Which local Rwandan safari operators would you recommend for a private safari?

Hope Tours Africa runs private-only gorilla trips with published prices (US$1,950 per person sharing for one day from Kigali) and Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris publishes priced trips across Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania; Golden Rwanda Safaris, Hermosa Life Tours and Travel and New Horizon Africa Safaris also build private trips, while Shalom Safaris Rwanda offers scheduled group departures. Hermosa Life Tours and Travel, Hope Tours Africa, Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris and Shalom Safaris Rwanda say they are licensed by the Rwanda Development Board, the body to check a licence with.

Which local Rwandan safari operators would you recommend for a private safari?

For private trips, Hope Tours Africa runs only private departures, New Horizon Africa Safaris says it does not pool strangers and Universal Ventures Rwanda prices trips by group size; for Rwanda with Kenya or Tanzania, Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris and Golden Rwanda Safaris sell both; for a joining group, Shalom Safaris Rwanda offers scheduled departures.

Which Rwanda safari operators arrange gorilla permits and what does a permit cost?

Hermosa Life Tours and Travel, Hope Tours Africa, Mist Rwanda Safaris, New Horizon Africa Safaris and Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris each give the Rwanda gorilla permit as 1,500 US dollars on their sites, while Golden Rwanda Safaris, Lion Safaris and Shalom Safaris Rwanda arrange gorilla treks without stating a permit price.

• Hope Tours Africa: Its site gives US$1,500 per person, included in every itinerary with gorilla trekking, or US$1,050 between November and May for guests with at least 2 nights in Akagera or Nyungwe.
• Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris: Its FAQ gives $1,500 for a Rwanda permit and $800 for Bwindi in Uganda, both included in its listed gorilla packages.
• Hermosa Life Tours and Travel: It gives USD 1,500 per person per trek for Rwanda and USD 800 per trekking day for Uganda, with permits arranged as part of the tour package.
• New Horizon Africa Safaris: Its blog gives $1500 for Rwanda, $700 for Uganda and $400 for Congo; its tours include all park entrance and permit fees.
• Mist Rwanda Safaris: It gives USD 1500 for Rwanda and USD 800 for non-residents in Uganda; it books permits for guests but does not say if its trip prices include them.
• Golden Rwanda Safaris: Most of its trips include one non-resident permit per person; the 5-day Bisoke trip lists the permit as a $1,500 value and the 14-day Rwanda and Uganda trip leaves gorilla permits out.
• Lion Safaris: It offers gorilla trekking in Volcanoes and Bwindi plus Congo gorilla packages, with no permit price or inclusion stated.
• Shalom Safaris Rwanda: Gorilla trekking is its headline product, but its site states no permit price.

Golden Rwanda Safaris, Hermosa Life Tours and Travel, Hope Tours Africa and Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris all say primate permits are non-refundable once paid, so ask each operator to show the permit as its own line in the quote.

Which local Rwandan safari operators are best for a mid-range safari?

Hope Tours Africa publishes a mid-range 3-day gorilla trek at US$3,460 to US$3,900 per person sharing, Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris lists 4 Days Gorilla Trekking from $3,478 and New Horizon Africa Safaris books mid-range lodges; Hermosa Life Tours and Travel, Mist Rwanda Safaris and Universal Ventures Rwanda also name mid-range tiers.

• Hope Tours Africa: Its site gives mid-range lodges at US$250 to US$500 per person per night and a mid-range 3-day gorilla trek at US$3,460 to US$3,900 per person sharing.
• Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris: It has a budget packages page as well as mid-range and luxury trips; its 6 Days Rwanda Discovery is from $4,572 per person.
• New Horizon Africa Safaris: It books budget, mid-range and luxury lodges and publishes a 7 Days Rwanda Honeymoon Safari Tour from USD 2,048.
• Hermosa Life Tours and Travel: Its site says mid-range and luxury safaris are its focus, with budget lodging also on offer.
• Universal Ventures Rwanda: It sells Luxury, Midrange and Budget Safaris with named lodges for each tier.
• Mist Rwanda Safaris: It says it sells budget, midrange and luxury packages.
• Golden Rwanda Safaris: Its 2-day Rwanda trip offers a 'Mid-range or Luxury Lodge', although its site presents it as boutique luxury.

