Gorilla trekking in the Virunga highlands
An hour face to face with a mountain gorilla family in Volcanoes National Park, the same misty highlands where Dian Fossey carried out her research — easily combined with a Tanzania safari or Kilimanjaro climb.
Rwanda in brief
Rwanda packs an outsized amount of travel into a small, well-organised country. Most visitors come for one reason: an hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family in Volcanoes National Park, reached in a couple of hours from Kigali on good roads.
Kigali connects easily with Arusha and Kilimanjaro International Airport, so gorilla trekking is a natural add-on before or after a Tanzania safari or a Kilimanjaro climb.
Things to do
Gorilla trekking, Volcanoes NP
A guided trek to a habituated mountain gorilla family, followed by one hour in their company. Trek length varies with where the family is that day.
Half day · Year-round
Golden monkey tracking
A gentler, shorter trek in the same bamboo forest to a troop of endangered golden monkeys, a good add-on the day before or after gorillas.
Half day · Year-round
Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
A community-run village near Kinigi with traditional dance, a homestead visit and the story of the park’s former poachers turned guides.
Half day · Year-round
Dian Fossey hike
A steep, memorable hike up to the former Karisoke Research Centre and Dian Fossey’s grave, for travellers who want the fuller gorilla conservation story.
Full day · Dry season
Kigali city tour
The Kigali Genocide Memorial, the craft cooperatives at Inema Arts Center and a walk through one of Africa’s cleanest capitals, usually on arrival or departure.
Half day · Year-round
Nyungwe canopy walk
A suspended walkway above the rainforest canopy, combined with a chimpanzee trek if you extend south from the volcanoes.
Half day · Year-round
Practical notes
- Gorilla permits are issued by Rwanda Development Board and are limited per day — book well ahead, especially for July–September and December–February.
- Only travellers 15 and over may trek gorillas; there is no age exception.
- Trekking days start early with a briefing at park headquarters in Kinigi before groups are assigned to a gorilla family.
- Porters are available to hire at the trailhead and are worth using — the fee supports the local community directly.
- Kigali International Airport (KGL) is about 2–3 hours from Volcanoes National Park by road.
- A yellow fever certificate is required for entry if you are arriving from an endemic country.