About This Journey
For travellers short on time, Rwanda offers the most accessible gorilla trek in Africa. Volcanoes National Park — the Rwandan flank of the Virunga Massif, where Dian Fossey did her landmark research — sits just two to three hours' drive from Kigali International Airport, making a long-weekend gorilla safari genuinely possible.
Over four days you'll trek a habituated mountain gorilla family for one unforgettable hour, track the playful golden monkeys found only in these bamboo forests, and spend time in Kigali, one of Africa's cleanest and safest capitals, whose Genocide Memorial gives essential context to the country's remarkable recovery.
Every departure is private and led by an expert guide, with accommodation hand-picked at the foot of the volcanoes. It is a short trip, but an extraordinarily rich one.
Trip Highlights
- A gorilla-trekking permit and one hour with a habituated family in Volcanoes National Park
- Golden monkey tracking in the bamboo forests of the Virungas
- Walk in the footsteps of Dian Fossey on the edge of the Karisoke research area
- A guided tour of Kigali and its moving Genocide Memorial
- Dramatic scenery beneath a chain of five volcanoes
- Short transfers — the least travel time of any gorilla safari
Day by Day
Land at Kigali International Airport, where your guide meets you for a tour of one of Africa's tidiest and most welcoming capitals.
Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a powerful and essential introduction to Rwanda's history and its extraordinary recovery, before settling into your hotel for the evening.
- Overnight
- Kigali Serena Hotel
- Meals
- Dinner
Drive north through Rwanda's beautiful terraced hills — the 'land of a thousand hills' — to Musanze, at the foot of the Virunga volcanoes. The journey takes around two to three hours on good tarmac.
Spend the afternoon relaxing at your lodge with the volcanoes as a backdrop, or add an optional visit to the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo or a local community experience.
- Overnight
- Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After an early briefing at park headquarters in Kinigi, set off with rangers and trackers in search of a habituated gorilla family. Treks range from one to several hours through bamboo and mountain forest, depending on where the gorillas have moved overnight.
When you reach them, you have one magical hour in their presence — silverbacks, mothers, and youngsters going about their day at close range. Porters are available to carry your pack and help on the trail. Return to the lodge in the afternoon to celebrate.
- Overnight
- Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Start with an optional golden monkey trek — a lively, photogenic encounter with a species found only in these bamboo forests — or a hike toward Dian Fossey's Karisoke research site for the more energetic.
Afterwards, drive back to Kigali for last-minute shopping at a craft cooperative before your departure flight home, or continue on to a wider East Africa add-on.
- Meals
- Breakfast
What's Included
Included
- 3 nights' accommodation in hand-picked lodges and hotels
- All meals as indicated in the itinerary (B/L/D)
- Rwanda gorilla trekking permit (1 per person)
- Private expert English-speaking guide throughout
- Guided Kigali city tour and Genocide Memorial visit
- All park and conservation fees for the gorilla trek
- Airport transfers and bottled water in the vehicle
Not Included
- International flights to and from Kigali
- Rwanda entry visa
- Travel and medical insurance
- Golden monkey permit and optional activities
- Porter fees, gratuities, and personal expenses
- Drinks and items of a personal nature
Accommodation
Kinigi Guest House
Kinigi, Volcanoes NP (Budget)Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Kinigi, Volcanoes NP (Mid-Range)Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Musanze, Volcanoes NP (Mid-Range)Bisate Lodge
Volcanoes NP (Luxury)Ready to Plan This Safari?
Every trip we run is private and tailored around you — your dates, your pace, your budget. Tell us what you have in mind and one of our safari planners will craft it into a detailed, costed proposal.
Rwanda gorilla permits are US$1,500 per person and strictly limited each day — we secure yours as soon as your trip is confirmed. Prices are based on two people sharing; contact us for current rates and single-supplement pricing.