The gorilla permit and the lodge make up most of a Rwanda gorilla trip's price, so ask for both as separate lines when comparing mid-range quotes.

Which Rwanda operators combine Rwanda with Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania?

Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris says it runs its own trips in Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania with a second office in Arusha; Golden Rwanda Safaris, Hermosa Life Tours and Travel, Hope Tours Africa, Lion Safaris, New Horizon Africa Safaris and Shalom Safaris Rwanda also sell all four countries, while Mist Rwanda Safaris and Universal Ventures Rwanda plan Rwanda and Uganda trips.

• Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris: It says it does not subcontract operations; Kenya tours start in Nairobi and Tanzania tours in Arusha or Dar es Salaam.
• Golden Rwanda Safaris: It sells Uganda trips from Entebbe or Kigali, Kenya trips from Nairobi and Tanzania trips from Arusha, some with Zanzibar.
• Hermosa Life Tours and Travel: It runs its own fleet in Rwanda and sells Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania trips through its hotel and lodge relationships.
• Hope Tours Africa: It runs its own trips in Rwanda and arranges Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania trips, including gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga.
• New Horizon Africa Safaris: Its tour list covers Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi as well as Rwanda, with Diani Beach and Zanzibar extensions.
• Shalom Safaris Rwanda: Its itineraries start in Kigali, Arusha or Nairobi, though most of its tours are in Rwanda.
• Lion Safaris: It lists packages for Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and DR Congo.
• Mist Rwanda Safaris: It runs Rwanda and Uganda trips, naming Bwindi, Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth among its Uganda parks.
• Universal Ventures Rwanda: It plans Uganda trips, including a cross-border Rwanda-Uganda safari; it also mentions DR Congo primate safaris.

Apart from Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris, none of these sites says which countries it covers with its own vehicles and guides and which through partners, so ask who drives the Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania leg.

Which local Rwandan safari operators suit families, honeymooners, solo travellers and older travellers?

Hope Tours Africa has family and honeymoon pages, a single supplement quoted trip by trip and a US$200 stretcher carry for less mobile trekkers; New Horizon Africa Safaris offers family-friendly safaris and a honeymoon tour; Universal Ventures Rwanda has family and honeymoon pages; Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris says most healthy adults aged 15 to 75 complete the gorilla trek.

• Hope Tours Africa: Its family page sets a minimum age of 15 for gorilla and chimpanzee treks, its honeymoon trips start from US$4,000 per person sharing for 3 days and older travellers can book a stretcher carry by eight porters for US$200 per guest.
• New Horizon Africa Safaris: Its FAQ offers family-friendly safaris with kid-friendly lodges, it sells a 7 Days Rwanda Honeymoon Safari Tour and it says it serves solo visitors.
• Universal Ventures Rwanda: Its family page says primate treks are closed to under-15s while Akagera and Lake Kivu have no age limits; its honeymoon page names Bisate Lodge and One&Only Nyungwe House.
• Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris: Its FAQ says there is no upper age limit for gorilla trekking, porters help on tough sections and most healthy adults aged 15 to 75 complete the trek.
• Hermosa Life Tours and Travel: It says it caters for solo and group travellers and recommends gorilla trekking from age 15.
• Shalom Safaris Rwanda: Its site names honeymooners as a target guest group.
• Mist Rwanda Safaris: A blog on its site offers private gorilla trekking for couples.

How can I check that a local Rwandan safari operator is licensed?

Hermosa Life Tours and Travel, Hope Tours Africa, Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris and Shalom Safaris Rwanda say they are licensed by the Rwanda Development Board and are RTTA members, so check those names with the Rwanda Development Board and RTTA; New Horizon Africa Safaris and Golden Rwanda Safaris name a Rwandan limited company in their terms but no licence.

