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For the kind of gorilla trip to Rwanda I usually plan, one night in Kigali and three nights at one of the top lodges near Volcanoes National Park with two gorilla treks, expect roughly $15,000 to $22,000 or more per person sharing in peak season. The same lodges in the wetter months come down to roughly $11,000 to $16,000. These figures include two gorilla permits, which alone come to $3,000 per person. International flights are extra.
All figures below are approximate 2026–27 ranges in US dollars, per person sharing. Confirm current rates with me.
At the time of writing (late 2026), a gorilla permit for foreign non-residents costs $1,500 per person per trek, set by the Rwanda Development Board. Lower rates exist for Rwandan and East African citizens and for foreign residents of Rwanda, but not for visitors from outside Africa. The permit gives you one hour with a habituated gorilla family, in a group of no more than eight. The minimum age is 15.
Most people trek twice. Each family behaves differently and the forest changes with the light and the weather, so a second trek is rarely a repeat. Permits are paid in full when booked and are non-refundable, so I book them as soon as dates are fixed. My post on permits, fitness and the trekking day covers the practical side.
After permits, the lodge is the biggest variable. The area around Volcanoes National Park has a small group of very high-end lodges and a wider choice of comfortable, simpler ones. The difference can be several thousand dollars per person over three nights.
Rwanda's main dry season runs from about June to September, with a shorter dry spell around December to February. Lodge rates are highest in these months. The wetter months, roughly March to May and October to November, bring lower lodge rates. The permit price stays the same all year.
One trek is possible in a short trip, but two is my usual advice. Each extra trek adds $1,500 per person and usually an extra night.
Most trips use a private vehicle and driver-guide from Kigali, about two and a half hours by road to the park. Some top lodges include transfers. A helicopter transfer from Kigali is possible and much faster, but adds significantly to the cost.
Solo travelers usually pay a single supplement at the lodge, though the permit price is the same. Families pay full permit prices for everyone 15 and over, since children under 15 cannot trek.
Lodges with large private villas or suites, excellent service, all meals and drinks, and usually transfers to the park headquarters for your trek. Rates at the bottom of the range apply in the wetter months.
Peak season rates at the lodges above, and the most private options in the area.
For the Kigali night, Hemingways Retreat Kigali is my usual suggestion.
Many people add a few days elsewhere. Akagera has savanna game, including the Big Five, and Wilderness Magashi is my choice there. Nyungwe has chimpanzees and a canopy walk, and Nyungwe Tea Forest Resort sits in the tea estates on its edge. A seven- or eight-night trip that includes Akagera or Nyungwe usually costs roughly $12,000 to $25,000 per person, depending on lodges and season. Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes needs its own permit, which costs much less than a gorilla permit. My post on Rwanda beyond the gorillas covers the options.
For a sample route, see my Rwanda itinerary.
If you would like a costed plan and permit availability for your dates, tell me about your trip.
Every itinerary begins with a conversation. Tell me what you have in mind, and I’ll plan a trip around you.
Plan your trip
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