Private Tour
One Day Gorilla Trekking Rwanda with Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Embark on an unforgettable one-day Gorilla Trekking adventure in Rwanda, with an optional visit to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund or the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village. A thrilling, once-in-a-lifetime journey into the misty heart of Volcanoes National Park to encounter the awe-inspiring mountain gorillas & explore a vibrant ex-poacher community. Perfect for travelers short on time but big on adventure.
Coming face-to-face with a mountain gorilla is raw, wild, and deeply moving—many say it’s life-changing. You'll be close enough to hear their breath, smell their earthy, sweet scent, and feel the primal connection—we share 98% of their DNA, after all.
Kick off your epic day with an early departure from Kigali on a scenic 2–2.5 hour Enjoy a seamless and comfortable journey with our premium 4×4 safari vehicles, equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity to keep you in touch with your loved ones & the world, plus onboard power charging systems to keep your devices fully powered throughout your adventure.
Additional Info
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
A transfer, begins & ends in Kigali SIMPLE ITINERARY: You should wake up early & order for breakfast as you wait for the driver to pick you up. Afri Safaris driver guide will take you to the RDB headquarter in Kinigi for briefing by 7:00am. This briefing is very important and is where you will meet other tourists and Rangers who will be leading you to the forest. The briefing covers many topics but the most important is how to behave around the gorillas, what to expect and what to carry along while tracking the gorillas. You will be assigned a gorilla family taking into consideration your overall fitness and age. This is because some of the gorilla groups are located deeper in the forest hence requiring more hours of trekking. Porters are available to help you with extra luggage. Park Rangers will lead you into the forest to track the primates. Trekking takes btn 2 to 6 hours. After an hour of observing the mountain gorillas, our Guide will be waiting for you at the starting point.
Iby'iwacu Cultural Village
After Gorilla trekking, then you will be transferred to Iby'iwacu cultural village. Iby'iwacu Cultural Village is a village of ex-poachers, those previously stealing the gorillas due to poverty, they now stopped poaching. The Iby’iwacu cultural village is one of the leading cultural attractions in Rwanda. The Village combines all of Rwanda’s known cultural traditions, people & history into one place for display & a personal experience. International visitors get to see what life was in a typical African village setting – the lifestyle, houses, traditional dances, dressing code, food, herbs & how the ancient kingdoms were generally organized. Tourists are given an opportunity to learn ancient hunting skills, try weaving baskets/mats, carpentry. This unique experience has won the hearts of many visitors who wish to indulge in the culture of Rwanda’s native community after seeing gorillas. Village offers an opportunities to purchase local craft, gifts & souvenir to show friends back home.
What‘s Included
• Optional Visit to Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund or Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village.
• Private Transport: 4x4 Safari vehicle, 4x4 Safari Car
• Pick-up and drop-off anywhere in Kigali City and or Kigali airport
•Stay Connected On Board with Wi-Fi and Power Charging System for your devices & comfortable Journey
• Unforgettable photo opportunities that last a lifetime – every moment is wild and wonderful.
• Gorilla Trekking Certificate By Afri Safaris
• Professional driver guide by Afri Safaris
• Assistance with the tourist permit application process for gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
• Lunch • Plenty of Water • Coffee (Beverages).
• Gorilla permit costs vary by nationality. Permits are limited daily & must be purchased in advance
• Tips • Porter fees •Personal expenses
• Everything else not mentioned in the inclusions
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Gorilla trek, Gorilla Guardian
IBYIWACU Cultural Village : a visit to the Iby'iwacu Cultural Village for traditional performances and crafts, and the return drive to Kigal
World-class
Duration: 10 hours
Lunch and drinks are included
Kigali - Volcanoes National P: Kigali - Musanze - Volcanoes National Park
4WD: Safari Vehicle
Tourist permit fee excluded : Foreign non-residents: $1,500 USD, Africans and Foreign residents: $500 USD, Rwandans/East African citizens: $200 USD
Pickup included
Gorilla trek, Dian Fossey G fu
Ellen DeGeneres Campus: a visit to the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
World-class
Duration: 10 hours
Lunch and beverages included
Kigali - Volcanoes National P: Kigali - Musanze - Volcanoes National Park
4WD: 4x4 safari vehicle, Land Cruiser
Tourist permit fee excluded : Foreign non-residents: $1,500 USD, Africans and Foreign residents: $500 USD, Rwandans/East African citizens: $200 USD
Pickup included
Reviews
20 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Unforgettable Experience. A must Do in Rwanda!
