Elite Gorilla Trekking
Exclusive conservation
Trek the dramatic, mist-shrouded slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes in the footsteps of legendary researcher Dian Fossey.
Parks & Nature Reserves
4+
Ideal Trip Duration
5–7 Days
Starting Journey Budget
$5,500
Overview
Rwanda is Africa’s premier high-end eco-tourism destination. Pristine, organized, and remarkably scenic, it offers an exclusive gate to the Virunga Volcanoes, lush primate rainforests, and a inspiring story of conservation and national rebirth.
Trek the dramatic, mist-shrouded slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes in the footsteps of legendary researcher Dian Fossey.
Skip the winding mountain roads with private scenic helicopter transfers connecting Kigali directly to luxury lodge helipads.
Find the rare, playful, and striking golden monkeys leaping through the dense bamboo canopies of Volcanoes National Park.
Traverse a spectacular suspension bridge suspended 70 meters high over the ancient, lush Nyungwe rainforest.
Witness the remarkable return of the Big Five in a thriving, water-rich park managed by African Parks.
Explore Kigali's thriving contemporary art galleries, fashion boutiques, and moving memorial centers in Africa's cleanest city.
The global standard for exclusive gorilla trekking, backdropped by five spectacular dramatic volcanic peaks.
One of Africa’s oldest montane rainforests, rich in chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, and endemic bird species.
A highly successful low-volume tourism model where high permit costs directly fund species preservation and community welfare.
A conservation success story featuring thriving populations of lions, leopards, black and white rhinos, and elephants.
Location
Planning your trip
Every Matta journey begins with a conversation. Your dedicated travel designer has walked these reserves, knows the camps and guides by name, and will shape a proposal around exactly how you like to travel.
Elias Karanja Mwangi
Co-Founder & Travel Consultant
Accommodation Options
Rwanda
Hôtel des Mille Collines is among the best-known hotels in Rwanda, occupying mature gardens in central Kigali, its name referring to the country’s description as the land of a thousand hills.
The property carries considerable historical weight from events during the 1994 genocide, when it sheltered more than a thousand people. Today it operates as a full-service city hotel with a poolside terrace and central location.
Rwanda
Kigali Serena Hotel occupies a central position in the Rwandan capital, offering full business and conference facilities alongside gardens, a pool and several restaurants.
It is a long-established fixture for both business and leisure travellers and functions as a practical base around international flight connections and gorilla trekking transfers.
Rwanda
The Retreat by Heaven is a small boutique property in Kigali’s Kiyovu district, part of a social enterprise that also runs a hospitality training programme for young Rwandans.
Rooms open onto gardens and a solar-heated pool, and the kitchen works to a farm-to-table principle using Rwandan produce. The atmosphere is residential and quiet despite the central location.
Rwanda
Akagera Game Lodge occupies a hilltop position within Akagera National Park, with views over the chain of lakes running along Rwanda’s eastern border.
The property is larger and more conventional than the park’s tented camps, offering a swimming pool, tennis court and a wide range of room categories suited to families and groups.
Rwanda
Ruzizi Tented Lodge sits on the shore of Lake Ihema in the southern sector of Akagera National Park, built to a deliberately low-impact standard with solar power and locally sourced materials.
Tents are spread along the shoreline beneath mature trees, with hippo audible through the night. Revenue from the lodge contributes directly to the park’s conservation funding.
Rwanda
Magashi Camp occupies a peninsula on Lake Rwanyakazinga in the northern reaches of Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s only savanna reserve.
Six tented suites look across the water, which supports one of the highest hippo densities in Africa alongside large crocodile. Akagera’s successful reintroductions of lion and rhino have restored its Big Five status.
Rwanda
Kitabi Eco-Center is a small community-run property on the eastern edge of Nyungwe Forest National Park, set among tea estates on the forest fringe.
Accommodation is simple and locally built, with the operation run by and for the surrounding community. It offers an unpretentious and affordable base for exploring Nyungwe’s forest trails.
Rwanda
Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel occupies a ridge above the Nyungwe forest, with wide views over the tree canopy and the valleys running down towards Lake Kivu.
Rooms and cottages are simple and comfortable, and the elevated position makes for dramatic sunrises over the forest. The hotel is a practical base for the park’s tracking trailheads and canopy walkway.
Rwanda
One&Only Nyungwe House sits on the edge of Nyungwe Forest National Park, surrounded by a working tea plantation that separates the lodge from one of Africa’s oldest montane rainforests.
Rooms look out over tea fields towards the forest canopy. Nyungwe holds thirteen primate species, including a large habituated chimpanzee community and troops of Angolan colobus numbering in the hundreds.
Rwanda
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge sits in the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes near Volcanoes National Park, and is owned by the surrounding community through a local trust.
Stone-built cottages with fireplaces look out towards Mount Sabyinyo. All profits flow back to the community trust, funding local health, education and infrastructure projects.
Rwanda
Singita Kwitonda Lodge sits on land directly bordering Volcanoes National Park, its eight suites and private villa facing the Virunga volcanoes across a reforested buffer zone.
