Ever found yourself lost in a maze of confusing online information about Rwanda National Parks? We noticed that there is a lot of old data out there regarding fees, permits, and practical information – which might guide you in the wrong direction. To shed some light on it all, we have collected all the necessary information about the current situation in Rwanda’s National Parks. Ready to dive in? Enjoy the read and start planning your safari to Rwanda!
The Four National Parks of Rwanda
Rwanda has a total of four National Parks including Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe National Park, Akagera National Park, and Gishwat-Mukura. Thanks to recent conservation efforts visitors who visit Rwanda National Parks can now encounter the iconic Big 5 animals of Africa, Gorillas, and Chimpanzees if they combine a visit to both primate parks and the Savannah National Park. The Rwanda National Parks and other tourism activities are managed by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Each park of Rwanda features a distinct ecosystem and a variety of animals and landscapes making Rwanda a great place to visit on your safari in Africa.
1. Volcanoes National Park
Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is one of only for places in the whole world where you can see the endangered Mountain Gorillas in the wild.
The other three places are Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, and Virunga National Park in Congo. Volcanoes National Park is situated in the north-west of Rwanda.
The national park is located about 3 3-hour drive from Kigali city. It is part of the Virunga Mountains, which is a chain of 8 free-standing volcanoes that span across the three countries of Rwanda, Uganda and Congo and covers 3 national parks of Mgahinga, Virunga, and Volcanoes.
2. Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park is located in low-lying eastern Rwanda. This Rwanda safari park is where the tropical forests of Central Africa give way to the dry savannahs of East Africa.
Akagera features an interesting mix of wetlands and rolling wooded grasslands. It is where to go in Rwanda for the chance to spot the iconic Big Five animals and other classic African safari animals such as hippos, giraffes, zebras, hyenas, crocodiles, and many antelope species.
This is a relatively small park and is approximately a 2.5-hour drive from Kigali city. In addition to guided Big 5 game drives, Akagera National Park also offers private safari boat cruises sunset cruises, and night game drives.
3. Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe National Park protects the largest single tract of montane forest in both East and Central Africa.
The park is the best reason you need to further tour Rwanda after your memorable bout of gorilla trekking adventure. It is one of the oldest rainforests in Africa and is home to an astonishing variety of birds, rare butterflies, and beautiful orchids.
However, the stars of the show in Nyungwe Forest National Park are the 13 species of primate. These include Owl-faced monkeys, Common chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkey, and a megatroop of 400 Angola black-and-white colobus monkeys- that make the park their playground.
In addition to excellent trails for hiking and spectacular views, the Nyungwe forest canopy walkway is an excellent way of spotting beautiful blue monkeys living on the treetops. Regardless of whether you are after an immersive stay in magical scenery, or have been dreaming of spotting a chimp, Nyungwe National Park is where to go in Rwanda for an all-encompassing African experience.
4. Gishwat-Mukura National Park
Gishwati-Mukura National Park was gazetted in 2015. It is the newest of the Rwanda national parks. It comprises the Mukura and Gishwati Forests, which are around 50 kilometers apart.
The area between them has been set aside for reforestation. In 2002 the area was nearly depleted due to illegal farming and mining. Since then, big forestation efforts have accelerated the restoration of the Gishwati and Mukura Forests, which protect 60 tree species including many hardwoods and bamboo.
The main activity is guided forest walks through the Gishwati sector. These come with a good chance of encountering semi-habituated chimpanzees, as well as golden monkeys and L’Hoest’s monkeys and a variety of forest birds including several Albertine Rift endemics.
The guided walks are only available to people staying at Gishwati’s community-owned guesthouse. No organized activities are available in the Mukura sector, but the forest here is rated highly by bird-watchers.
Rwanda Safari Parks Fees & Activities Pricing
Rwandan National Parks fees are broken down into activity permits. This means that you will have to decide what it is that you want to do in Rwanda.
Most visitors to the country will want to go mountain gorilla trekking, and as the most popular activity, it is the most expensive. In fact, while gorilla trekking adventure in Rwanda is considered to be the best, it is also by far the most expensive. Below is a quick breakdown of costs in the national parks of Rwanda.
Current Fees for Volcanoes National Park
- USD 1,500 for a Gorilla Trekking Permit
- USD 100 for a Golden Monkey Trekking Permit
- USD 75 for the Dian Fossey Hike Permit
- USD 400 for Kirisimbi Hike Permit (2 days excluding porter and chef)
- USD 40 for Buhanga Eco Park Visit
- USD 50 for Musanze Cave Visit
- USD 55 for Guided Nature Walk
- USD 1,500 for Multiple Volcanoes Hike Permit
Current fees for Nyungwe National Park
- Entry Fee: 1 night USD 100 / 2 nights USD 150 / 3 nights USD 200
- Chimpanzee Trekking: USD 150 (minimum 2 pax)
- Forest Canopy Walk USD 40
- Colobus monkey tracking USD 40
- Night walks USD 40
- Freelance Guide: half day USD 15 / full day USD 25
- Porter: half day USD 5 / full day USD 10
Current fees for Akagera National Park
- Entry Fees: 1 night USD 50 / 2 night USD 75 / 3 nights USD 100
- Rwandan or EAC Registered Vehicle Fees: USD 10 to US$ 20
- Foreign Registered Vehicle Fees: USD 40 to US$ 100
- Guides for Self Drive: half day USD 25 / full day USD 40
- Night Game Drive: USD 40 per person (min 2, max 7)
- Game Drive: half day USD 180 / full day USD 280
- Boat Cruise: day-time USD 35 / sunset cruise USD 45 / private USD 180
- Fishing (own equipment): 25 per person per day
- Behind the scenes tour: 4 Pax 45 / 8 Pax 180
- Community cultural experiences: Various activities offered / half day / min. 3 pax USD 30
- Rhino Tracking: Min. 2 pax & max 4pax / Only guests at Karenge Bush Camp USD 75
- Commercial filming/photography: USD 300 per day
- Research fee: USD 200
please Note:
As you look at Rwanda National Parks fees and pricing, bear in mind that safari companies often get bulk discounts, and selecting your activities as part of a package tour in Rwanda can result in significant savings. When booking a Rwanda tour, make sure that you communicate with your travel consultant, and carefully check your safari travel itinerary, to make sure you are ticking off all of your Rwanda bucket list items.
Rwanda National Parks camping Fees & Tent Hire
- Volcanoes National Park: US$ 30 pp per night / tent hire US$ 20 (canvas 3m x 3m, 4 man tent)
- Nyungwe Forest National Park: US$ 15 pp per night/tent hire US$ 20 (canvas 3m x 3m, 4-man tent)
- Akagera National Park: Basic US$ 25 pp per night / tent hire US$ 20 (canvas 3m x 3m, 4 man tent)
- Akagera National Park: Ruzizi Luxury eco-lodge: Low-season luxury tent US$ 280 pp sharing
Ready for your safari tour to Rwanda?
We hope we have helped you on your way with our information about Rwanda’s National Park fees. Any more questions about traveling to Rwanda? Please get in touch with us. Our team at Tulambule is happy to help you create the Rwanda safari trip of a lifetime!
Disclaimer: We do our best to keep the information on this website accurate and up-to-date. But, please note that no claims or rights can be guaranteed or derived from our website’s content. We advise that you verify any details independently to ensure accuracy. Also, note that the information on our website may be subject to change.