This unique 2- day Rwanda safari combines a Kigali city tour with a visit to the Volcanoes National Park for Gorilla Trekking. The tour offers you an insight into Rwanda’s history, culture, and a short mountain gorilla safari experience. It is also suitable for travelers who want to get a quick understanding of the history of Rwanda.

On day one, the tour begins with an exciting tour of the attractive city of Kigali, one of the cleanest cities in Africa. This modern city is the administrative, business, and cultural center of Rwanda spread out across several hills in the middle of the country.

The city tour includes a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, documenting the history of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. We also visit the Caplaki Crafts Village where you can browse and buy traditional crafts. Exploring the bustling city with its vibrant streets offers insight into Rwandan society today.

After lunch at the famous ‘Hotel Rwanda‘ (Mille Collines Hotel), we take a 2-hour drive out of Kigali to Volcanoes National Park – the best destination in Africa for gorilla trekking adventures. There is no other wildlife experience quite like an encounter with mountain gorillas.

Leaving the capital city of Kigali, we drive north for about three hours to reach Ruhengeri (now called Musanze). Musanze city is the closest travel hub to Volcanoes National Park, one of the best places in Africa to see mountain gorillas in the wild. Our scenic journey takes us through the rolling hills and lush landscapes of northwestern Rwanda to our accommodation in Ruhengeri. Sit back and watch people go by whilst enjoying dinner.

Day two is the day for your once-in-a-lifetime experience of tracking mountain gorillas in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda. In the early morning we have breakfast and then drive to the Volcanoes National Park Headquarters near Kinigi. First, the rangers give you a briefing on the gorilla trekking procedures, and then we set off into the mountains.

The trek can take up to eight hours, but seeing the endangered African mountain gorillas in the wild is worth the effort. Walking through swamps and forests, up hills and into valleys, can be tiring and challenging, so come prepared for the trek.

Once we locate a group of gorillas we stop and spend some time with these gentle primates. Watch the largest primates in the world as they groom, feed, and interact with each other in their natural habitat. Coming face-to-face with a group of gorillas is one of the most special and rare wildlife encounters on earth!

After our close encounter with these great apes, we trek back to the start of the trail and begin our leisurely drive back to Kigali. Feel free to buy and take craft products from craft shops as they will mark your trip to Kigali – Rwanda.

Safari Itinerary in Summary

Day 1: Kigali City Tour + Lunch – Drive to Volcanoes National Park
Day 2: Drive to Volcanoes National Park Gorilla Trek – Drive to Kigali

Safari Itinerary in Detail

Day 1: ½ Day Kigali City tour – Drive to Volcanoes National Park

0800 Hours: After breakfast, our professional safari driver-guide will meet you at the hotel, and after a short safari briefing session begin your Kigali city tour. Visit the genocide memorial museum, the Nyabugogo market, a pottery project, the Moslem quarter in Nyamirambo, and the Franco-Rwanda cultural centre.

Have lunch and later drive North of Kigali to Parc National des Volcans (Volcanoes National Park). Upon arrival, you will check in at your hotel and have dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options:
Luxury Accommodation: Bisate Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Virunga Lodge
Mid Range Accommodation: Gorillas Volcanoes Hotel, Best View Hotel, The Garden Place Hotel
Budget Accommodation: Panorama Du Nord Motel, Urumuli Hotel, Sainte Anne Hotel, Kinigi Guest House

Travel time: About: 2 Hours

Meal Plan: {Lunch & Dinner}

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking – Later Drive back to Kigali

0700 Hours: After an early cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate, we transfer to the park headquarters for briefing.

0800 Hours: You will gather at the park headquarters together with tracking gear, packed breakfast and lunch for briefing before heading into the forest to track the gorillas. The time you will spend tracking the gorillas is unpredictable and it may take as few as only 2 hours on a good day yet it may even take you 8 hours before you meet these great apes.

This period taken depends on their movement on the previous day. When you finally find the gorillas, you will have to spend an hour watching them play and eat foliage as you take photographs. It is truly a thrilling experience of a lifetime.

In case you finish the gorilla tracking early you can choose to relax and have a drink at one of the executive hotels near the park or you can take a cultural tour so as to have an opportunity to interact with the friendly local people.

Later we shall leisurely drive back to Kigali. Feel free to buy and take craft products from craft shops as they will mark your trip to Kigali – Rwanda.

Travel time: About: 2 Hours

Meal Plan: {Breakfast and lunch}