East Africa
Rwanda: the shortest road to a gorilla
From Kigali you can be at a lodge near the trekking sector the same afternoon you land, which makes a three day gorilla trip realistic. Permits cost more here, and you spend far less of your holiday in a vehicle.
In short
You pay more for the permit and less in driving time. For a short trip, that is usually the right trade.
Rwanda is compact and mountainous, and almost everywhere is within a few hours of Kigali on good tarmac. The gorilla families live on the forested volcanic slopes in the northwest, on the same range that continues into Uganda.
The country has built its tourism around a small number of high value experiences rather than volume. Permit numbers are tightly limited, groups are capped at eight, and the revenue is visibly reinvested in the communities around the park.
Lake Kivu, on the western border, is the natural counterweight to a hard trekking day. Our seven day route spends nights on the lake before turning inland for the gorillas.
Shortest route
3 days
Longest route
7 days
From
USD 3,500 pp
Trek groups
8 visitors, capped
Minimum age
15
Lodges in the northwest, near the trekking sectors
Why go
A small country that has decided what it is for
Short transfers are the whole argument for Rwanda. Kigali to the lodges near the trekking sectors is a drive of a few hours, not a full day on rough roads, which means a three day trip is genuinely worthwhile rather than a rush.
The conservation model is unusually well documented. Permit revenue goes into the park and into the communities bordering it, and the rules on group size, contact time and distance are enforced rather than published.
Kigali itself is worth a night at either end: clean, easy, with a serious memorial and a good food scene. And Lake Kivu turns a single objective trip into a rounded week.
The routes
Three Rwanda routes
Priced per person sharing for two travellers, at three accommodation levels.
Most requested
3 days / 2 nights
Code UTS-THGO-03
Three days, straight to the gorillas
Mountain Gorilla View, Sambora or Amarembo
Arrive, transfer to the trekking area, trek, fly out. The efficient version.
From, per person sharing
USD 3,500 to 6,050
Details
4 days / 3 nights
Code UTS-INKI-04
Four days, with a night in Kigali
Chez Lando, Park Inn or Kigali Marriott
A night in the capital first, then two nights near the park with the trek in between.
From, per person sharing
USD 3,700 to 6,500
Details
7 days / 6 nights
Code UTS-LAKI-07
Seven days, with Lake Kivu
Kigali, Lake Kivu, Volcanoes
Kigali, then the western hills and the lake, finishing with the gorilla trek.
From, per person sharing
USD 5,250 to 8,885
Details
Included: accommodation, gorilla permits, and road transport with a driver guide. Quoted separately: international flights, visas and tips. Permit availability is confirmed at the time of booking.
Practical
Trekking practicalities
Permits and access
Permits are dated and strictly limited, and are booked as soon as your trip is confirmed.
Minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15.
Groups are briefed early in the morning before being allocated to a family.
Porters are available at the trailhead and are worth hiring.
Kigali International is a short drive from good tarmac all the way to the park.
What to pack
Waterproof boots with ankle support and grip.
Long sleeves, long trousers and gardening gloves for nettles.
A rain shell, regardless of the month.
A camera without a flash. Flash photography is not permitted with the gorillas.
A warm layer for the mornings at altitude.
Green season in the Rwandan highlands
Best time to visit
Dry months, and the months in between
June to mid September and mid December to February are the drier seasons. Trails are firmer, and photography is easier under broken cloud.
March to May is the long rains and the wettest period on the volcano slopes. Trekking continues, permits are easier to obtain, and lodges are quieter.
October and November bring shorter rains, usually in the afternoon. Mornings, when you trek, are often clear.
Responsible tourism
The rules are the reason the population is recovering
Mountain gorilla numbers have risen while almost every other great ape population has fallen, and the difference is enforcement: eight visitors, one hour, a fixed distance, and no visits if you are unwell. We follow all of it without negotiation, and we will tell you plainly on the morning if you should not go.
Group size
Eight per family
Contact time
One hour
Health rule
No trek if unwell
Permits
Booked directly
Questions
Rwanda gorilla trekking questions
How much is a Rwanda gorilla trip?–
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The three day route runs from USD 3,500 to USD 6,050 per person sharing depending on the lodge level. The seven day route with Lake Kivu runs from USD 5,250 to USD 8,885.
How long is the drive from Kigali?+
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A few hours on good tarmac to the lodges near the trekking sectors, which is why a three day trip works in Rwanda but not really in Uganda.
How fit do I need to be?+
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Reasonably. The trek can be one hour or several, uphill, at altitude, on soft ground. Porters carry bags and help on the steep sections.
Can I add Rwanda to a Kenya safari?+
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Yes. Kigali connects easily with Nairobi, so a three or four day trek fits on either end of a Kenya route.
Is Lake Kivu worth the extra days?+
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If you have the time, yes. It turns a single objective into a rounded week and gives you a rest day either side of the trek.
Kenya registered tour operator
TRA registered
Our own 4×4 safari vehicles
In-house driver guides
Westlands, Nairobi
Start planning
Tell us your dates and we will check permit availability before quoting the route.