Rwanda Gorilla Safari Overview

4 Days Rwanda gorilla safari guarantees you a double gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri, Rwanda. Spend 2 hours with an hour per day with the massive mountain gorillas in the wild and have adequate time to also take pictures. Besides trekking to see mountain gorillas, you will also enjoy a city tour in Kigali and a cultural visit in the Gorilla Guardian Village/Iby’Iwacu village.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Kigali Airport (KGL) & drive to Volcanoes National Park

Day 2: First Volcanoes NP Gorilla trekking

Day 3: Second Rwanda Gorilla trekking

Day 4: Kigali city tour & depart

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Kigali Airport (KGL) & drive to Volcanoes National Park

Arrival at Kigali International Airport and meet your driver guide for a short briefing about this special 4-day Rwanda gorilla safari. Leave Kigali for Volcanoes National Park (VNP) in Musanze, 2-3 hours’ drive. You will settle at a comfortable safari lodge in or nearby Volcanoes NP Rwanda.

Volcanoes National Park was created as Rwanda Park in 1925 and covers a land area of about 160sq.km. It holds a variety of wildlife and birds- including golden monkeys, forest elephants, giant forest hogs, bushbucks, bush pigs, buffaloes and others. Gorilla families to be visited while in Volcanoes NP include Bwenge, Karisimbi/Susa B, Ugenda, Titus, Kwitonda, Umubano, Amahoro, Sabyinyo, Hirwa and Agashya families.

Dinner & overnight stay

  • Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/One & Only Gorilla’s Nest/Bisate Lodge/Volcanoes Virunga Lodge/Singita Kwitonda Lodge (Upper Luxury)
  • Five Volcanoes Hotel/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Luxury)
  • Ingagi Park View Lodge/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel (Midrange)
  • Muhabura Hotel/Garden Place Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse (Budget)

Day 2: First Volcanoes NP Gorilla trekking

After an early morning cup of tea or coffee, you will connect to Kinigi where the park offices are found. This is for you to get briefed on gorilla trekking guidelines and also have a gorilla family assigned to you. At 8:00am, your trek should have started with the park guide leading you through, expecting to take about 2-6 hours. A maximum of one hour will be allowed for you to stay face-to-face with gorillas and photography.

Get back to relax at the lodge, enjoy a delicious lunch and in the evening, visit Iby’Iwacu cultural village. This cultural encounter lets you to explore unique traditions and cultures, dances and music performances shouldn’t be missed.

Dinner & overnight stay

  • Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/One & Only Gorilla’s Nest/Bisate Lodge/Volcanoes Virunga Lodge/Singita Kwitonda Lodge (Upper Luxury)
  • Five Volcanoes Hotel/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Luxury)
  • Ingagi Park View Lodge/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel (Midrange)
  • Muhabura Hotel/Garden Place Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse (Budget)

Day 3: Second Rwanda Gorilla trekking

After breakfast, you will transfer to Kinigi for second phase of briefing about gorilla trekking rules and procedures or how you should conduct yourself in the forest. A second gorilla family will be visited today or choose to track the previous group. You will retreat after photography and observing the daily behaviors of these magnificent apes. In the evening, you will have an optional Twin Lake tour to visit Lake Burera & Ruhondo.

Dinner & overnight stay

  • Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/One & Only Gorilla’s Nest/Bisate Lodge/Volcanoes Virunga Lodge/Singita Kwitonda Lodge (Upper Luxury)
  • Five Volcanoes Hotel/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Luxury)
  • Ingagi Park View Lodge/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel (Midrange)
  • Muhabura Hotel/Garden Place Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse (Budget)

Day 4: Kigali city tour & depart

Enjoy a delicious breakfast, after, check out of the lodge ready to get back to Kigali. In Kigali, you will embark on a short city tour which includes visiting the Kigali memorial center in Gisozi, local craft shops/markets and more. Proceed to one of the excellent restaurants for lunch and later drop off at the airport for departure/hotel for an overnight stay.

Depending on your arrival or departure times, you can choose to do the city tour on the first day or the last day of your tour.

End of safari

Inclusions

  • Valid gorilla permits
  • All trip activities but excluding optional ones
  • Travel in a classic 4×4 tour vehicle
  • Professional English Speaking driver guide

Exclusions

  • Tips
  • International & local flights
  • Laundry
  • Shopping
  • Cigarettes
  • Beverages