1 Day Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda






- Overview
- Itinerary
- Inclusions
Overview of 1 Day Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
A 1 Day Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda safari is the perfect option for travelers with limited time who want to experience one of Africa’s most unforgettable wildlife encounters. This exciting day trip starts and ends in Kigali, taking you to Volcanoes National Park, home to the endangered mountain gorillas.
Located about 2.5 hours from Kigali, the park offers one of the easiest and most accessible gorilla trekking experiences in the world. After an early morning drive, you will attend a ranger briefing before heading into the rainforest to search for one of the habituated gorilla families. Once found, visitors are allowed to spend one magical hour observing these gentle giants in their natural habitat.
The trekking experience varies from one to six hours depending on the gorillas’ movements, terrain, and weather conditions. Professional park guides and trackers accompany every group, ensuring both safety and an educational wildlife experience. Gorilla permits currently cost USD 1,500 per person for most international visitors and should be booked well in advance due to limited daily availability.
This one-day adventure is ideal for business travelers, conference delegates, and visitors who want to combine Rwanda’s wildlife with a short stay in Kigali. Besides the incredible wildlife encounter, guests enjoy breathtaking scenery, rolling hills, bamboo forests, and views of the Virunga Volcanoes.
End of 1 Day Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda Tour.
1 Day Gorilla Trekking Rwanda Itinerary
04:30 AM – Pick Up from Kigali
Your professional safari guide will pick you up from your hotel or Kigali International Airport. After a short briefing, begin the scenic drive through Rwanda’s countryside toward Volcanoes National Park.
Along the way, enjoy beautiful landscapes, local villages, and panoramic views of Rwanda’s famous rolling hills.
07:00 AM – Arrive at Kinigi Park Headquarters
Arrive at the park headquarters in Kinigi for registration and the official gorilla trekking briefing conducted by park rangers.
During the briefing, you will learn:
- Gorilla trekking rules.
- Safety guidelines.
- Gorilla conservation efforts.
- Group allocation according to fitness levels.
Visitors may hire local porters to assist with backpacks and provide support during the hike.
08:00 AM – Begin Gorilla Trekking
Transfer to the trekking starting point and enter the forest accompanied by experienced guides and trackers.
The trek may take between one and six hours depending on the location of your assigned gorilla family. Along the trails, you may encounter:
- Golden monkeys.
- Forest birds.
- Unique vegetation.
- Beautiful volcanic landscapes.
The excitement builds as trackers communicate with advance teams to locate the gorillas.
Time with the Mountain Gorillas
Once the gorillas are found, you will spend one unforgettable hour observing them.
Watch as:
- Silverbacks protect their families.
- Mothers care for their infants.
- Juveniles play among the vegetation.
- Family members feed and interact naturally.
Photography is allowed without flash, and guides help ensure a respectful distance from the animals.
01:00 PM – Return from the Forest
After the trek, return to the park headquarters where you will receive your gorilla trekking certificate as a souvenir of your adventure.
Enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant or lodge before beginning the drive back to Kigali.
03:00 PM – Drive Back to Kigali
Relax during the return journey while enjoying the spectacular Rwandan countryside.
Depending on your schedule, optional stops can be arranged for:
- Local craft shops.
- Coffee tasting.
- Cultural experiences.
06:00 PM – Arrival in Kigali
Arrive back in Kigali and transfer to your hotel or Kigali International Airport for your onward journey.
Your unforgettable 1 Day Gorilla Trekking Rwanda adventure comes to an end.
What’s Included
- Gorilla trekking permit.
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle.
- Professional English-speaking guide.
- Park ranger services.
- Bottled drinking water.
- Hotel or airport transfers.
- Gorilla trekking certificate.
Excluded
- International flights.
- Rwanda visa (if applicable).
- Travel insurance.
- Tips and gratuities.
- Personal expenses.
- Alcoholic beverages.
What to Pack
- Waterproof hiking boots.
- Long trousers and long-sleeved shirt.
- Lightweight rain jacket.
