Rwanda safari packages cost between $846 per person for a 2-day Akagera wildlife safari and $6,000 and up for a 7-day luxury itinerary in 2026. The single biggest price driver is whether the package includes gorilla trekking: the $1,500 Rwanda Development Board (RDB) gorilla permit is fixed, so any gorilla package starts at roughly $1,850 for one day and $3,000 for three. Packages without gorillas, built around Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest, and Lake Kivu, are the most affordable safaris in East Africa because Rwanda’s parks sit within a few hours’ drive of Kigali. This guide lists the packages Rwanda Eco Company runs, what each price includes, and how to choose between them.
Rwanda safari packages at a glance (2026 prices)
| Package | Days | From (per person) | What it is built around |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Days Akagera National Park | 2 | $846 | Big Five game drives, Lake Ihema boat safari |
| 2 Days Nyungwe Chimpanzee Tracking | 2 | $986 | Chimpanzees, canopy walk |
| 3 Days Akagera Wildlife Safari | 3 | $1,330 | Two full days of game drives, night drive |
| 1 Day Gorilla Trekking Experience | 1 | $1,854 | Gorilla trek from Kigali, permit included |
| 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari | 3 | $3,022 | Most booked package: gorillas, two nights at Kinigi |
| 6 Days Gorilla and Lake Kivu Safari | 6 | $4,232 | Gorillas, golden monkeys, Lake Kivu |
| 7 Days Epic Rwanda Safari Adventure | 7 | $4,920 | Gorillas, Nyungwe, Akagera, Lake Kivu |
| 7 Days Luxury Rwanda Safari | 7 | $6,000 | Premium lodges, private gorilla trek |
| 12 Days Best of Rwanda | 12 | $6,518 | All four national parks |
| 9 Days Rwanda Luxury Flying Safari | 9 | $12,476 | Helicopter transfers, top-tier lodges |
Prices are per person sharing, based on two travelers, and are updated each season. Solo travelers pay a single supplement of roughly 25 to 40 percent at most lodges.
Tier 1: wildlife and primate safaris without gorillas ($846 to $1,965)
These are the packages most people do not know exist. Akagera National Park reintroduced lions in 2015 and black rhinos in 2017, and today it is the only place in Rwanda to see all of the Big Five. A 2-day Akagera safari at $846 covers a full day of game drives and a boat safari on Lake Ihema, where hippos and crocodiles are close to guaranteed. The 3-day version at $1,330 adds a night game drive and a second morning in the northern plains, where the lion prides spend most of their time.
Nyungwe Forest is the other half of this tier. The 2-day chimpanzee tracking package at $986 includes the chimpanzee permit ($250 through RDB), the canopy walk, and a night at a lodge on the forest edge. Nyungwe holds 13 primate species and over 300 bird species, and it is the source of the longest tributary of the Nile.
Who this tier is for: travelers who have already trekked gorillas, families with children under the 15-year gorilla age limit, and anyone adding two or three days onto a Kigali business trip.
Tier 2: gorilla trekking packages ($1,854 to $3,022)
Every package in this tier is built around one gorilla permit, and the permit is the price floor. The 1-day gorilla trek at $1,854 leaves Kigali at 4:30 am, reaches the Kinigi park headquarters for the 7:00 am briefing, and returns the same evening. It works, but it leaves no buffer for a delayed flight.
The 3-day Rwanda gorilla trekking safari at $3,022 is the package we sell most. It includes the permit, two nights near Volcanoes National Park, a private vehicle and driver-guide, and a visit to the Iby’Iwacu cultural village or the twin lakes on the spare afternoon. For a full breakdown of where the money goes, read our Rwanda gorilla trekking cost guide.
Tier 3: multi-park itineraries ($4,232 to $5,680)
Six and seven day packages are where a Rwanda safari becomes a complete trip rather than a single encounter. The 6-day gorilla and Lake Kivu safari at $4,232 pairs the trek with golden monkey tracking and two nights on the lake at Kibuye or Gisenyi. The 7-day Epic Rwanda Safari at $4,920 is the “see everything” route: Kigali, Akagera’s Big Five, Nyungwe’s chimpanzees, Lake Kivu, and the gorillas on the final full day. Drive times between parks are two to five hours on paved roads, which is why a week in Rwanda covers more ground than a week almost anywhere else in Africa. If you want the day-by-day detail, our 7-day Rwanda gorilla safari itinerary walks through it.
