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."

Gorilla Trekking from Kigali

Ready for a true adventure like no other? What if you challenged yourself with a hike up an active volcano, wandered the streets of the bustling capital of Kigali, and observed the majestic mountain gorillas of Virunga? Admire the glistening Lake Kivu and go chimp tracking to tick something off your bucket list. Meeting gorillas face-to-face changes you forever.

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10 best Gorilla Trekking tour packages from Kigali

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Nature & Wildlife
3-Day Uganda Gorillas and Golden Monkey Trekking Safari
5.0 (1 review)
"The lodgings and the experiences themselves far exceeded our expectations. The location was beautiful and the staff were so lovely and helpful."
Kahron, traveled in June
Duration
3 days
Destinations
Kigali, Musanze, Kisoro, Kabale,Bwindi Impenetrable National Park,Mgahinga National Park+2 more
Age Range
Ages 15+
Operated in
English
Operator
Bamboo Ecotours
From
US$1,945per person
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Nature & Wildlife
2 days Gorilla tracking Bwindi from Kigali
Duration
2 days
Destinations
Kigali, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Age Range
Ages 15+
Country Region
Gorilla Trek
Operated in
English
Operator
Simba Africa Expeditions
From
US$1,834per person
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Safari
Tailor-Made Private 4 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trip with Daily Departure
Duration
4 days
Destinations
Kigali, Volcanoes National Park, Kinigi
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Agate Travel
From
US$10,569per person
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Price based on Private Double Room
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Hiking & Trekking
Experience Rwanda Gorillas & Golden monkey trekking tour (Exclusively Private)
5.0 (4 reviews)
"The tour itself was amazing, it was such a treat visiting the gorillas and monkeys as was learning about and exploring Rwanda."
Thumeshan, traveled in January
Duration
3 days
Destinations
Kigali, Musanze
Age Range
Ages 15+
National Park
Volcanoes National Park
Operated in
English
Operator
Devine African Safaris Ltd
From
US$2,969per person
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Safari
Experience Rwanda Gorilla Trekking, Big 5 & Big Cats safari (Exclusively Private)
5.0 (2 reviews)
"I felt safe knowing that he was familiar with the area. He made sure to give me opportunities to interact with the locals."
Maria, traveled in November
Duration
4 days
Destinations
Kigali, Akagera National Park, Musanze
Age Range
Ages 15+
Operated in
English
Operator
Devine African Safaris Ltd
From
US$3,709per person
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Safari
Experience Uganda Gorilla Trekking, Big 5 & Big Cats (Exclusively Private)
5.0 (4 reviews)
"From our first communication with Nicholas I knew I was dealing with professionals from the prompt responses and detailed information."
Noah, traveled in November
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Kigali, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kalinzu Forest,Ishasha,Bwindi Impenetrable National Park,Lake Bunyonyi+3 more
Age Range
Ages 15+
Operated in
English
Operator
Devine African Safaris Ltd
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US$2,769per person
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Nature & Wildlife
Experience Rwanda Gorillas & Chimps Trekking Tour (Exclusively Private)
4.7 (6 reviews)
"The itinerary was well thought out and reasonably paced. Touring Rwanda was one of the best experiences we had during our many years of travelling."
Daniel, traveled in September
Duration
7 days
Destinations
Kigali, Nyungwe Forest, Lake Kivu,Volcanoes National Park+1 more
Age Range
Ages 15+
Operated in
English
Operator
Devine African Safaris Ltd
From
US$4,359per person
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Safari
Experience Uganda & Rwanda Gorillas + Big 5 (Exclusively Private)
5.0 (1 review)
"The thrill of being in such close proximity to these endangered creatures is something we will cherish forever."
Fred, traveled in May
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Kigali, Akagera National Park,Bwindi Impenetrable National Park,Mgahinga National Park,Lake Bunyonyi,Lake Mburo National Park,Entebbe+5 more
Age Range
Ages 15+
Operated in
English
Operator
Devine African Safaris Ltd
From
US$4,199per person
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Safari
Experience Rwanda & Uganda Gorillas + Big 5 (Exclusively Private)
5.0 (4 reviews)
"We ended up with a great itinerary. We managed to see so much game in all the parks we visited."
PatrickFrancis, traveled in March
Duration
5 days
Destinations
Kigali, Akagera National Park,Bwindi Impenetrable National Park+1 more
Age Range
Ages 15+
Operated in
English
Operator
Devine African Safaris Ltd
From
US$3,119per person
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Hiking & Trekking
Discover Rwanda Gorilla Trekking, Dian Fossey Grave hike & Cultural (Exclusively Private)
5.0 (1 review)
"I traveled solo and was comfortable the entire time. You will learn a lot and will also see so much of beautiful Rwanda!"
Justina, traveled in May
Duration
4 days
Destinations
Kigali, Musanze
Age Range
Ages 15+
Operated in
English
Operator
Devine African Safaris Ltd
From
US$3,169per person
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Nature & Wildlife
Discover Rwanda Gorillas, Chimps, Dian Fossey Tour (Exclusively Private)
4.9 (6 reviews)
"I really enjoyed my trip and safari in Rwanda and my experience with Devine African Safari."
Florence, traveled in July
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Kigali, Musanze, Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest
Age Range
Ages 15+
Operated in
English
Operator
Devine African Safaris Ltd
From
US$4,769per person
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Safari
Experience Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Hiking to Dian Fossey Tomb (Exclusively Private)
4.2 (5 reviews)
"The lodge is gorgeous and has incredible views of the forest, hills and the lake around it."
Diego, traveled in July
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Kigali, Musanze, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park,Mgahinga National Park+1 more
Age Range
Ages 15+
Operated in
English
Operator
Devine African Safaris Ltd
From
US$2,949per person
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Safari
Rwanda Gorilla & Genocide Tour Safari
4.3 (1 review)
Duration
3 days
Destinations
Kigali, Volcanoes National Park, Kinigi
Age Range
Ages 15+
Operated in
English, German,French,Spanish+2 more
Operator
Ovacado Adventures
From
US$2,931per person
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Nature & Wildlife
Journeys: Wild Encounters in Rwanda National Geographic
5.0 (2 reviews)
"Gorge trekking was much easier than expected. Wait, let me recount and find the correct quote within 50-100 characters: An amazing experience I will never forget!"
Karen, traveled in June
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Kigali, Volcanoes National Park, Kinigi,Akagera National Park+1 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Operated in
English
Operator
National Geographic Expeditions with G Adventures
25% off
From $8,699
US$6,524per person
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Safari
6 Days Rwanda-Uganda Gorilla Experience
4.8 (2 reviews)
"The tour itself was an amazing experience, combining wildlife tours while also learning of Rwandan/Ugandan culture."
Ryan, traveled in August
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Kigali, Musanze, Volcanoes National Park,Bwindi Impenetrable National Park+1 more
Age Range
Ages 15+
Operated in
English
Operator
New Horizon Africa Safaris
25% off
From
US$3,200per person
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Price based on Shared Room
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