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2 Days Gorilla Trekking Rwanda Safari: Short Rwanda Gorilla Trek

2 Days Gorilla Trekking Rwanda Safari: Overview

This 2-day gorilla trekking Rwanda safari offers an incredible opportunity to explore Volcanoes National Park and witness endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. This short, wonderful 2-day Rwanda gorilla trek is designed to be both time- and cost-efficient, and it makes your dream of gorilla trekking in Rwanda a reality.

During this safari, you’ll visit Volcanoes National Park, home to five volcanoes and approximately one-third of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. The park also holds the final resting place of Dian Fossey, the renowned American primatologist who significantly changed our understanding of gorillas. Fossey devoted 18 years of her life to researching mountain gorillas and preventing poaching from causing their extinction.

Tragically, in 1985, poachers who perceived Dian Fossey as a threat murdered her. She is buried at her former research center alongside some of her favorite gorillas. Hiking to her tomb is a poignant addition to this 2-day Rwanda gorilla safari.

Customize this affordable 2-day Rwanda gorilla trekking safari to match your interests.

Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

2 Days Gorilla Trekking Rwanda Safari: Prime Activities

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Hike to Dian Fossey’s Tomb
Drive through Rwanda’s stunning landscapes
Optional Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village tour
Optional golden monkey tracking adventure

2 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trek Safari—Featured Destination

Days 1 & 2: Volcanoes National Park

2 Days Gorilla Trekking Rwanda Safari: Highlights

Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park and hike to Dian Fossey’s Tomb

Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and return to Kigali

2 Days Gorilla Trekking Rwanda Safari: Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park & Hike to Dian Fossey’s Tomb

Your adventure starts early with a 5 am pick-up from your Kigali hotel. Enjoy a 2- to 3-hhour drive through lush countryside to Volcanoes National Park. Upon arrival at 7 am, you’ll receive a briefing on the Dian Fossey tomb hike.

Starting at 8 am, the hike to Fossey’s Grave takes 3–4 hours, with an altitude of 2900–3000 meters. Along the way, you may see golden monkeys, giant forest hogs, forest buffalo, elephants, duikers, rare birds, and even mountain gorillas while marveling at the park’s natural beauty.

At the site, you’ll visit the ruins of Fossey’s house and her grave, which lies beside her favorite gorilla, Digit, and other gorillas killed by poachers. After this moving experience, you’ll head to your lodge for lunch and leisure time in preparation for the next day’s gorilla trek.

Highlight of the Day: Insight into Dian Fossey’s life and work

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate Lodge/Virunga Lodge
Midrange: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Muhabura Hotel

Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & Time: 116 km/2-3 hours

Activities & Services:

Hotel pick-up
Transfer to Volcanoes
Dian Fossey hike

Optional Activities:

Golden monkey tracking
Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village tour
Musanze Caves exploration

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park & Transfer Back to Kigali

After an early breakfast at 6.30 am, you’ll head to the park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking procedures and regulations. The trek begins at 8 am and can last from 1 to 7 hours.

Prepare for muddy, humid, and challenging conditions, but rest assured, it’s manageable for healthy, reasonably fit trekkers. Your guides will lead you to one of the 10 habituated gorilla families, where you’ll spend an hour observing and photographing these magnificent creatures.

In addition to gorillas, you may encounter golden monkeys, various birds of Rwanda, and other forest dwellers. After this unforgettable experience, you’ll return to the park headquarters for debriefing and then be transferred back to Kigali, concluding your 2-day gorilla Rwanda trek.

Highlight of the Day: Tracking rare mountain gorillas

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

Drive Distance & Time: 116 km/2-3 hours

Activities & Services: