This 7 Days Rwanda gorilla safari focuses on gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park. The tour also includes golden monkey tracking, a cultural tour, visiting the Twin Lakes and the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. It concludes with a scenic and relaxing visit to Lake Kivu.
Highlights
- Search for the endangered mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.
- Meet the frisky golden monkeys on the foothills of Mount Sabyinyo, one of the Virunga Volcanoes found in Volcanoes National Park.
- Visit the Gorilla Guardian’s Village for an immersion into a typical Rwandan traditional culture and lifestyle.
- Spend some time enjoying a boat ride in the serene Lake Kivu.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Kigali
Day 2: Road transfer to Volcanoes National Park, and a visit to Gorilla Guardian’s Village.
Day 3: Go for mountain gorilla trekking and a cultural/village tour.
Day 4: Search for the golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park and visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
Day 5: Explore Musanze and the Twin Lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo.
Day 6: Transfer to Lake Kivu, afternoon boat ride.
Day 7: Depart.
Detailed Itinerary – 7 Days Rwanda gorilla safari
Day 1: Arrive in the beautiful Kigali City
On arrival at the Kigali International Airport, you will be met by your safari guide and transferred to the Hotel in one of the quiet suburbs of Kigali. Here, you will spend one night on a bed and breakfast basis.
Depending on when you arrive in the City, you might undertake the City tour today or tomorrow morning before proceeding to Volcanoes National Park.
Overnight accommodation at Kigali Serena Hotel (luxury), Flame Tree Village Kigali (midrange).
Meal Plan: on own account.
Day 2: Road transfer to Volcanoes National Park, and a visit to Gorilla Guardian’s Village
Today, you head to Volcanoes National Park, one of Africa’s four remarkable safari destinations, where you can track the endangered mountain gorillas. This 160-square-kilometer Protected Area was created in 1925, hence making it one of the oldest parks in the African Continent, and today, it is home to over 35% of the World’s mountain gorilla population. For your adventure, you will visit one of the 12 habituated gorilla families and learn about the human-like behavior of these Giant Apes.
On getting to the reserved Safari Lodge, take some time to relax. Enjoy a hot lunch and wait for your afternoon adventure.
In the afternoon, board the safari vehicle for your first Volcanoes National Park adventure- a visit to Gorilla Guardian’s Village. A number of activities await you here, and these include visits to the traditional healer, visiting the King’s Palace replica to listen to King stories, being entertained in traditional dances, taking part in banana brewing, and many others. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge.
Overnight accommodation at: Bisate Lodge (luxury), Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge (midrange), or Muhabura Hotel (budget).
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 3: Go for mountain gorilla trekking and a cultural/village tour
Get an early start this morning for a drive to Kinigi Park Headquarters for a pre-tracking briefing to go through the guidelines of tracking and spending time with the Majestic Giant Apes in their natural habitat. Go through different vegetation types, including the open grassland and evergreen bamboo forest, while searching for these creatures, and after 1-6 hours, you will finally locate them. Spend the next 60 minutes watching and taking photos of their daily routines- feeding, playing, resting, and grooming each other. This is an unforgettable experience, hence don’t leave your camera and binoculars at home for this one.
Return to the Lodge for lunch, then spend a few hours relaxing and catching up on sleep after your early rise. In the afternoon, head out for a cultural/village tour. Later, return to the Lodge for dinner and a relaxing evening.
Overnight accommodation at: Bisate Lodge (luxury), Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge (midrange), or Muhabura Hotel (budget).
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 4: Search for the golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park and visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
Spend another day exploring Volcanoes National Park, this time tracking the endangered golden monkeys. You will meet one of the two habituated troops of these creatures that live at the foot of Mount Sabyinyo, and spend quality time learning and taking photos of them.
This adventure is done on foot, the same as mountain gorilla trekking, although it is shorter in duration. Spend one hour watching and taking photos before returning to the base.
Have lunch and later head to the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, a World-class education and research center that honors the legacy of Dian Fossey and furthers her dream of saving mountain gorillas from extinction. After a productive afternoon, return to the Lodge for dinner and a relaxing evening.
Overnight accommodation at: Bisate Lodge (luxury), Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge (midrange), or Muhabura Hotel (budget).
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 5: Explore Musanze and the Twin Lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo
In the morning, head to Musanze Tour for a guided tour of its top tourist sites that include the historical Musanze Caves and local markets.
You will stop for lunch in the Town. Later, proceed for a relaxing tour of the Twin Lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo. Later, return to the Lodge for dinner and an early bedtime.
Overnight accommodation at: Bisate Lodge (luxury), Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge (midrange), or Muhabura Hotel (budget).
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 6: Transfer to Lake Kivu, afternoon boat ride
Enjoy a pre-breakfast sunrise, then check out of the Lodge and hit the road for Lake Kivu for a relaxed rest of the day.
Lunch at the Lodge and later make your way to this stunning Lake, the largest in the country. Head out for a boat ride on Lake Kivu, and as you cruise along its coastline, you will be introduced to the traditional fishing boats and views of the stunning surrounding hills. Also, look for the colorful bird species as you cruise and later return to the Lodge.
Overnight accommodation at: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel (luxury), or Paradis Malahide (midrange).
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 7: Depart
After breakfast, you will be transferred back to Kigali International Airport, where you will board your flight back home.
This 7-day Rwanda Gorilla Safari package includes;
- Entry fees to Volcanoes National Park and other sites.
- Relevant Government taxes and levies.
- Gorilla permit/s.
- Golden monkey permit/s.
- Lake Kivu boat ride.
- A visit to Gorilla Guardian’s Village.
- Ground transportation by a 4X4 Safari vehicle.
- Bottled water.
- Visit to the Kigali genocide memorial site.
- Airport transfers, as long as it is within the safari period.
- Ranger fees.
- 6 nights’ accommodation.
- Meals as per the itinerary.
This 7-day Rwanda Gorilla Safari package excludes;
- Visa fees.
- Airfares.
- Gratuities to porters, Ranger guides, safari guide/s, and Lodge/Hotel staff.
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Extra accommodation in Kigali or Volcanoes National Park.
- Cigarettes.
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
- Extra expenses resulting from trip cancellation.