Epic Rwanda Gorilla Safari Adventure

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our company staff. After a briefing about the safari, you will be introduced to your driver-guide. You will then be transferred to the hotel for check-in, then have dinner and overnight.

Rwanda’s capital and biggest city stretches across undulating lush hills surrounded by towering mountains, the largest of which is Mount Kigali, rising 1850 metres above sea level. Kigali is the country’s financial, commercial and cultural hub, served by an international airport and featuring a wide range of accommodation options, restaurants and points of interest, including the Kigali Genocide Centre, an atmospheric market and numerous craft shops. With its interesting architecture, busy streets, meandering boulevards, and green hillsides, Kigali is said to be one of the most attractive cities in Africa and is definitely worth a visit.

Today, after enjoying an early morning breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and drive to the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre. This centre honours the memory of the more than one million Rwandans killed in 1994 through education and peace-building. You will have the opportunity to watch and listen to video clips from some of the survivors of the incident. After lunch, you will proceed with a drive to Volcanoes National Park, taking a scenic route to your booked accommodation. Spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing and preparing for the next day’s trekking.

Bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rwanda, the Volcanoes National Park is best known as a sanctuary for the region’s rare mountain gorillas. Visitors flock here to experience a face to face encounter with these intriguing creatures. The park is set high on the jungle-covered slopes of the volcanic Virunga Mountains. Highly regulated treks through the reserve allow visitors to spend an hour at a time with these incredible primates in their natural habitat. While the gorilla’s are without a doubt the main drawcard, visitors can also look forward to exploring a network of scenic hiking trails, visiting the tomb of the world-famous Dian Fossey and the Karisoke Research Centre, and enjoying a beautiful day hike to the Crater Lake on Mount Bisoke.

After an early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to the park headquarters. There, you will meet with your ranger who will brief you on the code of conduct while with the gorillas. You will then enter the forest in search of the gorillas. The trek may take 2-6 hours, depending on the movement of the gorillas in the jungle and the speed of your group. You will have the opportunity to meet and stay with the gorillas for a maximum of one hour. After this incredible experience, you will walk back to the starting point and be transferred to your lodge for lunch. Following lunch, you can choose to relax at your lodge at your leisure or head for a cultural encounter at Ibyiwacu cultural village to gain insight into Rwandan culture. Dinner and overnight will be at the hotel.

Today, after your warm early morning breakfast, you will be picked up by our safari driver-guide who will transfer you to the park headquarters for a briefing. With your packed lunch, you will start your day with golden monkey trekking in search of these primates in the jungle. Similar to the gorilla trekking experience, golden monkey trekking is less strenuous. Afterward, you will return to the lodge for lunch and then transfer to Kigali. If time permits, you can enjoy a brief city tour before your evening airport transfer.