2-Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari

2-Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park

The 2-Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari begins and concludes in Kigali, with an unforgettable journey to Volcanoes National Park. It is designed for travelers with limited time, including delegates attending diplomatic or international business engagements, as well as transit passengers seeking a remarkable wildlife experience. The highlight of the safari is an encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas in their forest home within Volcanoes National Park, located approximately three hours from Kigali in north-western Rwanda. It usually takes about 2.5–3 hours by private car and 30 minutes on flight.

Volcanoes National Park shelters 12 habituated gorilla families, including Bwenge, Hirwa, Ugyenda, Sabyinyo, Umubano, Karisimbi, Susa, Amahoro, Agashya, Kwitonda, Igisha, and Muhoza. Set across the rich green foothills of the ancient Virunga Volcanoes, the park offers one of Africa's most powerful and intimate wildlife experiences. Gorilla sightings are exceptionally reliable, with an estimated 97% chance of encountering a gorilla family during your trek.

Beyond gorillas, the park protects golden monkeys, African buffaloes, black-and-white colobus monkeys, and many other forest species. Your itinerary also includes a Kigali city tour, tailored around your interests and available time. Together with your safari guide, you can select the places you would most like to explore and leave out those that do not appeal to you. Options may include the Kigali Genocide Memorial, museums, local markets, cultural landmarks, and important city monuments.

Looking for longer safaris? Explore our 3-Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari or 5-Day Rwanda Gorillas, Chimps & Kigali Tour.

Tour Features

• Genocide Memorial Site Tour
• Kigali City Tour
• Mountain Gorilla Trekking Experience

Tour Details

Day 1 — Discover Kigali: City Tour & Genocide Memorial Visit

Your journey begins with an early pickup from Kigali International Airport or your hotel. After breakfast, meet your safari guide for a briefing on your 2-day Rwanda gorilla trekking adventure. Begin with a Kigali city tour, including a meaningful visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial and Nyamata Genocide Memorial Church, where you can learn about and reflect on the tragic events of the [1994] genocide. The tour also includes time to explore selected local markets.

After lunch, depart for Volcanoes National Park, approximately 80 km north of Kigali, with elevations ranging from 2400m to 4507 m. Upon arrival, enjoy a cultural visit to the Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village. Later, check in at your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay, in preparation for the unforgettable gorilla trekking adventure the following day.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 2 — Gorilla Trekking and Transfer

After breakfast, depart for Kinigi Park Headquarters by 7:00 a.m. for a pre-trek briefing on the guidelines and safety procedures for gorilla trekking. Afterwards, begin your unforgettable journey into the bamboo-covered slopes of Volcanoes National Park in search of a habituated mountain gorilla family. The trek usually lasts between 2 and 6 hours, depending on the gorillas' location and the pace of the group. Guests who may need extra support can hire a porter-assisted sedan chair, often called a "human helicopter."

Once you find the gorillas, enjoy a precious one-hour encounter observing them feeding, playing, grooming, and moving through the forest canopy. Look out as well for buffaloes, forest elephants, monkeys, and colourful birdlife along the trail. After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch, check out, and continue to Kigali for drop-off at your hotel or Kigali International Airport.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation Options

Price Inclusions & Exclusions

You Might Also Like

Explore these other Rwanda gorilla trekking and safari packages.