- Gardening gloves.
- Small backpack.
- Camera (no flash).
- Sunscreen and insect repellent.
- Reusable water bottle.
- Personal medication.
What Our Clients Say
Verified
Aucun regret Nous avons passé une journée incroyable avec Félix, pick-up très tôt pour arriver a l'heure du lever du soleil a Akagera. Et franchement l'excursion a duré bien plus longtemps que ce que j'imaginais par rapport au prix. Je recommande a 200% !Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Virginie DVerified
Experience of a lifetime with fantastic operator The day began at 4:30 AM when Dodos picked us up from our hotel in Kegali, we arrived at the briefing at about 7 AM where we had a nice cup of tea and were assigned our guide and group of 8 people for the day. The hike itself was more strenuous than I expected, and unfortunately, my daughter was sick so they ended up asking the local village to provide a stretcher to carry her with a rotating group of about 9 guys. It was an extra $200 but well worth it given how challenging it was to navigate the trails. A couple of guys lead with machetes, making space for us to travel about 3 miles uphill. Seeing the gorilla was incredible, it was beyond words to experience them in their natural setting for an hour. I know there are several different operators who organize these tours but I would highly recommend Universal Ventures due to their personal attention and going above and beyond when my daughter was sick. We ended up getting back to the hotel at about 8 PM, so a very long day, but one that we will never forget.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
erg2222Verified
Perfect Rwanda tour that worked around our flight issues We had a fantastic experience in Rwanda with Dodos our guide and Emmanuel from the office! We had to deal with 2 cancelled flights and delayed baggage, and Emmanuel helped us reconfigure our itinerary so that we were still able to see the Genocide Memorial and go gorilla trekking. Dodos patiently waited for us at the airport even until 3am and helped us shop for clothes due to our baggage delay. He saved us quite a bit of money by bargaining with the locals. The arranged accommodations were very nice. Gorilla trekking is a lengthy hike but gratifying with the hour we had to hang out beside the family. Overall, Dodos and Emmanuel made Rwanda one of our most favorite countries we visited, even though our 5-day tour became 3 days. We highly recommend doing a tour with Universal Ventures Rwanda.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
DK Travels the WorldVerified
Magical experience and lovely tour operator I would definitely recommend this experience in general and this operator specifically. They contacted me quickly to discuss arranging for the permit to see the gorillas (and extra fee paid directly to the Rwandan authorities). They also advised on how to prepare and answered my questions. On the day of, a really lovely driver picked me up from my hotel in Kigali on time in a luxurious jeep. He was friendly and encouraging as I was a bit anxious about the hiking which can be intense but my one wasn't that strenuous. It depends what the gorillas are up to and the park guides try to sort people loosely on fitness levels, I think. I hired a porter to carry my bag, and they also helped with uneven ground, which was not needed in this case but could have been very very essential if we had to walk through a steeper part of the park. The park staff then led my small group of tourists to see the gorillas, which was one of the most magical things I have experienced! The family of gorillas were very tolerant of us and we spent the full hour allotted with them (longer can stress them). After the walk back, Dodos, my driver, greeted me with a fancy drink and flip flops so I could get out of my hiking boots. We then had lunch at a restaurant o. The way back to Kigali. Overall, I felt very safe as a single female traveller and there were no unexpected costs.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Rosie HVerified
An Amazing Holidays in Rwanda and Uganda We took a wonderful 19-day trip through Rwanda and Uganda with the travel agency Universal Ventures—a trip tailored specifically to our family. We started planning the entire trip about three months in advance, and communication with the agency was excellent from the very beginning. It was a trip full of powerful experiences, beautiful nature, encounters with local people, and moments we’ll remember for a long time. The agency’s owner, Emmanuel, was very helpful, communicative, and patient from the very beginning, and he always helped us choose the best options for activities and accommodations based on what was most suitable for our family. The agency arranged a car with a driver and guide for us, as well as some of the activity bookings during the trip. We visited Akagera, Volcanoes, Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, and Nyungwe National Parks, as well as Lake Kivu. Our driver (guide) was John Bosco, whom we can highly recommend. He was not