Best seller
Akagera4 days
Big Five game drives & Lake Ihema boat safari
4.9· 168 reviewsout of 5
From
$1,450per person
Permit includedPrivate tour
Gorilla trekking & golden monkeys in the Virungas
4.9· 212 reviewsout of 5
Volcanoes National Park, Musanze- Duration3 days · 2 nights
- GroupPrivate · 1–6 guests
- DifficultyModerate to hard
- Start & endKigali airport
An hour with the mountain gorillas
Spend a quiet hour with a habituated gorilla family in the bamboo forests of the Virunga volcanoes — one of the most moving wildlife encounters on earth. We collect you at Kigali airport, handle every permit, and base you at a hand-picked lodge at the foot of the mountains, with a second morning tracking the playful golden monkeys.
- One hour with a mountain gorilla family
- Golden monkey trek in the bamboo forest
- Gorilla permit ($1,500) secured for you
- Private 4×4 and English-speaking guide
- Two nights at a lodge facing the volcanoes
- Optional Dian Fossey grave hike
Day by day
- 01
Day 1 · Kigali → Musanze
Airport welcome & drive to the volcanoes
Your guide meets you at Kigali International Airport. A scenic 2.5-hour drive north through terraced hills brings you to Musanze in time for sunset over the Virungas.
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge Dinner
- 02
Day 2 · Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla trekking
Briefing at Kinigi park headquarters at 7:00, then trek with rangers to your assigned gorilla family. The hike takes 1–5 hours; the hour with the gorillas is unforgettable. Afternoon free, or visit the Iby’Iwacu cultural village.
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
- 03
Day 3 · Volcanoes → Kigali
Golden monkeys & return to Kigali
Morning trek to a troop of rare golden monkeys in the bamboo zone. After lunch, drive back to Kigali for your evening flight, or extend your stay.
Breakfast · Lunch
What’s included
Included
- Gorilla permit ($1,500 value)
- Golden monkey permit
- Private 4×4 with pop-up roof
- English-speaking driver-guide
- 2 nights full board at the lodge
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Bottled water on every drive
Not included
- International flights
- Rwanda visa ($50, on arrival)
- Travel insurance
- Tips for guides and porters
- Drinks at the lodge
Where you’ll stay
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Stone cottages with fireplaces on the slopes of Mount Sabyinyo, ten minutes from the park headquarters at Kinigi.
· 2 nights· Full board· Fireplace· Wi-Fi
Upgrade to Bisate Lodge or One&Only Gorilla’s Nest from +$1,200 pp
Prices
Per person in US dollars. Prices fall as your group grows.
| Travellers | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveller | $2,650 | $4,980 |
| 2 travellersMost booked | $1,890 | $3,720 |
| 3–4 travellers | $1,740 | $3,510 |
| 5–6 travellers | $1,620 | $3,390 |
Travelling June–September or December? Book 4–6 months ahead — gorilla permits sell out.
Gorilla trekking essentials
How fit do I need to be?
Treks take 1–5 hours on steep, muddy slopes at 2,500–3,000 m. Rangers match groups to gorilla families by fitness, and porters ($15) can carry your bag and help on steep sections.
Is there a minimum age?
Gorilla trekking is open to visitors aged 15 and over. Younger travellers can join the golden monkey trek, the cultural village or a nature walk instead.
What should I pack?
Waterproof hiking boots, long trousers, a rain jacket, garden gloves for gripping vegetation, and a small daypack. We lend walking sticks at the park.
What happens if it rains?
Treks go ahead in light rain — the forest is at its most atmospheric. In the rare event the park cancels, we rebook your permit or refund it in full.
4.9
4.9out of 5
212 reviews of this tour
- 5.0· August 2026out of 5
The hour with the Kwitonda family went by in a heartbeat. Our guide Eric knew every ranger by name and had us at Kinigi first in line.
Hannah R. · Munich
- 5.0· July 2026out of 5
Worth every dollar of the permit. Tough climb for us in our sixties, but the porters were wonderful and the lodge fireplace was bliss.
Robert & Jan P. · Denver
Combine it with the savanna
Most guests add a second park. We can join any of these to your trip.
Small group
Signature
Volcanoes + Akagera6 days
Gorillas & the Big Five in one week
4.9· 131 reviewsout of 5
From
$3,420per person
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