Day Trips from Kigali
Gorillas, golden monkeys, Akagera, volcano hikes and Kigali itself, each as a day trip with your own vehicle and a guide.
For two to four days, see our Rwanda short safaris.
Our day trips from Kigali start at US$150 per person for a city tour and reach US$1,950 per person for a gorilla trek with the permit included. An Akagera safari is US$425, and golden monkey tracking and the volcano hikes are US$400. Prices are per person sharing, include the park fee or permit, and are guide prices.
Key facts at a glance
- Price from
- US$150 per person sharing for the Kigali city tour. US$1,950 for the gorilla trek, permit included. Guide prices, final price in a written quotation
- Trip length
- One day, starting and ending in Kigali. The gorilla trek leaves at 4:30 am
- Best season
- Gorilla trekking and golden monkey tracking run all year. June to September and December to February are the drier months
- Group size
- Your own party for the vehicle and guide. We do not mix clients. Gorilla groups take 8 visitors a day
- Starts and ends in
- Kigali
- Includes
- Your own vehicle and guide, the park fee or permit for the activity, lunch (not on the city tour), reusable water bottles
- Permit
- Gorilla permit US$1,500 per person, minimum age 15, included in the gorilla trek price. Golden monkey permit US$100, minimum age 12, included in that trip
Day trips from Kigali
These are the day trips we run from Kigali. Gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking and Akagera are the ones guests book most. The Bisoke volcano hike, the Dian Fossey tomb hike and the Kigali city tour are there for guests who want a different kind of day. Each trip is a starting point, and we adjust it to your flights and your pace.
The longest day is the 1 Day Gorilla Trekking Rwanda from Kigali. It is a full day by road, so we explain below what it asks of you. For two to four days, with a night near the park, see our Rwanda short safaris. For longer trips, browse our Rwanda safari packages.
| Day trip | Where | Drive from Kigali, one way | Price from (US$ per person sharing) | The price includes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Day Gorilla Trekking Rwanda from Kigali | Volcanoes National Park | 2.5 to 3 hours | 1,950 | Gorilla permit (US$1,500), lunch, vehicle, guide | One day, gorillas, an early start |
| 1 Day Golden Monkey Trekking | Volcanoes National Park | 2.5 to 3 hours | 400 | Golden monkey permit (US$100), lunch, vehicle, guide | A primate trek, shorter and lighter than gorillas |
| 1 Day Akagera National Park Safari | Akagera National Park | 2.5 hours | 425 | Akagera park fees, lunch, vehicle, guide | A savanna game drive |
| 1 Day Bisoke Volcano Hike | Volcanoes National Park | 2.5 to 3 hours | 400 | Park fee, lunch, vehicle, guide | A volcano hike |
| 1 Day Dian Fossey Tomb Hike | Volcanoes National Park | 2.5 to 3 hours | 400 | Park fee, lunch, vehicle, guide | A hike to the Dian Fossey tomb |
| 1 Day Kigali City Tour | Kigali | In the city | 150 | Vehicle and guide. No lunch. Memorial entrance is free; the audio kit and pins are extra, paid at the memorial | History and remembrance |
The per person price falls as the group grows, because the vehicle and guide are shared. Your written quotation shows the exact total.
What is included, and what is not
Included in every day trip:
- Your own vehicle and a guide
- The park fee or permit for the activity: the gorilla permit, the golden monkey permit or the Akagera park fees
- Lunch, on every day trip except the Kigali city tour
- Reusable water bottles
- Planning and a written quotation, with no fee and no obligation
Not included: international flights, visas, travel insurance, tips and personal items.
Arranged on request, priced separately:
- Porters on a trek: about US$10 a day, tips optional
- A carried trek on the gorilla trek, for guests who cannot walk the trail: US$200, arranged in advance
Visas and insurance are the responsibility of the traveler. We recommend travel insurance for every guest. Payment and cancellation terms are in our booking policy.
Who a day trip suits, and who should stay longer
Best for travelers who:
- Are in Kigali for a conference or business and have one free day.
- Are adding Rwanda to a trip through another country.
- Are visiting for the first time with limited leave.
- Want one clear highlight, such as a gorilla trek or a day in Akagera, done well.
Not ideal for travelers who:
- Want a promise of wildlife. A game drive in Akagera searches for animals, and no sighting is guaranteed.
- Fly out on the day of the gorilla trek, unless the flight is at 8 pm or later, and even then it carries a risk. The return to Kigali depends on when the trek ends.
