Into the Volcanoes
The Experience
Three days. One encounter. A memory that stays for life. There are fewer than 900 mountain gorillas left on earth. On day two of this journey, you will find yourself standing seven metres from a habituated family in the dense Afromontane rainforest of Volcanoes National Park — watching silverbacks rest, mothers nurse their young, and juveniles test their nerve in the undergrowth. The essential Rwanda experience, distilled to its purest form. You arrive in Kigali, transfer north through Rwanda’s famous thousand hills, and spend two nights in the park’s buffer zone with the Virunga volcanoes as your backdrop. Three days is enough. It is also unforgettable.
The Itinerary
Three days tracing the rhythm of the wild.
Kigali → Volcanoes National Park
Morning or afternoon arrival in Kigali. Your private transfer heads northwest through Rwanda’s rolling hillscape — approximately 2.5 hours to Musanze. An optional stop at a roadside viewpoint or market along the way. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner at the lodge, followed by a ranger briefing for tomorrow. Early night.
The Trek · The Encounter
5:30am departure to Kinigi park headquarters. Ranger briefing covers gorilla behaviour, photography rules, and the 7-metre approach distance. Your group of eight enters the forest and begins the trek — anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours through steep, dense rainforest. Porters are available and strongly recommended. When you locate the family, the hour begins. Silverbacks. Mothers with infants.
Young males testing their confidence. The gorillas carry on their day; you observe from seven metres. Photography permitted — no flash. Return to the lodge by early afternoon. Optional extras: golden monkey tracking, twin lakes walk, or the Dian Fossey tomb
Musanze → Kigali
Leisurely breakfast. Optional morning activity — twin lakes or Musanze caves — before the transfer south to Kigali. Arrive early afternoon: time for a final lunch, coffee, or a turn through the city before your onward flight.
- Included
- Mountain gorilla permit — USD 1,500 per person
- Private trekking with licensed ranger
- Private road transfers Kigali ↔ Musanze
- 2 nights lodge in the park buffer zone
- Meals as listed (2× breakfast, 1× lunch, 1× dinner)
- Porter on trekking day — direct community income
- All park entry and conservation fees
- Excluded
- International flights to/from Kigali
- Rwanda e-Visa (apply online before travel)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Personal spending, tips, souvenirs
- Optional activities (golden monkey, Fossey tomb)
- Alcoholic beverages
Start Your Journey
Ready to experience the raw beauty of the Masai Mara? Our safari experts are here to tailor this classic itinerary to your exact preferences.
Add a Diani Beach Escape
Create Your Perfect Combi Tour
Our experts can combine safari with Diani Beach or another East African experience— tailored to you.