Steps To Take To Book A Safari In Rwanda

What can you do on Rwanda safaris must be the first question before any safari booking in Rwanda. The gorilla trekking adventure is the most sought-after Rwanda safari activity. One needs to secure a gorilla permit first, as this is like the ticket giving you permission to be part of this wilderness adventure.

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Rwanda’s gorilla trekking permits are about 96 per day and are limited to a maximum of 8 per family. Some Rwanda gorilla trekking families include Kwitonda, Hirwa, Susa, Agashya, Umubano, Karisimbi and others. To book a Rwanda gorilla trekking safari, you must be aged 15 years and beyond.

Chimpanzee safaris in Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda are open for booking twice daily, morning and afternoon. One needs a chimpanzee trekking permit from the Rwanda Development Board to be part of this adventure.

Game safaris in Akagera National Park are fantastic. However, Akagera National Park is recovering from the rumbles of the 1994 genocide, where wild animals fled out of Rwanda for their safety, and others were killed. The Rwanda government and conservation bodies are trying to rejuvenate this park’s glory. During the early morning game drives in Akagera National Park, you may spot zebras, herds of elephants, waterbucks, and bushbucks.

Booking accommodation to use during Rwanda safaris is very important, especially if destined to visit Rwanda in the peak season: June, July, August, September, December, and January. The different accommodation options are limited, especially for last-minute tourists.

Arrange transport means getting around Rwanda during the safaris, but road transport is the most common means of getting around Rwanda. Expect to drive through winding roads that sometimes get messy when it rains so heavily. Air transport to the safari destinations in Rwanda is also available, but prior booking is required.

How To Book A Safari In Rwanda

Step1: Select Rwanda safari activities

Rwanda has several options for activities to do during the safari, but gorilla trekking supersedes them all. This is in Volcanoes National Park in the Northeastern part of Rwanda. Since the number of people allowed to engage in gorilla trekking is limited to a maximum of 8 per day per family, booking is necessary to prevent last-minute disappointment.

Other Rwanda safari activities you can choose from include game drives in Akagera National Park, chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park, Cultural visit in Rwanda, canopy walk, Kwita Izina ( Gorilla naming ceremony ), Golden monkey trekking, birding in Rwanda, Kigali city tour and others.

With this Rwanda safari activities selection, you can draft an itinerary that suits your needs and interests according to the timeline of your holiday. Our safari consultant at Encounter Africa Safaris is ready to work with you to create a workable itinerary to make the best memories of this once-in-a-lifetime Rwanda safari adventure.

Step2: Purchase all necessary Rwanda safari documents

If you choose to do gorilla or chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda, you need gorilla or chimpanzee permits per your dates of preference. When you enquire from us about your Rwanda gorilla or chimpanzee safari, our tour consultant checks availability from the list of the Rwanda Development Board. 

Upon finding Rwanda gorilla or chimpanzee permit availability, the consultant will get back to you as soon as possible. We advise clients to purchase their gorilla or chimpanzee permits as soon as they can to avoid last-minute disappointment, especially with the peak season permits.

To book your gorilla or chimpanzee permits, you must pay for them, as none of the Rwanda gorilla or chimpanzee permits are secured without payment. 

Before proceeding to these parks for other Rwanda safari activities requiring park entrance fee payments, you must make this. Other Rwanda safari activities include game drives, chimpanzee safaris, birding, golden monkey trekking, mountaineering, canopy walking, and others.

Step3: Book Accommodation for Rwanda safari

Depending on the Rwanda safari destination you choose, you need to secure accommodation too. The Rwanda safari accommodations are subdivided into Luxury, Mid-range, and budget facilities. During gorilla and chimpanzee safaris in Rwanda, all tourists are expected to report for briefing without fail. Briefings for gorilla trekking and the morning session of chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda start early, which is quicker to get to by those who spent the night before within or closer to the national parks. 

For gorilla trekking in Rwanda, it is best to spend the night within or closer to Volcanoes National Park, although this park is about 3 hours drive from Kigali city. This gives you ample time to get to the ORTPN for briefing before the gorilla trek.

Volcanoes accommodations: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Virunga Volcanoes Lodge, Gorilla Nest Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Kinigi Guest House, La Palme Hotel, Hotel Muhavura, Le Bambou Hotel 

Although chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda has two sessions, morning and afternoon, you must spend the night before the trek within or closer to Nyugwe National Park. This facilitates easier movement to the Uwinka visitor center, the briefing point before the chimpanzee trek.

Nyungwe National Park accommodations: Gisaku Guest House, Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Nyungwe House, Gisaku Family Hostel

Step 4: Reserve transport to use during the Rwanda safari

Road transport is the main means to get around Rwanda; however, you need a 4x4 wheel drive vehicle in good condition driven by an experienced and professional driver guide.

It is best to book transport during the Rwanda safari in advance, especially if your safari is booked for the peak season when vehicle hire and driver guide options run low. Plan for the gas to use while on the Rwanda safari, keeping in mind that you need to have a full tank before entering the parks because chances of refueling get slimmer as you drive into the countryside.

