The 3-day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari is one of the best ways to truly experience what it is like to come face to face with mountain gorillas. You will visit the Volcanoes National Park, located in the northwestern part of Rwanda. The park is also home to golden monkeys, 5 of the 8 Virunga volcanoes, as well as birds and other mammals. During this same 3-day safari, you will visit the Gorilla Keepers’ Village, formerly Ibyacwu Cultural Village. Weather permitting, a city tour of Kigali will be included on the first or last day. The city tour will include the genocide memorial site, local markets and the former presidential palace. This 3-day trip is a combination of history, culture and natural beauty, to say the least! The safari starts and ends in Kigali city.

3 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda

• Gorilla trekking in Rwanda
• Breathtaking panoramic views
• Gorilla Keeper Village
• Kigali city tour
• Visit to Volcanoes National Park

Detailed itinerary for 3-day gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda

Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park, visit to the city of Kigali

The safari starts and ends in Kigali city. On the first day, our Zizou Tours And Travel guide will pick you up from the airport or your hotel in Kigali. He will inform you about the trip and then show you around the city of Kigali. Visit the Genocide Memorial site which showcases memories of the 1994 genocide, fueled by a relentless ethnic propaganda campaign that cost more than 300,000 lives. Visit the markets where you will meet locals, an interaction that will add to the overall experience of your trip. The city tour ends with a visit to the former presidential palace and lunch at a local restaurant before driving to Volcanoes National Park. On arrival at Volcanoes National Park, check-in at the hotel/lodge, refreshment and rest.

Day 2: Hike to meet the gorillas, visit the gorilla keepers’ village

Early rise and breakfast at the lodge, while admiring the hilly landscape of this country of a thousand hills. Drive to Kinigi park headquarters with your guide for the usual briefing before the gorilla encounter. The briefing prepares you for the expectations of the unknown environment you will dive into. Trekking to reach the gorillas is not a “walk in the park”. The terrain can be quite challenging due to the high altitude and the need to stray from visible trails. The gorillas themselves move freely in their habitat, so it can take anywhere from an hour to several hours to find them.

The search for gorillas does not begin in Kinigi. You’ll need to drive about 40 minutes to reach the trek’s starting point, where you’ll find porters for hire and free walking poles. Led by your guides, you will go in search of gorillas. After finding them, don’t spend more than an hour following them, photographing them, and observing them as they feed and groom their young. Return to the starting point and get back on the road with your driver to return to the lodge. In the evening, after some rest, visit the Gorilla Keeper Village (formerly Iby’cwu Cultural Village) for an amazing cultural experience. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Return to Kigali

Today marks the end of our 3 day trekking safari in Rwanda. You leave the lodge, have a leisurely breakfast and take the road back to the city of Kigali. The driver will drop you off at your hotel or airport to catch your flight home. Please note that there are optional activities like tracking golden monkeys or hiking one of the Virunga volcanoes. They can be done in the morning before starting the 2 hour drive to Kigali. Do not hesitate to let us know your interest.