Helicopter flying safari to Volcanoes National Park

A flying safari to Volcanoes National Park is done in a helicopter. All domestic flights in Rwanda are operated by Akagera Aviation and starts from Kigali International Airport to Ruhengeri Airport in Musanze town – the home of Volcanoes National Park. Flights are offered on 4 different helicopter types: Robinsson 44, Augusta Westland 119, Augusta 109S and Augusta Westland 139.

Each of these types of helicopters offer specific number of seats to passengers. There are 3 seats in a Robinsson 44 helicopter while the Augusta Westland 139 helicopter is a 5-seater. Both the Augusta Westland 119 and the Augusta 109S are 6-seater helicopters. Your weight as a passenger should be known in advance to ensure that you get the most suitable helicopter.

All these are comfortable helicopters and you are guaranteed a luxury travel experience to Musanze. After your arrival at the airport in Musanze, you will be welcomed by a Standard Safaris representative. You will be driven to Volcanoes National Park located less than half an hour away on road.

How much is the flight fare?

Flight fare to fly from Kigali International Airport to Musanze is different for each helicopter version. The Robinsson 44 helicopter costs $1,540, while the Augusta Westland helicopter costs $3,025. Meanwhile, the Augusta 109S helicopter will cost you $3,933 and the Augusta 139 helicopter costs $7,563.

What is the flight timetable?

Time taken to fly from Kigali to Musanze varies with the helicopter version you will use. Flights start as early as 08:00 a.m. to 04:30 p.m. everyday. A duration of 30 minutes is spent in a Robinsson 44 helicopter, 25 minutes is spent in an Augusta Westland 119, 30 minutes is spent flying in an Augusta 109S and 25 minutes in an Augusta Westland 139 helicopter.

In case of terrible weather, Akagera Aviation reserves the right to change the flight time or even cancel the flight. There is a payment and cancellation policy with Akagera Aviation and we at Standard Safaris can advice you accordingly. You can also contact us to buy a ticket and also the maximum weight of passengers for the flight.

What to see in Volcanoes National Park on a helicopter flying safari?

Mountain gorillas

These critically endangered great apes are the main attractions in Volcanoes National Park. gorilla trekking tour is the main adventure for you to do as you locate a habituated gorilla group in the forest. The park authorities offer a generous 1 hour for each visitor to spend with the gorilla group if they find it during a gorilla trek.

Golden monkeys

Another highlight in Volcanoes National Park is the old-world monkey species known as golden monkeys. These generally live in troops and you are allowed to track a habituated golden monkey troop in the bamboo forests. Like during a gorilla trek, you are allowed an hour to spend with a golden monkey troop after locating them.

Virunga volcanoes

Boasting 5 out of the 8 Virunga ranges, Volcanoes National Park has earned a reputation as a volcano hiking destination. Volcanoes to see in Volcanoes National Park are Karisimbi, Bisoke, Gahinga, Sabyinyo and Muhabura. These have lovely landscapes, vegetation, birds, primates and plenty of wild mammals. Hiking to the summits of Karisimbi and Bisoke is a key activity.

Dian Fossey tomb

Like the name suggests, this grave is where Dian Fossey was buried after her death in the hands of mysterious murderers. Hiking to the Dian Fossey grave is a precious time to gain knowledge and experience of a prominent primatologist. You will learn about her significant roles in studying and actively participating in the conservation of mountain gorillas in the Virungas.

Batwa community

Adjacent to the forest, is where you will encounter the Batwa Pygmies. Meeting these indigenous people is a great pleasure. They have plenty of stories and experiences to share with you. For instance, they will offer you insight about their lives as former inhabitants of the forest as hunters and food gathers. They can also demonstrate to you how they did this and more.

Iby’iwachu Cultural Village

This is also situated outside Volcanoes National Park and offers plenty of things to see and appreciate. Cultural dances, handcraft making, connecting with indigenous people and plenty of others can be experienced here. Aside from the fun, you can purchase the beautiful crafts and other locally made items to take home as souvenirs.

Why fly instead of driving?

The distance of Volcanoes National Park from Kigali is approximately 109 km by road, which takes about 3 hours while driving. This duration is substantial especially in comparison to a helicopter flight which takes around half an hour. Therefore, transfer to Volcanoes National Park is faster in a helicopter than by road transport.

Flying is the best travel option to spend more time enjoying the activities in the park instead of driving for hours. You also get aerial views of Kigali city and the lovely countryside with plenty of greenery and scenes. Views from above is a unique perspective of Rwanda as you travel to the northwest in luxury.

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.Game drive security is assured.Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.