Tier 4: luxury Rwanda safaris ($6,000 and up)
Luxury in Rwanda means the lodge, not the activity. The gorilla trek is the same hour with the same family whether you sleep at a $150 guesthouse or a $2,500 a night lodge. The 7-day luxury Rwanda safari at $6,000 uses properties such as the Kigali Marriott, One and Only Nyungwe House, and One and Only Gorilla’s Nest, with a private vehicle throughout. The 9-day luxury flying safari at $12,476 replaces the drives with helicopter transfers and adds a second gorilla permit. For how the tiers compare on the ground, see luxury vs budget gorilla safari.
What every Rwanda Eco Company package includes
- Accommodation at the lodge tier named in the itinerary, with meals as listed
- A private 4x4 safari vehicle with an English-speaking driver-guide for the whole trip
- All park entrance fees and permits listed in the itinerary, including the $1,500 gorilla permit on gorilla packages
- Airport pickup and drop-off at Kigali International Airport
- Bottled water in the vehicle and government taxes
Not included: international flights, the Rwanda visa ($50 on arrival for most nationalities, free for many African passports), travel insurance, tips, drinks at lodges, and optional activities such as the Dian Fossey tomb hike or golden monkey tracking.
How to choose the right package
Start with two questions. First, do you want gorillas? If yes, you are choosing between Tier 2 and Tier 3, and the decision is how many other parks you add. If no, Tier 1 gives you a real safari for under $1,400. Second, how many nights can you spend? Three nights is enough for gorillas alone. Six to seven nights is the length we recommend to first-time visitors, because it covers gorillas plus one or two other parks without back-to-back early starts.
“Most of our US guests arrive thinking Rwanda is a two-day gorilla stop on the way to Kenya,” says Reginal Hakizimana, founder of Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris. “The ones who give it a week go home saying Akagera and Nyungwe were the surprise of the trip.”
Then match the season. June to September is the long dry season and the best time for both trekking and game viewing; book gorilla packages four to six months ahead for those dates. The short dry season in December to February is nearly as good. Our best time for gorilla trekking in Rwanda guide covers the month-by-month trade-offs.
Why book a Rwanda safari package with a local operator
Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris is a Kigali-based tour operator licensed by the Rwanda Development Board and a member of RTTA, ASTA, ATTA, and USTOA. We hold a 5.0 rating from 238 TripAdvisor reviews. Booking with a local operator means the gorilla permit is secured in your name through RDB directly, your driver-guide is the person who planned the route, and changes on the ground are handled in Kigali rather than through an overseas call center. Read more in why book a local Rwanda tour operator.
To price a package for your dates, send your travel month and group size to info@rwandaecocompany.com or use the contact form. We reply within one business day with a day-by-day itinerary and a quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Rwanda safari package cost? +
In 2026 a Rwanda safari package costs about $846 per person for a 2-day Akagera wildlife safari, $3,022 for a 3-day gorilla trekking safari, $4,232 to $4,920 for a 6 to 7 day multi-park itinerary, and $6,000 and up for a 7-day luxury safari. Any package that includes gorilla trekking carries the fixed $1,500 Rwanda Development Board permit inside the price.
What is included in a Rwanda safari package? +
A standard Rwanda Eco Company package includes accommodation, a private 4x4 with an English-speaking driver-guide, all park entrance fees and permits listed in the itinerary, meals as specified, airport transfers in Kigali, and bottled water. International flights, visas, travel insurance, tips, and optional activities are not included.
How many days do you need for a Rwanda safari? +
Three days covers gorilla trekking alone. Six to seven days is the most popular length because it fits Volcanoes National Park, Lake Kivu, and either Nyungwe Forest or Akagera without rushing. Twelve to thirteen days covers all four national parks plus Kigali and the cultural stops.
Is a Rwanda safari cheaper than Kenya or Tanzania? +
A Rwanda safari without gorillas is often cheaper, because Rwanda's parks are compact and drive times are short. Once you add the $1,500 gorilla permit, Rwanda sits in the mid to upper range. Most travelers choose Rwanda for the gorillas, not for the lowest price.
Can you do a budget safari in Rwanda? +
Yes. Akagera and Nyungwe packages start under $1,000 per person for 2 days, using mid-range lodges and shared activities. Gorilla trekking cannot be made cheap because the permit alone is $1,500, but a 1-day trek from Kigali at $1,854 is the lowest-cost way to see them.
What is the best time of year for a Rwanda safari package? +
June to September is the long dry season and the best time for both gorilla trekking and Akagera game drives. December to February is a shorter dry window. March to May and October to November are wetter but quieter, and lodges are easier to book.
Updated October 14, 2026