Gorilla Trekking from Kigali
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10 best Gorilla Trekking tour packages from Kigali
Compiled by
MelissaKigali travel expert at TourRadar
- 3 Day Gorilla Trek Mgahinga Gorilla NP Uganda via Rwanda
- Experience Uganda Gorilla Trekking, Big 5 & Big Cats (Exclusively Private)
- Gorilla Trekking Adventure (with Rwanda-Uganda Experience)
- African Drums
- Gorillas to Zanzibar
- 4 Day Gorillas, Wildlife and Chimp Trek at Kalinzu Forest
- Gorilla Express - 4 days
- Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Golden Monkey Tour
- Experience Uganda Gorilla trekking from Kigali (Exclusively Private)
- Experience Rwanda Gorilla Trekking, Big 5 & Big Cats safari (Exclusively Private)
The powerful Kigali Genocide Museum sets the stage before heading to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for close encounters with gorillas. Professional guides conduct briefings at park headquarters before dawn treks. Travelers Rest Hotel serves as your nightly refuge, with seamless transfers between Rwanda and Uganda included.
Duration 3 days Destinations Kigali, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park Age Range Ages 15+ Operated in English, Italian, French Operator Safari 2 Gorilla Tours (U) Ltd From
- US$2,080
Experience Uganda Gorilla Trekking, Big 5 & Big Cats (Exclusively Private)
4 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Communication via emails and whatsapp in the planning phase upto the time we arrived in Uganda was fast and efficient.”
Jiho, traveled in December
Rare gorilla encounters await in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, reached from Kigali. Traditional Batwa culture enriches post-trek experiences, followed by relaxation at Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort. The journey includes transfers through Rwanda's scenic highlands with expert guides.
Duration 5 days Destinations Kigali, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Age Range Ages 15+ Operator Devine African Safaris Ltd From
- US$2,579
Gorilla Trekking Adventure (with Rwanda-Uganda Experience)
4 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“My dream become real when i contacted the team and email replied. I tested Cassava leaves,Ugali and meat and it was delicious.”
Eric, traveled in August
The Genocide Memorial and Richard Kandt House in Kigali reveal Rwanda's history. Local markets showcase contemporary culture before mountain gorilla territories. Luxury accommodation in Kigali's top hotels combines with expert guides sharing deep cultural insights.
Duration 6 days Destinations Kigali, Akagera National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Musanze Age Range Ages 12+ Operated in English, French Operator New Horizon Africa Safaris From
- US$3,200
African Drums
6 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“I loved pretty much everything about the tour! Miss Africa already!!”
Heiko, traveled in June
Rwanda's capital serves as the gateway to gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The sobering Kigali Genocide Museum provides historical context, while optional coffee tours and Lake Mutande excursions enhance the experience. Cultural immersion includes Batwa village visits and traditional basket weaving.
Duration 60 days Destinations Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa Age Range Ages 18+ Operator Absolute Africa From
- US$4,159+$950 local payments
Gorillas to Zanzibar
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Fantastic tour with great support from the guides and drivers. Fond memories that will last forever.”
Phil, traveled in February
The Genocide Memorial in Kigali opens this remarkable adventure to Volcanoes National Park's gorilla territory. Musanze reveals local traditions through banana beer making and basket weaving workshops. Dian Fossey's grave and the Batwa village offer optional visits, with specialized guides facilitating wildlife encounters.
Duration 34 days Destinations Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania Age Range Ages 18+ Operator Absolute Africa From
- US$3,420+$587 local payments
4 Day Gorillas, Wildlife and Chimp Trek at Kalinzu Forest
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The gorilla trek itself was real highlight and was very well coordinated.”
JBtimes, traveled in August
Duration 4 days Destinations Kigali, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kampala Age Range Ages 15+ Operator Bamboo Ecotours From
- US$2,498
Kigali Serena Hotel hosts you before touring the city's Genocide Memorial Centre en route to Volcanoes National Park. Watch silverback gorillas in lush forest with expert guides, then visit Twin Lakes Ruhondo and Bulera. Virunga Inn Resort & Spa positions you perfectly for morning treks.
