7 Kigali National Park Tours Worth the Drive

1.One-day Akagera National Park Game Drive with a Choice 4×4

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 105 reviews · from $205Our pick

Spend 13 to 15 hours traveling from Kigali to Akagera National Park in a private 4x4 with a driver-guide such as Ben, Jean Paul, or Anaclet. Expect about six hours of game driving, a picnic lunch, optional Lake Ihema boat ride, hotel transfers, and chances to see rhinos, lions, elephants, hippos, giraffes, and more.

“Jean Paul was an excellent guide! He did his best to find as many animals as possible. We saw baboons, giraffe, zebra, hippo, lion, gazelle, topi, rhinos, and more! This tour isn’t for those with motion sickness as the drive there, in the park, and after are full of windy bumpy roads.”

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2.3 Day Gorilla Trek at Bwindi National Park via Kigali

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · from $1,940

Start in Kigali and cross into Uganda for a mountain gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bamboo Ecotours handles permits, transport, lodging, meals, and guiding for groups of up to five. Guides such as Herbert, Fred, Jackson, John, and Godfrey have led past departures, though your guide is assigned later. Golden monkey trekking is an optional add-on.

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3.1 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour In The Volcanoes National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · from $360

You leave Kigali at 4:30 am with a private driver-guide and reach Volcanoes National Park for a gorilla trek lasting about two to five hours. The permit is not included, but transport, lunch, and Kigali pickup and drop-off are provided. John is named as one possible guide.

“I had the privilege of going on a Gorilla Trek today with John as my guide, and it was an absolutely flawless experience from start to finish!”

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4.Rwanda Gorilla Tracking in Volcanoes National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 22 reviews · 1 day · from $260

Leave Kigali at 4:30am for Volcanoes National Park, where a guide and trackers lead you through mountain forest to a gorilla family. You get one hour with the animals, plus coffee, lunch, volcano views, and a cultural visit with dance and traditional customs. Drivers including Mico, Joel, and Joël are praised for their care and local knowledge.

“Our Gorilla Trekking day was an incredible experience. Our guide/driver Joël picked us up in Kigali at 4:30am. He was so friendly, informative, accommodating, and we highly recommend him for a most pleasant day. Our trekking guide, Felicien was excellent and extremely knowledgeable as well. Our gorilla family, Kwisanga, were beautiful, from the silverback to the babies! Such magnificent mountain gorillas! The trackers found them quickly and after a short 30 minute hike, we were able to stay with them for over an hour. Afterwards we had a delicious lunch at a local restaurant and the views on the drive back to Kigali were amazing. I hope to go back…”

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5.Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 11 reviews · from $299

Leave Kigali at 4:30 a.m. for Volcanoes National Park, where park rangers assign your gorilla family and lead a 2 to 8 hour trek. Your Kigali transport, driver-guide, water, and lunch stop are included, while the $1,500 international permit is extra unless you choose the permit option. John is the regular driver-guide.

“Note that the Gorilla trekking itself is done by staff of the national park; this is about transport from Kigali to the park and back. My driver was called John, and he did a great job. He was on point on time, brought me safely to the park, organized everything for me there, and took me to the trekking starting point. Afterwards, he took me to a lunch place and back to Kigali. He happily answered all my questions and explained things on the way. He was very flexible to stop on the way for an ATM or to take pictures.”

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6.Akagera National Park Safari game drive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 10 hours - 2 days · from $199Best value

Travel from Kigali to Akagera with an English-speaking guide such as Jerome or Pacific for game drives, a lakeside lunch, and an optional Lake Ihema cruise. Expect rolling hills, village stops, elephants, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, and excellent birdlife. Bring binoculars, budget separately for park entry and the boat, and allow a very long day.

“I had an amazing time in Akagera with Jerome. He’s a fantastic guide smart, experienced, and very easy to be around. he also speaks French, which really helped my French-speaking friend enjoy the game drive in his own language. We saw plenty of wildlife, and Jerome knew exactly where to go. The lunch was perfect, and communication ahead of time was excellent. Highly recommend doing this with Jerome if you’re heading to Akagera.”

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7.Volcanoes National Park Gorilla Trek with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 1 day · from $2,499

Leave Kigali at 4:30 am with a private English-speaking driver-guide, reach Volcanoes National Park after roughly 2.5 hours, and join a ranger-led gorilla trek. Walking may last 1 to 8 hours before your one-hour gorilla visit. A permit, lunch, transport, emergency evacuation, and taxes are included.

“Seeing the gorillas in their natural habitats. The trackers and guides worked tirelessly to give us the best experience.”

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