4 Days Rwanda Gorillas and Mount Bisoke Hike

This Rwanda Gorillas and Mount Bisoke Hike gives you two very different days on foot: a morning tracking mountain gorillas through the forest floor, and a full-day climb to the crater lake summit of Mount Bisoke, one of the five volcanoes ringing Volcanoes National Park.

Four days allows a proper rest between the two treks, plus a Kigali Genocide Memorial visit on the way out, rather than compressing everything into a rushed long weekend.

Day 1: Arrive at Kigali International Airport and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

On arrival, your driver-guide meets you and transfers you to Volcanoes National Park, roughly 2 to 3 hours away. Check in at your lodge in the afternoon and settle in ahead of tomorrow's trek.

Overnight: lodge near Volcanoes National Park (full board).

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking and Relaxation

After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters in Kinigi for registration and the mandatory briefing, typically starting around 7:00 AM, where trekking groups are assigned their gorilla family. The trek can run from 2 to 6 hours depending on the family's location that day, followed by a strictly timed hour in their company. The rest of the afternoon is free to rest at the lodge ahead of the following day's climb.

Overnight: lodge near Volcanoes National Park (full board).

Day 3: Hike Mount Bisoke Volcano, 3,711 Metres / 12,175 Feet

After an early breakfast, report to the park headquarters for a second briefing, this time for the Bisoke hike. The trail climbs steadily through bamboo forest and changing vegetation zones, with golden monkeys occasionally spotted along the lower slopes. The round trip takes 6 to 8 hours, rewarding the climb with views over a crater lake at the summit.

Overnight: lodge near Volcanoes National Park (full board).

Day 4: Return to Kigali, Tour the Genocide Museum

After breakfast, begin the drive back to Kigali, roughly 2 to 3 hours. On arrival, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi, a museum and memorial site documenting the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. Afterward, transfer to Kigali International Airport for your onward flight.

Rwanda's gorilla permit currently costs USD 1,500 per person and the Mount Bisoke hiking permit USD 75 per person, both issued by the Rwanda Development Board, the official body managing Volcanoes National Park. Only 16 Bisoke hiking permits are released per day, so early booking matters. The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15.

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