2 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari
Overview of the 2 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari
The 2 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking offers an extraordinary opportunity to encounter one of the world’s most majestic and endangered creatures—the mountain gorilla—in its natural habitat. This unforgettable two-day gorilla trekking trip takes you deep into the lush jungles of Volcanoes National Park, home to several habituated gorilla families. As you journey through Rwanda’s breathtaking countryside, you’ll drive across the scenic, winding hills that give the country its nickname, “The Land of a Thousand Hills.” The landscape alone is a visual feast, setting the stage for your upcoming adventure in the misty rainforest.
Your 2-day Rwanda gorilla trekking safari not only includes the once-in-a-lifetime experience of tracking and spending a full hour with mountain gorillas, but it also features a rich cultural element. During the tour, you’ll engage with Rwanda’s vibrant traditions through a cultural visit, where you’ll learn about ancestral practices such as traditional weddings, herbal medicine, and ceremonial dances. This cultural immersion adds depth to your two-day gorilla encounters in Volcanoes National Park, making it more than just a wildlife experience—it becomes a journey into the heart of Rwanda’s heritage. Whether you’re on a 2 days gorilla safari in Rwanda for adventure, photography, or cultural discovery, this tour promises an intimate and awe-inspiring look at both Rwanda’s wildlife and its proud traditions. This 2 days gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park is a short but powerful experience that will stay with you for a lifetime.
Itinerary of 2 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking
Day 1: Kigali City Tour & Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Your adventure begins with a pick-up by our professional guide or company representative from your hotel in Kigali, or directly from the airport if you’re arriving on a morning flight. The day starts with a half-day city tour of Kigali, including a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial and the Campaign Against Genocide Museum, offering important insights into Rwanda’s recent history. After the city exploration, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before setting off on a scenic drive to Musanze, located in Rwanda’s northern region. Upon arrival in the afternoon, you’ll check in at your lodge and take part in an enriching one-hour cultural experience at Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, where you’ll learn about traditional Rwandan customs, dances, medicine, and community life. Dinner and overnight stay follow at your lodge near Volcanoes National Park.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking Experience & Return to Kigali
Start your day with an early breakfast, then transfer to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi by 6:00 AM. There, you’ll be welcomed by park rangers who will provide a detailed briefing on gorilla trekking guidelines. The trek into the dense forest begins shortly after, in search of a habituated gorilla family. Depending on the gorillas’ movement, the trek may take anywhere from 1 to 6 hours, but the reward is unforgettable. Once the gorillas are located, you will have one full hour to observe and photograph these gentle giants in their natural habitat—a truly magical wildlife experience.
After the trek, return to the park base and head for a well-deserved lunch at a local restaurant in Musanze. In the afternoon, begin your 2.5-hour drive back to Kigali, where you will be dropped off at your hotel or the airport, depending on your travel plans.
End of the 2 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda.
✅ What’s Included in 2 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking
- Entrance fees to all mentioned sites
- Gorilla trekking permit (mandatory and included)
- Accommodation in quality 3 to 4-star lodges or hotels
- Private transportation in a 4×4 safari jeep
- All meals and soft drinks during the tour
- Onboard Wi-Fi for connectivity
- Bottled mineral water throughout the trip
- Services of a professional, English-speaking driver-guide
- Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel or Kigali airport
❌ Exclusions in 2 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking
- Alcoholic beverages
- Any items or services not specifically mentioned in the inclusions
What to Bring
To ensure comfort and preparedness during your gorilla trek, we recommend packing the following essentials:
- Layered clothing for varying temperatures
- Long-sleeved shirts and long trousers for protection
- Durable hiking boots
- Comfortable socks
- A hat and sunglasses for sun protection
- Gardening gloves (useful during trekking)
- Waterproof rain gear (jacket and pants)
- Insect repellent
Cancellation Policy
All bookings are non-refundable, and all sales are final. Please make sure your travel plans are confirmed before booking.
