4-Day Rwanda Gorilla Safari: Kigali & Volcanoes National Park
tour features
4-day Rwanda gorilla safari: the perfect short escape to meet mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. Discover Kigali’s history and remarkable recovery on a city tour, then head north through Rwanda’s terraced hills to the foot of the Virunga volcanoes for an unforgettable hour with a gorilla family.
About This 4-Day Rwanda Gorilla Safari
Quick Answer
This 4-day Rwanda gorilla safari lasts 3 nights with The Out Of Africa Experience: 1 night at the Kigali Serena Hotel and 2 nights at Bishop’s House near Volcanoes National Park. It includes a Kigali city tour and Genocide Memorial visit, a gorilla trek, private 4×4 transport and full board on safari. Gorilla permits are quoted separately, and a second gorilla trek or golden monkey tracking is optional on day 4.
Short on time but want the experience of a lifetime? This 4-day Rwanda gorilla safari fits easily around a business trip or another East African safari, with just a 2–3 hour drive from Kigali to the gorillas.
Duration
4 Days / 3 Nights
Start / End
Kigali
Gorilla Treks
1 (optional 2nd)
Vehicle
Private 4×4
4-Day Rwanda Gorilla Safari Highlights
🦍 Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
🏛 Kigali city tour and the Kigali Genocide Memorial
🌋 Views of up to five Virunga volcanoes
🏡 Two nights at Bishop’s House at the foot of the volcanoes
🐵 Optional second gorilla trek or golden monkey tracking
4-Day Rwanda Gorilla Safari Itinerary: Day by Day
Tap each day to see the details.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali
🛏 Overnight: Kigali Serena Hotel (Bed & Breakfast)
Your 4-day Rwanda gorilla safari begins at Kigali International Airport, where our representative welcomes you, transfers you to your hotel and helps with check-in. The rest of the day is at leisure, with lunch and dinner at your own arrangement.
Day 2: Kigali City Tour – Volcanoes National Park
🛏 Overnight: Bishop’s House (Deluxe Room) · Full Board
After breakfast, set out on a tour of Kigali, including a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, followed by lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, take a scenic drive north to Volcanoes National Park. The road winds through the terraced hillsides that characterise much of Rwanda’s landscape and gradually climbs to the base of the Virunga volcanoes, with as many as five peaks sometimes visible.
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
🛏 Overnight: Bishop’s House (Deluxe Room) · Full Board
The highlight of your 4-day Rwanda gorilla safari. After an early breakfast, transfer at 06:30 to the park headquarters. At 07:00, park staff register you and assign you to a gorilla group, advising on trekking times and conditions based on where each group was the evening before. A maximum of eight trekkers visit any one group.
Your group’s lead guide briefs you on trekking procedures and the do’s and don’ts around gorillas, then you drive up the mountain to the starting point. Porters can be hired for a small fee to carry your backpack and gear, and we recommend it.
Trekking can take from two to six hours or more, depending on how far the gorillas have moved, with regular stops to rest and take photos. After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch. If time allows, you can choose from a variety of afternoon activities at extra cost.
Day 4: Optional Second Trek – Kigali – Departure
This morning, you can choose a second gorilla trek (subject to permit availability) or track the endangered golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park.
After lunch, leave the foothills of the Virungas and drive south past coffee, tea and banana plantations on a breathtaking scenic route back to Kigali. On arrival, transfer to Kigali International Airport for your onward flight (booked through your preferred travel agent).
End of your 4-day Rwanda gorilla safari.
What’s Included
✓ All airport transfers and assistance
✓ Kigali accommodation (standard room, bed & breakfast)
✓ Safari accommodation on a full-board basis
✓ Compulsory emergency evacuation services
✓ Kigali city tour, Genocide Memorial visit and lunch on day 2
✓ Private transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle
✓ English-speaking driver-guide
✓ Bottled drinking water while trekking and in the vehicle
✓ All taxes on the services above
Not Included
✗ Meals and drinks other than those specified
✗ International, regional and local airfares
✗ Airport taxes
✗ Passport and visa fees
✗ Excess baggage charges
✗ Tips for driver-guides and other staff
✗ Laundry and personal items such as drinks and phone calls
✗ Personal, baggage, accident and trip cancellation insurance
✗ Anything not listed under “What’s Included”
Permits (Quoted Separately)
Gorilla trekking permits are set by the Rwanda Development Board, so we quote them separately at the time of booking. A second gorilla permit or a golden monkey permit for day 4 can be added, subject to availability.
Good to Know: Umuganda
On the last Saturday of every month, from 08:00 to 12:00, Rwanda observes Umuganda, a mandatory community service morning. Most tourist sites in Kigali close and traffic is restricted, so we plan your city tour around it.
4-Day Rwanda Gorilla Safari: Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 4-day Rwanda gorilla safari long enough?
Yes. Volcanoes National Park is only a 2–3 hour drive from Kigali, so 4 days gives you a Kigali city tour, a full gorilla trekking day and the option of a second trek or golden monkey tracking.
Are gorilla permits included?
No. Gorilla permits are quoted separately when you book, as their price is set by the Rwanda Development Board.
How long does gorilla trekking take?
From two to six hours or more, depending on where the gorillas are. A maximum of eight trekkers visit each gorilla group, and porters can be hired to carry your bags.
Can I do a second gorilla trek?
Yes, on day 4, subject to permit availability. Alternatively, you can track golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park before returning to Kigali.
When is the best time for a 4-day Rwanda gorilla safari?
Gorilla trekking runs all year, but the dry seasons, December to February and June to September, make the forest trails easier to walk.
Want to add chimpanzees or the Big Five? See our 7 Days Gorillas & Chimps Safari or 9 Days Roaming Rwanda Safari.
Book Your 4-Day Rwanda Gorilla Safari
Gorilla permits are limited, so get in touch early to check availability and secure your dates.
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