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Arrive Africa Safaris
3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

Private Journey • Rwanda

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

View Itinerary

Overview

About this journey

Experience the adventure of a lifetime on this 3-Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari, designed to bring you face-to-face with the endangered mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. This unforgettable journey combines breathtaking scenery, thrilling wildlife encounters, and authentic cultural experiences in the heart of Rwanda, the "Land of a Thousand Hills." Perfect for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers, this safari offers an incredible opportunity to observe one of the world's rarest primates in its natural habitat.

Safari Highlights

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Scenic drive through Rwanda's beautiful countryside

Optional visit to the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo

Community walk and cultural performances

Kigali city tour (time permitting)

Professional English-speaking safari guide

Comfortable accommodation near Volcanoes National Park

Highlights

What you'll experience

  • Rwanda's gorilla trekking permit grants exactly sixty minutes inside the group's range. Our guides time the approach so you arrive when the family is most settled — usually mid-morning, when the silverback is feeding and the young ones are at their most curious.

  • From the briefing clearing at the park headquarters in Kinigi, Karisimbi and Bisoke rise directly above you. Before the trek begins there is a moment — steam lifting off the potato fields, hadada ibises crossing the ridge — that no amount of planning can manufacture.

  • After your gorilla trek, an optional late-afternoon walk targets the golden monkey — a species found only in the Albertine Rift's bamboo belt. Their flame-orange patches catch the last light in a way that stops conversation dead.

  • A guided walk to the Karisoke Research Centre ruins and Fossey's grave on the slopes of Bisoke connects the science behind modern gorilla conservation to the landscape she gave her life to protect.

  • A short drive from the park boundary, lava tubes formed by ancient volcanic activity stretch for more than two kilometres underground. Your guide carries a lantern; the cave ceiling carries thousands of small bats.

Why choose us

Why choose a Private Journey?

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is one of the most carefully managed wildlife encounters on the continent. Here is why we organise it the way we do.

Permit Secured, No Guesswork

Rwanda gorilla permits sell out months in advance. We hold allocations year-round and lock your permit the day you confirm, so you travel knowing your trek date is certain.

Guides Who Know the Families

Our lead guide Samuel Mugisha has worked with the habituated groups in Volcanoes for eleven years. He reads behaviour, briefs you on what to watch for, and positions you so every member of your party gets an unobstructed view.

Kept Small by Design

We never combine two parties into a single vehicle or share a trek slot with another operator. Your group of up to six moves at its own pace, which matters most on the steep upper slopes.

Itinerary

your day-by-day journey

Day 1Arrival in Kigali – Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Upon your arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your professional driver-guide from Arrive Africa Safaris. After a short briefing about your safari, begin your journey north to Volcanoes National Park, located approximately 80 km from Kigali, a scenic drive of about 2 to 3 hours. If your flight arrives early, enjoy a guided tour of Kigali, one of Africa's cleanest and safest cities. Depending on the available time, you may visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, local craft markets, or the Rwanda Art Museum before stopping for lunch.

Continue through Rwanda's picturesque countryside, passing rolling hills, tea plantations, and traditional villages before arriving at your lodge near Volcanoes National Park. Spend the evening relaxing and preparing for the next day's unforgettable gorilla trekking adventure.

Accommodation Options: Budget: Muhabura Hotel, Mid-range: Le Bamboo Gorilla Lodge, Luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel

Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner

Lunch, Dinner

Day 2Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park – Twin Lakes or Cultural Experience

After an early breakfast, your guide will transfer you to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a briefing by Rwanda Development Board park rangers. During the briefing, you'll learn about gorilla trekking regulations, safety procedures, and conservation efforts before being assigned to one of the park's habituated gorilla families. Accompanied by experienced guides and trackers, begin your trek through the lush bamboo forests and volcanic slopes of the Virunga Mountains. Depending on the location of the gorilla family, the trek may take between 1 and 6 hours.

Once the gorillas are located, you'll spend one magical hour observing these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. Watch them feed, groom one another, care for their young, and interact as a family. This close encounter with endangered mountain gorillas is one of Africa's most extraordinary wildlife experiences.

While trekking, you may also encounter other wildlife, including golden monkeys, forest elephants, buffaloes, and numerous bird species that inhabit the park. Return to the lodge for lunch and some relaxation. In the afternoon, choose one of the following optional activities:

Visit the beautiful Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, surrounded by rolling hills and offering spectacular views of the Virunga Volcanoes. Take a guided community walk to meet local residents, learn about traditional Rwandan culture, and enjoy vibrant music and dance performances. Relax at your lodge while enjoying the peaceful mountain scenery. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation Options

Mid-range: Le Bamboo Gorilla Lodge

Luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3Return to Kigali – Departure

After breakfast, check out of your lodge and begin the drive back to Kigali. Depending on your flight schedule, enjoy some free time to explore Kigali. Visit local craft markets for handmade souvenirs, baskets, wood carvings, paintings, and jewelry. If time allows, you may also visit the Pottery Project, the Franco-Rwandan Cultural Centre, or other interesting attractions around the city. After lunch, your guide will transfer you to Kigali International Airport in time for your departure flight, bringing your unforgettable Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari to a close.

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

Safari Includes

Airport transfers

Transportation in a comfortable 4x4 safari vehicle

Professional English-speaking driver/guide

Gorilla trekking permit

Park entrance fees

Two nights' accommodation

Meals as indicated

Bottled drinking water during the safari

Safari Excludes

International flights

Rwanda visa (where applicable)

Travel insurance

Alcoholic and soft drinks

Tips and gratuities

Personal expenses such as laundry, souvenirs, and telephone calls

Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary

End of Your 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

Breakfast

Extensions

+3 Days

Nyungwe Forest Canopy & Chimpanzees

Continue south from Kigali to Nyungwe National Park for chimpanzee tracking and the 200-metre suspension canopy walkway over primary forest. Three additional nights bring the total trip to six days.

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+2 Days

Bwindi Cross-Border Trek

Cross into Uganda for a second gorilla permit in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest — two different countries, two different gorilla families, one continuous trip. We handle the border logistics.

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+1 Days

Kigali City Day

A full day in Kigali before or after the trek: the Genocide Memorial, Kimironko market, and lunch at a rooftop restaurant above the city's red-tiled hills. A quiet way to open or close the trip.

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Dates & Prices

Prices in USD, including internal air, per person, double occupancy.

  • Apr 6 – Apr 8
    $2,950Available
  • Jun 15 – Jun 17
    $2,950Available
  • Aug 3 – Aug 5
    $3,150Available
  • Oct 12 – Oct 14
    $2,950Available

Minimum Age

15 years (Rwanda gorilla trekking minimum age requirement)

Safari Duffel

Soft-sided bag recommended; 15 kg luggage limit for any light-aircraft extensions

First Group Event

Welcome dinner and trek briefing, Day 1 evening at Kigezi Highland Camp

Last Group Event

Departure transfer from Musanze, Day 3 after breakfast

Guaranteed Departures

All departures above are private and run with a minimum of 1 guest — no minimum group size required.

Alternate Sightseeing

If a gorilla trek is interrupted by extreme weather or a park management decision, we will work with Rwanda Development Board to reschedule your permit or offer equivalent in-park activity. Permit costs are non-refundable once issued under park rules.

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