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2 and 3 Day Gorilla Trekking Tours in Rwanda
These 3 day gorilla trekking tours and the shorter 2-day trip run from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park with a night or two near the park and a golden monkey trek. The 3-day tour costs $1,460 per person and the 2-day tour $715, and on both the $1,500 gorilla permit is bought separately.
Quick answer Price, nights and which permits are in
Yes, there are 2 and 3 day gorilla trekking tours from Kigali: the 3-day tour costs $1,460 per person with 2 lodge nights, and the 2-day tour $715 with 1 night and the golden monkey permit included. The $1,500 gorilla permit is extra on both.
Key takeaways
- All tours, including permit-included days, on the rwanda gorilla trekking page
- The 3-day trip: 3-Day Gorillas and Golden Monkeys Tour, permits extra
- The 2-day trip: Kingfisher 2-Day Gorilla and Golden Monkey Safari, golden monkey permit in
- Buying the gorilla permit: the permit guide
2 and 3 Day Gorilla Trekking Tours from Kigali
Both tours start in Kigali, sleep near Volcanoes National Park and add a golden monkey trek to the gorilla day. Neither includes the gorilla permit. The 2-day tour includes the golden monkey permit, the 3-day tour does not.
from $1,460
3-Day Mountain Gorilla and Golden Monkey Treks
A private three-day trip with lodge stays and both the gorilla and golden monkey permits included in the $1,460 price.
Check Availability
from $715
2 Days Gorilla & Golden Monkey Trekking Safaris
Two private treks with canoeing and a lodge night, but the $715 price excludes the gorilla permit while golden monkey permits are included.
Check AvailabilityWhich 2 or 3 Day Tour Should You Pick?
Pick the 3-day tour for a Kigali city day, two lodge nights and the twin lakes, or the 2-day tour for a shorter trip with the golden monkey permit included.
These trips cover the same two treks in a different number of days.
Side by Side
The table compares the listings on price, length, nights, which permits the price covers and cancellation. Prices are per person from each listing.
| Tour | Price | Nights | Permits in the price | Cancellation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Gorillas and Golden Monkeys Tour | $1,460 | 2 lodge nights | None | Free 24h |
| Kingfisher 2-Day Safari | $715 | 1 night, Isange Paradise Resort | Golden monkey | Free 3 days |
What Each Day Holds
The 3-day tour, run by IMANI TOURS, spends day 1 on a Kigali city tour with the Kigali Genocide Memorial and Kimironko market before the drive north, day 2 on the gorilla trek and the twin lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo, and day 3 on the golden monkey trek before the drive back. The 2-day Kingfisher Journeys trip treks gorillas on day 1, sleeps at Isange Paradise Resort, then tracks golden monkeys and canoes on the Mukungwa River on day 2. The 2-day tour has 4 reviews at 5, the 3-day tour is a new listing.
Sources: Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda Development Board.
What Does the Tour Price Cover?
Transport, lodge nights, meals and guiding: the gorilla permit is extra on both, and only the 2-day tour includes the golden monkey permit.
Permits are where these tours differ, so read this before you compare prices.
Permits In and Out
RDB charges foreign visitors $1,500 for the gorilla permit and $100 for golden monkey tracking. On the 3-day tour both permits are bought separately. On the 2-day tour the golden monkey permit is in the $715, and the gorilla permit is bought separately.
Tips and personal spending are extra on both.
| Permit | RDB price, foreign visitor | 3-day tour | 2-day tour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gorilla | $1,500 | Extra | Extra |
| Golden monkey | $100 | Extra | Included |
Sources: Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda Development Board.
Other Tours That Fit
Shorter options from Kigali.
from $342
Most reviewed
1 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour In The Volcanoes National Park
A private 12 hour Kigali day trek with 4x4 transport and meals included, but the mandatory gorilla permit is paid for separately.
Check Availability
from $260
Rwanda Gorilla Trek in Volcanoes National Park
A private day trek from Kigali with a culture tour and lunch, rated 4.9, but the gorilla permit is paid separately and the operator helps arrange it.
Check AvailabilityIs 3 Days Enough for Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda?
Yes: the gorilla trek takes one day, so 3 days leaves room for golden monkeys, a Kigali day and the drive.
The trek itself needs one day: a 7:00 am briefing at Kinigi, 30 minutes to four or more hours of tracking and one hour with the family.
One Day, Two Days or Three
A one-day tour from Kigali covers the gorillas alone. Two days add a night near the park and golden monkeys. Three days add the Kigali city tour and the twin lakes.
Visit Rwanda calls the drive from Kigali three hours each way, so a night near the park makes the 7:00 am briefing much easier. Longer trips that add Akagera or Nyungwe can qualify for RDB's 30% low-season permit discount from November to May.
Sources: Visit Rwanda, Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda Development Board.
What Is the Golden Monkey Trek Like?
A shorter, cheaper trek in the same park: a $100 permit, groups of up to 16 and a minimum age of 12.
