3-Day Rwanda Gorilla Stopover to South Africa

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrival in Kigali and Drive to Volcanoes National Park

You’ll arrive into Kigali International Airport early in the morning (or as early as your flight schedule allows). After clearing immigration and collecting luggage, you’ll meet your driver or guide who will provide a short Kigali orientation drive. Then depart for the Volcanoes National Park area (Musanze / Kinigi region), a journey of approximately 2‑3 hours by road covering roughly 104‑110 km through scenic rolling hills.
Along the way you can stop for refreshments, a viewpoint, or a brief cultural stop in a local village. Upon arrival in Musanze or nearby lodgings, check in, rest, have lunch, and settle in. Later in the afternoon you may visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, explore local markets, or simply enjoy the lodge surroundings with views of volcano peaks. Dinner at the lodge; early rest in preparation for an early trek next day.

Main Destination:

Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)

Best Time To Visit June to August (It is drier and hiking is easier)

High Season June to September (Permits are scarce)

Best Weather June to October (Sunny, but not too hot)

Wildlife in Volcanoes NP

GorillaCommon

ChimpanzeeNone

ElephantRare

BuffaloRare

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

Show more

GiraffeNone

LionNone

LeopardNone

CheetahNone

ZebraNone

WildebeestNone

HippoNone

Accommodation:

Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Volcanoes NP (Gorillas)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Begin with an early breakfast (often before sunrise) and depart for the Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi for a park ranger briefing. Permissions and permit checks happen here. You will join a ranger group and trek through mountain forest and bamboo zones. Depending on which gorilla family you’re assigned, trek duration varies from 1 to 4‑6 hours (terrain can be steep, damp, muddy). Once the gorillas are located, you have up to one hour of observation time.
After the trek, return to lodge for lunch and rest. In the afternoon, there may be an option for a secondary activity such as visiting the twin lakes (Lake Burera & Lake Ruhondo), or walking in nearby forest trails, depending on your energy and time. Dinner in lodge; overnight in the Volcanoes region.

Main Destination:

Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation:

Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Volcanoes NP (Gorillas)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Drive to Kigali and Fly to South Africa

After breakfast, you’ll have a shorter activity before leaving the Volcanoes area. Possible options include: a golden monkey trek (if available), a shorter nature walk, or visit to the Dian Fossey Research Centre or tomb depending on your interests. Then check‑out of the lodge and begin the drive back to Kigali (2‑3 hours). Arrive with enough time to refresh, have lunch in Kigali, and prepare for your international departure to South Africa. Allow buffer time for traffic, last‑minute shopping, customs, and airport transfer. Flight departures in the evening are ideal. If your South Africa flight is early, it might be necessary to fly out that night or optionally spend an extra night in Kigali depending on schedules.

Main Destination:

Kigali International Airport (Kigali, Rwanda)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.