Highlights
- A mountain gorilla permit and up to an hour with a habituated family
- The Kigali Genocide Memorial, essential for understanding modern Rwanda
- A two-hour drive on good roads, so you spend your time trekking, not travelling
- Optional golden monkey trek or Dian Fossey hike if you add a day
Day by day
Day 1: Arrive in Kigali
Your driver meets you at Kigali International and takes you to your hotel. If you have time this afternoon, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which gives essential background on the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, and allow two to three hours. Have dinner at a restaurant in Kimihurura or Kiyovu. Read our Kigali guide for more about the city.
Day 2: Kigali to Musanze
Drive north for about two to two and a half hours to Musanze, near the park headquarters at Kinigi. The road is paved and scenic, passing terraced hills and small towns. Check in to your lodge, then rest or take a gentle afternoon activity, such as a walk to the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo or a visit to a cultural village. You’ll need an early night, since the trek briefing begins at about 7 am.
Day 3: Gorilla trek
Report to the park headquarters for a briefing, when you’ll be assigned to a gorilla family. Trekkers set off with guides and trackers, and the hike can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. You then get up to an hour with the gorillas, watching them feed, play and groom. It’s a quiet, absorbing hour, and most people say it’s over too soon.
After the trek, return to your lodge to wash off the mud and rest. Later, drive back to Kigali, about two and a half hours, or stay another night and return in the morning.
Day 4: Depart
Transfer to Kigali International for your flight. Leave at least three hours before an international departure. If you have a late flight, visit Kimironko Market or one of the city’s coffee shops. See the Volcanoes National Park guide for details on the park.
What a trip like this usually includes
Included: accommodation, meals, transfers with a driver-guide, the gorilla permit and the park entry that comes with it. Not included: international flights, visas, tips for guides and porters, travel insurance and drinks. Rwanda accepts visitors from many nationalities on arrival or online, and the East Africa Tourist Visa covers Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda. Read our visa guide for the details.
Making it yours
Add a day for a golden monkey trek or a hike to Dian Fossey’s grave. Extend to Akagera for a savanna safari, or Nyungwe for chimpanzees and canopy walks. For a longer trip that crosses into Uganda, see the 10-day Uganda and Rwanda circuit. If you’re weighing the two countries, our Uganda vs Rwanda guide compares them.
Parks on this route
Volcanoes National Park
Rwanda's gorilla park, just two hours from Kigali, with twelve habituated families and five volcanoes.
Book a trip like this
Rift & Reef doesn’t sell this exact route. These are the closest trips on Viator, run by local operators, with reviews, set prices and free cancellation on most. Routes and lodges differ from ours, so check each day-by-day before you book.
Gorilla permits: US$1,500 in Rwanda and US$800 in Uganda as of September 2026. Check the permit is included before you book. Very low prices usually leave it out.
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Questions about this trip
Can I see gorillas in only four days?
Yes. Rwanda is compact and the gorilla park is only about two to two and a half hours from Kigali. Four days lets you arrive, visit the memorial, trek, and get back for a flight. Add a day if you'd like a buffer for weather, fatigue or a second activity.
How early do I need to book a Rwanda gorilla permit?
For June to September and December, aim for six months or more. Rwanda limits visitors to 96 permits a day, and busy dates fill early. Book the permit first, then choose flights and lodging around it.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderately fit. Treks take from under an hour to several hours each way over steep, muddy terrain at about 2,500 to 3,000 m. You can hire a porter, and guides can pace the group. Tell your operator about any health concerns when you book.
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Last updated 20 September 2026. Itineraries are starting points. Routes, lodges and prices are adjusted to your dates, group size and budget. Rift & Reef quotes are valid for the dates stated on the quote.