Gorilla Safari in Rwanda

DAY 1: KIGALI
Arrival at Kigali International Airport and private transfer to the hotel, with driver in English. Accommodation for 1 night, with breakfast.

Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, is situated in the heart of the country and is a vibrant, mountainous city, home to a variety of industries, financial services, information technology, art galleries, cultural spaces, and festivals.

Rest of the day free for independent activities.


DAY 2: KIGALI - VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Panoramic tour of the main sights of the city of Kigali, including the Genocide Museum/Memorial, a memorial dedicated to the 800,000 victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in the Gisozi neighborhood, and the craft market.

Then, a journey of about 2 hours through a landscape full of hills and valleys (Rwanda is known as the “Country of a Thousand Hills”), to Ruhengeri, the gateway to the Volcanoes National Park.

Volcanoes National Park is a protected area where endangered mountain gorillas find refuge in the Virunga Mountains. The park is also home to golden monkeys, several birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects that can be spotted during the safari.

Visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. A conservation center dedicated to the protection of mountain gorillas. Opened in 2022, it promotes advanced scientific research, community education, and sustainable practices, perpetuating the legacy of primatologist Dian Fossey.

Arrival and accommodation for 2 nights, with full board at the chosen hotel.


DAY 3: VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK

• 06:00 - breakfast at the lodge;
• 06:40 - transfer to the visitor center of the Volcanoes National Park, habitat of one of the most endangered gorilla species on the planet, located at the base of the Sabinyo volcano (one of the Virunga volcanoes, whose name means “teeth” in the local language, Kinyaruanda).
• 07:00 - 08:00: briefing with the guide accompanying the visit to the gorilla family, detailing the rules and behavior to be followed during the hike and during gorilla observation.
• 08:00: start of the walk. The walk can last between 40 minutes and 2 hours, or even longer, until park rangers spot the gorillas. During the journey, it is possible to reach heights of more than 2,500 meters. The terrain is steep and, depending on weather conditions, may have a lot of mud. Although hiking requires physical effort, the beauty of the forest and the landscape make it much easier.
  
  

In Rwanda, there are 10 groups of gorillas that are used to human presence and can be visited by tourists. Each group can be visited by a maximum of 8 people per day and the encounter with gorillas is strictly limited to 1 hour.

It can rain at any time, so it is recommended that you bring waterproof covers and trekking boots, as well as loose pants, a long-sleeved shirt/t-shirt, high socks, a hat and sunscreen. A jacket and light clothing are recommended since early in the morning, due to the altitude and the humid environment, it can be cold. Water will be provided during the tour.

Return to the lodge and the rest of the afternoon is free.


DAY 4: Volcanoes National Park - KIGALI
Early on, transfer to the Volcanoes National Park visitor center for the Golden Monkey Trail.

The trail passes through dense areas of bamboos interspersed with open glades, leading to the territory of the golden monkeys, where guides lead to groups already accustomed to human presence. During the visit, it is possible to observe the golden monkeys in their natural habitat up close, with a maximum stay of 1 hour.

After checking out at the lodge, lunch (Lunch Box or restaurant, depending on the flight time) and transfer head to Kigali, on a journey of approximately two hours to the airport.