only a great driver but also an excellent guide, thanks to whom we experienced the trip much more intensely. He has a vast knowledge of the local flora and fauna, and his knowledge of local birds was truly impressive. We were equally fascinated by his excellent knowledge of the local area—he was able to drive to any location or hotel without using a map or a GPS on his phone. We also greatly appreciated his punctuality: the car was always ready even before the agreed-upon time. The car remained tidy and clean throughout the entire trip, even after driving on dusty roads. John also provided us with valuable information about the duration of each leg of the journey, helped us plan our itinerary better, and thanks to him, we felt safe and well taken care of the entire time. The agreement with the agency was clear and easy to understand. We had the option to choose from several pricing options, and the one we selected was the final price—we weren’t charged any additional fees. The deposit we paid to Universal Ventures in advance was properly accounted for. Any minor issues that arose during our long trip were quickly resolved. We definitely recommend booking a car with a driver for a vacation in Rwanda and Uganda: finding your way around isn’t always easy, the quality of the roads is often very poor—especially in Uganda—and it’s also better to cross the Rwanda/Uganda land border with someone who knows the local conditions. In addition, the driver can help you organize visits to local cultural centers, which will allow you to get to know the country much better. This vacation was unforgettable for us, and we feel that it was thanks to Emmanuel, John Bosco, and the entire Universal Ventures agency that we were able to experience Rwanda and Uganda in such a beautiful, safe, and in-depth way. Thank you so much for the excellent organization, care, and all the experiences that will stay with us for a long time to come. We can wholeheartedly and with great pleasure recommend this agency for a trip through Rwanda and Uganda.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Lenka NVerified
Amazing time seeing Gorillas We had the best time with Mupenzi and Dodos! They made the whole trip unforgettable! There is nothing like seeing Gorillas up close in the wild!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Joel SVerified
Majestic Experience Today was such an amazing day of adventure! Volcanoes National Park is an amazing and ethical way to see these beautiful creatures. Our trekking guide Mupenzi was so kind, fun, and knowledgeable. And our driver, Dodos was phenomenal. He is such a lovely person and incredibly knowledgeable. Highly recommended!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Sami MVerified
Absolutely breathtaking experience! My experience was seamless from the coordination of my pick up and drop off, to the actual excursion! Hands down one of the best experiences of my life! Christian was extremely helpful and welcoming throughout our entire trip, it would not have been the same without him. Seeing the gorillas after the trekking through the thick brush, was absolutely breathtaking! I will definitely be recommending this trip to all my friends and family!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Greg VVerified
100% recommended I was originally in Tanzania for a safari but decided to add the gorilla trek at the end of my trip because the flight was too long to fly to Africa from California again at my age. I booked through Viator. From the beginning, communication with Universal Adventures was positive. They were prompt to answer any questions. And a few days before the excursion, they sent me my driver's name and WhatsApp number. His name is Christian.We communicated through WhatsApp, and he was very prompt to reply back. He was early to pick me up at 4:30am. I had another person in the car. The car was clean. Its a long drive to the meeting place. We stopped for breakfast pastries at a local shop( they take credit cards and had a clean breakfast. We then drove to the meeting place where we met up with our group. There they had hot drinks like coffees, lattes, teas, etc. We then had to drive to the beginning of the mountain. It was a long drive as the roads are not paved. My group was assigned the Isimbi gorilla family and our guide was Jolie. My porter was Adolf. I was the least active one in the group but the crew never made me feel bad. After what I thought was a 4 hr hike (it was really 1 hr and 26 minutes) we found our gorilla family. We had plenty of time to take pictures with them. After we were done, Christian took us to a rooftop restaurant. The food was delicious! I recommend this excursion 100%. The company is awesome and very professional.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
patty eVerified
Gorilla Experience in Rwanda! Easy ride, the trip was one in a life time experience. The driver (Christian) was very nice and kind and made the trip smooth! Everything was great.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Juliet K
