Still Wild Safaris
The 3-Day Rwanda
Gorilla Express

The 3-Day Rwanda Gorilla Express

The world's most accessible gorilla trek from international airport to mountain gorillas in under three hours.

From

$3,150per person sharing

RWANDA

The 3-Day Rwanda Gorilla Express

No other country puts you face to face with mountain gorillas this effortlessly. This signature short safari begins with an airport pickup in Kigali and, within a scenic two-to-three-hour drive on excellent tarmac, delivers you to the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes and the edge of Volcanoes National Park home of the gorilla families made famous by Dian Fossey. One night in Kigali and one night in a hand-picked lodge beneath the volcanoes give the trip just enough room to breathe. It is built for travellers short on time but unwilling to compromise: a full, unhurried hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family, and seamless private transfers from touchdown to takeoff. This is the premium end of gorilla trekking Rwanda's permit costs more than Uganda's, and what it buys is speed, polish and proximity, with no internal flights, no long overland days, and the most efficient gorilla encounter in Africa.

The Experience

Swipe

Itinerary

Arrival in Kigali Airport Transfer & City at Leisure
Day 1 of 3

Arrival in Kigali Airport Transfer & City at Leisure

Your driver-guide meets you at Kigali International Airport and transfers you to your hotel in the city. Depending on your arrival time, there is the option of a city tour including the moving Kigali Genocide Memorial and the vibrant craft markets before a dinner briefing on the trek ahead. Kigali is worth the evening: it is consistently ranked among the cleanest and safest cities in Africa, and its restaurant scene has grown remarkable.

Stays

LuxuryKigali Serena Hotel / The Retreat by Heaven
Mid-RangeHotel des Mille Collines / Lemigo Hotel

Meals

Dinner

Rates

From $3,150

per person sharing

Group sizeMidrangeLuxury
Private departure (1)$3,750$4,350
2 sharing$3,150$3,595
3 sharing$2,995$3,395
4 sharing$2,895$3,295
6 sharing$2,795$3,195
Single supplement$180$320

Permit & Booking Notice

The Rwanda gorilla permit is USD 1,500 per person, issued by the Rwanda Development Board, and is included in this package. It grants one hour with a habituated gorilla family in Volcanoes National Park. Permits are limited daily and must be secured well in advance full payment is required at booking to confirm your date.

Rates are valid for travel through 31 December 2026 and are subject to RDB tariff revision.

Prices shown in currencies other than USD use live exchange rates and are indicative final invoicing is in USD.

Make This Journey Your Own

Every itinerary here is a starting point. Share your dates and preferences, and our travel designers will tailor this journey to fit you exactly.

Journey Highlights

Whatmakesthisjourneyunforgettable

01

Africa's shortest gorilla transfer Volcanoes National Park is just two to three hours from Kigali on excellent tarmac, with no internal flights and no long overland days.

02

A full, unhurried hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family on the misty slopes of the Virungas, guided by expert trackers and Rwanda Development Board rangers.

03

Trek the very forests where Dian Fossey conducted her pioneering research the setting of Gorillas in the Mist and the birthplace of mountain gorilla conservation.

04

An overnight in Kigali, one of Africa's cleanest and safest capitals, with the option of the moving Genocide Memorial and vibrant craft markets.

05

A night at the foot of the Virunga volcanoes in a hand-picked lodge, from community-owned classics to some of the most celebrated lodges on the continent.

What's Included & What's Not

What's included in your package

  • Airport pickup on arrival at Kigali International Airport
  • Return private transfers throughout (Kigali–Volcanoes NP–Kigali)
  • 1 night hotel accommodation in Kigali
  • 1 night lodge accommodation near Volcanoes National Park
  • All meals as listed
  • Rwanda gorilla trekking permit (Rwanda Development Board)
  • Rwanda Development Board ranger fees
  • Expert English-speaking driver-guide throughout
  • Emergency evacuation services
  • Bottled water throughout

Handpicked Lodges

Carefully selected stays along your safari journey

Kigali Serena Hotel
Luxury1 NIGHT

Kigali Serena Hotel

Kigali, Rwanda

The Retreat by Heaven
Luxury1 NIGHT

The Retreat by Heaven

Kigali, Rwanda

Hotel des Mille Collines
Mid-Range1 NIGHT

Hotel des Mille Collines

Kigali, Rwanda

Lemigo Hotel
Mid-Range1 NIGHT

Lemigo Hotel

Kigali, Rwanda

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Before You Go

Frequentlyaskedquestions

Everything you need to know before your safari begins answered by our team of specialists.

Speed and polish. Volcanoes National Park is two to three hours from Kigali airport on excellent roads, the treks are superbly organised, and the volcanic bamboo forest gives relatively open viewing. The trade-off is cost the Rwanda permit is $1,500 against Uganda's $800. If value matters more than convenience, ask us about the Uganda alternative from Kigali.

The Rwanda permit is $1,500 per person and is included in this package. It grants one hour with a habituated family, accompanied by Rwanda Development Board rangers.

Yes, comfortably. The short transfer is what makes it possible. You arrive Day 1, position beneath the volcanoes Day 2, trek and return to Kigali Day 3 in time for an evening flight. It is the only single-hour gorilla trek that genuinely works in three days.

The dry seasons June to September and December to February give the most comfortable trekking. Gorilla tracking runs year-round; the wet season brings a lush forest and fewer visitors.

Minimum age is 15. Treks range from thirty minutes to four hours, and a reasonable level of fitness is advised. Porters are available at the trailhead and are strongly recommended.

Most nationalities obtain a visa on arrival, and the East Africa Tourist Visa is also accepted. A Yellow Fever certificate may be required depending on your travel history.