Twelve habituated gorilla families across just 160 km² of the Virunga Massif, a single morning briefing point at Kinigi, and — a few hours south — chimpanzee trekking beneath East Africa's only canopy walkway. Rwanda packs an extraordinary amount of primate experience into short, paved-road drives.
Every Volcanoes National Park activity — gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, both volcano hikes — starts from the same briefing point at Kinigi each morning, with rangers assigning families, troops and routes on the day. Paved roads run almost the entire 2–3 hour route from Kigali, making this one of the most comfortable, predictable primate-trekking transfers anywhere in the region.
That convenience comes at a price: Rwanda's gorilla permit runs $1,050–$1,500 per person depending on season, considerably more than Uganda's flat $800 — a trade our specialists are upfront about when helping you decide between the two, or combining both in one trip.
We operate exclusively across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zanzibar and the Seychelles — deep, focused local expertise rather than a continent-wide generalist operation.
East Africa & Indian Ocean Islands — Paramount Gorilla Expeditions's area of specialization
A genuinely small park — just 160 km² — protecting the Rwandan side of the Virunga Massif, a chain of eight volcanoes shared with DR Congo and Uganda, home to roughly half the world's remaining mountain gorillas across all three countries.
Twelve mountain gorilla families are fully habituated for trekking here, including well-known groups like Susa, Sabyinyo, Amahoro, Agashya, Kwitonda, Umubano and Hirwa. Because gorilla families don't respect the unfenced border with Uganda and DR Congo, family assignment happens fresh each morning at the park's Kinigi headquarters rather than being fixed weeks ahead.
Africa's largest surviving block of montane rainforest — 1,019 km², home to chimpanzee trekking, 13 primate species, and East Africa's only 160-metre canopy walkway.
Roughly 218 km southwest of Kigali near Lake Kivu, a 4–5 hour drive on tarmac roads (or a short RwandAir flight to Kamembe). Nyungwe became Rwanda's only UNESCO World Heritage Site in September 2023, and sits directly on the Congo-Nile Divide — the watershed ridge separating rivers flowing to the Congo Basin from those flowing to the Nile.
Unlike a migration-timed destination, Rwanda's parks are open and trekkable year-round — this calendar marks the driest, most comfortable months for hiking underfoot conditions, not park closures.
Six forest villas reborn from an eroded hillside, 20 minutes from Volcanoes NP's Kinigi headquarters.
Ridge-top views over twin lakes and the volcano chain, priced below the Ultra-Luxury Kinigi properties.
Mid-range base near the Uwinka Interpretation Center, the canopy walk and the park's main trailheads.
Two gorilla treks with different habituated families, briefed each morning from Kinigi.
A lighter primate day and a hike to the grave of the researcher whose work made this park's gorilla conservation possible.
Chimpanzee trekking plus East Africa's only 160-metre canopy walkway, near Lake Kivu.
“I can highly recommend Paramount Gorilla Expeditions. It was an all-round perfect holiday.”
“We had the best trip of our lives. Everything was perfectly organized.”
Our Uganda & Rwanda Double Gorilla Safari treks gorillas in both Bwindi and Volcanoes National Park over 7 days — two countries, two distinct forests, two habituated families.
View Combined ItineraryRwanda's gorilla permit is seasonal: $1,050 per person November through May, rising to $1,500 per person June through October. Golden monkey tracking at Volcanoes National Park is a flat $100, and Nyungwe's chimpanzee trekking permit is commonly quoted at $250.
Yes — it's one of our most popular combinations. Our Uganda & Rwanda Double Gorilla Safari treks gorillas in both Bwindi and Volcanoes National Park over 7 days, letting you compare two distinct gorilla-trekking experiences and countries in a single itinerary.
Volcanoes National Park is the shorter, more time-efficient choice — about 2–3 hours from Kigali versus Nyungwe's 4–5 hours — which is why our 3-day and 5-day Rwanda packages focus there. Add Nyungwe if you have 7 days or more and want chimpanzee trekking and the canopy walk as well.
