RWANDA // GORILLA TREK
3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trek
The fastest gorilla trek in Africa. Kigali to the Virungas in two hours on tarmac, trek and out again.
3 Days / 2 Nights
DURATION
$2,020
FROM, PER PERSON
Volcanoes National Park
DESTINATIONS
2 to 8
GROUP SIZE
ABOUT THIS SAFARI
About This 3 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trek
This Rwanda gorilla trek is the quickest way to see mountain gorillas in Africa. Kigali to Volcanoes National Park is about two and a half hours on good tarmac, so you can trek, spend an hour with a gorilla family and be back in Kigali in three days.
The park protects the Rwandan side of the Virunga volcanoes, and the setting beneath five volcanic peaks is spectacular. The first day includes a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which most guests find essential to understanding the country today.
Your gorilla permit is included. The Rwanda Development Board sets the price, currently $1,500 per person, which is higher than Uganda but buys the easiest access. You travel in a private 4×4 with an English speaking driver guide, on full board. For a lower permit price, see the 3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trek from Kigali or our Rwanda page.
AT A GLANCE
Trip Summary
| Detail | This safari |
|---|---|
| Price from | USD 2,020 per person |
| Duration | 3 days / 2 nights |
| Safari style | Gorilla Trekking |
| Countries | Rwanda |
| Parks visited | Volcanoes National Park |
| Starts | Kigali |
| Ends | Kigali |
| Group size | Private departure. Typically 2 to 6 guests per vehicle |
| Best time to go | Jun to Sep and Dec to Feb |
| Difficulty | Challenging |
ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
Your Route, Day By Day
| Day | Route | Overnight | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kigali to Musanze | Lodge, Musanze | L, D |
| 2 | Gorilla trekking | Lodge, Musanze | B, L, D |
| 3 | Musanze to Kigali | Departure | B |
B breakfast, L lunch, D dinner. Accommodation is shown by type and area. We confirm the exact camp or lodge in writing with your quote.
DAY BY DAY
The Full Itinerary
You are met in Kigali for a short city tour, including the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
In the afternoon you drive north to Musanze, about two and a half hours, beneath the Virunga volcanoes. Your guide runs through the trek briefing before dinner.
Activities: Kigali city tour and Genocide Memorial, drive to Musanze
Meals: Lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Musanze
You report to the park office at Kinigi at 7:00 for the ranger briefing and your allocation to a gorilla family. Groups are kept to eight trekkers.
The trek takes from one to six hours depending on where the family has moved, followed by one hour in their company. The afternoon is free, or you can visit the Gorilla Guardians cultural village nearby.
Activities: Gorilla trek with rangers, optional cultural village visit
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner · Overnight: Lodge, Musanze
An optional golden monkey trek in the bamboo forest early in the morning, or a relaxed breakfast.
You then drive back to Kigali, with time for craft shopping before your flight.
Activities: Optional golden monkey trek, drive back to Kigali
Meals: Breakfast · Overnight: Departure day
THE ROUTE
Where This Safari Takes You
Kigali → Musanze → Volcanoes National Park → Kigali. Around 210 km return on surfaced road.
How To Get There
This trip starts and ends in Kigali. Fly into Kigali International Airport (KGL), about 20 minutes from the city centre. Book a flight home in the late afternoon or evening of day 3.
The drive from Kigali to Musanze is about 100 km on tarmac, two to two and a half hours each way. The park office at Kinigi is a short drive from the lodges.
Most visitors can get a Rwanda visa online or on arrival, and fees depend on your nationality. A yellow fever certificate is asked for if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk, such as Kenya or Uganda. See our visa requirements page or ask in your free quote.
WHAT IS COVERED
Included and Not Included
Included
- Gorilla permit, currently 1,500 US dollars
- All park entrance fees
- Kigali city tour and Genocide Memorial
- Professional English speaking driver guide
- 4×4 vehicle throughout
- Full board accommodation
- Kigali airport transfers
Not included
- International flights and Rwanda visa
- Travel insurance including evacuation cover
- Golden monkey permit if added
- Porter fees
- Tips and gratuities
GOOD TO KNOW
Rwanda Gorilla Trek FAQs
The Rwanda Development Board charges $1,500 per person for foreign visitors, and the permit is included in this trip. Prices are set by the board and can change.
Access. The park is two and a half hours from Kigali on good roads, so a gorilla trek fits into a long weekend. Uganda’s permit is cheaper, but Bwindi is a longer journey from Entebbe or Kigali.
Yes. Gorilla trekkers must be 15 or older. The golden monkey trek has a lower age limit, usually 12.
It varies with the family you are given. Some treks take an hour on gentle slopes, others several hours on steep, muddy ground at altitude. Tell the rangers your fitness and they will match you to a suitable family. Porters can be hired at the start.
This trip starts from $2,020 per person, including the gorilla permit. The price depends on the lodge and your group size. Request a free quote for your dates.
Yes, on the morning of day 3. The golden monkey permit is about $100 per person and is not included. Read more about Volcanoes National Park.
NO OBLIGATION
Enquire About This Safari
Send us your dates and we will confirm availability and a firm price within 24 hours.
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TAILOR MADE SAFARI
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