Rwanda Volcano Highlands and Gorilla Trekking: A Bucket List Experience At Three Different Price Points

Option 1: The pinnacle of primate encounters

Accommodations:

• Bisate Reserve

• Singita: Kataza House or Kwitonda Lodge

The grand new entry of Bisate Reserve’s (photos above) four exclusive villas on the scene as of 1 September 2024, requires more than a mention. My usual top pick of the always spectacular and conservation-centric Singita is now experiencing tough competition. Bisate Reserve is the culmination of engineering, design and exclusivity. The ultra-luxurious new addition lies within the same premises as the lovely Wilderness Bisate Lodge. It sure is a hot contender for the top spot.

Your journey may look something like this:

• VIP meet and greet on arrival in Kigali.

• The Retreat by Heaven: Two nights stay, private city touring, museums and shopping.

• Helicopter transfer to Volcanoes National Park or Private luxury vehicle transfer.

• Volcanoes National Park: Four nights.

• Helicopter transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park.

• One&Only Nyungwe: Three nights.

• Helicopter return transfer to Kigali for departure flight.

The pinnacle experience includes:

• Inter-resort helicopter transfers: Leonardo AW139.

• All Villa accommodation and Personal butler service.

• Singita and the retreat: Heated plunge pools.

• Bisate Reserve: Wood-fired hot tubs overlooking three volcanoes in the distance.

• Dedicated guide for pre-trek preparation (Gorillas, Chimps, Golden and Colobus monkeys in respective locations).

• Private vehicle and guide with porters throughout stay.

• Exclusive access to conservation activities and researchers.

• Full-day exclusive photography workshops.

• Private chef and wine-paired dining.

• Option for private primate tracking and local community visits.

• Private dining experiences in a tea plantation, tea ceremonies and tasting.

• Private canopy walk before public opening with private guide.

Elevating this already exceptional experience is achieved as follows:

• Private Trek:
  -Create private primate trekking experiences by booking all 8–10 available permits in a group.
  -Exclusive access to your chosen primate family without other travelers.
  -Flexibility in photography, timing and positioning.
  -Personal guide can focus entirely on your group's interests and pace.
  -Private briefing at the lodge the evening before.

• Helicopter Experiences:
  -Scenic transfers with champagne service and volcano fly-over.
  -Helicopter excursion to Lake Kivu for lunch.
  -Option to combine with heli-fishing on mountain lakes.
  -Possible cross-border scenic flight to Uganda's Queen Elizabeth National Park.

• Ultimate Elevations:
  -Private conservationist dinner with gorilla researchers.
  -Exclusive access to anti-poaching teams and conservation projects.
  -Private cultural performance and dinner in local village.
  -Hands-on conservation activities like tree planting with dedicated land set aside.
  -Private photographer/ videographer to document the entire experience.
  -Custom-made hiking gear and boots fitted in advance.
  -Mobile spa team for post-trek massage in your villa.
  -Private yoga sessions with mountain views.
  -Dedicated conservation donation in your name.
  -Private cooking class with lodge's executive chef.
  -Exclusive use of lodge's wine cellar for private dining.
  -Behind-the-scenes access to gorilla veterinary facilities.

• Price range:
  -Volcanoes and Nyungwe (One& Only) villas from $7 000 per night.
  -Trekking permit for gorillas — $1,500.
  -Trekking permits for other primates: $100 each (Chimps, Colobus and Golden monkeys).
  -Helicopter transfers from $7,500 per flight (5 seats).
  -Kigali accommodation $1 500 per villa per night (The Retreat by Heaven - luxury pool villa).
  -Private vehicles, guides, photography and porters are additional.

Option 2: Premium comfort

Accommodations:

• One & Only Gorilla's Nest

• Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge

Journey overview:

• Two nights: Kigali, Ubumwe Grande Hotel or Radisson Blu.

• Four nights: Volcanoes National Park.

• Three nights: Nyungwe Forest, One&Only.

The premium experience includes:

• Helicopter transfers in Robinson 44 or shared/private road transfers.

• Luxe accommodation, Spa and Quality dining.

• Experienced guides.

• Access to standard primate briefings and basic photography tips.

Price range:

• Volcanoes accommodation- $3 000 per night

• Kigali accommodation- $300–400 per night

• Nyungwe One&Only suite- $2,500 per night

• Helicopter transfers from $1,700 per flight (three seats)

• Luxury Shared road $200 per person/ $500 private per vehicle

• Primate permits as above.

Option 3: Classic Experience

Accommodations:

• Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel

• Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

Journey overview:

• Two nights: Kigali - Urban by CityBlue or Iris Guest House and city touring.

• Three nights: Volcanoes National Park.

• Two nights: Nyungwe Forest National Park, Nyungwe Nziza Ecolodge.

The classic experience includes:

• Comfortable en-suite rooms.

• Shared lodge facilities.

• Unfussy, quality local cuisine.

• Shared road transfers from Kigali.

• Professional guides.

• Standard gorilla briefing.

• Basic but clean amenities.

Price range:

• Volcanoes accommodation - $400–600 per person per night.

• Primate permits as above.

• Kigali and Nyungwe accommodation - $150–200 per night.

• Budget shared road transfers from $100 per person per trip.

Conclusion

The core gorilla experience remains similar across all price points. What varies is the level of comfort, exclusivity and additional services surrounding the trek itself. The time spent with the gorillas (one hour) and the hiking conditions do remain the same regardless of accommodation choice. The primate circuit experience is life-transforming for travelers and vital for the continuation of these primate species in their forest home locations.

Important to note:

• All experiences require the mandatory gorilla permit of $1,500 regardless of accommodation choice. For African passport holders, the fee is $500. Other primates are around $100 per trek.

• At each price point option trek preparation, gaiters and gloves are included for gorilla trekking.

• Maximum one hour with primates as per Rwanda Development Board regulations, regardless of price point chosen.

• More than one trek is possible.

• Porters available at additional cost for all categories.

• Best hiking boots and rain gear recommended for all experiences and weather conditions influence the experience.

• Having a doctor's certificate ensures the allocation of an easier trek with less trekking distances.

• Advance booking essential, especially during peak seasons (June–September).

• Age restriction is 15 years minimum for all categories.

Permitted trekking and other thoughtful tourism initiatives have become vital lifelines for endangered primates facing severe threats. The country's mountain gorilla population has grown from a mere 250 individuals in the 1980s to approximately 1 060 today, while the golden monkey remains vulnerable with fewer than 4 000 individuals left in the wild. Eastern chimpanzees have declined to roughly 6 000 in Rwanda's forests, and the endangered Angolan colobus monkey population hovers around 3 000-4 000 in fragmented habitats. Tourism revenue provides essential funding for anti-poaching patrols, habitat restoration, and community development programs that offer sustainable alternatives to subsistence hunting and forest clearing. When travellers pay $1 500 for a gorilla permit or $100 for golden monkey tracking, they directly contribute to conservation efforts that protect these irreplaceable species while creating economic incentives for local communities to become stewards of the forests these primates call home.

If you’re dreaming of sharing an intimate experience with a family of mountain gorillas in their lush ancient habitat, consider expanding your vision to include one where you're surrounded by a family of endangered monkeys or chimps in groups of a hundred or more getting a rare glimpse into the incredible social structures of these intelligent and sensitive species. Knowing that you're contributing towards the preservation of their numbers.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Rwanda page.