Each suite includes a fireplace, heated floors and a private plunge pool. The property is built largely from locally sourced volcanic stone and supports a substantial nursery and reforestation effort.
Rwanda
Bisate Lodge sits in the eroded cone of an ancient volcano near Volcanoes National Park, its six thatched dome villas built into the natural amphitheatre with the peaks of the Virungas rising beyond.
The lodge anchors an extensive reforestation programme, with hundreds of thousands of indigenous trees planted on formerly degraded farmland surrounding the property.
Best time to visit
Gorilla
Volcanoes National Park
Golden Monkey
Volcanoes National Park
Chimpanzee
Nyungwe Forest National Park, Gishwati-Mukura
Lion
Akagera National Park
Black Rhinoceros
Akagera National Park
Elephant
Akagera National Park
Buffalo
Akagera National Park
Leopard
Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest (rare)
Giraffe
Akagera National Park
Hippo
Lake Ihema (Akagera)
Plains Zebra
Akagera National Park
Black-and-white Colobus Monkey
Nyungwe Forest National Park
Getting There
All international visitors arrive via Kigali International (KGL). Transfers to Volcanoes National Park are typically via a scenic private road transfer in a luxury 4×4, or a swift private helicopter charter directly to lodge helipads; we arrange every flight leg.
International Gateway
Kigali (KGL)
Volcanoes National Park
Musanze Helipad
Akagera National Park
Akagera Helipad
Lake Kivu & Nyungwe
Kamembe (KME)
Practical Information
Visas-on-arrival are available for all passport holders (free for citizens of the Commonwealth, AU, and Francophonie). Passport must have at least six months validity.
Free or on arrival (30 days),
6 months validity
One required
Free to ~US$50
Yellow Fever certificate is required if arriving from endemic countries. Malaria risk is low in high-altitude areas like Volcanoes NP.
Yellow Fever if arriving from risk zones
Low risk in high forest; present in Akagera
Trekking gear and repellent advised
6–8 weeks before departure
Ranked as one of the safest countries globally. Exceptionally clean, organized, with extremely professional guides and secure transits.
Among the safest countries globally,
Cleanest, most organized African capital,
Private luxury 4×4 or private helicopter
24/7 security and park rangers
Rwandan Franc (RWF) and US Dollars are standard (new bills post-2013). Credit cards widely accepted at major properties. Tipping is standard for rangers (~$20/day).
Rwandan Franc & US Dollar,
New notes printed post-2013,
Customary (~$15-$20/day),
Accepted at all luxury properties
What to pack for safari
Bring waterproof trousers, layers (volcano mornings can be cold, ~10°C/50°F), sturdy hiking boots, and heavy gardening gloves.
Waterproof trousers, long sleeves,
Warm fleece for cold volcanic mornings
Broken-in, high-traction hiking boots,
Thick leather gardening gloves for nettles
Excellent Wi-Fi and fiber broadband are standard across all major ultra-luxury properties. Strong 4G/LTE nationwide.
High-speed fiber standard in luxury properties,
Excellent 4G/LTE mobile data nationwide,
Available easily at Kigali Airport (KGL),
European standard plugs (Type C & G)
Suggested Itineraries
Days
Exclusive gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park combined with helicopter transfers and chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest.
Days
Kigali city exploration, big game viewing in Akagera National Park, primate trekking in Nyungwe, and gorilla trekking in Volcanoes.
Days
Combine Rwanda’s high-end gorilla tracking with Kenya’s Masai Mara or Tanzania’s Serengeti via private scheduled flights.
Extend Your Journey
Add a contrasting experience in Akagera National Park. Spend 2-3 nights in a high-end luxury camp (like Magashi Camp), enjoying boating on Lake Shakani, evening game drives, and tracking lions and rhinos on the savannah.
Travel Time
~30m helicopter
Suggested Stay
2–3 Nights
Costs & What to Budget
Rwanda is Africa's premier high-end eco-tourism destination. Prices below are typical per person, per day, sharing, and reflect the exclusive $1,500 gorilla permits, ultra-luxury lodges, and private transfers.
Comfort Level
Boutique eco-lodges - high cost due to permit fees
Luxury Level
Premium luxury forest lodges
Ultra-Luxury Level
Ultra-luxury Singita/One&Only properties & helicopter flights
Travel With Purpose
A generous 10% of all gorilla trekking permit revenues ($1,500 each) is directly reinvested in local communities bordering Volcanoes National Park to fund schools, infrastructure, and clinics.
10% of revenue
15
100%
Plastic bags are completely banned in Rwanda. They will be confiscated at the airport; pack items in reusable bags.
To protect mountain gorillas from human pathogens, all trekkers must wear a surgical mask (provided) when viewing the gorillas.
Rwanda is exceptionally proud of its cleanliness. Never throw trash or food scraps in public or forest areas.
If you are in Kigali on the last Saturday morning of the month, be aware that shops close for national community service day (Umuganda).
