Rwanda Safari Tours

Africa's Most Accessible Gorilla Trekking

Rwanda's unique environment and kind, welcoming people provide one-of-a-kind experiences. This is a country characterized by its impressive biodiversity, volcanoes, and highland rainforests that are home to the gorillas. Rarely experienced in isolation, a Rwanda gorilla trekking safari combines well with other East African destinations such as Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania.

There is more to green and hilly Rwanda than meets the eye: it is also home to the primate-filled Nyungwe Forest National Park, where boisterous chimpanzees frolic and the skies are filled with a myriad of birds. And in low lying eastern Rwanda, Akagera National Park offers big game viewing in a diverse savannah setting with safari heavyweights including lions and elephants. Here are some of our best reasons to go on a Rwanda safari:

Karagwe Tours and Safaris is proud to offer its guests in Rwanda the opportunity to see the mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park and other primates like chimpanzees in their natural habitats such as in Nyungwe, a life-changing adventure-travel experience that will forever be etched in your memory. The gorillas are the last remaining big apes in Africa, and their numbers are very small; poaching, trophy hunting, and habitat destruction have left around 880 of these enchanting animals in the wild.

With so few left on the planet, each loss of a gorilla takes this precious species one step closer to extinction. Conservation activities in recent years, including aggressive anti-poaching efforts and close monitoring, have resulted in a slow increase in the number of wild mountain gorillas. Even the primate treks, designed to promote understanding and protection for the species, are provided to the public under extremely strict protocols that are consistently enforced without wavering. Yet, much work remains to be done before the world can feel at ease about the future of these primates.

As some of the world’s most cherished mammals, mountain gorillas are now able to roam their natural habitats relatively undisturbed. With limited space to forage and thrive, the gorillas have found solitude in protected areas of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rangers work tirelessly as sentinels, always on watch and looking for anyone with intent to harm or capture a gorilla. The high level of protection that surrounds these African primates means that relatively few people get to see these animals in the wild. Those who do, though, understand that the experience is much more than a casual safari activity—it is, indeed, a rare privilege.

Senses heighten as your guide indicates that your group is close to a family of magnificent, isolated mountain gorillas. The slightest rustle of leaves focuses your attention on the dense foliage just ahead. Following your guide’s careful instructions, you quietly step forward and kneel down. Deep green vegetation frames a surreal and utterly captivating scene: a massive silverback male sits quietly while keeping watch over his gorilla family. He appears to be somewhat disengaged, but your intuition tells you that he is quietly vigilant.

Close to the dominant giant are two females and several juveniles engaged in grooming and nibbling on succulent bamboo shoots. Just inches above them is a tiny infant, struggling to keep hold of a branch. You smile deeply at his awkward agility and determination. You sit in awe of the gorillas for the next 60 minutes, capturing every possible moment with your camera. The human-like behaviors and intimate relationships among the primates earn them a permanent place in your heart and mind.

When your guide signals that it is time to leave the gorillas behind, you feel as though you are leaving behind members of your own family. For our guests, mountain gorilla treks are both educational and bittersweet--but always the ultimate holiday experience in the mountain forests parks of Rwanda.****