For travellers who want to spend less time on Rwanda’s roads and more time in the field, helicopter transfers connect Kigali directly to Volcanoes National Park and Akagera National Park — a 30-minute flight in place of a multi-hour drive.
Beyond transfers, scenic tours over the Virunga volcanoes, twin lakes, and Lake Kivu are available as a standalone experience — a genuinely different way to see the country’s landscape.
KIGALI TO VOLCANOES NP~30 minutes, from $300–500 per person one-way
KIGALI TO AKAGERA NPScheduled daily transfer, $280 per seat
SCENIC TOUR30 minutes to 2.5 hours
AKAGERA SCENIC TOUR2 hours, from $1,600, wildlife viewing from the air
Skip the road transfer entirely — fly direct from Kigali to Volcanoes or Akagera National Park.
Scenic Tours
Fly over the Virunga volcanoes, the twin lakes of the north, and Lake Kivu.
Round-Trip Charters
A full-day private charter combining a scenic flight with a park transfer, for round-trip pricing exceeding $1,000.
GOOD TO KNOW
Planning Your Flight
DEPARTURE POINTKigali International Airport
BOOKING LEAD TIME2–4 weeks recommended, subject to aircraft availability
WEATHERFlights are weather-dependent and may be rescheduled
THE DETAILS
What Flying Changes
The road from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park takes about two and a half hours; by helicopter it is around thirty minutes. The difference matters most on the days either side of a trek. Fly in the morning and you can be at your lodge by lunch with a full afternoon free. On departure day, you can trek or hike in the morning and still make an evening international flight out of Kigali.
Helicopter flights in Rwanda are operated by Akagera Aviation, the country’s helicopter operator, from Kigali International Airport. On the scenic routes, the Virunga chain rises straight out of farmland to over 4,500m at Karisimbi, the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo sit below it, and Lake Kivu runs south along the Congo border — views you cannot get from any road.
Luggage is the main practical constraint. Helicopters have strict weight limits per passenger, and soft-sided bags are required. For longer trips we arrange for main luggage to travel by road while you fly with what you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we fly direct to our lodge? Some Volcanoes lodges can arrange a landing nearby; for others you land at a designated helipad and complete the last short stretch by vehicle. We confirm the exact landing point when we book.
What happens if the weather turns? Flights are weather-dependent, especially around the Virungas, where cloud builds quickly. If a flight is grounded, we switch you to a private road transfer so your itinerary still runs.
Can we combine a transfer with a scenic flight? Yes. A round-trip charter can take in the volcanoes, twin lakes and Lake Kivu on the way to or from the park.
How far ahead should we book? Two to four weeks is usually enough outside peak season; book earlier for July, August and December, when aircraft are in higher demand.
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