About Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is situated in the foothills of the volcanic Virunga Mountains in north-western ...
... Rwanda, on the edge of the Parc National des Volcans – known in English as the Volcanoes National Park. It is built at an altitude of 2,515m, with spectacular views of the surrounding volcanoes, mountains and countryside. The lodge is just a 20-minute drive from the national park headquarters, and is one of the more luxurious lodges in the area.
Sabyinyo Silverback is a traditional yet luxurious lodge in a stunning location. As well as creature comforts, you’ll find plenty of personal touches here, a friendly and efficient management team, a strong focus on community and conservation initiatives and some very high-quality service. This is a great lodge, both as a base for trekking to the gorillas, and to enjoy the scenery and many other activities on offer.
Our view
Sabyinyo Silverback is a traditional yet luxurious lodge in a stunning location. As well as creature comforts, you’ll find plenty of personal touches here, a friendly and efficient management team, a strong focus on community and conservation initiatives and some very high-quality service. This is a great lodge, both as a base for trekking to the gorillas, and to enjoy the scenery and many other activities on offer.
Rwanda expert
Accommodation
9 cottages
Children
15+ for gorilla treks
Open
All year
Activities
Birdwatching
Canoeing
Cultural excursion
Helicopter
Primate trekking
Traveller reviews of Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
34 real, un-edited reviews from Expert Africa's travellers.
Expert Africa's gallery
When we travel we take lots of photos ourselves to give you a real and un-edited view of the safaris. See our 23 pictures and 1 videos of Sabyinyo Silverback to get the candid view.
View gallerySafaris visiting Sabyinyo Silverback
Just ideas, we'll always tailor-make a trip for you
Silverback Gorilla Safari
4 days • 1 location • 1 country
KIGALI AIRPORT TO KIGALI AIRPORT
Fly into Rwanda and you can be trekking to meet a family of mountain gorillas the next morning. An itinerary like this could easily be combined with a safari in Kenya or Tanzania.
Visiting Volcanoes
US$11,530 - US$14,080 per person
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge: Our full report
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is situated in the foothills of the volcanic Virunga Mountains in north-western ...
... Rwanda, on the edge of the Parc National des Volcans – known in English as the Volcanoes National Park. It is built at an altitude of 2,515m, with spectacular views of the surrounding volcanoes, mountains and countryside. The lodge is just a 20-minute drive from the national park headquarters, and is one of the more luxurious lodges in the area.
Sabyinyo Silverback is the sister camp to the well-known Governors’ Camp in Kenya's Maasai Mara, although it is technically owned by the Sabyinyo Community Livelihood Association (SACOLA). The name 'Sabyinyo' (derived from the Kinyarwanda word iryinyo, meaning ‘tooth’) is one of the extinct volcanoes in the Virunga range, and the lodge sits in the foothills of its namesake volcano and counterparts.
Set in beautiful, and vast, landscaped gardens, the lodge’s buildings are made from local stone, with terracotta roof tiles, reminiscent of an English country home, but blending in well with the local surroundings. The gardens are well-maintained, and include a garden of calla lilies: Sabyinyo Lodge grows its own flowers to stock the large vases found throughout the rooms.
Guest accommodation at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge consists of six cottages, two suites and a family cottage. All the rooms are spacious, and have an equally spacious en suite bathroom. They are decorated in the same style, too, with gentle terracotta and white colours throughout, and stunning wildlife paintings, mainly of the gorillas.
Each room comes with large double or twin beds (complete with very snug bedding), a dressing room (with plenty of hanging space and shelving, which houses a safe) and a minibar, pre-stocked with bottled water and bottles of wine, should you wish to relax in your room rather than head to the bar.
The comfortable seating area features a fireplace for cooler evenings. When we last stayed here, our incredibly friendly room attendant Peter kindly gave us a wake-up call, made the fire, and left us to wake up to African tea and chocolate chip cookies – a most lovely morning surprise!
In the bathrooms you’ll find double basins, flushing toilets, hot showers and a separate bath, as well as beautifully-scented complimentary toiletries.
