2-Day Best of Rwanda Gorilla Safari

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

Kigali Culture & Journey to the Gorilla Highlands

Your private 4x4 safari vehicle arrives at your Kigali hotel. Begin with a guided visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial for vital historical context.

Depart the capital city for a 2.5-hour drive northwest. Wind through Rwanda’s signature terraced hills, climbing steadily toward the dramatic Virunga Volcanoes line-up.

Arrive in Musanze Province. Check into your mountain forest lodge and enjoy a fresh, locally sourced lunch overlooking the misty peaks.

Visit the Gorilla Guardians Village (Iby’iwacu). Participate in traditional drumming, watch dynamic warrior dances, and learn about historical bow-and-arrow target shooting.

Return to your lodge for dinner. Your private driver-guide will conduct a thorough briefing on tomorrow's trekking protocols, gear check, and expectations.

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)

+4 Photos

+3 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

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

The Face-to-Face Gorilla Encounter & Return to Kigali

Fuel up with a hearty hot breakfast at the lodge. Pack your daypack with at least two liters of water and your lunchbox.

Arrive at the park gate for registration. Enjoy complimentary Rwandan coffee while traditional dancers perform. Rangers assign you to a specific habituated gorilla family based on your physical fitness level.

Enter the bamboo zone with your armed rangers and track trackers. Hike time ranges from 1 to 4 hours depending on where the gorillas nested the previous night.

Once found, drop your hiking sticks and backpacks. Spend exactly 60 minutes standing mere meters away from wild silverbacks, mothers, and playing infants. Photograph their deeply human expressions.

Trek back down to the park boundary. Your guide will present you with an official Rwanda Development Board gorilla trekking certificate.

Enjoy a late lunch back at the lodge or in Musanze town. Drive back down the mountains to Kigali, arriving at Kigali or your hotel.

Main Destination:

Kigali

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.