The Rwanda Government charges USD $1,500.00 for each person each day; Uganda charges USD $700.00 per person per day, Congo charges $450 per person per day. Gorilla Permits are non-refundable - we can try to resell your Permits if you need to cancel, but there is no guarantee that we will be able to find a person who will purchase a ticket for the date of permit.
Yes, You need an official Gorilla permit handled by each of the national parks to see the gorillas. You have to obtain the Gorilla permits several months in advance. We obtain the necessary Gorilla Tracking Permits for you as part of our service
The minimum age for a gorilla tour is 15 Years old. Please get in touch if your kids want to track gorillas and are between 10 - 15 Years. You will need to write a letter of taking full responsibility for them during the activity.
The Gorilla tracking safaris can be done in Uganda (the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park), Rwanda (Parc National des Volcans or Volcanoes National Park) and Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC (Virunga Mountains park called the Parc National des Virunga).
We do not add a surcharge to the cost of the Permit - the cost to you is what we pay the respective Government for your Permits.
NO, Gorilla Permits are not refundable. In an emergency we can try to resell the Permits for you, but there is no guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Gorilla trekking is an on-foot wildlife experience (with a maximum of 8 people per group), through east Africa’s rainforests to get up close with endangered mountain gorillas.
The plight of Africa’s mountain gorillas really came about in the 1960s predominantly through the work of Dian Fossey. A lot of the work she did, through extensive studies and research, launched Africa’s mountain gorillas to fame. Reasons for trekking mountain gorillas varies from person to person and there may be a few people who can’t even give you a valid reason why they are so interested in it. However, whether you have a reason or not, gorilla trekking remains one of the most stirring and rewarding wildlife experiences there is.
When you finally catch a glimpse of a mountain gorilla, you will be amazed (perhaps intimidated) at their size and physique, so the issue of safety will definitely come to mind. Compared to other wildlife encounters, gorilla trekking is one of the safest there is. That being said, there are rules (outlined later), that should be followed without exception.
Trekking can be done during the dry (June to September and December to February) or rainy seasons (March to May and October to November). The rainy season does make trekking more challenging, so it’s often recommended to trek during the dry season. One of the benefits when trekking during the rainy season is that accommodation at lodges and hotels are at discounted rates.
Although mountain gorillas are big, muscular creatures, they are described to be intelligent, affectionate and gentle. They are calm vegetarians who are dedicated to their group members. The gorillas spend most of their time interacting, feeding, playing and aggressive in case there is an intruder in the family. They welcome humans only if they are peaceful but if danger is sensed, they may be harmful.
Explore different travel styles as a source of inspiration.
Your Safari/trip Includes