1 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour

1 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour Overview

A 1 day Rwanda gorilla trekking tour is the best if you have a tight schedule or budget and you want to visit a gorilla group in Volcanoes National Park. This short gorilla tour packages offers a lifetime opportunity for you to visit mountain gorillas right in the wild regardless of your schedule or budget. Volcanoes National Park is Rwanda’s only safari park to go to for gorilla trekking.

Located in the Northwestern Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park a 160sq.kms conservancy area is a home to a section of the world’s rare mountain gorillas. Fewer than 1963 of these unique apes still survive in the African jungles, and only in Rwanda, Uganda and Congo.

Volcanoes National Park Rwanda alone has 12 habituated families of mountain gorillas and they share the same habitat with other wildlife including golden monkeys, baboons, forest elephants, hyenas, 200 bird species. Five of the 8 Virunga Volcanoes are all in Volcanoes N/Park (Gahinga, Muhabura, Bisoke, Sabyinyo and Karisimbi Volcanoes).

It is at Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park where Dian Fossey camped while carrying out her research on gorillas in the Virunga region. Unfortunately, she was brutally murdered in 1985 but left a remarkable legacy and her work continues with Dian Fossey Fund. If you consider spending more days, it is possible to include the Dian Fossey tomb hike for you to explore and experience more about Dian Fossey and gorilla conservation she left.

1 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park

Pick up at Kigali and the hotel staff will pack some breakfast for you to have en-route to Volcanoes National Park. It will be a short journey covering 2-3 hours and you will be in a 4x4 drive vehicle. Drop off at Kinigi, Volcanoes National Park offices where briefing about gorilla trekking rules will be conducted and also, gorilla families are assigned at the same area. The park guides will also be available to lead you through the gorilla trek and each group of 8 people is allocated to one habituated gorilla family.

Returning to Kinigi will be after a magical encounter with mountain gorillas and photography, one hour will be given to you for this alone. From Kinigi, the driver guide will be the one to drive you back to Kigali 2-3 hours. Stay at the hotel as you wait to connect to the next destination/continue with business/event or depart from Kigali International Airport late in the night.

1 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour Cost

A 1-day Rwanda gorilla trekking tour, focused on visiting Volcanoes National Park, typically costs around USD 1,700 to 2,200 per person, depending on inclusions like transportation, meals, and guiding services. The main expense is the gorilla trekking permit, priced at USD 1,500, set by the Rwanda Development Board to support conservation efforts. Additional costs may include transportation from Kigali, guide fees, meals, and optional porters.