3 days · Rwanda · Gorilla trek
Rwanda Gorilla Express
The quickest way to meet mountain gorillas. Land in Kigali, drive into the Virunga foothills and spend an unforgettable hour with a gorilla family the next morning, then fly home the day after.
Enquire about this safariDuration
3 days / 2 nights
Route
Kigali · Volcanoes National Park
Best time
June – Sept, Dec – Feb
Ideal for
Short trips · Ages 15+
Gorillas in three days
Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park is only about two and a half hours from Kigali International Airport, which makes it the easiest place in Africa to fit in a gorilla trek. Your private guide meets you on arrival, and after a short stop in Kigali you drive north through the hills to a lodge with views of the volcanoes. Early the next morning you join a small group of trekkers and follow the rangers up through farmland and bamboo forest to a habituated gorilla family. After your hour with them there is time to rest, visit a community project or simply enjoy the view, before you return to Kigali for your flight. It works perfectly on its own, or as an add-on to a safari in Tanzania or Kenya.
Itinerary
Day by day
A sample route. We fit the timings around your flights and secure your gorilla permit as soon as you confirm.
Day 1 · Arrive in Kigali, drive to Volcanoes
Meet your guide at the airport, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial if time allows, then drive about two and a half hours to your lodge near Kinigi.
Day 2 · Gorilla trekking
After an early briefing at park headquarters, trek with rangers to a habituated gorilla family and spend one hour in their company. Afternoon at leisure or a community visit.
Day 3 · Return to Kigali
A relaxed morning, then drive back to Kigali for lunch, a little shopping and your onward flight.
Permits & fitness
Trekkers must be 15 or older. Treks last from one to several hours at altitude, so a reasonable level of fitness helps, and porters can be hired at the start.
Extend your journey
Add golden monkey trekking, a night on Lake Kivu, or combine your trek with a safari in Tanzania, Kenya or Uganda.
Included
— Gorilla trekking permit
— Private vehicle and driver-guide
— Airport transfers
— Full-board accommodation near the park
— Park and ranger fees
— 24/7 support from our team
Not included
— International flights and visas
— Travel insurance (required)
— Porter fees and tips
— Drinks and personal items
Meet the gorillas with us
Permits are limited. Tell us your preferred dates and we will secure your permit, lodge and transfers.
Enquire now