- Want to choose their gorilla family. The park assigns the family on the morning of the trek, and nothing is guaranteed.
- Want a slow pace or a night at a lodge. See our Rwanda short safaris, and for a fully tailored route, our private Rwanda luxury safari.
What a day trip from Kigali costs
All prices are per person, for two travelers sharing the vehicle and guide. They are guide prices, and your written quotation shows the final total. The per person price falls as the group grows: one traveler pays more than two, and a group of four pays less than two.
On the permit trips, most of the price is the park’s own fee. On the 1 day gorilla trek, US$1,500 of the price is the gorilla permit. On the golden monkey trip, US$100 is the permit. The vehicle and guide cover the rest of the day.
Day trip prices do not change between high and low season. The November to May permit saving (US$1,050 instead of US$1,500) applies only when you also spend at least two nights in Akagera or Nyungwe, so it does not apply to a day trip.
For every cost and what is in it, read our Rwanda safari cost guide.
What a day trip from Kigali asks of you
The gorilla trek in one day
We leave Kigali at 4:30 in the morning. The drive to Volcanoes National Park takes 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on traffic. The trek takes 2 to 8 hours, including one hour with the gorillas, depending on where the family is on the day. The park assigns the family on the morning of the trek.
Guests ask us most whether the gorillas fit in one day. They do, if you accept the early start and a long drive each way. We do not promise a return time to Kigali. It depends on when your trek ends. For how a trek day works and what to wear, read our gorilla trekking in Rwanda guide. To compare every gorilla trip we offer, see Rwanda gorilla trekking.
The shortest gorilla trip we recommend is three days. A night near the park lets you start the trek rested, and it removes the pressure of the drive and the trek back to back. The day trip is for guests who have only one day.
Akagera in one day
Akagera is the only savanna park in Rwanda. It is about 2.5 hours from Kigali. A game drive is a search for animals, mostly the Big Five, and we cannot promise you will see all of them or any one of them. If wildlife is your priority and you can spare a night, see our 2 Day Akagera National Park Safari.
Golden monkeys and volcano hikes
Golden monkey tracking, the Bisoke volcano hike and the Dian Fossey tomb hike all take place in Volcanoes National Park, 2.5 to 3 hours from Kigali. The minimum age for golden monkey tracking is 12. The park fee and lunch are included in each price. For what each hike involves, see the trip page for that hike.
The Kigali city tour
The Kigali city tour centres on the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where guests learn about the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda: how it happened, how it was stopped, and the background to it.
The memorial is a place of remembrance and one of many memorials in Rwanda. It is the final resting place of more than 250,000 people. It has two main parts, a museum and the burial gardens.
The visit inside the memorial is self-guided and takes one to two hours, depending on how much you wish to read and learn. Entrance is free. Visitors are encouraged to donate to the memorial. You can donate directly, hire the audio guide kit (US$20), or buy a pin such as the Ubumuntu pin (US$10), which means humanity. The audio guide kit and the pin are paid for at the memorial and are not part of the tour price. Our guide waits while you visit and takes you on afterwards. Other stops on the day include the local market, art galleries and a sightseeing drive through Kigali.
What a day trip cannot do
- It cannot cover a second park. Kigali to Nyungwe is 7 hours by road, so Nyungwe needs a longer trip with at least one night.
- It cannot promise wildlife, a gorilla family or a return time.
- It leaves little room for delay. If a flight or a road is late, there is no spare day.
When to add a day
Add days when you want a second park, a second primate activity or a slower pace. For the best months to plan around, read the best time for gorilla trekking. For the parks themselves, see Akagera National Park and Volcanoes National Park.
Why plan with Hope Tours Africa
- Local expertise. We are based in Kigali. Eric Sabi has worked in Rwanda tourism since 2012.
- Honest limits. We tell you what a day trip cannot do before you pay for it.
- One costing method for every guest, in a written quotation.
- Licensed Rwanda safari company, founded in 2021.
- Single-use plastic free operations. Reusable water bottles on every tour.
To see the luxury end of what we plan, visit our luxury Rwanda safaris.
A note from Eric
Akagera is the only savanna park we have in Rwanda. A game drive is a search for animals, mostly the Big Five, but it is not guaranteed that you will see all of them.
Guests ask whether they can do the gorillas in one day. It is possible, but we go early, at 4:30 in the morning, and we come back the same day, which means a long drive. We do not promise a time for coming back, because it depends on what time the trek ends.