Outside, there’s a private veranda, with more seating, a hammock, and the ubiquitous umbrellas (helpfully located outside most lodges in the Volcanoes area) for those rainy days!
The suites are slightly larger than the cottages, with more of a separate lounge area. Each also has a TV that is pre-loaded with documentaries and films relating to Rwanda, its history, and the local wildlife.
The family cottage is similar in style to the other cottages, but has two spacious en-suite bedrooms, connected by a shared veranda.
There are quite a few fairly steep steps between the rooms and up to the main area from the entrance of the property. To overcome this, Sabinyo have recently introduced a 4x4 buggy to help guests (and their luggage) up the steep hill!
From the main area at Silverback Lodge, there are great views from the outdoor decks of both the bar and the dining room. A large sitting room with very comfy sofas leads out to patio areas, which also have stunning views across to the Virungas. Locally made souvenirs are available from a small curio area.
Meals can be taken in the small dining room, either inside, where there are fireplaces for the colder months, or on the outside decks during warmer weather. Alternatively there is limited room service, so you can dine in privacy on your own balcony if you wish.
The high-quality service at Sabyinyo Silverback is made even more comfortable with the addition of plenty of personal touches, from your boots being cleaned upon your return from a trek, to hot-water bottles tucked into your bed on colder evenings. The managers on our most recent visit were incredibly engaging and personable, and went out of their way to make sure that these personal touches were tailored to each guest.
As well as going out of their way to create high standards for their visitors, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge also has a long-standing interest in the local community. The lodge itself is owned by the community trust SACOLA (Sabyinyo Community Livelihood Association), which was created in 2004. The support and income it receives from the lodge go directly to building conservation initiatives in the Kinigi area and the surrounding Volcanoes National Park. It’s also the main drive behind the socio-economic development in the area, and has created projects from constructing villages for genocide survivors to creating vegetable gardens for community farming projects. The lodge managers sit in an advisory role on the SACOLA board, and have been heavily involved with many of the local projects. SACOLA has earned more than US$4m from guests staying at the lodge, directly benefitting some 6,000 households in the Kinigi District.
In addition, the lodge has an excellent community awareness and information centre, located in a separate lounge area. With a small library of reference and nature books, a large TV pre-loaded with documentaries and plenty of information on SACOLA, as well as the gorilla groups and the local gorilla conservation organisations. it’s a mine of information for those who wish to learn a bit more during their stay.
Guided village walks can be arranged, at an extra cost, to visit the local communities and experience day-to-day life – and we’d recommend them highly. On our walk, we had an incredibly knowledgeable guide who explained all about the farming, building and living practices in the local area. We learned how to make traditional woven baskets, and joined in games with the local children.
The main reason for visiting Sabyinyo Lodge is to see the mountain gorillas.The Volcanoes National Park, on the Rwandan side, is lucky to have more than half of the world's mountain gorillas; we think this is probably the best place in Africa to see them.
Recognising that guests travelling across Africa may have restricted luggage allowances, the lodge can provide gloves, gaiters, waterproofs and backpacks for treks if needed. For more information on the gorilla treks, see our Gorilla trekking safaris.
While mountain gorillas are the main draw in this area of Rwanda, it also offers many more species of game. The birdlife is prolific, too. Rwanda has about 650 species of birds, and although spotting them in dense vegetation can sometimes prove difficult, Sabyinyo’s seven-hectare property is a haven for many species: more than 40 species of birds, including some endemic to the surrounding forests, have been seen around the lodge. Escorted bird walks with a local ornithologist are available for an additional cost.
The lodge’s activity centre is able to arrange cultural visits to the local villages and markets, mountain-bike excursions, and a variety of other treks in the area - these are an extra cost, do speak to us about including any of these in your trip. These range from shorter hikes to Lake Ngezi and the surrounding forest areas, to much tougher treks to the site of Dian Fossey’s research camp, and to many of the summits and crater lakes of the Virunga range. For those wishing to just relax after a day of trekking, the lodge also offers rejuvenating massage treatments, at an extra cost.
