6-Day Rwanda Gorilla & Chimpanzee Safari
$7,200 / personPrivate · lowest rate, US$, subject to availability
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Rwanda
3-Day Rwanda Gorilla Safari
The most direct route to a mountain gorilla trek: a Kigali city tour on arrival, one trek in Volcanoes National Park, and a flight home two days later.
Duration3 days2 nights
From$2,600per person sharing, US$. Estimate, subject to availability
Trip overview
A private safari that opens with a Kigali city tour and a visit to the Genocide Memorial, before a scenic drive to Ruhengeri, the gateway to Volcanoes National Park. One full day is set aside for the gorilla trek itself.
CountryRwandaRwanda
Duration3 days2 nights
ArrangementPrivateyour own vehicle and guide
Starts & endsKigali
Best timeJun – Sep
From$2,600Per person sharing, in US dollars. An indicative starting price: your exact rate is quoted for your dates and party size, subject to availability. All prices shown are estimates. Your final price is confirmed in your written quote.
Map route
The route, stop by stop
1
Kigali
Day 1 · City tour
2
Volcanoes NP
Days 1 to 2 · 1 night
3
Kigali
Days 2 to 3 · Ends here
What you are likely to see
Mountain gorilla
Golden monkey
Solid tone means often seen on this route. Outline means possible, and worth the patience. Sightings vary with season and luck, and nothing wild is guaranteed.
Best months to travel
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best
Quieter
Green season
Day by day
3 days, in order
Each day lists the route, the meals included and the lodge for that night. Ask us for the expected driving time on any day.
01
Kigali to Volcanoes National Park
Kigali to Volcanoes National Park
Rwanda's story is told first in Kigali. A city tour shows a capital that is clean, green and orderly, spread across its hills, and a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where more than 250,000 victims of the 1994 genocide are buried, gives a sobering and necessary understanding of the country's past and its remarkable recovery.
Lunch is at a local restaurant, and then a scenic three hour drive through the Rwandan countryside, past terraced hillsides and banana groves, reaches Ruhengeri, the gateway to Volcanoes National Park, with the Virunga volcanoes rising ahead.
Kigali city tourGenocide MemorialDrive to Ruhengeri
Day 12 photos
Accommodation
Night 1 of 2
10 photos
One & Only Gorilla’s Nest
Edge of Volcanoes National Park, northern Rwanda Lodge · 10 photos
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One&Only Gorilla’s Nest sits on the edge of Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda, close to the starting points for mountain gorilla trekking in the Virunga volcanoes. Accommodation is in secluded suites and treehouse style rooms raised among eucalyptus trees above lush gardens, giving a feeling of being tucked into the forest. Each stay comes […]
Night 1 of 2 near Volcanoes National Park, at a property such as One & Only Gorilla's Nest. The exact lodge is confirmed with the final itinerary.
02
Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
An early transfer reaches the park headquarters at Kinigi, where the trekking groups are briefed and assigned a gorilla family. The trek itself can take anything from two to six hours, climbing through farmland, bamboo and cloud forest to wherever the family is found that morning.
Then the hour with them begins, and it passes very quickly: the silverback's calm weight, the young ones playing, the sheer closeness of it all. In the afternoon the road returns to Kigali for the last night.
Full day trekDrive to Kigali
Accommodation
One night
8 photos
Kigali Serena Hotel
Central Kigali, near the business district Hotel · 8 photos
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Kigali Serena Hotel is a well established city hotel on one of Kigali’s central boulevards, close to the business district and an easy base for exploring Rwanda’s clean, green capital. It is a natural choice for the first or last night of a Rwanda journey, before heading north to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking […]
One night in Kigali, at a property such as Kigali Serena Hotel. The exact hotel is confirmed with the final itinerary.
03
Kigali
Departure
Breakfast at the hotel, and then the transfer to Kigali International Airport for the international departure.
Airport transfer
Accommodation
No overnightNo overnight. Departure timed to the international flight.
The price
The price, in full
Written plainly so there are no surprises at the airport. Anything optional can be added to the quote before you pay.
Included
Already in the price you see.
- Domestic flights and transfers
- Accommodation as specified
- All meals as indicated
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Kigali City Tour and Genocide Memorial visit
- Park entry fees
Not included
Budget for these separately.
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses, including tips
- Drinks and meals not mentioned
Before you book
Questions, answered
What travellers ask us most about a safari like this one. Anything else, ask below and a specialist in Nairobi replies within one business day.
How is this different from the 6-Day Rwanda Gorilla & Chimpanzee Safari?
This shorter route covers gorilla trekking and Kigali only, with no Nyungwe Forest chimpanzee trek or Lake Kivu leg. The 6-day version adds both.
Is this a private safari?
Yes. This safari is private: your own vehicle and guide for the whole trip, and we never merge your party with another to cut costs.
How do we book, and how much is the deposit?
Press Book this safari. You can hold your dates for three days without paying while a specialist checks availability with the lodges and parks, or pay a deposit of 30, 40 or 50 percent, or the full amount, by credit or debit card through Pesapal. You can also pay by bank transfer, or in person at our Nairobi office by card. The standard schedule is a 30 percent deposit to confirm and the balance 60 days before arrival; bookings made within 60 days of departure, and gorilla or chimpanzee permits, are paid in full at booking. Card details go to Pesapal, never to Volcan.
Is the gorilla permit included, and what does it cost?
If the permit is part of this safari it is listed under The price, in full, above. Permits are sold by the national park authorities, at the time of writing US$1,500 per person in Rwanda per trek, and they cannot be refunded once issued, which is why they are charged in full whenever a booking is cancelled.
How fit do we need to be for gorilla trekking?
A trek can take anything from an hour to most of the day, on steep and often muddy forest trails at altitude. A reasonable level of fitness helps, the pace is set by the group, and porters can be hired at the start of the trail to carry your bag and give you a hand on the steep sections.
Is there a minimum age, and how far ahead should we book?
The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15, in both Uganda and Rwanda. Each gorilla family can be visited by only eight people a day, so permits for the busiest months, June to September and December to February, can sell out months ahead. Six months or more in advance is safest.
Is there a luggage limit on the flights?
Light aircraft on safari routes usually allow about 15 kg per person, hand luggage included, in a soft-sided bag without wheels or a frame. We confirm the exact allowance for your flights, and anything you do not need on safari can usually be stored until you return.
Do we need a visa?
Rwanda: visas are issued on arrival and online through irembo.gov.rw. Rules depend on your passport and change from time to time, so check them before you book flights, and always apply through the official government portal, never a third-party agent. We tell you what applies to your route when we confirm your trip.
Enquire
Plan this safari with us
Send your dates and who is travelling. A specialist checks availability with the lodges and parks and replies within one business day with an itemised price.
- Free, and no obligation
- Ask about changing the dates, lodges or pace
- Answered by the team in Nairobi who plan the trip
Availability
3-Day Rwanda Gorilla Safari
Dates are held for 72 hours without payment while you check flights. Nothing is charged until the itinerary is confirmed in writing.
From
$2,600
Per person sharing, in US dollars. An indicative starting price: your exact rate is quoted for your dates and party size, subject to availability. All prices shown are estimates. Your final price is confirmed in your written quote.
Prices are for guidance and are confirmed against current lodge and park rates before any payment.
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All prices shown are estimates. Your final price is confirmed in your written quote.
