Main Info
SRwanda is one of the countries in African with more gorilla families compared to Uganda and DR Congo. The three host a small populace of 800 of them surviving across the world. There are two of Rwanda’s park with these gorilla, Nyungwe park in south western hills and in Parc des Volcanoes from the forested slopes of the six volcanoes. Gorilla tracking in the volcanoes park is quite exciting and more sights of Diane Fossey’s grave and the rare golden monkeys
This safari itinerary can be modified to suit your dates, preferences and duration of the safari tour. Accommodation is also included in each of the itinerary packages.
- Air fares
- 4 Nights Hotel Accomodation
- Tour Guide
- Entrance Fees
- All transportation in destination location
Excluded
- Departure Taxes
- 5 Star Accommodation
Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
On arrival at the airport, you meet a tour guide who will give you a guided tour of the city, Kigali. Attractions within the city include the Franco-Rwandan cultural centre, the spotless alleys leading to sites like the parliamentary building and many European inspired buildings. You can not miss a visit to the historical Genocide memorial centre and museum, a centre with Rwanda’s past tribulations of the 100 days of mass killings in 1994. The tour guide will briefly narrate the country’s history and walk to the present day.
In the afternoon, set off to Musanze a small town on the entrance of the volcanoes park, a base point for many gorilla visits with clear views of peaks of the volcanoes; Muhabura, Mgahinga, Karisimbi, Sabyinyo, Mikeno and Bishoke. Enjoy views of the intensely terraced hill slopes, lush forested slopes and small villages. Book your gorilla trekking permits before you reach
There is accommodation of all standards; luxury options from Volcanoes Virunga Lodge, Mountain Gorilla Nest Lodge, Hotel Gorilla-Kinigi and Mountain Gorilla View Lodge. Other budget accommodation packages include ovenioght at Kinigi Guest house and Hotel Muhabura.
Day 2:Gorilla safari in Rwanda
After breakfast, the tour guide will take you to the ORTPN offices in Musanze for prior briefing and interactions with the ranger guides. You are then allocated a ranger guides and a gorilla family to track. Start off by the mid- morning hours for the worthwhile experience, it sometimes takes a strenuous 2- 4 hours of tracking. When you come across the family, there’s an exhilarating feeling that catches you as you stare in the eyes of the gigantic yet coy mammals, this lasts only one hour. Take some pictures as memoirs to this memorable adventure. It advisable to take lunch with you for the trek but it is strongly discouraged from making noise and littering in the forest.
Return to your lodge for dinner, overnight accommodation and rest for the evening at leisure.
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking/Golden Monkey Tracking
This day’s adventure takes you to another exciting gorilla tracking experience either for the same family or try another one. The Virunga volcanoes have more than 5 families of the endangered volcanoes, each day’s experience is unique and worthwhile.
While trekking for the gorillas, look out for other primates such as the rare golden monkeys, unique to these volcanos forested slopes. The monkeys have golden patches on the back and black limbs, just a few of the surviving world numbers swing in the overhanging vines in the forest canopy. The monkeys face extinction from the poachers, small antelopes and dominance from the montane gorillas.
The viewing is limited to one hour as you take pictures and get more details about the gorilla and other forest primates.
Day 4: Trek to Diane Fossey’s Grave and transfers to Kigali
This half day trip to Dian Fossey’s grave in the middle of the park. This famous gorilla researcher established Karisoke Research Center in the park around 1967 to study and protect the endangered primates. Her research brought international awareness of the need to conserve these mammals, a few of them left in the world. She was then murdered in 1987 by unidentified poachers/ people and was buried at the heart of her works and efforts, near the research centre. More international researchers and scientists are then participated in more research and conservation efforts are increased across the world.In the early afternoon, set off for Kigali for your return flight of have a city tour if you missed out the first one and then catch your departure flights. Visit the gift shops for memoirs and souvenirs to take home at the end of the day.
1 person 2 Pax 3 Pax 4 Pax 5 Pax 6 Pax
Budget $3,504 $2,444 $2,126 $1,937 $1,807 $1,768
Mid range $4,804 $3,452 $3,231 $2,945 $2,789 $2,782
Standard $2,249 $1,976 $2,041 $1,996 $1,976 $1,963
Luxury $8,015 $5,389 $5,707 $4,888 $4,885 $4,713
The 5- days gorilla tracking experience from Rwanda’s Volcano Mountains is unparalleled to no other. The Parc National des Volcanoes though small takes you to its huge indigenous rain forests along the slopes of the mountains that are home to more than 4 families of gorillas. The exhilarating climb is led by and expert and armed ranger guides who lead you through the trails of these amazing creatures.