Geographics
- Location
- Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
- Ideal length of stay
- We would recommend a stay of three or four nights at Sabyinyo - though this will be dependent upon how many times you trek to see the gorillas, and if you wish to partake in any other activities
- Directions
- Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is a drive of approximately 2½–3 hours from Rwanda's capital, Kigali.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board
- Food quality
- On our last visit, we did not get a chance to eat here. However, we really enjoyed the food at Sabinyo when we have stayed previously. The menus were varied and interesting, the food was beautifully presented and portions were well-balanced. One of our team members has a nut allergy, and the staff went above and beyond to ensure that the food was all nut-free, and that there were still a variety of options available.
You will be asked at breakfast for your lunch choices, and in the evening for your dinner preferences. Meals follow the trekking times for guests.
Breakfast starts early. Fruit, cereals and pastries are buffet style, with a menu of cooked options available. We had eggs benedict and fresh pancakes on our first morning, and porridge with apple and cinnamon on the second.
Lunch can either be had at the lodge, or as a packed lunch to take on your day trip. On our trekking day, we opted to head back to the lodge, and had spicy spinach soup, with home-made scotch eggs, followed by a Mediterranean salad with grilled vegetables, brie, avocado and bacon. Trekking definitely gives you an appetite, so we were more than happy to finish off the meal with churros, chocolate dipping sauce and fruit! Our packed lunch on the next day was substantial - cheese and ham sandwiches, plenty of fresh fruit and chocolate chip muffins, plus bags of crisps and bottles of water and fresh watermelon juice.
For dinner, we enjoyed hors d’oeuvres of Moroccan meatballs and sundried tomato crostini, a starter of mini cheese soufflé, and a delicious and light lemon chicken piccata for main course, with mini roast potatoes and vegetables. One of the dessert options was a lemon tartlet with vanilla sauce, though we opted for a decadent molten chocolate fondue shot, with brandy flambéed fruit skewers, rounded off by African tea and a post-dinner Amarula. - Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- Each room has a phone, and room service is available.
- Drinks included
- Drinking water, soft drinks, house wine, cocktails and local spirits are included.
Special interests
- Birdwatching
- Set in seven hectares of land, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge makes a good base for birdwatching in Rwanda. Just walking through the gardens affords the opportunity to see many species of birds, including some endemic to the Albertine Rift. There is a local ornithologist available if you wish to have a guide.
- See ideas for Birdwatching in Rwanda
- Cultural Experiences
- Sabyinyo is owned by a community trust (SACOLA), with a portion of the profits being fed back into community projects such as vegetable gardens, farms and beehives. The lodge has close links with the local village and guided walks can easily be arranged.
- See ideas for Cultural Experiences in Rwanda
- Wildlife safaris
- Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is just outside the Volcanoes National Park and makes a great base for trekking to see the world-famous gorillas in Rwanda, without sacrificing creature comforts.
- See ideas for Wildlife safaris in Rwanda
- Walking
- Only a 20-minute drive from the Volcanoes National Park, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is one of the most luxurious lodges in the area. It's well placed for a variety of escorted walks, from short excursions to serious hikes, so is a good bet for walking in Rwanda.
- See ideas for Walking in Rwanda
- Luxury
- Nine comfortable and luxurious chalets made out of local stone are dotted throughout the lush gardens of Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge. Dinner on your private veranda, morning tea and cookies served to the indoor sitting area in front of the fireplace and very spacious bathrooms for comforting bubble baths after a trek all add to the feeling that you're being truly pampered.
- See ideas for Luxury in Rwanda
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Children are welcome.
- Property’s age restrictions
- Whilst younger children are welcome at the lodge, note that children under the age of 15 are not permitted to trek to visit the gorillas.
- Equipment
- There is a 2-bedroom cottage specially designed for families. Equipment for children can be arranged on request.
- Generally recommended for children
- Due to the age limit on the trekking, we would recommend Sabyinyo for children of 15 years and older.
- Notes
- There are steep steps and hills around the lodge, as well as unfenced ponds in the gardens, so children should be supervised.
