1 Day Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda is possible because of the short distance between Kigali and the Volcanoes National Park. The package is ideal for travelers who are already in Rwanda and are interested in gorilla trekking at the Volcanoes National Park. Covering an area of 160km², the Volcanoes National Park is found in Musanze district in the north western part of Rwanda. It is the most visited 
and known national park in Rwanda. It’s fame and popularity is mainly attributed to the population of mountain gorillas that call it home. Mountain gorillas inhabit the slopes of the five volcanic mountains of Bisoke, Gahinga, Karisimbi, Sabinyo and Muhabura. These mountains are part of the greater Virunga massif that extends to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. One can see all three countries while at the peak of any of the mountains. The Virunga massif is home to three national parks which are all home to mountain gorillas. Apart from the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, there is also the Mgahinga National Park in Uganda and the Virunga National Park in Congo.
The Volcanoes national park stands out for gorilla trekking because it is easiest gorilla park to access. The roads leading to it are more modern and the gorilla families are generally easy to locate in a short time. The Volcanoes national park has been visited by prominent and famous personalities in the world. We have seen the likes of Morgan Freeman (an American movie actor) and David Luiz (a former soccer player of Arsenal Football Club). The park is now partly managed by a company affiliated to the American Billionaire Warren Buffet.
The Volcanoes National park is not only home to mountain gorillas and volcanoes. It also home to the rare and endangered golden monkeys. Golden monkeys are mostly found at the base of the volcanoes where they love to feed on bamboo shoots or raid peoples gardens whenever they can. The gold color on their coats make them very cute and likeable primates. They are also very cheeky, playful and excellent for photography. Other wildlife species found in the Volcanoes National Park include forest buffaloes, elephants, duikers, hyenas, birds and a variety of plants. There is no specific arrangement made in the park to see elephants or hyenas but they can be sighted while hiking one of the volcanoes, doing gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking or while visiting the grave of Dian Fossey.
The Volcanoes National Park has 12 habituated mountain gorilla groups available for tracking. Only 8 people may track each family on a given day. Gorilla permits in Rwanda costs $1500. $1500 may seem expensive but not until you encounter a group of gorillas in the wild. Mountain gorillas behave just like we humans. Watching a gorilla group is like watching how our ancestors lived before we evolved to a point where we have all this technology. Gorilla trekking is a different experience from following the wildebeest migration or watching predators in the wild. Here you get to watch mothers breast feed their young, juveniles playing, adults groom and the silverback always on the lookout for any danger. The silverback leads the group by charisma. Of all the animals in the wild, none beats a dominant silverback when it comes to charisma. All in all, gorilla trekking is a once in a lifetime experience and you will never forget the one hour spent with the primates.
If you find the gorilla permits in Rwanda expensive, you can also check out our 1 day Uganda gorilla tour starting from Kigali. Gorilla permits in Uganda cost $700. The 1 day gorilla safari in Uganda can start very early in the morning from Kigali. Our driver would take you across the border with Uganda and to Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park. After tracking the gorillas in Uganda, the driver would take you back to Rwanda in time to catch a late flight back home. For a longer gorilla safari in Rwanda, please check out the 2 days Rwanda gorilla safari package or the 3 days gorilla tour in Rwanda.
Detailed Itinerary
Before dawn, our safari guide will pick you up from Kigali and drive you straight to the park headquarters in Kinigi. You will have to be at the park by 7:00 am to participate in the briefing. The 
driving time from Kigali to the Volcanoes National Park is about 3 hours. You shouldn’t be bored during the three hours’ journey because there will be a lot to see along the way. Rwanda is an amazing country with beautiful countryside and thousands of hills. At the end of the briefing, you will be led into the forest in search of the gorillas under the guidance of a park ranger. It will take you between 2 to 6 hours to find the gorillas depending on the gorilla group you get and their location. The time frame for gorilla trekking is not specified due to the fact that gorillas keep moving from one place to another looking for food and shelter. You cannot expect to find them in the same place they were the previous day. You have to search for them in their current location.
When you meet the gorillas, you will have one hour of interaction with them. Use the time to observe the group feed on tree branches, shoots, ferns and fruits. You can also see the adults groom and play with their young. It is always important to maintain a certain distance even if the primates approach you. Never attempt to touch a gorilla even if they come close to you. Avoid looking at gorillas straight in the eye or touching their young to avoid alerting the protective silverback or female. Take as many photos as you can. After spending the allocated time with the primates, you will go back to the starting point where you will find our Guide waiting to take you back to Kigali.
Tour Inclusions and Exclusions
The tour includes: –
- Gorilla permit (1500 USD)
- 4×4 safari vehicle with fuel
- On safari lunch and mineral water
- Safari driver/guide
The tour excludes: –
Air ticket, travel insurance and individual expenses like alcohol, smoking, tipping and gifts.
Lodges and Hotels
Amakoro Songa Lodge: This lodge is located in the small town outside Kinigi. The lodge derives its name from the black volcanic stones found on the slopes of the volcanoes in the area. Amakoro Songa is a five-star facility with 8 executive chalets offering magnificent view of the Virunga volcanoes. Other than its exquisite rooms, it also offers the best local and international cuisines in the area. It has a bar, restaurant and reflexology center that offers massage. Amakoro Songa Lodge arranges other activities like cave exploration, nature walks, cycling and cultural performances from the local traditional entertainment groups.
Kinigi Guest House: This budget lodge gets its name from the local town where the volcanoes national park offices are located. The lodge is built on the slopes of Mount Sabyinyo and has over the 
years become a favorite for travelers seeking self-contained but affordable accommodation facilities. It has self-contained rooms with hot showers, bathrooms, reading desks and a large bed. It also has hostels and dormitories that cater for larger groups of people/students traveling on a budget. There is also a camping grounds and tents available for backpackers. Kinigi Guest House is an Eco-tourism lodge that believes in sustainable development and conserving the environment. The lodge helps promote and improve the livelihood of people in the local community by employing them or purchasing their farm products.
La Palme Hotel: La Palme is also found in Musanze town and only a few kilometers away from the headquarters of the volcanoes national park. It is a 3-star lodge and hence considered a mid-range 
accommodation facility. Being near the main road makes it an ideal place to start off your gorilla trekking experience. La Palme Hotel has 12 regular self-contained rooms and 2 executive suites with excellent services in place. The rooms have European sized beds, a study desk, internet, a Television screen and a telephone to request for room service. It also has a restaurant serving both local and international dishes. There is a well-stocked bar with branded wines. La Palme Hotel offers facilities which appeal to both business people and tourists. There is a large conference hall for company workshops and a large garden for weddings/parties.