Book for this Gorilla trekking tour
Posted on Tripadvisor patty eVerified 100% recommended I was originally in Tanzania for a safari but decided to add the gorilla trek at the end of my trip because the flight was too long to fly to Africa from California again at my age. I booked through Viator. From the beginning, communication with Universal Adventures was positive. They were prompt to answer any questions. And a few days before the excursion, they sent me my driver's name and WhatsApp number. His name is Christian.We communicated through WhatsApp, and he was very prompt to reply back. He was early to pick me up at 4:30am. I had another person in the car. The car was clean. Its a long drive to the meeting place. We stopped for breakfast pastries at a local shop( they take credit cards and had a clean breakfast. We then drove to the meeting place where we met up with our group. There they had hot drinks like coffees, lattes, teas, etc. We then had to drive to the beginning of the mountain. It was a long drive as the roads are not paved. My group was assigned the Isimbi gorilla family and our guide was Jolie. My porter was Adolf. I was the least active one in the group but the crew never made me feel bad. After what I thought was a 4 hr hike (it was really 1 hr and 26 minutes) we found our gorilla family. We had plenty of time to take pictures with them. After we were done, Christian took us to a rooftop restaurant. The food was delicious! I recommend this excursion 100%. The company is awesome and very professional.Posted on Tripadvisor Juliet KVerified Gorilla Experience in Rwanda! Easy ride, the trip was one in a life time experience. The driver (Christian) was very nice and kind and made the trip smooth! Everything was great.Posted on Tripadvisor zoe457Verified Amazing experience seeing the gorillas of Rwanda! Amazing experience seeing the gorillas. Dodos picked me up in Kigali and was very helpful through the whole process. He even had cold drinks when I finished the gorilla trekking. Highly recommend!Posted on Tripadvisor Trevor BVerified Great way to see Kigali! Our guide Christian was knowledgeable and kind. He showed us all the highlights including the moving Genocide Memorial. His personal stories and insights into Rwandan society were invaluable. It was truly a pleasure to spend the day with him in Kigali.Posted on Tripadvisor Destination709424Verified Gorilla Trekking Me and my partner have always dreamed of doing gorilla trekking so when Christian helped this come to life it was surreal! As tourists we felt incredibly safe and welcomed with Christian he was super knowledgable and happy to share lots of description and reasoning with all our questions to help us learn and understand the culture. We also did a cultural village visit, Golden Monkey Trek, Diane Fossey Museum and women’s centre. All suggested and planned with Christian from Universal Ventures Rawanda. Any requests we had were never too much for Christian he was always happy to help. I would 110% recommend Christian to all my friends and family who I know want to come to Rawanda. Thankyou for making our dreams come true!Posted on Tripadvisor Geti LVerified 100% would recommend Amazing team and guide. I didn’t have to think about anything since they planned everything from airport pick up till drop off. Best value for buck but also great attitude and support. Got permission to visit the Pablo family thanks to our guide!Posted on Tripadvisor Yanis RVerified Thanks Kim for that wonderful day Kim was my guide for my experience with the gorillas. He made the day so comfortable. Everything was perfect! We also had many conversations about everything. I definitely recommend traveling with him!!Posted on Tripadvisor Aglaia OVerified Amazing Rwanda gorilla trek! Playful babies, calm silverback, great guides. Book permits well in advance. My gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda was absolutely incredible. We found the gorillas within about an hour of hiking, and seeing them up close was unforgettable. The baby gorillas were especially playful and entertaining to watch, constantly moving around and interacting with each other. In contrast, the silverback was calm, quiet, and completely self-focused — somehow both powerful and peaceful at the same time. The gorillas were not scary at all, and we never felt threatened during the experience. The guides were fantastic: experienced, knowledgeable, and very entertaining throughout the trek. One of our guides even shared stories about crossing paths with Dian Fossey, which made the experience feel even more special and connected to Rwanda’s conservation history. One important tip: make sure to secure your trekking permit well in advance, as spots are limited and can sell out quickly. A truly once-in-a-lifetime experience that I would highly recommend.Posted on Tripadvisor MARCELLE EVerified Gorilles Kigali Nous avons choisis la parcours long mais ca valait le coup. Nous en avons pris pleins les yeux les guides étaient top le trajet depuis Kigali pas trop long avec le chauffeur de l'agence , NEZA qui a vraiment été super du début à la fin . Il nous été d’une grande aide.le responsable de l’agence et était super et disponible il nous a aidé pour toutes les démarches.Posted on Tripadvisor Teresa BVerified The trek was perfect! We saw a beautiful family of gorillas including two Silverbacks! The best experience of my life! Seeing gorillas in their natural habitat was incredible! A truly serene experience. The tour was well planned and could not have been more perfect. The entire team guided with professionalism and love. My porter, Jacqueline, was wonderful and took great care of me. My personal guide/driver, Kim, was a delight! I learned much about Rwanda from him on the drive. I was surprised he greeted me with champagne toast! The day could not have been better.