Charter flight services are also available at Kigali Airport during the Rwanda safari; however, booking and clearances are necessary.

When is the best time to book Rwanda safari?

Rwanda safari activities are open all year; however, the dry season, normally the peak season, is most preferred. The Rwanda tourism peak season is normally June, July, August, September, December, and January. This also is the season when demand for Rwanda safari logistics, like accommodations, vehicle and drive guide hire, and others, is at its peak.

It is best to make a booking for all necessary for your Rwanda safari this season to avoid last-minute panic.

The wet season usually serves as the low Rwanda tourism season, that is, March, April, May, and November, attracting fewer visitors to Rwanda for safaris. You may grab this opportunity if you wish to have quality time in tranquil Rwanda destinations. 

Those with a limited budget but have Rwanda safari on their bucket list can use the low-season opportunity when Rwanda gorilla permits are discounted. The Rwanda Development Board currently discounts its low-season gorilla permits from $1500 to $1050 per person for promotional purposes. This is as long as you have at least two nights in Akagera National Park and Nyungwe National Park.

How safe is Rwanda for safaris?

Rwanda is trying to rebuild its glory from the ashes of the 1994 genocide, but the progress is so far so good. The country is safe for safaris, but you must abide by the rules set by the government of Rwanda, like no use of unlawful substances in Rwanda. No careless dumping of garbage while in Rwanda and many others. Most African countries may not respect these rules, but Rwanda has no sympathy for lawbreakers.

While on safari in Rwanda, the Rwanda Development Board ranger guides are on the ground to protect the wildlife, visitors, and habitats. These experienced and trained ranger guides ensure your safety while on a Rwanda safari.

On the ground are other Rwanda security agencies who work closely with the ranger guides to ranger guides to keep law and order within and out of these Rwanda safari destinations.

For activities in the forested areas like gorilla, chimpanzee, and golden monkey safaris in Rwanda, tourists are advised to only ever enter the forests with an escorting ranger guide because the forest has other inhabitants. During game drives in Akagera National Park, there is no getting out of the car without an escorting ranger guide or making a meal for some carnivores.

As ranger guides provide safety as tourists, you must also be cooperative because your safety means a lot.

Is there an age limit for safaris in Rwanda?

For Rwanda safari activities like gorilla trekking, the age limit is 15 years and over, while the age limit for chimpanzee trekking is 15 years and over. Other Rwanda safari activities are open to all ages as long as the children are supervised by their parents and guardians.

Rwanda activities with age restrictions were set because of the nature of the terrain of these destinations, like the Volcanoes forest and Nyungwe forest, which were affected by volcanic actions that affected the Virunga area. Children may be unable to hike the steep slopes and withstand the forest conditions before locating the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees.

What to Pack for the Rwanda Safari?

The general list for your safari in Rwanda includes:

• Garden gloves in case you have to walk in the forest.
• A foldable water bottle where you have to keep some drinking water for quenching your thirst while on safari.
• Safari shoes, especially if you have to walk, as the ground is sometimes very soggy and boggy, and also, your feet need to be protected from the rough surfaces in the wilderness.
• Insect repellant to keep away biting insects that may cross your way like tsetse flies
• If you have to trek the chimpanzees, ensure you carry the proper safari boots to protect your feet from the harsh conditions in the jungle.
• Safari hat or cap to protect your head from the dust and buzzing insects
• Sunglasses to protect your eyes from buzzing insects.
• Backpack to carry with your safari gear, and in case you have to hire a porter during the Rwanda safari, it gets easier, and you are not worried about scattering them.
• Some warmers because most safari destinations in Rwanda experience cold conditions in the early morning and late afternoon.
• Safari wears in colors that are wilderness-friendly in colors like khaki, tan, and others. Avoid using colors that can attract stinging insects, like blue, black, and white.
• You need a mask for chimpanzee or gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda as this is one adopted measure to prevent chimpanzees from catching human communicable infections. Chimpanzees have about 98% human DNA, which makes them susceptible to infectious diseases that may lead to their massive death.
• Extra batteries are fully charged to exchange in case your one runs low.
• Duffel bag so that you can carry your belongings in case you have to help yourself.
• Some cash for on-ground purchases, such as credit cards, are not easy to use in Africa because of the lengthy process of collecting money from them.
• Snacks to munch on during safari in case you get hungry.
• Light shoe bags where you can securely protect your shoes from staining the rest of your belongings, especially after a gorilla or chimpanzee safari. Sometimes, time to clean them may not be on your side, so you have to pack them as the shoes are after walking in the muddy jungle.
• Hard cash is in case you wish to make on-ground purchases since credit cards are quicker to use in Africa because of the lengthy process of obtaining money from them.
•  A camera to keep memorable moments while on safari in Rwanda. Many moments happen
• Travel Adapter and charger in case you need to recharge your gadgets. 
• First aid kit in case of any emergency during your visit to Rwanda 
• Rainproof gears in case it falls while searching for the Rwanda primates like the mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, golden monkeys, and others.

Rwanda has several options for activities to do during the safari, but gorilla trekking supersedes them all. Contact us to plan your safari today.