Inclusions:
3 Days Gorilla Tracking at Volcanoes National Park
Summary (3 Days Safari)
Kigali - Volcanoes National Park - Kigali
-
1
Transfer from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast in your Kigali hotel or from Kigali International airport our experienced and professional driver guide will pick you up. He will brief you on what your 3 days Rwanda gorilla safari covers and thereafter, you will head off northwestwards to Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri about 113 kilometers that is 2-3 hours’ drive away from Kigali in a comfortable 4 wheel drive safari vehicle. En-route, do not miss the breathtaking views of sceneries of the rolling hills, the Virunga Mountain Ranges. Arrive early enough and check in at your preferred lodge on Full Board.
-
2
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
After early morning breakfast at your lodge at Volcanoes National Park. At 6:30am, you are expected to be at Kinigi park headquarters to have briefing from the park ranger guide/official on the set dos and don’ts that you have to observe while in search for mountain gorillas. It is today that you will be assigned to only one gorilla family to trek in a group of 8 visitors. The habituated gorilla families to trek in Volcanoes National Park include Bwenge, Hirwa, Agashya (13 Group), Kwitonda, Susa A, Susa B (Karisimbi), Sabyinyo, Ugenda, Umubano and Amahoro. At 8:00am, you will start your actual trek in Volcanoes National Park to search for the assigned habituated gorilla group with park ranger guide assigned to you. This may take you about 2-6 hours depending on your speed of hiking, nature of habitat and location of mountain gorillas among other factors. When you get your gorilla group, you have only one hour of magical encounter with opportunity to take as many pictures as possible, learn about their unique behaviors, body gestures to mention but a few. Later, return to where your trek began and connect to the lodge to have rest. In the evening, you can choose to pay a visit to scenic Twin Lake-Burera and Ruhondo Lakes at an extra cost or simply relax in your lodge with overnight on Full Board.
-
3
Visit to Iby’Iwacu cultural village and Kigali city tour
After breakfast in the morning at your lodge, you will pay a visit to Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village. A visit to Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village involves exploring in depth the unique history, traditions, culture and not to forget the most thrilling dances, music performances from the Rwandans. Later, drive to Kigali where you will embark on a city tour. Kigali city tour involves a visit to Kigali genocide center for you to explore about what happened during the 1994 Rwanda genocide. Other sites to places to visit while on Kigali city tour include Kandt Museum, craft markets. After Kigali tour, you will drive to the hotel to have rest, dinner and a night stay at own cost or you will be transferred to Kigali International Airport for your flight to your next destination.
- Gorilla trekking permits ($1500 per person)
- Accommodation as indicated
- Meals as indicated
- Visit to Iby’Iwacu cultural village
- Bottled water
- Full-time English speaking driver guide
- Kigali city tour
Exclusions:
- Insurance
- International flights
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Personal expenses such as cigarettes, laundry services, tips to driver guide/park ranger guide, porters; extra accommodation and activities outside your travel plan, airfares and others.
What to bring on your 3 days Rwanda trekking gorilla safari
- Camera without flashlight
- Long sleeved shirt/t-shirt/trousers
- Sweater
- Hat plus sun glasses
- Gardening gloves
- Bottled water and energy giving snacks
- Waterproof hiking boots
- Waterproof day pack
Gorilla trekking tips
- Gorilla trekking involves hiking through the dense vegetation and steep slopes. You therefore need to be physically fit and please have adequate drinking water and energy giving snacks. Note, do not eat, drink or smoke near mountain gorillas.
- Flashlight cameras are not allowed when taking photos of these creatures and if your camera has a flashlight, please you are advised to turn it off.
- Hire porter at $10-$15 to help you carry your heavy luggage.
- Cover your mouth when coughing or nose when sneezing or preferably have surgical masks.
- Walking stick should be a must to help you when hiking.
The dos and don’ts for gorilla trekking
- Only 1 hour is given to you to have a face to face encounter with mountain gorillas
- Only 8 visitors are assigned to trek one habituated family
- Maintain a distance of 7 meters away from mountain gorillas
- Keep within your group
- Do not go to trek gorillas if you are sick or not feeling well
- Keep your voices low at all times while on gorilla trek
- Do not eat, drink or smoke in the presence of mountain gorillas
- Only persons above 15 years are allowed to trek mountain gorillas
- Do not litter the park while trekking mountain gorillas
Best time to go for gorilla trekking
Gorilla trekking is an all year round adventure experience. Volcanoes National Park is best to visit for gorilla trekking during the dry season which starts from June, July, August and December, January, February. However, the wet months of the year are also ideal for gorilla treks but the challenge is that plenty of rainfall is received and habitat becomes muddy, slippery making it a bit challenging for trekkers to hike to search for gorillas. It starts from March to May and October to November.