Main Info
Rwanda 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.
| 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 |
Itinerary
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.
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.
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.
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.
