1 Day Gorilla Trek Rwanda
from $1,450
This 1-day gorilla trek in Rwanda is perfect for travelers seeking an unforgettable encounter with mountain gorillas in the misty forests of Volcanoes National Park. The adventure combines an early morning journey to the park, a guided gorilla trek through the Virunga rainforest, and a rare opportunity to observe these remarkable primates in their natural habitat. It is an ideal short safari for travelers with limited time who want to experience one of Rwanda’s most iconic wildlife adventures.
Safari Details: 1 Day Gorilla Trek Rwanda
Overview
Duration: 1 Day
Destination: Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Safari Type: Gorilla Trekking & Primate Adventure
Start Point: Kigali, Rwanda
End Point: Kigali, Rwanda
Main Activities: Gorilla trekking, mountain gorilla viewing, rainforest exploration, cultural experiences
Accommodation: No overnight stay
Best Time to Visit: June to September & December to February
The 1 Day Gorilla Trek Rwanda takes travelers to Volcanoes National Park, one of Africa’s most renowned destinations for mountain gorilla encounters. Located in northwestern Rwanda, the park forms part of the magnificent Virunga Volcanoes and protects an important habitat for endangered mountain gorillas.
The experience begins with an early morning journey from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park, followed by a gorilla trekking briefing before entering the forest with experienced park guides and trackers. Once a gorilla family is located, travelers can spend time observing these remarkable primates in their natural habitat, surrounded by the dramatic volcanic landscapes and lush rainforest.
This short 1-day Rwanda gorilla trekking safari is designed for travelers with limited time who want to experience one of Rwanda’s most iconic wildlife adventures without an overnight stay. The main highlight is the guided trek through the forest and the opportunity to observe a habituated mountain gorilla family at close range.
Beyond the gorilla experience, the journey provides views of Rwanda’s scenic countryside and the volcanic landscapes surrounding Volcanoes National Park. Travelers may also have an opportunity to interact with local communities or experience aspects of the culture of the people living around the park, depending on the day’s schedule.
Combining gorilla trekking, rainforest scenery, volcanic landscapes, and cultural experiences, this 1-day Rwanda gorilla safari offers an exciting way to experience the country’s world-famous mountain gorillas within a limited travel schedule.
Detailed Itinerary: 1 Day Gorilla Trek Rwanda
Day 1: Kigali – Volcanoes National Park – Gorilla Trekking – Kigali
Begin your 1 Day Gorilla Trek Rwanda adventure with an early morning pickup from your hotel in Kigali or Kigali International Airport. Meet your professional safari guide and drive north toward Volcanoes National Park, home to Rwanda’s mountain gorillas.
The journey from Kigali takes you through Rwanda’s beautiful countryside, with views of rolling hills, farmland, local communities, and scenic landscapes. Depending on your departure time and road conditions, you may make a short stop for refreshments before continuing toward the Virunga volcanic region.
Arrive at the Volcanoes National Park gorilla trekking briefing point in time for registration and a briefing from park guides and rangers. You will receive important information about gorilla trekking guidelines, forest safety, and responsible behavior around the gorillas.
After the briefing, begin your gorilla trekking adventure in Rwanda. Follow experienced ranger guides into the montane forest as you search for a habituated mountain gorilla family. The trek can involve steep and uneven terrain, and the duration varies depending on the location and movement of the gorillas on the day.
As you walk through the forest, your guides will help you understand the ecosystem and identify signs of gorilla activity. Along the trail, you may also encounter birds, monkeys, butterflies, and other forest species.
Once you locate the gorilla family, spend the permitted viewing time observing these extraordinary primates in their natural habitat. You may see them feeding, resting, grooming, playing, or interacting with one another. Your ranger guides will explain the appropriate behavior and viewing distance to help ensure a respectful and responsible encounter.
After the gorilla experience, return from the forest and enjoy lunch before beginning your journey back to Kigali. Arrive in Kigali in the afternoon or evening, depending on the duration of the trek and road conditions.
On arrival in Kigali, you will be dropped off at your hotel or Kigali International Airport, marking the end of your 1 Day Gorilla Trek Rwanda experience.