Duration 4 days Destinations Kigali, Volcanoes National Park Age Range Ages 18-60 Operator On The Go Tours From
- US$5,285
The cultural heart of Kigali sets the stage for your trek to Volcanoes National Park and intimate gorilla encounters. The Genocide Memorial Museum and bustling Nyabugogo market precede your northern journey. The Muslim quarter in Nyamirambo and Franco-Rwanda cultural center round out your city tour.
Duration 3 days Destinations Kigali, Volcanoes National Park Age Range Ages 15+ Operated in English, German, French, Spanish Operator Ovacado Adventures From
- US$3,850
Experience Uganda Gorilla trekking from Kigali (Exclusively Private)
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The trip was remarkable filled with exciting activities and some quite sombre like the visit to the genocide memorial in Kigali.”
Clara, traveled in September
The Kigali Genocide Memorial, honoring over 250,000 victims, sets a reflective tone before heading to Bwindi. A 4.5-hour scenic drive leads to Gorilla Valley Lodge's comfortable cottages. Gorilla permits at $700 offer considerable savings compared to Rwanda's rates.
Duration 3 days Destinations Kigali, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Bunyonyi Age Range Ages 15+ Operator Devine African Safaris Ltd From
- US$1,819
Experience Rwanda Gorilla Trekking, Big 5 & Big Cats safari (Exclusively Private)
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Gorillas Trekking in Volcanoes National Park was very special. Everything on our trip was well planned and went really well.”
Michael, traveled in January
Duration 4 days Destinations Kigali, Akagera National Park, Musanze Age Range Ages 15+ Operator Devine African Safaris Ltd From
- US$3,419
What people love about Gorilla Trekking Tours from Kigali
- Experience Uganda Gorilla Trekking, Big 5 & Big Cats (Exclusively Private)
We are sharing our deep appreciation to Devine African Safaris for a great safari experience planned and executed with the highest professionalism. Communication via emails and whatsapp in the planning phase upto the time we arrived in Uganda was fast and efficient. Nicholas guided us in creating a great private itinerary for us that included game drives, boat ride, chimps and gorillas tracking. Basically all the great highlights of Uganda safari packed in short 5 days. Boaz was a fantastic guide, caring and keen to satisfy our needs and requests on the safari. We had a great Jeep for the 4 of us and even had space for another 2 and Boaz took us from Entebbe through the parks up to Bwindi for gorillas and back to Entebbe. We loved the lodges selected for us, they were all top notch resting spots; great ambience, wonderful food and comfortable sleeping quarters. I highly recommend Devine African Safaris for Ugandan Safaris
- Experience Uganda Gorilla trekking from Kigali (Exclusively Private)
My sister and I recently booked an amazing trip to see the last of the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Uganda with an amazing guide Herbert. We decided on Devine because Nicholas was not only prompt with his detailed responses but also had great advice like the cost of permits is significantly cheaper in Uganda than in Rwanda in addition to the many five star reviews. The trip was remarkable filled with exciting activities and some quite sombre like the visit to the genocide memorial in Kigali. Herbert was knowledgeable and took his time to explain the different attractions that we encountered, he was very motivated and enjoyed his job tremendously. The trip highlight was trekking high and deep into the Bwindi forest with our guide Herbert and then coming face to face with the gorillas. The 2 hours or so that we spent close to these wonderful creatures is unforgettable. I am happy that Nicholas booked us nice accommodations just as he'd promised. I was sad to leave and I wished that I had booked a longer trip
The beauty and horrors of Ruanda My stop in Rwanda was the huge question mark of my trip through East Africa, because in Germany and Europe overall you do not learn much about this country – this great country as I learned during my trip. Emmanuel of New Horizon Tours was my guide for the one week trip and he made the “new horizons” in their company’s name a speaking truth: This trip was as colorful as it was surprising. We started in Kigali with a visit to some of the most important places in the younger Rwandan history, proceeded to southwest to visit the beauties of Nyungwe National Park and its picturesque original mountain rain forest, saw Chimpanzees in their natural habitat, continued along the riverbanks and the scenic roads that run along the hills of Lake Kivu where we shipped on Napoleon Island and finished in the middle of Volcanoes National Park in the outmost northwest of the country of a thousand hills to climb Mount Bisoke. After this tour I was a lot richer in knowledge about Rwanda, the whole region, its people, its history and its issues. Emmanuel was really helpful to put together a fully customized seven day tour starting with the pick-up at the airport and ending there again. New Horizon Tours reacted within 24 hours to my question and my scribbled together schedule with a clear yes we can do that, please let us know what you like to see and learn and we