2 Days Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

2 Days Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Overview
Itinerary
Inclusions

Overview of 2 Days Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

A 2 Days Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park safari is one of the most rewarding short wildlife adventures in Rwanda. Designed for travelers with limited time, this itinerary combines an unforgettable encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas and the stunning landscapes of the Virunga Mountains. Unlike a one-day trek, a two-day safari allows you to travel at a relaxed pace, enjoy comfortable accommodation near the park, and immerse yourself in the culture and natural beauty of northern Rwanda.

Located approximately 110 km from Kigali, Volcanoes National Park is Rwanda’s premier wildlife destination and home to over a third of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. The park features lush bamboo forests, volcanic peaks, and diverse wildlife, including golden monkeys, forest elephants, buffaloes, and more than 200 bird species. Gorilla trekking is carefully managed to protect these magnificent primates while offering visitors an intimate wildlife experience.

During this 2-day adventure, you will travel from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park, passing through Rwanda’s famous rolling hills and vibrant rural communities. On the second day, you will join experienced park rangers and trackers to hike through the rainforest in search of a habituated gorilla family. Once located, you will spend one magical hour observing their daily activities, including feeding, grooming, and caring for their young.

This safari is ideal for honeymooners, families with older children, business travelers, photographers, and anyone seeking one of Africa’s greatest wildlife experiences in a short amount of time.

2 Days Gorilla Trekking Volcanoes National Park Itinerary

Day 1: Kigali City Tour and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Your safari begins with a morning pick-up from your hotel or Kigali International Airport by your professional driver-guide. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy a brief Kigali city tour, visiting some of the city’s highlights such as the Kigali Genocide Memorial, local craft markets, or a coffee shop where you can sample Rwanda’s world-famous coffee.

After the city tour, drive north towards Volcanoes National Park. The journey takes approximately 2.5 hours and offers spectacular views of Rwanda’s countryside, terraced hillsides, and traditional villages.

Upon arrival in Musanze, check in at your lodge and enjoy lunch while taking in the beautiful scenery surrounding the Virunga Volcanoes. In the afternoon, you may relax at the lodge or take an optional cultural visit to the Gorilla Guardians Village to learn about Rwanda’s traditions and conservation efforts.

Accommodation Options

Mid-range

Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge

Luxury

Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

Meals: Lunch and Dinner.

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking and Return to Kigali

Wake up early for breakfast before driving to the Kinigi Park Headquarters for registration and the gorilla trekking briefing. Rangers will explain the trekking rules and assign each group to one of the habituated gorilla families based on fitness levels and group size.

At around 8:00 AM, begin your trek through the forest accompanied by experienced guides and trackers. The trek may last anywhere from one to six hours depending on the movement of the gorillas and the assigned family.

As you walk through the rainforest, you may encounter:

Golden monkeys.
Unique bird species.
Beautiful volcanic vegetation.
Spectacular mountain scenery.

The highlight of the safari comes when you finally meet the mountain gorillas. Visitors are allowed to spend one unforgettable hour observing these gentle giants in their natural habitat. Watch the dominant silverback protect his family, mothers care for their infants, and playful juveniles interact with one another.

After the trek, return to the park headquarters to receive your gorilla trekking certificate. Enjoy lunch before beginning the scenic drive back to Kigali.

Arrive in Kigali in the late afternoon, where you will be dropped off at your hotel or Kigali International Airport.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch.

Safari Includes

Gorilla trekking permit.
Private 4×4 safari vehicle.
Professional English-speaking driver-guide.
One night’s accommodation.
Meals as specified.
Bottled drinking water.
Park ranger services.
Hotel and airport transfers.
Gorilla trekking certificate.

Safari Excludes

International flights.
Rwanda visa fees.
Travel insurance.
Alcoholic beverages.
Tips and gratuities.
Personal expenses.
Optional activities.

What to Pack

For a comfortable gorilla trekking experience, we recommend bringing:

Waterproof hiking boots.
Long trousers and long-sleeved shirts.
Rain jacket.
Gardening gloves.
Small backpack.
Camera without flash.
Sunscreen.
Insect repellent.
Drinking water.
Personal medication.

What Our Clients Say

    
 
 
      Verified 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 H 
 
 
 
 
     Verified 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 N 
 
 
 
 
     Verified 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 S 
 
 
 
 
     Verified 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 M 
 
 
 
 
     Verified 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 V 
 
 
 
 
     Verified 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 e 
 
 
 
 
     Verified 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 
 
 
 
 
     Verified Amazing experience seeing the gorillas of Rwanda! Amazing experience seeing the gorillas. Dodos picked me up in Kigali and was very helpful through the whole process. He even had cold drinks when I finished the gorilla trekking. Highly recommend!
  
  Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
    
   zoe457 
 
 
 
 
     Verified Great way to see Kigali! Our guide Christian was knowledgeable and kind. He showed us all the highlights including the moving Genocide Memorial. His personal stories and insights into Rwandan society were invaluable. It was truly a pleasure to spend the day with him in Kigali.
  
  Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
    
   Trevor B 
 
 
 
 
     Verified Gorilla Trekking Me and my partner have always dreamed of doing gorilla trekking so when Christian helped this come to life it was surreal! As tourists we felt incredibly safe and welcomed with Christian he was super knowledgable and happy to share lots of description and reasoning with all our questions to help us learn and understand the culture. We also did a cultural village visit, Golden Monkey Trek, Diane Fossey Museum and women’s centre. All suggested and planned with Christian from Universal Ventures Rawanda. Any requests we had were never too much for Christian he was always happy to help. I would 110% recommend Christian to all my friends and family who I know want to come to Rawanda. Thankyou for making our dreams come true!
  
  Posted on Tripadvisor  
 
    
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