1-Day Gorilla Trekking Tour from Kigali
See the mountain gorillas and be back in Kigali the same night: an early start, the 7 am briefing at Kinigi, one hour with a gorilla family and the drive home.
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Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tours
Private trips from Kigali to the mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park, with your permit secured before you pay.
- Permits secured firstChecked for your date before you pay
- Private tripsYour own 4x4 and driver-guide
- 1 to 10 daysEvery trip starts in Kigali
- Reply in one working dayFrom a Kigali-based planner
Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tours
Private trips from Kigali, each built around a gorilla permit secured for your date. Start with an itinerary below and we will adjust it to suit you.
2-Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour
The shortest way to see mountain gorillas: drive north from Kigali, spend one night near the park, trek the next morning and be back in Kigali by evening.
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3-Day Gorilla Trekking & Golden Monkeys
Track mountain gorillas, then spend a morning with the endangered golden monkeys that live in the park's bamboo zone — two primate encounters from one lodge.
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3-Day Budget Gorilla Trek: Kigali to Bwindi
The most affordable way to see mountain gorillas from Kigali: cross into Uganda for a Bwindi permit at about half the Rwanda price, with simple lodges and a private driver-guide.
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4-Day Gorillas, Golden Monkeys & Dian Fossey Hike
The complete Volcanoes National Park experience: gorillas, golden monkeys and the hike to Dian Fossey's grave at the old Karisoke research camp.
View Tour5-Day Rwanda Gorillas & Akagera Wildlife Safari
A classic short safari: game drives and a boat trip in Akagera, Rwanda's Big Five park, then mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in the Virungas.
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| Tour | Days | Route | Experiences | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Day Gorilla Trekking Tour from Kigali | 1 | Kigali & Volcanoes National Park | Gorilla Trekking | Business travellers and tight schedules |
| 2-Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour | 2 | Kigali & Volcanoes National Park | Gorilla Trekking | Short on time, gorillas only |
| 3-Day Gorilla Trekking & Golden Monkeys | 3 | Volcanoes National Park | Golden Monkey Tracking, Gorilla Trekking | A first gorilla trek at a relaxed pace |
| 3-Day Budget Gorilla Trek: Kigali to Bwindi | 3 | Kigali & Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Uganda) | Gorilla Trekking | Budget travellers starting in Kigali |
| 4-Day Gorillas, Golden Monkeys & Dian Fossey Hike | 4 | Volcanoes National Park | Golden Monkey Tracking, Gorilla Trekking, Hikes & Dian Fossey's Legacy | Primate lovers and keen hikers |
| 5-Day Rwanda Gorillas & Akagera Wildlife Safari | 5 | Kigali, Akagera & Volcanoes NP | Golden Monkey Tracking, Gorilla Trekking, Gorillas & Big Five Safari | A first safari plus gorillas in under a week |
| 6-Day Gorillas, Lake Kivu & Nyungwe Chimpanzees | 6 | Volcanoes NP, Lake Kivu & Nyungwe | Golden Monkey Tracking, Gorilla Trekking, Gorillas & Chimpanzees, Lake Kivu Escapes | Gorillas and chimpanzees with time on the lake |
| 7-Day Rwanda Safari: Gorillas, Chimps & Big Five | 7 | Akagera, Volcanoes NP & Nyungwe | Gorilla Trekking, Gorillas & Big Five Safari, Gorillas & Chimpanzees | Seeing Rwanda's three main parks in a week |
| 8-Day Rwanda Gorillas, Big Five & Lake Kivu | 8 | Kigali, Akagera, Volcanoes NP & Lake Kivu | Golden Monkey Tracking, Gorilla Trekking, Gorillas & Big Five Safari, Kigali & Culture, Lake Kivu Escapes | Safari and gorillas in one trip |
| 10-Day Best of Rwanda Safari | 10 | Akagera, Volcanoes NP, Lake Kivu (Karongi) & Nyungwe | Golden Monkey Tracking, Gorilla Trekking, Gorillas & Big Five Safari, Gorillas & Chimpanzees, Hikes & Dian Fossey's Legacy, Kigali & Culture, Lake Kivu Escapes | Seeing everything without rushing |
How Many Days Do You Need?