Rwanda has deliberately positioned itself as Africa’s premier, exclusive, high-end tourism destination, implementing a “low-volume, high-value” model. The $1,500 permit fee is designed to limit the number of daily visitors to Volcanoes National Park, drastically reducing human impact and stress on the endangered gorilla families. It also provides the substantial funding needed to maintain world-class conservation standards. A generous 10% of this revenue is distributed directly to surrounding rural communities, supporting over 150 community projects. Is it worth it? Absolutely. The experience is unparalleled. Rwanda offers a seamless, highly manicured gorilla encounter: the park headquarters are close to the luxury lodges (meaning shorter, easier transfers), the trekking paths are often wider, and the country’s selection of ultra-luxury lodges (like Singita Kwitonda and One&Only Gorilla’s Nest) is the finest in Africa.
No, you will not be permitted to trek if you are showing signs of any infectious illness, including a minor cold, cough, flu, sore throat, or stomach bug. Mountain gorillas share approximately 98% of their DNA with humans, making them highly susceptible to human respiratory illnesses. Because they have no natural immunity to common human pathogens, a simple cold or flu virus can rapidly sweep through a gorilla family and prove fatal. Before the trek begins, rangers will brief guests on health regulations, and if you are deemed sick, park staff will ask you to step down. To protect your financial investment, Matta Luxury always assists in rescheduling treks, or coordinating with the park authorities for refunds or date-changes on medical grounds, which is why traveling with comprehensive travel insurance is essential.
A typical gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park can take anywhere from 1 to 5 hours, depending entirely on the location of the specific gorilla family assigned to your trekking group. Each morning, guests gather at the park headquarters for a briefing and are divided into groups of eight, with each group assigned to a different habituated gorilla family. The assignments are carefully made based on the physical fitness and age of the trekkers; those who prefer shorter hikes are assigned families nested closer to the park boundary, while fit hikers are assigned families deeper in the mountains. Once you reach the gorilla family, your viewing time is strictly limited to exactly one hour, during which you will observe them feeding, resting, and interacting from a close, safe distance.
Yes, Rwanda is one of the world’s premier destinations for private helicopter travel, offering a highly exclusive and efficient way to explore the country. Because Rwanda’s mountainous terrain makes road travel slow and winding (a road transfer from Kigali to Nyungwe Forest takes 5 to 6 hours), private helicopter charters are highly popular among luxury travelers. Matta Luxury partners with Akagera Aviation to provide seamless, scenic private flights in modern Agusta or Robinson helicopters. You can fly directly from Kigali International Airport to Volcanoes National Park (25 minutes), Nyungwe Forest (40 minutes), or Akagera National Park (30 minutes), landing directly on the private helipads of ultra-luxury resorts like One&Only or Singita, enjoying breathtaking aerial views of the “Land of a Thousand Hills” along the way.
Volcanoes National Park is located in northwestern Rwanda, approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the capital city of Kigali. A scenic private road transfer in a luxury 4×4 takes about 2.5 to 3 hours along well-maintained, winding mountain roads. Alternatively, for ultimate speed and luxury, Matta Luxury can arrange a private 25-minute helicopter transfer with Akagera Aviation from Kigali International Airport directly to the private helipads of ultra-luxury resorts like Singita Kwitonda or One&Only Gorilla’s Nest.
The minimum age for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is strictly set at 15 years, enforced by the Rwanda Development Board. This age limit is in place to protect the gorillas from human childhood diseases (to which they have no natural immunity) and because the treks can be physically grueling, requiring a level of discipline, calm, and emotional maturity that younger children may struggle with. For families traveling with younger children, we can arrange customized resort-based kids’ programs and private child-minding services.
Yes, malaria risk exists throughout Rwanda, though the risk is significantly lower in the high-altitude regions of Volcanoes National Park (which sits above 2,200 meters/7,200 feet, where mosquito activity is minimal). However, malaria is present in lower-altitude areas like Akagera National Park and Kigali. We strongly advise taking a malaria prophylaxis, using mosquito repellent, and wearing long-sleeved clothing during evening hours. All luxury lodges provide mosquito-netted beds and secure screens.
The local currency is the Rwandan Franc (RWF). While local currency is useful for small tips, local markets, and roadside shops, major credit cards (Visa and Mastercard) are universally accepted at Kigali’s luxury hotels and all upscale eco-lodges in national parks. US Dollars are also widely accepted, provided the bills are in perfect, clean condition and printed post-2013. Tipping is customary for park rangers, trackers, and lodge staff, and is best paid in US Dollars or Rwandan Francs.
Why Travel With Matta Luxury
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From 214 verified reviews
Nothing off the shelf. Every route, camp and moment is built around you.
We’ve walked these parks and know the guides by name.
One designer, plus 24/7 support on the ground throughout.
Every journey funds protection of the wild places you visit.
Botswana built its tourism around low volumes and high value, and it shows. The Okavango Delta floods the Kalahari each year to create one of Africa’s greatest wildlife stages, while Chobe holds the largest elephant population on earth — all explored from small camps, by mokoro, boat and light aircraft.
Tell us your dates and how you like to travel, and specialist will craft a precise, private proposal — with no obligation.