The trekking sometimes lasts up to 4hours of fruitless trails but once you encounter the family, the cherished experience lasts only 1 hour, staring and sharing intimate moments and taking some pictures.
It is important to book your trekking permits from the Rwanda tourism board offices (ORTPN) in Kigali or from the small town of Musanze, at the foot of the mountains. You can also get accommodation from Musanze for overnight and diner.
DAY 1: Arrive & Drive to volcanoes gorilla parc
Upon arrival, meet and interact with your booked tour guide in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. The tour guides will shortly brief you about the gorilla tracking experience from Parc National des Volcanoes.
Board your vehicle/ shuttle for the long trip northwards, crossing many terraced hillsides and villages into the high mountains of up to 7,000 ft, the volcanoes. At least five peaks are seen from the foot of the mountains at small village called Musanze.
Dining and accommodation is provided by many lodges for all standards and prices. Volcanoes Virunga and Sabinyo silver back lodges provide up market luxury facilities while cheaper options are in Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Hotel Gorillas and Mountain Gorilla Nest lodge. Check out budget options from Kinigi guesthouse and Hotel Muhabura.
DAY 2: Gorilla Trekking In PARC DES VOLCANOS Rwanda
Have a good morning breakfast before you begin the adventure in the park. Meet your tour guide who will brief you on what to expect on this adventure. The park is one of the smallest with 7 volcanoes and 5 different gorilla families living in the lush rainforest along the slopes of the volcanoes.
Tracking starts at the ORTPN point where you are allocated a gorilla family to track. The experience could last up to 9hours depending on the season. Good tracking starts in the mid morning while the creatures rest and feed for about 1 hour. Some families are easily found in about 2 to 3 hours; pack your lunch because sometimes the trip takes long especially in the wet seasons when the terrain becomes muddy.
Meet one family of the silver back or black gorillas is quite exhilarating. You have to follow the advice of your ranger guide as some can be quite aggressive and violent. Take pictures of the giant creatures quietly and quickly as this encounter is typically limited to one hour! You could be rewarded with sights of the rare golden monkeys, bush duiker and plenty of birds and butterflies.
Trek back with satisfaction to your lodge for dinner and rest for yet another day.
DAY 3: gorilla tracking and community visits
Wake up to another gorilla tracking day in Parc National des Volcanos after your breakfast from the lodge. Each day’s experience through the park’s rain forest is rather unique. You could track another family or proceed from the trails of the family you found yesterday. The tracking could last up to 9 hours or less but when you meet one family, you spend only one hour with the planet’s most amazing creatures.
In most cases, there’s more time left for the afternoon visit to the nearby villages, markets, research facilities like Karisoke veterinary post and also visit the Ross Carr’s orphanage. Return for dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 4: Kigali City Tour
After breakfast, board your vehicle for a guided tour of Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. Kigali is one of the most impressive cities in Africa, clean, tree along the streets, lush gardens and lawn by major buildings and fountains at almost every roundabout.
The tour guide takes you to the Kigali Genocide Memorial museum-explaining everything from its history to the present times, to Franco-Rwandan cultural centre, hero’s cemetery, handicrafts shops, vibrant markets, the Batwa people pottery projects and many other sites.
Enjoy lunch on the way or from any good city restaurant nearby. Spend the rest of your afternoon at leisure.
Accommodation options are plentiful for all standards and cost. There is fairly cheap accommodation from Hotel Chez Lando, hotel Laico Mububano, Hotel Des Milles and ultimate luxury from Kigali Serena Hotel. All hotels serving excellent cuisines and remarkable dining.
Day 5: Airport Transfer
There isn’t much to do on day 5. Wake up to a sumptuous good bye breakfast and then get ready for pick-ups back to Kigali for your return flight.
Trip cost per person:-
1 person 2 Pax 3 Pax 4 Pax 5 Pax 6 Pax
Budget $3,504 $2,444 $2,126 $1,937 $1,807 $1,768
Mid range $4,804 $3,452 $3,231 $2,945 $2,789 $2,782
Standard $2,249 $1,976 $2,041 $1,996 $1,976 $1,963
Luxury $8,015 $5,389 $5,707 $4,888 $4,885 $4,713
Any of the above rates include:-
National Parks Entrance fees
Full board accommodation
Ground transfers
Services of full time English speaking guide
Gorilla tracking
Chimpanzee tracking
Game drives
Meals
However, prices exclude:-
Tips to the crews
Laundry
Visa to Uganda/Rwanda
Any other expenses not listed above
This extraordinary trekking safari in Rwanda takes you to encounter 700 of the world’s surviving species of mountain gorillas only found in the rain forest jungles from Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Besides trekking the huge manly beasts, take nature walks through the forests for primates, watch the birds, take views of the peaks on Muhavura, stunning backdrop of Karisimbi, Bisoke, Mikeno, Sabyinyo, Mgahinga volcanoes, watch and find out why many researchers like Dian Fossey, Karen Strier and Jane Goodal have enjoyed the habitat of these primates. There are more primates in Rwanda than in any other country in Central and East Africa.