Accommodation: Not included; available on request for an additional night in Kigali
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Trip Includes
- Gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda
- Round-trip transportation from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park
- Private safari vehicle
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Park entrance and applicable tourism fees
- Gorilla trekking briefing and ranger services
- Breakfast and lunch
- Bottled drinking water during the trip
- Airport pickup and drop-off in Kigali, where applicable
- Government taxes and service charges
Trip Excludes
- International and domestic flights
- Rwanda visa and entry requirements
- Travel and medical insurance
- Accommodation in Kigali
- Personal expenses
- Alcoholic and soft drinks outside the provided meals
- Tips for the guide, driver, rangers, and support staff
- Porter services during gorilla trekking
- Souvenirs and other personal purchases
- Activities not specifically mentioned in the itinerary
- Any additional costs resulting from changes to the itinerary or travel arrangements
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What our travelers say
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Robert KVerified
Bucket list seeing the Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Just an awesome trip . Everything went smoothly from booking to the end . All was as promised never missed anything , always on time , friendly etc. resort that was recommended was perfect , great food , comfortable . Saw the gorillas easily all was perfect . Jonathan the owner even took me in Kampala to buy the right clothes , took me him self . Noel and driver were excellent , never an issue they really cared. I trust this company , will use them again and highly recommend .![]()
Maltes TravellerVerified
Highly recommended We had a wonderful experience with Jonathan. He welcomed us at the airport and took great care of us from the moment we arrived until the end of our trip. The selection of hotels was impeccable, and the route he designed was perfectly planned. Jonathan is extremely knowledgeable about wildlife and went the extra mile to make sure we saw lions and all of the Big Five during our visit to Queen Elizabeth National Park. He was always attentive, patient, and eager to make our experience unforgettable. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide — highly recommended!![]()
bharti nVerified
Exceptional experience, enriching and truly unforgettable. From the moment we landed we received a warm welcome. Jonathan was friendly and readily available to answer any queries throughout our trip. He was incredibly accommodating with our requests to visit schools, residences ensuring that we achieved everything we wanted from the trip. We had a great time with Jonathan and driver Isaac. Jonathan was very funny and very knowledgeable he became part of the family and the time just flew whilst we were there, we felt safe at all times. The food at each venue catered for all our needs. Definitely leant a lot on this trip. Just need to be aware that food ordered in restaurants do take a long time as they make it from scratch so if pushed for time might be advisable to pre order. We had unforgettable holiday and this company went above and beyond to make every moment special. I would recommend them to anyone.![]()
vjparVerified
Great service from this local company We done a road trip across East Africa from Uganda to Tanzania. Jonathan and his team facilitated our trip across Uganda and Kenya which proved to be a very enjoyable experience. Guided knowledge provided by Jonathan was excellent as was his humor and wit. We always felt safe and informed, he managed the journey very well indeed. We would definitely use Jonathan's services again.![]()
Adam John SmithVerified
Magical Uganda Safari Journey – February 2025! I had an unforgettable experience with Ababa Uganda Safaris! From the moment I arrived, everything was well-organized, and the team was incredibly friendly and professional. The tour guides were knowledgeable, sharing fascinating insights about the wildlife and culture. Seeing gorillas up close in Bwindi and exploring Queen Elizabeth National Park was a dream come true. The accommodations were comfortable, and every detail was taken care of. I truly felt immersed in Uganda’s beauty without any stress. If you're planning a trip to Uganda, I highly recommend Ababa Uganda Safaris for a seamless and memorable adventure!![]()
MadhviVerified
.gorilla trek Our KQ flight was horribly delayed. From 2.30 pm to arriving @ almost 3 am the following day. Jonathan kindly arranged for airport pick at this early hour of day and even rescheduled our departure for bwindi so we could get some rest. That was very accommodating.the drive to bwindi was a long drive -11 hrs- n he informed hotel of our late arrival. The lodge he chose for us was good and comfortable. However the vehicle for transporti g us could be better as it was quite hot without air conditioning. Gorilla trek was good but tough. Overall Ababa safaris were very accommodating. I wouldrecommend them. The hotel in Kampala- Speke hotel leaves a lot to be desired![]()
mo-marvinVerified
Such a wonderful experience!! My family and I contacted Jonathan to help us plan our first Murchison Falls safari. Jonathan arranged our transport from Kampala, with a stop at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary and guided game drives through Murchison falls. Ronnie, our professional driver and guide, was very knowledgeable and paid close attention to details to make us comfortable. He met with us a day before takeoff to answer any outstanding questions and recommended a time for us to set off to avoid any traffic. His experience made our trip even more enjoyable because we knew what to expect for entry fees into the park, where to stop to use clean washrooms, eat good food, and also what side of the boat cruise to sit on for the best views! We saw lions, elephants, giraffes, job, rhinos, buffaloes and many other animals. We would definitely go with them for our next safari in Uganda! They had great communication, value for money, professionalism, knowledge of the industry and were very reliable.![]()
Katelyn OVerified
A must-hire company! Punctual, professional, great communication. We used Ababa Safaris for a trip from Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park. I would HIGHLY recommend! Our driver picked us up in a large safari vehicle with a pop up roof. The driver was very punctual and had excellent communication while preparing for the trip and during the trip. Ronnie took us to a nice restaurant for a rest stop that had clean bathrooms and good food. He was friendly with many people we met along the way at the Rhino Sanctuary, on the safari trails, and at our chosen lodging. It felt as though he had good connections with people, which we took as a good sign. Ronnie was very knowledgeable about the best places to see the animals and gave us a great safari experience. As the person in the family who does much of the planning, it was a very enjoyable experience to hand all of that over to Ababa and really get to enjoy myself.![]()
HoehlenhonkVerified
Animals and beautiful nature in Uganda and Rwanda From being picked-up from Entebbe airport in the middle of the night until the drop-off eleven days later in Kigali it was a perfect tour. Jonathan, our guide, and the driver Moses was a perfect team - very friendly, knowledgable and always in time. We visited Entebbe for a tour through the botanical gardens and the zoo, did safaris and boat trips in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth NP and did trekkings to the chimpazees in Kibale and to the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. The primates are a must visit when you travel to this region. It's expensive but worth every dollar. The safari parks are of course not as rich in animals as for example the Masai Mara. But they are much cheaper, there are much lesser tourists and nevertheless it doesn't become boring regarding animal sightings. We saw a lot of different antelopes, beautiful giraffes, lions, many elephants, buffalos, a lot of hippos and crocodiles and much more. The choice of hotels was very good, simple and cheap where there was only a short overnight stay and a bit more expensive where it was worth to spend the money for staying close to the places of interest, e.g. close to the starting point for primate trekkings or in the middle of QENP and Murchison NP for not loosing game-drive-time.![]()
Dilip PVerified
UGANDA SAFARI WITH ABABA We had a nice holiday with ABABA SAFARI in Uganda it was a nice experience in Uganda and the travel agent as well especially Jonathan was our tour guide very nice person he was always very helpful and kind. we traveled about 1200km but had no problem I am a vegetarian and wherever we go he always arranges something for me i recommend them at and competitive price I give them a 5-star






