5 Days Rwanda Safari (Double Gorilla Trekking)
5 Days Rwanda Safari to Volcanoes National Park offers double gorilla trekking, Dian Fossey expedition, Iby’Iwachu cultural experience and Kigali City Tour.
5 Days Rwanda Gorilla safari Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Journey to the Volcanoes National Park
Upon your arrival in Rwanda today, you will be greeted by your dedicated driver/guide at Kigali International Airport. This morning, you will embark on a city tour of Kigali, with an optional visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre for those interested. The Memorial Centre in Kigali was established through a collaborative partnership between the Kigali City Council and the UK-based Aegis Trust. It features a permanent, powerful display of the genocide in Rwanda as well as displays of other genocides worldwide. Following lunch, you proceed north to Ruhengeri and the Volcanoes National Park. You will (weather permitting!) start to see glimmers of the Virungas, a chain of five impossibly steep and lofty volcanoes that span the western branch of the Rift Valley from east to west, as you approach the end of this two-hour drive through Rwanda’s incredibly hilly and picturesque countryside.
Together, the mountains create one of the world’s most remote and striking environments, yet each one has its own distinct personality and silhouette. Virunga National Park, established in 1925, is recognized as Africa’s first national park and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, earning the distinction of being a ‘true island in the sky.’ The park hosts some of the world’s few remaining Mountain Gorillas, first studied here in 1959 by George Schaller, and subsequently in the 1960s by Dian Fossey and her colleagues.
Accommodation options for the night include Da Vinci Lodge for budget travelers, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge for those seeking midrange comfort, and Five Volcanoes Lodge for a luxury experience.
Days 2 and 3: Double Gorilla Tracking in Volcanoes National Park
The upcoming activities over the next two days promise to be both exhilarating and demanding. The Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda comprise a global population of only 780 individuals. The gorillas designated for tracking are part of one of seven habituated family groups. For a duration of up to five years, these groups have experienced a meticulous process that has gradually enabled them to accept the presence of humans for a short period of 1 hour each day, allowing a select few visitors to engage with them in their natural habitat. After an early breakfast, you head to Kinigi’s park headquarters to register and get assigned to your gorilla family for the day. After all is taken care of, you will be driven to the beginning spot of your gorilla safari.
The gorillas are entirely wild animals and are not domesticated in any way. Experienced guides will accompany you on your gorilla tracking, many of whom have been involved in the habituation process themselves. To find the group’s location, the guides will use information from the previous day and their understanding of the gorillas’ routines. The duration required to track the gorillas can vary significantly, ranging from as short as thirty minutes to as long as nine hours before returning to camp. Upon locating the gorillas, your group will be permitted a maximum duration of one hour in their presence. This experience is truly remarkable – gazing into the eyes of these magnificent creatures highlights the profound connection that exists between them and humanity. It underscores the critical reality that they are on the brink of extinction, and that your presence here plays a vital role in supporting their ongoing survival. The hour tends to pass swiftly, and you gradually return to your lodge to reflect on the day’s experiences. There could be a chance to take a drive to the picturesque Lakes Bulera and Ruhondo or explore the nearby towns and the busy market town of Ruhengeri on one of the afternoons. Return to the lodge later in the afternoon to unwind, enjoy a hot shower, and contemplate the day’s activities.
Accommodation options include Da Vinci Lodge for budget travelers, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge for those seeking midrange comfort, and Five Volcanoes Lodge for a luxury experience.
Day 4: Dian Fossey Expedition
Following breakfast, you will proceed to the headquarters of the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project in Ruhengeri. A significant investment of time and effort is dedicated to the care of these critically endangered primates, ensuring a healthy future for them. You will have the opportunity to spend time with the team and learn about the practices of monitoring the gorillas, providing life-saving medical care, conducting health studies, and learning veterinary medicine and ecosystem health. You will have the opportunity to tour the center with one of the doctors and observe a presentation focused on gorilla conservation. In the afternoon, a visit to the Iby’ Iwacu Cultural Village is scheduled. The local communities have adopted the eco and cultural tourism concept by halting poaching, thereby enhancing their income levels through a collaborative approach that serves as an incentive for conservation. You will engage with the traditional healer, explore the cultivation of local produce, and gain practical experience with local musicians. At last, you leave the breathtaking Volcanoes National Park and return to the capital city and the comforts of the Kigali Serena Hotel awaits you.
Kigali Serena, which is conveniently situated on one of Kigali’s most picturesque boulevards and only 10 kilometers from Kigali International Airport, is the place to stay overnight. This sophisticated hotel features an executive lounge and bar that seamlessly connects to an expansive sundeck, providing a picturesque view of the newly renovated swimming pool (B/L/D).
Day 5: Return to Kigali
After breakfast, you have the rest of the day to yourself. At last, you are transported to Kigali International Airport in preparation for your international flight back home.