Day 1: Arrival and transfers to Volcanoes National Park
On arrival in Kigali, you are picked up by a safari guide, who also escorts you on the journey to Volcanoes National park, North West of Rwanda. Travel past the deeply terraced hills and slopes, enjoying the scenery of the country embedded in thousands of hills.
Arriving at a small town, Musanze at the foot of the Virunga volcanoes, check into one of the overnight options like Virunga lodge and Sabinyo Lodge for luxury accommodation. Fairly cheap but standard accommodation from Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Mountain Gorilla Nest Lodge and Hotel Gorilla, while for cheaper options look at Kinigi Guesthouse and Hotel Muhabura.
Day 2:Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Take breakfast and head off first for the ORTPN offices at 7am for briefing, where you are allocated into groups of not more than 8 persons led by armed and expert ranger/ trackers. Parc National des Volcans is mostly comprised of heavy rain forested slopes and mostly a renowned habitat for gorillas. There is an adrenaline rush that catches you once you come across the family you’ve been tracking for more than 2 hours.
You then have one hour to savor the intense feeling, watching the apes feeding, nursing the young ones and the juveniles playing in the overhanging vines. Take some pictures as you pay tribute to God’s amazing creations. It is important to know that some families are hard to track especially during the wet seasons, lasting up to 9hours of intense tracking.
Return to the lodges, delighted and thankful for this moment. Enjoy dinning and cuisine prepared at your chosen overnight lodge or hotel.
Day 3: Golden Monkey Tracking in Rwanda
Break fast is prepared and served early in the morning before you set off for ORTPN offices where you’ll be briefed and assigned a ranger/ guide for another exciting trek. The volcanoes national park is also home to other primates like the rare habituated golden monkeys, which are now on top of the list of the day’s trekking. They are one of the most rare species in the monkey family known to inhabit the Albertine rift. From Nyungwe National Park in south west Rwanda, you’ll find fewer of these monkeys. Other primates seen may include the acrobatic Angola colobus and several chimpanzees.
Dinner and overnight at your lodge
Day 4: Dian Fossey’s Grave tour
This day trip begins with a tasty breakfast and later trek in the volcanoes park for Dian Fossey’s grave that is near Karisoke Research Centre. Dian Fossey was an American researcher/naturalist who arrived in the park around 1967, establishing a research centre and her home within the park while dedicating her time and effort to saving the gorillas from illegal poachers. She is commended internationally for portraying the plight of the gorillas that were steadily under extinction. She was sadly murdered in 1985 by unknown people- thought to be poachers whom she greatly fought against all her days while in the park. Her dynamic work and effort inspired the box office movie ‘Gorillas in the mist’
After a short lunch break, visit Uganda’s jungles from Bwini National Park and Mgahinga National Park for more exciting Gorilla trekking experiences. Carry your travel documents as you need to clear with the border post offices before crossing to Uganda. Drive towards Kisoro, a small town where you will find overnight accommodation and dining.
Day 5: Gorilla Tracking in Mgahinga and Bwindi National park
Take a pick at visiting and tracking gorillas from either Mgahinga or Bwindi National parks in Uganda. Bwindi requires intense trekking especially during the wet season but all your efforts are rewarded after you meet a gorilla family as it feeds on its trail. Other sights here include red tailed monkeys, golden monkeys, several birds and butterflies.
Head back for overnight accommodation and dinner at your hotel.
Day 6: Drive to Kigali City in Rwanda
Wake up early to catch a trip back to Kigali, taking a quick tour of the spotless city, with attractions like modern building, the Batwa pottery projects, the Genocide museum and memorial, visit the gift and handicrafts shops and the Rwanda cultural centre. Take a quick lunch for any restaurant or hotel before you catch your departure flights at the airport.