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Sabyinyo Silverback
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.
100% success
38% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
Communications
- Power supply notes
- The lodge is connected to mains electricity, though it also has a back-up generator.
Each room has plenty of plug sockets for charging, including British three- pin sockets. - Communications
- Cellphone reception is limited, but complimentary WiFi is available throughout the rooms and the lodge main area. Telephone, fax and email are all available at the lodge reception.
- TV & radio
- Sabyinyo Silverback has an information room with a large TV, plenty of DVDs and CDs, and pre-loaded documentaries and films.
The two suites also have televisions. - Water supply
- Mains
- Water supply notes
- All suites and cottages have flush toilets, and plumbed hot and cold water showers, with very good water pressure.
Sustainability
Sabyinyo Silverback: Restoring the Gishwati Forest
Located at the foothills of a chain of 15,000 ft volcanoes stretching through Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is Rwanda's first ever community owned lodge. Its commitment to act as a support business for the local community and the environment can be seen in its contributions to the conservation project in Gishwati Forest.
A series of harmful human activities such as cutting down native trees to make charcoal have reduced the surface of the forest from 260km2 to 600 hectares in 2002. This has led Rwandan authorities to initiate conservation and restoration activities under the Gishwati Forest Conservation Project. Sabyinyo Silverback provides technical advice to the project in the development of eco-tourism activities in the forest, and has so far helped with the creation of two hiking trails through the forest which are now open to visitors. Additionally, to support the urgent conservation efforts of the small population of chimpanzees found in the forest, the lodge funded one year worth of salaries and field costs for one the tracking teams supporting the habituation and field research of a group of chimpanzees.
Although improvements can be seen in the size of the reserve, now measuring 1,484 hectares, Sabyinyo Silverback continues to support the project by promoting Gishwati Forest as an eco-tourism destination, offering guests the possibility to observe chimpanzees in their natural environment
See more great sustainability projects in Rwanda
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- No
- Medical care
- Staff are first-aid trained, and there is a first-aid kit on site. A house doctor is on call, and the local hospital in Musanze is a 30-minute drive away.
- Dangerous animals
- Moderate Risk
- Security measures
- The lodge has 24-hour security guards patrolling the site.
- Fire safety
- Fire extinguishers and fire buckets are located in each cottage and suite, and throughout the main areas, and staff are trained in their use.
Activities
Birdwatching
Canoeing
Cultural excursion
Helicopter
Primate trekking
Extras
- Disabled access
- On Request
- Laundry facilities
- Daily laundry services are included.
- Money
- A safe can be found in each room.
- Accepted payment on location
- Sabyinyo accepts Visa and Mastercard payments, though not American Express. Cash payments may be made in Rwandan francs, euros, US dollars and British pounds.
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Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge's location
Look closer at the environment and surroundings of Sabyinyo Silverback.
Excursions from Sabyinyo Silverback
Optional extra day-trips and excursions possible whilst you're staying at Sabyinyo Silverback. Talk to us: these are usually best arranged before you go.
Canoeing in Rwanda
Half day - approx. 3 hours on the water
This half-day adventure takes place through lush farmland, on the meandering Mukungwa River near Musanze town. Discovering Rwanda’s countryside in a canoe is great fun: the launch spot is just half an hour from Volcanoes National Park and you'll be guided along the shallow waterway by an expert local canoeist. Your driver-guide from Kigali will operate your transfers and introduce you to your canoe group and guide.
More about Canoeing
Golden Monkey Trekking
Half day; one hour with the monkeys
Spend a morning trekking to find the golden monkeys in the Volcanoes National Park. These endangered monkeys are endemic to the Albertine Rift area and are characterised by their golden-orange fur. You’ll be able to enjoy an hour watching them jump through the bamboo and hunker down to chew bamboo leaves, curiously watching you, as you watch them. Your driver-guide from Kigali will operate your transfers to the park headquarters and introduce you to your trekking group and parks guide.
