One Night in the Virungas, One Hour with a Mountain Gorilla Family
Gorilla permit US$1,500 pp · trip price quoted for your dates
Volcanoes National Park is only about two and a half hours’ drive from Kigali, which makes Rwanda the easiest place in Africa to fit gorilla trekking into a short stay. This two-day trip is built around that advantage: you travel north on day one, sleep close to the park headquarters at Kinigi, and are at the 7:00 am briefing without a pre-dawn scramble.
On the trek, park rangers assign you to one of the habituated gorilla families based on your fitness. Hikes range from about one hour to five or more each way, and once you reach the family you have one hour with them — watching a silverback feed, juveniles wrestle and mothers groom their young at around seven metres. You return to Kigali the same afternoon, in time for an evening flight or another night in the city.
Photo: Lionpock, CC BY-SA 4.0
Trip Highlights
A Full Hour with Mountain Gorillas
Trek with rangers and trackers to one of around a dozen habituated families in Volcanoes National Park, where the visit is capped at eight people per family per day.
Short Transfer, Easy Logistics
Kigali to Kinigi is roughly 110 km on a good paved road — no internal flight, no border crossing, no long drive after your trek.
A Night Close to the Park
Staying near Kinigi means a relaxed start on trek day and an evening view of the volcanoes from your lodge.
Your Permit Supports Conservation
Gorilla permit fees pay for ranger patrols and veterinary care, and a share of park revenue funds schools, clinics and water projects around the park. How permits work.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1Kigali to Volcanoes National Park
Your driver-guide collects you from Kigali International Airport or your hotel. The route north climbs through terraced hills and tea and potato farms to Musanze, the gateway town for the park. Depending on your arrival time, there is a chance to stop at the Kigali Genocide Memorial before leaving the city, or to walk around Musanze's market in the afternoon. Your guide runs through the next day's plan — what to wear, what to carry and how the trekking groups are assigned — before dinner at your lodge.
Day 2Gorilla trekking and return to Kigali
After an early breakfast you drive to the park headquarters at Kinigi for the 7:00 am briefing. Rangers allocate visitors to gorilla families; tell your guide beforehand if you would prefer a shorter or longer hike. The trek starts at the edge of the farmland and climbs into bamboo and montane forest, with trackers in radio contact with the rangers who have located the family. Once you reach them, you have one hour. After the trek you collect your certificate, have lunch at your lodge or a packed lunch, and drive back to Kigali — arriving in the late afternoon or early evening for your onward flight or hotel.
Accommodation
We match lodges to your budget. These are examples we use on this trip; we will suggest alternatives if they are full.
What's Included
Included
- Gorilla permit (US$1,500 per person), booked in your name
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof and an English-speaking driver-guide
- Airport or Kigali hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Accommodation at your chosen lodge level, with meals as listed each day
- Park entry fees for the activities named in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water in the vehicle
- Help with permits, timings and pre-trip questions from our Kigali office
Not included
- International flights and your Rwanda visa
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended — it should cover medical evacuation)
- Porter fees on trek days and tips for guides, trackers and lodge staff
- Drinks at lodges, laundry and personal purchases
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
Physical Requirements
Gorilla trekking is a hike at altitude — trailheads sit around 2,500 metres — on steep, often muddy paths through dense vegetation. You do not need to be an athlete, but you should be comfortable walking uphill for two to three hours with breaks. Porters can carry your daypack and give you a hand on steep sections, and walking sticks are provided at the start. The minimum age for gorilla trekking in Rwanda is 15.
Request This Trip
Tell us when you would like to travel. We will check gorilla permit availability for your dates and send a quote within one working day. No obligation.
Why Travel with Us?
Rwanda specialists, based in Kigali
We plan Rwanda trips and Rwanda–Uganda combinations, so our advice on permits, lodges and timings is current and first-hand.
Permits checked before you pay
We confirm gorilla permit availability for your date before asking you to pay for it, then build the itinerary around the permit.
Private trips only
Your own vehicle and driver-guide, on your dates, at your pace — no shared minibuses and no fixed departures.
Honest advice on trek difficulty
Your guide talks to the rangers at the briefing so the gorilla family you visit suits your fitness as closely as possible.
Lodges chosen for location
We favour lodges close to the Kinigi park headquarters, so trek mornings start calmly rather than before dawn.
Conservation and community
Every permit funds park protection and community projects around Volcanoes National Park, and we work with local guides and porters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is two days enough for gorilla trekking in Rwanda?
Yes. Because Volcanoes National Park is about two and a half hours from Kigali, two days is enough for one gorilla trek without rushing. Add a day if you want golden monkey tracking or a day to rest after the hike.
Can I do this as a day trip from Kigali?
It is possible, but you would need to leave Kigali around 4:00 am to reach the 7:00 am briefing. Most people find the overnight stay far more comfortable, especially if the trek turns out to be a long one.
When should I book the gorilla permit?
As soon as your dates are fixed. Permits for June to September and the December holidays can sell out months ahead. We confirm availability for your date before you pay for the permit.