Olivia Nsh,,Oct 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Gorilla trekking adventure with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund was beyond amazing! From the early morning pickup and scenic drive from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park, to the unforgettable hike through the forest and coming face to face with a gorilla family, every moment felt surreal. The guides were deeply committed to conservation, and ensured a safe, enjoyable experience. Learning about Dian Fossey's legacy added depth and meaning to the journey. Truly a once in a lifetime experience not to be missed!
Unforgettable, worth every penny and ounce of effort. I felt great about the contribution it was to saving the gorillas
Brooke P,,Oct 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00From the early-morning pickup to the ride back to Kigali, it was one of the best - if also wonderfully exhausting - days of my life! Truly a bucket-list activity to see the gorillas, and Afri Safaris made it better than I could have hoped. I was on my own, but not at all lonely. My driver was engaging and lovely to chat with. Their attention to my comfort and enjoyment was top of mind without being overbearing. Their partners in the tour were equally focused on making it a great experience. And seeing the gorillas was absolutely breath taking. Thank you for an unforgettable day!
A great experience with the best tour company!
Ijcoojcou,,Aug 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Best experience ever! Was taken care of the whole time and felt safe the whole time as a female traveler. Highly recommend Afro Safaris!
Once in a lifetime experience
Venture547091,,Aug 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A once in a lifetime experience. We were well taken care of from the start to the end of the trip. I would definitely recommend them.
Bucket list day
Jet31811286513,,Jul 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00First timers to Rwanda will be surprised when rules are respected, schedules are real, and promises are kept, but such was my amazing day with Afri Safaris. From Ben’s cheerful 4:30 am hotel pickup, a meander through the clouds and Rwanda’s forever hills at sunrise, watching folks on their way to market and worship, and his willing, informed, and candid exchange on culture and history, until he dropped me at the airport at 6 pm, this experience is as advertised and then some. This is bucket list material for most everyone, so it isn’t, and really shouldn’t be, cheap. Your guides remind you, sadly, the gorillas would not have the opportunity to recover to healthy populations without the local economic development driven by pretty high end tourism. Afri-safaris hit that high standard in everything from transport and securing permits to an excellent local lunch stop. Not so much luxurious as authentic and attentive, which hit right for me.
Visit the mountain gurillas
PAUL G,,Jul 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It is tough walking through the jungle, but the experience and the opportunity to be so close to the mountain gorillas is worth every step.
The most amazing experience
223nii,,May 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had an amazing gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda, operated by Afri Safaris, they helped me with the paperwork and get the tourist permit for trekking. The tour was well organized and worth it, spending an hour with mountain gorillas in their natural habitat was my dream come true even if it was raining the experience was very enjoyable and one of the amazing experience in my life. The expchoachers village was very exciting and had a warm welcome. The safari vehicle was equipped with wi-fi, water and multiple chargers and lunch was very delicious. I can't recommend this tour enough!!!
Great experience
498sabatom,,Apr 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had a great time in Volcanoes National Park. Beyond my expectations in fact! Getting up close to mountain gorillas was an amazing experience of my life. The trip was very well organized and more than worth the price. My driver Kevin was knowledgeable, safe and took care of me. The cultural village worth the visit and the food was great. I highly recommend this tour!!
Highly recommended 5/5
Lewis K,,Apr 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a great experience, from start to finish the service was excellent. We enjoyed the trip a lot. The vehicle was nice and our guide Kevin was very professional, kind and Knowledgeable, he picked up us early morning on time and explained to us everything we needed. The time we spent with Gorillas was unbelievable and memorable. The village was very good and interesting we learnt a lot! Lunch was very delicious and a lot!! I Highly recommend this tour
🦍🌞🚙🇷🇼
camillelP2052LZ,,Feb 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a magical experience! Ben picked me up at my hotel in the wee hours of the morning. The long drive allowed us to see Rwanda in all her different clothing: darkness, fog, sunshine, sunset, rain, rough terrain and smooth roads. Ben told me all about Rwandan history and geography on the way up to the park. I was lucky enough to be assigned to the second largest gorilla group with the largest silverback in the whole park. I was very nervous before the hike, but Ben did a good job of reassuring me. We hiked for about two hours uphill, and the guides did an excellent job supporting us through muddy sections. The time with the gorillas was indescribable. By the time we got back down the hill I was glowing with happiness. Ben and I stopped for lunch, and then sang songs the whole drive home. He did a great job of customizing the trip according to my interests and what we talked about. Even though I was traveling solo, I felt extremely safe the whole time I was in Rwanda, and during the whole trek.
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