More about Golden Monkey Trekking
Gorilla Trekking Safari
Half day: one hour with the gorillas
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is a magical experience, transcending any other wildlife encounter we know. Meeting a gorilla family in their forest home, led by a dominant male silverback and a cluster of females and young, is a natural adventure that fully repays the cost in unforgettable memories and images. Your driver-guide from Kigali will operate your transfers to the park headquarters and introduce you to your trekking group and parks guide.
More about Gorilla Trekking
Mount Bisoke Trek
Full day
For something a little different, set out on a one-day hike to the summit of Mt Bisoke in the Volcanoes National Park, home to Rwanda’s famous mountain gorillas. Discover the beautiful scenery of the Virunga Mountains, spot birds and wildlife, and enjoy spectacular views from the crater lake.
More about Mount Bisoke Trek
Mount Karisimbi Trek - 2 day trek
Two days - overnight on Mt Karisimbi
Set out on a two-day hike to the summit of Mount Karisimbi, which at over 4,507m is one of the highest in Africa. This is a challenge for the adventurous! With a local guide, you’ll traverse bamboo forests and rugged terrain, then camp on the slopes of this dormant volcano before enjoying sunrise from the summit.
More about Mount Karisimbi Trek
Trek to Dian Fossey’s Grave
Half day, usually five hours
Dian Fossey is best known for her research and conservation work with the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. She dedicated her life to researching and protecting these ‘gentle giants’ from harm, however she was tragically found murdered at her research camp in 1985. Today visitors can join a local guide to trek through the tropical forest to visit her grave, and learn about the impact of her work.
More about Dian Fossey TrekOther lodges in Volcanoes National Park
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Mountain Gorilla View
With superb views of the volcanoes, the relaxed Mountain Gorilla View Lodge on the slopes of Mount Sabyinyo is well-placed for gorilla trekking.
Virunga Lodge
Virunga Lodge is a consciously environmental lodge in a stunning location, about an hour's drive from Volcanoes National Park headquarters.
Gorilla's Nest
Gorilla's Nest is a very high-end lodge in a great location near the Volcanoes National Park headquarters, from where all gorilla trips start.
Bisate Lodge
The exclusive and luxurious Bisate Lodge, close to Volcanoes National Park, is one of the best places to stay in the area.
Bishops House
In the town of Musanze, a half-hour drive from the Volcanoes National Park headquarters, Bishop's House is well placed for gorilla trekking.
Kwitonda Lodge
Close to the edge of Volcanoes National Park, the luxurious Kwitonda Lodge opened in 2019. Ask your Expert Africa specialist for the latest news.
Tiloreza Eco Lodge
Five Volcanoes offers mid-range hotel accommodation around 15 minutes' drive from Volcanoes National Park headquarters.
When to go to Volcanoes National Park
Our month by month guide: What it's like to visit Sabyinyo Silverback in Volcanoes National Park
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Rwanda in January
January falls into the shorter dry season in Rwanda and conditions can be good, however expect some showers during your stay. Christmas and New Year can be a very popular time of year to travel and lodges book up early. The high demand and favourable conditions lead to high prices for the more luxurious lodges.
Travellers spending at least two nights in another of Rwanda’s national parks, in addition to the Volcanoes National Park, can take advantage of lower prices for one gorilla permit. This makes it great-value to do a longer trip to Rwanda, taking time to explore Nyungwe Forest and Akagera National Park. January can be fantastic for birding too, with plenty of migrant species found in the forests.
- Generally good weather although with some rainy spells.
- Popular time of year to travel, particularly around New Year.
- Advance booking advised, particularly for high-end trips.
- Good for birding with migrant species present.
- Special offers are great for exploring the other national parks.
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in January
Rwanda in February
As February progresses the likelihood of more rain increases as Rwanda heads towards the heavy rains in March and April. This can still be a good time of year to visit, particularly at the start of the month, and you are a likely to experience a mix of dry days and rainy spells. Your days are likely to be warm, however as with the rest of the year nights can be cold. This is particularly true of the Volcanoes National Park which is at higher altitude.