Trip cost per person:-
1 person 2 Pax 3 Pax 4 Pax 5 Pax 6 Pax
Budget $4,050 $2,990 $2,665 $2,483 $2,353 $2,314
Mid range $5,343 $3,998 $3,770 $3,491 $3,335 $3,133
Luxury $7,982 $6,793 $6,130 $5,428 $5,337 $5,265
Any of the above rates include:-
National Parks Entrance fees
Full board accommodation
Ground transfers
Services of full time English speaking guide
Gorilla tracking
Chimpanzee tracking
Game drives
Meals
However, prices exclude:-
Tips to the crews
Laundry
Visa to Uganda/Rwanda
Any other expenses not listed above
The Gorilla Trekking experience has so much to offer from Uganda’s lush Bwindi Impenetrable forest and national park and in volcanoes national park in Rwanda’s forested mountain slopes. Each of the countries has a unique trekking experience however Rwanda boasts of more primates than Uganda.
Day 1:Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Set off early in the morning from the Entebbe airport or a hotel in Kampala with your tour guide, travel for around 8-9 hours into the hills of western Uganda. En-route, take a break at the equator with refreshments and photos, proceed through the farmed hill slopes of Mbarara and its long horned Ankole cattle herds grazing in the grasslands. Stop by any lodge or hotel for lunch.
Continue further south in to the famous Kisoro mountains, also called the Switzerland of Africa, and finally into Bwindi National park by the evening. Besides the gorillas, this park has many other primates like the blue and red tailed monkeys and lush vegetation.
Check into one of the lodges or hotels for dinner, refreshments and overnight. Luxury accommodation is offered at Gorilla forest Camp, Cloud lodge, Bwindi Safari lodge and Lake Kitandara Camp. Check out the budget options from Buhoma Community Bandas and Ruhija Safari Lodge with basic services available.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
There is a sumptuous breakfast prepared at your lodge before you are picked up by your ranger guides. At the launch station, you’ll be briefed and prepared for the thrilling experience. You’ll need to wear jungle boots, long trousers, rain jacket and carry a stick along because it’s often wet and muddy along the trails in the thick rain forest.
The trekking experience is often strenuous and long-up to 2-3 hours of tracking. On meeting one family, you strictly spend 1 hour with them, watching them feed as the juveniles swing away in the overhanging vines and trees. It is important to follow your ranger’s guidelines such as keeping at least 7m from the animals and other precautionary measure to avoid attacks form the violent ones. South of Bwindi national park are gorilla families called Nkuringo and Nshongi.
Return to your lodges, delighted to have encountered some of the world’s last surviving families of the gorilla. Spend the rest of the evening at leisure, meeting other guest at the lodges. Diner and overnight accommodation is often per standards and preferences of the guests.
Day 3:To Rwanda
After breakfast, board your tour vehicle and head for the border of Uganda and Rwanda at Kisoro. Clear with the border post officials before you proceed further, either north west to the Volcanic National park or Nyungwe National park in south west Rwanda.
There is plenty of accommodation dining from several options like Muhabura Lodge and
Moderate accommodation from Gorilla nest camp or Mountain Gorilla View Lodge. Check out luxury from Virunga Volcanoes Camp or Sabinyo Silverback lodge.
Day 4: Gorilla Tracking in Rwanda
Take your breakfast early and head to the ORTPN offices for your trekking permits and oriental briefing. Set off, trekking through the terraced foothills of the Virunga ranges and further up to the entrance of Volcanoes National Park.
Mid morning is the best time to go trekking for gorillas as they feed and rest on their trails through the deep bamboo rain forests. Along the trails are sights of the rare golden monkeys swinging in the forest canopy, fresh spoors of buffalos and elephants, different butterflies and sounds of birds. It takes a long strenuous tracking experience before you came across a family, feeding, resting and the young apes playing around. You’ve one hour to relish this rare opportunity, take some pictures and later return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5:Volcanoes National Park To Kampala
After breakfast, it is time to pack your bags and head for Kampala, crossing the border at Kisoro. Enjoy lunch from a hotel in a major town en-route. Arrivals in Kampala are often in the early evening, with time to catch your return flights.
Trip cost per person:-
1 person 2 Pax 3 Pax 4 Pax 5 Pax 6 Pax
Budget $4,823 $3,575 $3,237 $3,010 $2,919 $2,821
Mid range $5,057 $3,718 $3,413 $3,153 $3,081 $2,951
Standard $5,733 $4,388 $4,082 $3,816 $3,751 $3,627
Luxury $6,026 $5,194 $4,596 $4,537 $4,310 $4,305
Any of the above rates include:-
National Parks Entrance fees
Full board accommodation
Ground transfers
Services of full time English speaking guide
Gorilla tracking
Chimpanzee tracking
Game drives
Meals
Prices exclude :-
Tips to the crews
Laundry
Visa to Uganda/Rwanda
Any other expenses not listed above