suggest a tour for you. What I also see as a compliment for those guys is that they clearly told me that my idea to go to the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo to hike the Nyiragongo Volcano there was a bad idea because of the security situation in the region and recent outbreaks of Ebola there. The dos and don’ts are very important information if you solo travel to a completely unknown region. As an alternative Emmanuel suggested to hike Mount Bisoke another volcano in the border region but on the Rwandan side. So finally I ended up with the tour I dreamed of for about a year now. During this trip I learned from showing and telling that Rwanda is completely different from the country I imagined. Yes, it is the country of a thousand hills (there are actually a lot more of them), but these hills are more beautiful, they are far, far cleaner, a lot more secure, even greener than what I hoped for. The society and the politics are really mindful about their heritage and there are a lot of good examples that Rwanda is on a good track to become one great nation. So for everybody who cares about how they spent their holiday money Rwanda is the place to go. If you want to do a Safari, see Gorillas and Chimpanzees, beautiful rain forests, hike Volcanoes, ship on or swim in great lakes, see a country in progress, a renewed Nation that was dead not even a generation ago and know that all this is well preserved and none of your money well spent is going to dark channels, go to Rwanda. And to be very honest and straight forward with you, New Horizons Tour is the provider of choice to go with! You simply cannot do better.
Gorilla Trekking Adventure (with Rwanda-Uganda Experience)
What our customers ask about Gorilla Trekking from Kigali
How far is the drive from Kigali to the main gorilla trekking locations?
You'll spend about 3-5 hours on the road from Kigali to reach the gorilla trekking areas. If you're going to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, you'll drive through northern Rwanda and cross at either Cyanika or Katuna border. For Volcanoes National Park, you'll head straight to Musanze. Most tours stop at places like Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel or Gorilla Heights Lodge along the way. The drive itself is really nice - as one of our TourRadar travelers said: "The Ugandan highlands are also so fun to drive through."
What's included in the gorilla permits for tours starting from Kigali?
Your gorilla permit gives you one hour with a gorilla family and covers your park entrance fees. You'll also get professional tracking guides and armed rangers for safety. Permits cost 700 USD if you're visiting Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, or 1,500 USD for Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park. Tour companies like Devine African Safaris and New Horizon Tours take care of getting your permits and provide great guides to help you track the gorillas.
What's the best time of year for gorilla trekking tours from Kigali?
Plan your trip during the dry seasons - either June to September or December to February. The weather is usually around 75°F (24°C), making it perfect for trekking in Volcanoes National Park. The trails are less muddy and you can see the gorillas more clearly. Most people book rooms at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel during these months. One of our TourRadar travelers mentioned: "The dry season made trekking much more manageable and we had clear views of the gorillas in their natural habitat."
What additional activities can I combine with gorilla trekking when starting from Kigali?
From Kigali, you can add several great activities to your gorilla trek. Try tracking golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park, go on game drives to see the Big Five in Akagera National Park, or visit the Ibyiwacu Cultural Village. You can stay at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel or Bisate Lodge while doing these activities. One TourRadar traveler told us: "Adding the golden monkey trek and cultural village visit made our gorilla experience even more memorable and gave us a deeper understanding of Rwanda."
How far in advance should I book a gorilla trekking tour from Kigali?
Book your tour 6-12 months before you want to go. Permits are limited and they sell out quickly, especially from June to September and December to February. Nice places to stay like Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel and Bisate Lodge also fill up fast. A TourRadar traveler shared this advice: "We booked eight months ahead and were glad we did, as permits and preferred accommodations get snapped up quickly."
What should I expect during the actual gorilla trek starting from Kigali?
Your day starts early with a 2-hour drive to Volcanoes National Park. The trek itself can take anywhere from 2-6 hours as you follow the gorillas through thick forest. Once you find them, you get exactly one hour to watch them. Most people stay at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel or Akagera Game Lodge near the park. One of our TourRadar travelers said: "The trek was challenging but incredibly rewarding - seeing these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat was worth every step through the forest."