1 Day Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Gorilla Trekking Experience

Beautiful Scenery & Community

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This 1 Day Gorilla Trek in Rwanda is the only possible Gorilla safari day tour created for tourists already in Rwanda. The tour starts with a very early morning pick-up and ends with a late evening drop-off in Kigali town..This short gorilla-tracking tour will take you to the Volcanoes National Park, home to the endangered mountain gorillas. The two-hour journey starts at 5:00 am from Kigali. You will be welcomed with a briefing about the tour. Thereafter, you enter the forest for the tracking which normally ends by midday. You then return to the base for your trekking certificate and lunch.

Tour Highlights

Early-morning departure from Kigali for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes NP.
Full hour up close with a mountain gorilla family.
Scenic drive through Rwanda’s countryside and misty hills.
Trekking through bamboo forest and adjoining terrain.
Return to Kigali in the evening.

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Day 1: Drive from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park

The 1 Day Gorilla Trek Rwanda starts very early in the morning as early as 5:00 am local time from Kigali city with a pick up by your Rwanda Safari Guide. Inform your hotel to provide early morning breakfast or organize a packed breakfast for you. From your place of residence, you spend about 2 hours on the drive to the park driving through the picturesque backdrop of Rwanda. Arriving at the park, you transfer to the park headquarters in Kinigi where you first have a briefing by on the dos and don’ts of Gorilla trekking in Rwanda by the park warden. By 8:30 am, the park ranger guide will transfer you to the trekking starting point for a Rwanda Gorilla trek.

You will be allocated a Gorilla family to trek alongside 7 other trekkers making a total of 8 people alongside park rangers. The group will take about 2-6 hours in the jungle trekking through the bamboo forest along with armed ranger guides. However, only 1 hour (60 minutes) is spent watching the Mountain Gorillas go along with their daily lives. Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda are known to move for shorter distances and therefore trekking lasts a few hours in most cases. After the 1 hour encounter with the Mountain Gorillas, you return to the park headquarters where you meet your driver-guide for the transfer back to Kigali. Drop off at the place of residence in Kigali city.

Safari Locations

Kigali, Rwanda (start & end point) rwindisafaris.com
Volcanoes National Park (gorilla habitat)

Transport
Travel in a 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof, guided by an English-speaking professional driver.

Trekking Notes

Gorilla & chimpanzee permits included (UWA-issued).
Treks last 2–6 hours, depending on primate location.
Fitness level: moderate, with some uphill forest trekking.

Best Time to Visit
Dry seasons (June–September & December–February) are best for trekking, but safaris run year-round.

What to Pack
Hiking boots, rain jacket, long trousers, insect repellent, gloves, and a reusable water bottle.

Safari Package Includes

Transport in a comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle
Gorilla trekking & chimpanzee tracking permits
Budget lodges with full board (meals included)
Professional English-speaking safari guide
Bottled drinking water throughout the trip
Park entrance fees & ranger services

Excludes

International flights, visas, and travel insurance
Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
Tips and personal expenses (souvenirs, drinks, etc.)