I had guests in Kigali for a conference who had only one day, and they really wanted to see the gorillas. I booked it and we went. They saw the gorillas, and they were very happy, because they had feared they would not make it. In that short time they achieved what they had dreamed of and thought was not possible.
Eric SabiFounder, Hope Tours Africa
What guests say
5.0 from 44 TripAdvisor reviews.
Questions about day trips from Kigali
More questions about the gorilla trek itself? See our Rwanda gorilla trekking FAQs.
Can you see gorillas in Rwanda in one day from Kigali?
Yes. Our one day gorilla trek leaves Kigali at 4:30 am and drives 2.5 to 3 hours to Volcanoes National Park. The trek takes 2 to 8 hours, including one hour with the gorillas. It costs US$1,950 per person sharing, with the permit included. We cannot promise a return time, because it depends on when the trek ends.
How much does a day trip from Kigali cost?
Prices are per person sharing and include any park fee or permit, plus lunch on every trip except the city tour. The Kigali city tour is US$150 and the Akagera safari is US$425. Golden monkey tracking, the Bisoke volcano hike and the Dian Fossey tomb hike are US$400 each. The gorilla trek is US$1,950. These are guide prices, and your written quotation shows the final total.
How long is the drive from Kigali to the parks?
Kigali to Akagera National Park takes about 2.5 hours. Kigali to Volcanoes National Park takes 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on traffic. Both make a long day with an early start. Nyungwe Forest is 7 hours from Kigali, so for Nyungwe we recommend a longer trip with at least one night there.
Is a one day Akagera safari worth it?
It can be, if you have one day and want to see the only savanna park in Rwanda. The drive takes about 2.5 hours each way. A game drive is a search for animals, mostly the Big Five, and we cannot promise you will see all of them. A night in the park gives you more time.
Are day trips from Kigali private?
Your vehicle and guide are for your party only, and we do not mix clients. Gorilla groups take up to 8 visitors a day, so other trekkers may join your group. The park assigns the gorilla family on the morning of the trek, and we cannot promise a particular family. Some park activities have set group sizes.
Can I take a day trip on the day I fly out?
We advise against trekking on the day you fly, unless it is a night flight from about 8 pm. Even then it carries a risk, because the trek can run long and the drive back to Kigali takes 2.5 to 3 hours. The return depends on when the trek ends. Send us your flight times with your request, and we tell you honestly whether the day fits.
What does the Kigali city tour include?
The Kigali city tour is US$150 per person sharing. It centres on the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where guests learn about the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. The visit inside is self-guided and takes one to two hours. Entrance is free, and visitors are encouraged to donate. The memorial is the final resting place of more than 250,000 people. Other stops include the local market, art galleries and a sightseeing drive.
What is the minimum age for the gorilla trek and golden monkey tracking?
The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15. The permit costs US$1,500 at every age, with no child rate. The minimum age for golden monkey tracking is 12. Tell us the age of each traveler when you ask for a quotation, and we confirm which day trips suit your group before you pay anything.
How booking works
- Tell us your plans. Send your dates or month, your arrival and departure flight times, the number of travelers and each person’s age (the gorilla trekking minimum age is 15), country of residence, the day trip you want and how you prefer to be contacted. We reply within 24 hours, usually within 1 to 4 hours. There is no fee to plan and no obligation.
- We plan and quote. We send a tailor-made itinerary and an official quotation in US$. Website prices are per person guide prices, and the quotation shows the total for your group.
- Confirm your booking. For bookings made more than 90 days before departure, a deposit of 50 percent of the total tour cost is due. Your booking is confirmed when we receive the deposit and issue written confirmation. Bookings within 90 days are paid in full.
- Pay the balance. The balance is due 60 days before departure, unless we agree otherwise in writing.
Included in the price: your own vehicle and guide, the park fee or permit for the activity and lunch (not on the city tour). Not included: international flights, visas, travel insurance, tips and personal items.
Payment is by bank wire transfer or credit card. Credit card payments carry a 4 percent processing charge. Gorilla and golden monkey permit fees are non-refundable once purchased. Read the full terms in our booking policy.
Contact: WhatsApp +250 788 602 524, info@hopetoursafrica.com.
Plan your Rwanda safari with Eric and his team.
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WhatsApp: +250 788 602 524 · Email: info@hopetoursafrica.com · Phone: +250 788 602 524