Kigali: Mountain Gorilla Trekking Safari & Volcanoes Park
Four hours in the forest with the Silverbacks of Rwanda
You wake at 4:30am and drive two hours north to Volcanoes National Park, where a ranger briefs your group on gorilla-tracking protocol. After a strenuous 1–8 hour trek through the forest, you spend an hour watching a family of mountain gorillas in their routine: playing, feeding, being guarded by the Silverback. Lunch and the gorilla permit are included. Transport back to Kigali happens in the afternoon.
Step-by-step itinerary
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes Park
- Wake up early at 4:30 am
- Drive 112 km to Volcanoes National Park
- Stop for pictures and coffee
- Arrive at park headquarters at 8:30 am
- Attend ranger briefing on tracking rules
- Join tracking groups and enter forest
- Trek 1 to 8 hours to find gorillas
- Observe mountain gorillas' daily activities
What’s included
Your day includes early-morning pickup and 4x4 transport for the 112-kilometer drive to Volcanoes National Park in Musanze province, a ranger briefing at park headquarters, the gorilla permit, guiding during the trek, lunch, soft drinks, and return transport to Kigali. All taxes are included.
Times
- Every day 04:00
Before you book
Operated by Shalom Safaris
Prices and times updated 5 days ago
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The experience
So you're laughing because you set an alarm for 4:30am and actually got up, and now you're in a 4x4 heading 112 kilometers north from Kigali toward Volcanoes National Park in Musanze province. The drive winds through tea plantations and villages, and there are photo stops along the way if you want them, and coffee, which helps. By 8:30am you're at the park headquarters in Kinigi Village where a ranger walks your group through the rules: stay ten meters back, no flash photography, keep your voice down. Then you're split into smaller groups and sent into the forest.
The trek itself is the thing nobody quite prepares you for. It's strenuous (the terrain is steep, the vegetation is thick, and you're climbing at altitude), but the moment you hear the rustling and see the Silverback emerge, everything else stops mattering. The gorillas move in family groups, sometimes ten or more, and they're just going about their day: juveniles wrestling, mothers nursing, the Silverback keeping watch. You get an hour with them minimum, sometimes longer depending on where they'd nested the night before. The whole experience, from the moment you leave Kigali to when you're back in the vehicle, is a full day. The 112-kilometer drive each way is part of it, and the ranger talks through the ecology and behavior the whole time so you're learning as you go.
Lunch happens after you come down, and the permit is included in the price, which matters because gorilla permits aren't cheap and they're not always available. The 4x4 transport is non-negotiable here: the roads aren't paved once you leave the main highway, and you need the clearance. By evening you're back in Kigali, tired in the way that feels earned.
Is this one for you?Right for travelers with moderate to strong fitness who want to see mountain gorillas without arranging permits or transport themselves. The early 4:30am start and strenuous trek mean you're committing a full day, which is exactly what it takes to reach the gorillas and spend an hour with them in the forest.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, French and Chinese.
How long is the actual gorilla trek?
Between one and eight hours, depending on where the gorillas nested the previous night. The hike is strenuous and involves steep terrain at altitude.
What time does the day start?
Pickup is at 4:30am for the drive to Volcanoes National Park. You reach the park headquarters by 8:30am for a ranger briefing before trekking.
Is the gorilla permit included?
Yes, the permit is included in the tour price and is subject to availability. Permits are non-refundable.
How far is Volcanoes National Park from Kigali?
It's 112 kilometers north, in Musanze province. The drive takes roughly two hours each way.
What's included in the price?
Gorilla permit, 4x4 ground transportation, ranger guiding, lunch, soft drinks, and all taxes.
Is this tour physically demanding?
Yes. The trek involves steep hiking at altitude and is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy. Moderate physical fitness is required.
Kigali: Mountain Gorilla Trekking Safari & Volcanoes Park
6h · EN · FR +1 · at your hotel
from US$ 2,650 per person
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