01 / Kigali · Volcanoes National Park

Into the Mist

Two Mountain Gorilla Treks · Kigali Culture · Volcano Foothills

— At a Glance

Duration

4 days / 3 nights

Route

Kigali → Volcanoes National Park → Kigali

Primate Treks

2 gorilla treks (different families on consecutive days)

Best For

First-time Rwanda visitors, short-stay luxury travellers, couples

Lodges

Kigali Serena Hotel (1 night) · One&Only Gorilla's Nest (2 nights)

Vehicle

Private Toyota Land Cruiser V8

Culture & Experiences

Kigali Genocide Memorial · Coffee farm experience · Iby'iwacu Cultural Village option

— Day by Day

Day 1

Karibu Rwanda

Met airside at Kigali International Airport with a chilled welcome drink and a Made-in-Rwanda welcome kit — Question Coffee, an Imigongo print, and a leather-bound itinerary folder. Short transfer to the Kigali Serena Hotel on Boulevard de la Révolution. After freshening up, a private guided visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial at Gisozi — your historian guide goes beyond the standard tour to give Rwanda the human context that will deepen everything you experience over the days ahead. Return to the hotel for sundowner cocktails followed by dinner.

Kigali Serena Hotel — Junior Suite (B&B)

Day 2

Bean to Cup, Then into the Volcanoes

After breakfast, a half-day bean-to-cup experience at a working coffee plantation in the hills just outside Kigali. Walk the slopes with the farmers, learn how Rwanda's bourbon arabica moves from cherry to cup — pulping, fermenting, washing, drying — and finish at the roastery with a guided cupping flight. Lunch at the farm. Early afternoon, depart north on the scenic 2.5-hour drive through terraced hills and tea estates to the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes. Check in to One&Only Gorilla's Nest mid-afternoon — eight exclusive forest lodges nestled in a 21-acre eucalyptus grove at the base of Mount Sabyinyo. Welcome dinner with a Rwandan tasting menu and house wine, fireside.

One&Only Gorilla's Nest — Forest Lodge King (full board, lodge beverages, 2 activities/day)

Day 3

First Encounter

Early breakfast and a 07:00 transfer to Volcanoes National Park headquarters for the RDB briefing and family allocation. Trek into the bamboo and Hagenia forests with your private guide, expert trackers, and porters to spend a regulated hour with one of the habituated mountain gorilla families. Return to the lodge for a long lunch on the deck. Afternoon options: in-suite massage, an Intore dance lesson at the lodge, or the Dian Fossey Fund Ellen DeGeneres Campus.

One&Only Gorilla's Nest

Day 4

Second Encounter & Departure

Second morning trek with a different gorilla family — the contrast in personality, territory, and family dynamics between the two groups is what returning guests most often describe as the defining highlight of their Rwanda experience. Depart for the trek no later than 07:00 to allow a generous farewell lunch at the lodge before the return journey. Mid-afternoon transfer to Kigali — 2.5 hours by road through the tea-covered hills, or upgrade to a 25-minute Akagera Aviation helicopter. Direct escort to Kigali International Airport.

— 2026 Pricing · Per Person (USD)

Configuration	Low Season Nov–Dec · Mar–May	High Season Jun–Oct	Festive Dec 22–Jan 6
Solo traveller	$16,200	$22,000	$22,000
2 sharing (per person)	$11,400	$15,500	$15,500
3 guests (per person)	$11,800	$16,400	$16,400
4 guests (per person)	$10,500	$14,600	$14,600

All prices include permits, accommodation, transfers, fees, VAT, and bank charges. Gorilla permits (USD 1,500 each) are included.

— What's Included

Airside meet-and-greet on arrival and farewell escort on departure
1 night Kigali Serena Hotel (Junior Suite, B&B)
2 nights One&Only Gorilla's Nest (Forest Lodge King, full board, lodge beverages, 2 activities/day)
2 × RDB Mountain Gorilla permits (USD 1,500 each)
Private Toyota Land Cruiser V8 (A/C, Wi-Fi, cooler, binoculars) for all transfers
Senior English/French-speaking driver-guide and all allowances
Gorilla trekking porter — 1 per guest per trek
Private guided Kigali Genocide Memorial visit with historian guide
Coffee plantation bean-to-cup half-day with cupping flight
All park entrance fees and government levies
Made-in-Rwanda welcome kit
24/7 WhatsApp concierge — direct line to founder Gerry
18% VAT on ground transportation · 2% bank handling charge
Mineral water throughout

— Not Included

—International airfares
—Rwanda visa (USD 50 single-entry or USD 100 East Africa Tourist Visa)
—Travel insurance — mandatory; provider list available on request
—Gratuities for porters (suggested USD 30/porter/trek), driver-guide, and lodge staff
—Personal expenses, souvenirs, and alcohol outside lodge inclusions

Premium Add-Ons

+Dian Fossey Fund Ellen DeGeneres Campus — behind-the-scenes researcher-led private tour (max 5) — USD 800/group
+Akagera Aviation helicopter transfer, Kigali ↔ Volcanoes (approx. 25 min, up to 6 pax) — from USD 3,328 one way
+In-suite couples spa half-day at One&Only Gorilla's Nest — USD 420/person
+Photography concierge — half-day with professional photographer + edited gallery — USD 650/group
+Iby'iwacu Cultural Village afternoon (Intore dance, banana beer, traditional medicine) — USD 80/person

All Journeys Gorillas & the Soul of Kigali

— Bespoke Composition

Tailor your journey.

Tell us a little about how you travel. Gerry will personally reply within 24 hours with a draft itinerary composed for you alone.

Private expeditions are typically composed from USD $9,500 per guest, fully inclusive of gorilla permits, lodging, guiding and transfers.

Curated by Gerry

Have questions first? See our Journey Guide