1–3 days
Gorillas only
Volcanoes National Park is two and a half hours from Kigali. Two or three days gives you one gorilla trek without rushing; one day works if you leave Kigali before dawn.
Short gorilla trips4–6 days
Gorillas and more primates
Add golden monkeys and the hike to Dian Fossey's grave, or continue south for chimpanzees and the canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest.
Four- to six-day trips7+ days
The best of Rwanda
Combine gorillas with a Big Five safari in Akagera, chimpanzees in Nyungwe and a few quiet days on Lake Kivu.
Week-long safarisYour Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Specialists
Rwanda is the most accessible place in the world to meet mountain gorillas. From Kigali, a paved road climbs north for about two and a half hours to Volcanoes National Park, where around a dozen habituated gorilla families live on the forested slopes of the Virunga volcanoes. Each family can be visited by just eight people a day, for one unforgettable hour.
We are a Kigali-based team that plans private gorilla trekking tours and Rwanda safaris. We secure your permit, choose lodges close to the park, and pair the trek with golden monkeys, Lake Kivu, Nyungwe’s chimpanzees or Akagera’s Big Five — whatever fits your time and budget.
Rwanda Gorilla Permits: What You Need to Know
Every gorilla trek needs a permit from the Rwanda Development Board. It is booked for one person on one date, and the number available each day is small.
- US$1,500 per person for international visitors
- 8 visitors per gorilla family per day
- 1 hour with the gorillas
- Minimum age 15 years
How Booking Works
Tell us your dates
Choose a tour or describe your ideal trip. It takes two minutes.
We check permits
Within one working day you get permit availability, a day-by-day plan and a clear quote.
Confirm and relax
Once you confirm, we buy your gorilla permits in your name and book your lodges.
Meet your guide
Your driver-guide meets you at Kigali airport and stays with you to the end of the trip.
Where You'll Go
Volcanoes National Park
Rwanda's home of the mountain gorilla: five volcanoes, bamboo forest and the old Karisoke research camp of Dian Fossey.
Nyungwe National Park
Ancient montane rainforest in the south-west: chimpanzees, 13 primate species and a walkway through the canopy.
Akagera National Park
Rwanda's Big Five savannah park in the east: lions, rhinos, elephants, game drives and boat trips on Lake Ihema.
Lake Kivu
Beaches, islands and coffee farms on one of Africa's Great Lakes — the ideal rest stop after gorilla trekking.
Trips by Interest
Gorilla Trekking
Short, private trips from Kigali to the mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park — from two days.
Golden Monkey Tracking
Add a morning with the endangered golden monkeys that live in the bamboo forests of the Virungas.
Gorillas & Chimpanzees
Combine the Virungas with Nyungwe's chimpanzees, colobus monkeys and canopy walkway.
Gorillas & Big Five Safari
Pair your gorilla trek with game drives and a boat safari in Akagera, Rwanda's Big Five park.
Lake Kivu Escapes
Rest after trekking on the beaches and islands of one of Africa's Great Lakes.
Hikes & Dian Fossey's Legacy
Hike to the Karisoke research camp, the Bisoke crater lake or the summit of Karisimbi.
Why Travel with Us
US$1,500 Permit, Secured First
We check permit availability for your date before you pay, and build the trip around it.
Private Vehicle & Guide
Your own 4x4 and English-speaking driver-guide from Kigali, on your dates.
Conservation Built In
Gorilla permits fund rangers, vets and community projects around the park.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Talk to a Kigali-based trip planner. We check gorilla permit availability for your dates and suggest the trip that fits, with no obligation.
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Gorilla Trekking Questions
How much does gorilla trekking in Rwanda cost?
The gorilla permit is US$1,500 per person for international visitors, set by the Rwanda Development Board. Transport, lodges and other activities are extra and depend on your choices; we quote every trip individually. Read the permit guide.
How far is Volcanoes National Park from Kigali?
About 110 km, or roughly two and a half hours by road, to the park headquarters at Kinigi.
How long do you spend with the gorillas?
One hour, once your group reaches the family. The hike to find them can take from about one hour to five or more each way.
What is the best time to go?
Gorilla trekking runs all year. June to September and December to February are drier; the wet months are greener and quieter. See month by month.
