Permits first, everything else after
Gorilla trekking permits are issued for a specific date through Rwanda's official tourism channel, and numbers are strictly limited. The permit dictates the shape of the trip, so it is booked before flights and hotels, not after.
Rwanda is one of only three countries where mountain gorillas live in the wild, alongside Uganda and the DRC. In Rwanda they are in Volcanoes National Park, part of the Virunga conservation area.
Getting there
Direct flights operate from Lagos and Abuja to Kigali in roughly four and a half hours; other carriers route through their own hubs. Nigerian citizens travelling for tourism do not require a visa, but expect to show a return ticket and hotel reservations at immigration, and a yellow fever certificate is mandatory.
From Kigali to Musanze the road is well tarmacked and takes about two hours, by bus, self-drive or car with driver. The final stretch to the trailheads is dirt road and better suited to a high-clearance vehicle.
- Carry your yellow fever certificate in hand luggage
- Have the permit confirmation printed as well as on your phone
- Respect speed limits strictly if you self-drive
What to wear and expect
The trek can be short or it can be several hours of steep, wet, nettle-heavy forest, and you do not know which until your group is allocated on the morning. Dress for the hard version.
- Waterproof hiking boots already broken in
- Long sleeves and long trousers — nettles are constant
- Gardening or work gloves for gripping vegetation
- Rain jacket, water and a packed snack
- A porter, which is inexpensive, genuinely helpful and supports local income
Where to stay and what it costs
Musanze and Kinigi cover everything from simple guesthouses to lodges at the park gate; the closer you stay, the less brutal the pre-dawn start. Kigali has a full range of hotels for the nights either side.
Permit fees, accommodation and transfers change, and the permit is the dominant line in the budget. We price the current permit fee and availability for your dates before anything is confirmed.
Suggested flow
A balanced itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Kigali
Direct flight from Lagos or Abuja, roughly four and a half hours. Settle in and see the city — the Genocide Memorial deserves unhurried time.
Day 2
Kigali to Musanze
Road transfer of about two hours on good tarmac. Afternoon at the Volcanoes foothills, gear check and an early night.
Day 3
The trek
Pre-dawn start to the park headquarters at Kinigi for briefing and group allocation, then the drive to the trailhead and the hike in. Time with the family is limited by the park rules and is the highlight of the trip.
Day 4
Slow day or second activity
Golden monkey tracking, the Musanze caves, a Dian Fossey hike, or simply rest — the legs will have an opinion.
Days 5–6
Gisenyi and Lake Kivu
Optional extension to the lake shore for two calm days before returning to Kigali for the flight home.
Make this guide your own
We can adapt the route to your departure city, passport, dates, pace and budget.