Both tours add golden monkeys, the second primate trek of Volcanoes National Park.
The Rules
Golden monkey trekkers report at Kinigi at 7:00 am, like gorilla trekkers. Groups take up to 16 people, the minimum age is 12, and troupes can include up to 30 monkeys. More on the day trips in golden monkey trekking in Rwanda.
Source: Rwanda Development Board.
What Are the Best Months for a 3 Day Gorilla Trip?
June to mid-September is the dry season, and any month works because the gorillas are tracked every day.
Season changes the mud more than the odds.
Dry Season and Rains
Visit Rwanda gives June to mid-September as the dry season, with easier roads and paths. The long rains peak March to May and the short rains fall around October to December. The best time guide has the detail.
Source: Visit Rwanda.
How Do You Book the Permits for a 3 Day Trip?
Buy the gorilla permit on the RDB portal or through the operator before you book the dates, because neither tour includes it.
The tour and the permit are two bookings, and the permit decides the date.
Permit First, Tour Second
Rwanda issues 96 gorilla permits a day, first come first served. On the RDB portal you pay 40% to 99% of the fee when a slot is open and the rest before 30 days. Cash is not accepted at the park.
Rescheduling costs 20% of the fee, approved automatically more than 7 days ahead. If you track all day and meet no gorillas, 75% is refunded, but late arrival or cancellation gets nothing back. For the 3-day tour, buy the $100 golden monkey permit as well, for the day 3 trek.
Sources: Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda Development Board.
What Else Fits into 2 or 3 Days Near Volcanoes National Park?
The Ellen DeGeneres Campus, the twin lakes, the Musanze caves and the park's other hikes.
The 3-day tour already adds the twin lakes and a Kigali city tour. These are the other options people fit around the treks.
Half-Day and Full-Day Additions
The table lists what fits around the treks, with RDB's foreign-visitor permit where one applies. Each park trek reports at 7:00 am, so it needs its own morning.
| Option | Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Ellen DeGeneres Campus | $25 suggested donation | Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., last entry 4 p.m. |
| Musanze caves | $50 permit | 90 minutes from Kigali |
| Mount Bisoke hike | $75 permit | 6 to 7 hours, minimum age 15 |
| Dian Fossey tomb hike | $75 permit | Minimum age 15 |
| Twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo | On the 3-day itinerary | Day 2 afternoon after the gorillas |
Sources: Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda Development Board.
Where Do You Sleep on a 2 or 3 Day Gorilla Trip?
Near the park: the 2-day tour uses Isange Paradise Resort and the 3-day tour a lodge as per its itinerary.
Sleeping near Kinigi is what a multi-day trip buys you over a day trip.
Lodges Near the Park
The 2-day Kingfisher Journeys trip sleeps one night at Isange Paradise Resort, and the 3-day IMANI TOURS trip lists two lodge nights with dinner. A night near the park means the 7:00 am briefing at Kinigi, 13 km from Musanze, is a short drive instead of a pre-dawn start in Kigali. For your own nights before or after the tours, the homepage where to stay section lists Kinigi, Musanze and Kigali.
Bring a warm layer: the Virunga mountains are the coolest place in Rwanda.
Sources: Visit Rwanda, Visit Rwanda.
2 and 3 Day Gorilla Trekking FAQ
How much does a gorilla trekking trip cost?
The 3-day tour costs $1,460 per person and the 2-day tour $715, and the $1,500 gorilla permit is bought separately on both. See what the price covers.
Is there a 3-day gorilla trek in Rwanda?
Yes. The 3-Day Gorillas and Golden Monkeys Tour runs from Kigali with a city tour, a gorilla trek and a golden monkey trek, with 2 lodge nights.
Does the 3-day tour include the gorilla permit?
No. Its listing excludes the gorilla and golden monkey permits. For a price that includes the gorilla permit, see packages with the permit included.
Can the tours start and end in Kigali?
Yes, both pick up in Kigali, and the 3-day tour also collects at the airport. See the tours.
What is the minimum age?
15 for gorillas and 12 for golden monkeys, set by RDB. More in the golden monkey trek.
What is the best country for gorilla trekking?
For a short trip flying into Kigali, Rwanda avoids a border crossing, while Uganda's permit is $800. Compare them in Rwanda vs Uganda.
More Guides
- Golden Monkey Trekking in Rwanda: Day Trips from Kigali
Golden monkey trekking in Rwanda for 2027: the 7:00 report at Kinigi, groups of 16, age 12 and up, and two day trips from Kigali compared.
- 1-Day Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda from Kigali
1 day gorilla trekking from Kigali in 2027: pickup times, the 7:00 am Kinigi briefing and one hour with the gorillas. Compare the day tours.
- When Is the Best Time for Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda?
Plan the best time for gorilla trekking in Rwanda 2027: dry seasons, 96 daily permits, $1,500 permit price. Plan your trek.