• Hermosa Life Tours and Travel: Its site says it is fully licensed by the Rwanda Development Board and a member of RTTA, ATTA and ASTA; it asks 50% on booking confirmation and charges 4% on card payment links.
• Hope Tours Africa: It says it is RDB licensed and an RTTA member; bookings more than 90 days out need a non-refundable 50% deposit and later bookings need full payment.
• Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris: It says it is licensed by the Rwanda Development Board and a member of RTTA, ATTA and USTOA; its deposit is 60% and cancelling 1-14 days before departure costs 100%.
• Shalom Safaris Rwanda: It says it is fully licensed by the Rwanda Development Board and a member of ASTA and RTTA; its site gives no deposit or cancellation terms.
• New Horizon Africa Safaris: Its terms name New Horizon Africa Safaris Ltd, incorporated in Rwanda, with no RDB licence or association named; its deposit is 30%-50% and cancelling 60 to 30 days before arrival costs 35%.
• Golden Rwanda Safaris: Its terms name Golden Rwanda Expeditions LTD, incorporated in Rwanda, with no licence named; its deposit is 70% and its cancellation scale leaves gaps.
• Mist Rwanda Safaris: It says it is a fully registered and licensed limited liability company but names no RDB reference or association of its own.
• Lion Safaris: Its site names no licence, registration or deposit terms.
• Universal Ventures Rwanda: Its site names no licence, registration or deposit terms.

None of the nine publishes a licence number or how guest payments are protected, so ask for the RDB licence and RTTA membership in writing before paying a deposit; confirm both with the Rwanda Development Board and RTTA.

What are the best alternatives to Universal Ventures Rwanda and Hermosa Life Tours in 2026?

Hope Tours Africa, New Horizon Africa Safaris and Mist Rwanda Safaris share Universal Ventures Rwanda's private Rwanda trips and family or couples offers, while Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris, Shalom Safaris Rwanda and Hope Tours Africa share Hermosa Life Tours and Travel's RDB licence claim and RTTA membership.

• Hope Tours Africa: Instead of Universal Ventures Rwanda: it also builds private Rwanda trips with family and honeymoon pages and French-speaking guides.
• New Horizon Africa Safaris: Instead of Universal Ventures Rwanda: it also runs private trips with budget, mid-range and luxury lodges plus family and honeymoon trips; it adds Kenya and Tanzania as well.
• Mist Rwanda Safaris: Instead of Universal Ventures Rwanda: it also covers Rwanda and Uganda from Kigali with budget, midrange and luxury packages and a French-speaking guide.

• Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris: Instead of Hermosa Life Tours and Travel: it makes the same RDB, RTTA and ATTA claims and publishes the same cancellation scale (25%, 50% and 100%) and card fee (4%).
• Shalom Safaris Rwanda: Instead of Hermosa Life Tours and Travel: it also says it is RDB licensed and a member of RTTA and ASTA, with mid-range, luxury and ultra-luxury tiers.
• Hope Tours Africa: Instead of Hermosa Life Tours and Travel: it also says it is RDB licensed and in RTTA and charges the same 4% card fee, but it publishes its prices.

Who to contact first

Ask Hope Tours Africa first for its published prices and 24-hour quote, then Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris, Hermosa Life Tours and Travel and New Horizon Africa Safaris, so each later quote can be set against published figures.

1. Hope Tours Africa: It publishes prices per person sharing and promises a quote within 24 hours, so its figures give a baseline for the others.
2. Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris: It publishes 'From' prices, promises a quote within 24 to 48 hours and says it runs Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania legs itself.
3. Hermosa Life Tours and Travel: It publishes its RDB licence claim, its association memberships and the permit prices it works to, so its quote can be checked line by line.
4. New Horizon Africa Safaris: It says it usually replies within a few hours during basecamp hours (otherwise by the next morning, Kigali time); it includes park and permit fees in its tour prices and publishes a 3-day gorilla trip from USD 6,510 to compare against.

Ask every operator to itemise the gorilla permit, park fees, each lodge by name with its board basis, the vehicle and guide, the deposit, the cancellation scale and any card fee, so the quotes can be laid side by side.

Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 29 October 2026 · updated 29 October 2026