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Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Central Africa · Rwanda
Rwanda Gorilla & Culture
Eight days built around a single hour face to face with a mountain gorilla family.
Central Africa · Rwanda
Eight days built around a single hour face to face with a mountain gorilla family.
Overview
Eight days built around a single, extraordinary hour: face to face with a mountain gorilla family in the misty forests of the Virunga Mountains. Bookended by Kigali's remarkable story of recovery and two unhurried days on Lake Kivu.
From $7,950 USD per person, sharing*
Trip Highlights
A single trekking permit, and an encounter most travellers call once-in-a-lifetime.
A rarer, livelier cousin of the mountain gorilla, found only in the Virungas.
Two genuinely unhurried days after the trekking is done.
Kigali's Genocide Memorial and the Iby'iwacu Cultural Village, told by those who lived it.
Day by Day
A starting point, not a fixed departure — every stay, every pace, every detail can be adjusted to suit you.
Day 1
Private transfer into Kigali, with an afternoon visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial — a sobering and essential introduction to the country's recent history — followed by dinner at your hotel.
Days 2–4
Drive north to the misty slopes of the Virunga Mountains. Your gorilla trekking permit is used on day three, tracking a habituated family through bamboo forest for an hour in their company. A second day is spent trekking to see the rarer golden monkey, with a visit to Dian Fossey's grave for those who wish to make the longer hike.
Days 5–6
Descend to the shores of Lake Kivu for two days of genuine rest — a boat trip to Napoleon Island, a tour of a local coffee plantation, or simply a hammock and a view.
Days 7–8
Drive back to Kigali via the Iby'iwacu Cultural Village, where former poachers now share traditional dance, music, and stories as community guides. Final evening at leisure before a private transfer to the airport on day 8.
The Details
Multilingual Guides
Every private guide is matched to your party's preferred language wherever possible — just let your trip designer know when you enquire.
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Good to Know
It varies by day and by which family group you're assigned, from a gentle 30-minute walk to a strenuous multi-hour climb through dense forest. Porters are available to carry equipment and assist on steeper terrain.
Gorilla trekking permits are limited and should be secured 4–6 months ahead of travel, especially for visits during the June–September and December–February peak seasons.
No. Every element here — the camps, the pacing, the number of nights in each location — can be adjusted. This is a starting point for a conversation with your trip designer, not a fixed departure.
International flights, visas, travel insurance, and gratuities are excluded, along with any optional activities beyond what's listed. Your trip designer will provide a full, itemised quote before you book.
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