February can be a good time of year to combine gorilla trekking in Rwanda with seeing the wildebeest migration in Tanzania as the vast herds gather in February on the southern Serengeti plains for the calving season.
- Transitional month, with the chance of rain increasing towards March.
- Warm days and cold nights, particularly in Volcanoes NP.
- High-end lodges are expensive, although demand is lower.
- Migrant birds present with great birding to be had.
- Good time of year to combine with the wildebeest migration.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in February
Rwanda in March
The heavy rains typically start in March, often continuing through to early May. This is generally not a great time to visit Rwanda and conditions are likely to be fairly wet and muddy underfoot. Many people still visit at this time, taking advantage of lower prices at the more luxurious lodges and good availability of gorilla permits. The rain clears the air and it is likely to be far less hazy at this time, making it very good for photography.
The green season can be particularly good for bird watching with many migrant species visiting Rwanda at this time. This can also be a good time of year for chimpanzee trekking, as their food is plentiful in March and troops are not likely to travel as far.
- Heavy rains make gorilla trekking conditions not ideal.
- Lower prices and good availability for gorilla permits.
- Good for bird watching with plenty of migrant species present.
- Typically shorter distances to walk for chimpanzee trekking.
Our view
This is not a great time to visit
Weather in March
Rwanda in April
April is typically one of the wettest months in Rwanda, with an average rainfall of around 150mm. It is still possible to visit during April, however be prepared for heavy rain and muddy conditions in the mountains. April is the low season for high-end lodges and prices can be significantly cheaper at this time.
Comparatively few people choose to visit during April, meaning that it is likely to be fairly quiet and relatively easy to secure gorilla permits. The 7th of April marks ‘Kwibuka’, an annual ceremony which begins three months of remembrance for the victims of the genocide. During this time the whole nation enters a period of reflection, with a number of events being held in commemoration.
- Expect heavy rains throughout the month.
- Few visitors means it is fairly easy to secure gorilla permits.
- It is the green season for luxury lodges, with much lower prices.
- Good time of year for birding.
- Kwibuka remembrance ceremony on 7th April.
Our view
This is not a great time to visit
Weather in April
Rwanda in May
May is often a transitional season in Rwanda, following on from the rains in April. Heavy bursts of rain can be expected at times, however it will often start to dry up as the month progresses. Any rainy spells are likely to last a few hours rather than all day. With the heavy rain earlier in the year it can often remain muddy underfoot when trekking the gorillas and chimpanzees and it’s advisable to wear gaiters.
Following the rains the air can be clear, without any haziness, and this leads to great photographic opportunities at this time of year. For many of the high-end lodges May is classed as the low season, which can make this month great value for money, with fairly good weather and comparatively low prices.
- Weather can be variable, mostly dry with some rainy spells.
- Be prepared for muddy conditions when trekking the gorillas.
- Good air clarity leads to great photographic opportunities.
- Can be good value for money if you’re looking at a high-end trip.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in May
Rwanda in June
The weather in June can be fantastic and this is one of the best times of year to visit Rwanda. This is the start of the main dry season in Rwanda and the rainfall in June typically averages only around 20mm. It is likely to be warm and dry during the day, however the odd rainy shower remains possible. Conditions for gorilla trekking can be very good, although you are still likely to experience mud underfoot in parts.
This is the peak season for the high-end lodges and prices rise significantly. Rwanda is exceptionally popular between June and September and the luxurious lodges regularly fill up well over a year in advance, so we advise planning early.
- Dry weather can lead to excellent conditions for gorilla trekking.
- High-end lodges increase their prices and trips can be costly.
- Very popular time of year, advance booking is strongly recommended.
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in June
Rwanda in July
July is a great time of year to visit Rwanda, this is in the middle of the longer dry period and conditions for gorilla trekking can be excellent. Expect long dry days, although always with the off-chance of rain at some point during your stay. As with the rest of the year, temperatures are likely to average around 20-25ºC during the day, though nights can be chilly.
