1-day Rwanda gorilla trek tours are the shortest type of gorilla safaris available. These tours occur in Rwanda due to Volcanoes National Park’s proximity to Kigali.
The park is just a 2-hour drive from Kigali, which is one reason why some gorilla trekkers prefer Rwanda over Uganda or Congo.
Unlike other types of gorilla tours, a 1-day gorilla trekking tour in Rwanda is most convenient for tourists already in Kigali, as it requires an early pick-up and a late drop-off.
The journey between Kigali and Ruhengeri in the Musanze Province takes a maximum of 3 hours, meaning we need to depart Kigali no later than 4:00 AM to make it in time for the 7:30 AM pre-briefing at the park headquarters.
During the drive, you’ll enjoy Rwanda’s smooth roads and beautiful plains, a perfect opportunity to start capturing photos of your gorilla adventure. However, be mindful not to overdo it—you’ll want to save your camera’s battery for the trek itself.
Upon arrival at Volcanoes National Park, you will first have a hearty breakfast before heading to the park headquarters at Kinigi for a pre-briefing session conducted by a park warden. During this session, you will be briefed on the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking.
Be sure to pay close attention to the warden’s instructions and abide by the safety precautions throughout the trek. Feel free to ask any questions and share details about your physical fitness to be placed in a group that matches your trekking pace.
Keep in mind that gorilla trekking is physically demanding, so a substantial breakfast is recommended to give you the energy needed for the trek.
Alternatively, you can bring along energy drinks, which can also help. At exactly 8:30 AM, you’ll be transported to the starting point of your trek, where you will be randomly assigned to a Rwanda gorilla group.
While certain groups, like the Susa Group, are popular among tourists for providing a more memorable experience, random allocation doesn’t guarantee you a spot in any particular group.
However, thanks to our strong relationships with park wardens, we often manage to secure specific group requests for our clients, though this is not guaranteed. Rest assured, we always do our best to accommodate these requests.
The duration of your trek can range from 1 to 8 hours, depending on the movement of the mountain gorillas.
On a lucky day, you might spot a gorilla within minutes, while on other occasions, it could take over an hour. After completing your trek, you’ll return to Kigali, where you can either be dropped off at your hotel or depart for your flight, depending on your travel arrangements.
If you have an overnight stay, we can organize it for you and provide a complimentary airport transfer the following day.
Volcanoes National Park’s proximity to Kigali gives Rwanda a competitive edge in offering short gorilla trips.
The drive to Ruhengeri offers breathtaking views, showing you exactly why Rwanda is known as the “land of a thousand hills.”
Gorilla tracking is a physically challenging activity that can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the movements of these gentle endangered primates.