July is a very popular time of year to travel to Rwanda and we advise booking at least 12 months ahead, particularly if you’re looking for a high-end trip. Prices at the top end of the market can be very high in July, however many of the mid-range lodges have the same prices throughout the year, making these options great value at this time.
- Excellent conditions with dry weather for much of the month.
- Very popular time to travel with a limited number of gorilla permits.
- Advance booking is required to for the best choice of accommodation.
- High-end trips can be expensive at this time of year.
- Many mid-range lodges have the same price throughout the year.
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in July
Rwanda in August
August is one of the most popular times of year to visit Rwanda. This is the middle of the longer dry season and conditions can be very good. While it can still be muddy underfoot this is unlikely to impact your trek. Our top advice for travel in August is to plan early as many of the more popular lodges will regularly book up well over a year in advance at this time.
Many people visiting Rwanda will choose to combine this with a safari in the Serengeti and August is one of the best months for this. The wildebeest migration is in full swing, with the vast herds being up near the Mara River and river crossings likely.
- Fantastic time to visit with dry weather and great conditions.
- Very popular time to travel, we advise booking early.
- Lodges book up and gorilla permits can be hard to secure.
- Higher prices for the top-end lodges.
- Great time of year to combine with a safari in the Serengeti.
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in August
Rwanda in September
The dry season comes to an end in September, with the rains increasing towards the end of the month. For the most part you are likely to experience dry conditions, but be prepared for rainy showers and cold nights. September remains a popular time to travel, especially for those combining the gorillas with the wildebeest migration.
The Kwita Izina festival (the official naming ceremony for all baby gorillas born in the past year) takes place ever year, usually in September. It’s a time of celebration for everyone involved in their conservation. The exact date varies. Chat to us if you’d like to plan your trip around this event.
- Conditions typically good but expect some rain.
- Popular time to travel and early booking is advised.
- Great time of year to combine gorillas and the wildebeest migration.
- The Kwita Izina festival, usually in September, names baby gorillas.
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in September
Rwanda in October
The short rains have typically started by October with the month’s rainfall averaging around 110mm. This rain normally falls in short, heavy bursts and you’re likely to have plenty of dry spells too. As with the rest of the year, days can be warm, although nights can be cold, and this is especially true around the Volcanoes National Park where lodges set log fires to keep you warm in the evening.
Lots of people choose to visit Rwanda at this time and prices remain high for the top-end lodges. Booking early is recommended, particularly if you plan to stay at one of the smaller, more exclusive lodges around the Volcanoes park.
- Good time of year to travel although with an increased amount of rain.
- Days are warm however nights can get cold.
- October is popular, particularly for the high-end lodges.
- Prices remain high at the top end of the spectrum.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in October
Rwanda in November
The rains typically continue into November and this can be one of the wetter months of the year. This can still be a good time to travel, as there are still likely to be plenty of dry periods and the gorillas can still be trekked. However, expect quite a bit of mud. The high-end lodges drop their prices in November, making it much more affordable for luxury accommodation.
Between November and April there is also a special offer from the parks authorities, providing a discount on your first gorilla permit if you spend at least two nights in one other national park. This special offer combined with lower prices for luxury lodges makes Rwanda great value for money in November.
- One of the wetter months however gorilla trekking is still possible.
- Far less busy, making it easier to secure gorilla permits.
- Reduced prices for high-end accommodation.
- Special offers to encourage travel to multiple national parks.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in November
Rwanda in December
Rwanda has a second short dry season which typically runs from December to January. Conditions at this time can typically be fairly good, although not as ideal as June – August, and you can still expect rain at this time. Many of the forest tracks can be muddy and nights can be cold.
Many people choose to travel to Rwanda over Christmas and New Year and we advise booking early, particularly if you have preferred lodges in mind. The special offer for a your first gorilla permit at a reduced price remains in place for all travellers spending at least two nights in another park, making Rwanda excellent value for money in December.
- Short dry season, however rain is still possible.
- Conditions for gorilla trekking can be good, but expect mud.
- Cold at night, warm clothes are recommended.
- Very popular over Christmas and New Year, early booking advised.
- Special offers make December good value for money.
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in December
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