Day 1: Kigali Arrival
- Arrive at Kigali International Airport.
- Complete immigration and customs procedures.
- Transfer to Kigali Serena for an overnight stay.
- Optional city tour: Genocide Museum and local market.
Day 2: Kigali to Volcanoes National Park
- Early breakfast at the hotel.
- Scenic drive to Ruhengeri, the base for Gorilla trekking.
- Lunch at the lodge.
- Visit Twin Lakes (Burera and Ruhondo) and Musanze local market.
- Dinner and overnight at Sabinyo Silverback Lodge or Bishops’ House.
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Early breakfast.
- Transfer to Volcanoes National Park HQs.
- Registration and briefing by park staff.
- Trekking to visit a gorilla group (2-6 hours).
- Lunch at the lodge.
- Evening free for relaxation or community visit.
- Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 4: Golden Monkey Trekking
- Transfer to the Park HQ.
- Golden Monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
- Return to the lodge.
- Afternoon free time.
- Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 5: Departure
- Breakfast at leisure.
- Scenic drive from Virunga volcanoes to Kigali.
- Transfer to Kigali International Airport.
- Check-in for onward flight.
Note: Itinerary subject to change based on circumstances.
Day 1: Kigali
On arrival at Kigali International Airport, get your visa sorted with immigration and after that you will head to the baggage hall. A final clearance will be done by the Customs and do exit the building where our guide will be awaiting your arrival.
A transfer will be arranged to the hotel in Kigali. Depending on arrival time, a city tour if Kigali to the Genocide Museum and local market would be done.
Overnight at Kigali Serena (B&B)
Day 02: Transfer Kigali – Volcanoes Np
Have an early breakfast at the hotel; your guide will pick up at agreed time this morning then depart on scenic drive North West wards through the beautiful terraced hillsides that display Rwanda’s landscape. Arrive at Ruhengeri, the base for Gorilla trekking at the Parc National des Volcans. The town itself, located only 25km from Uganda boarder, is relatively a small city of about 70,000 people. The constant flow of humanity is quite remarkable. The Town has great views of the surrounding volcanoes. Lunch at your lodge.
Drive to Twin lakes (Burera and Ruhondo); Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo are beautiful lakes located at the base of volcano Muhabura and close to the border with Uganda. Their deep blue waters ringed by steep hills and tall waterfalls with the outlines of the nearby Virunga Volcanoes also may visit the Musanze local market or the Gorilla Guardian Village; later drive to your lodge to dinner & overnight.
Dinner and Overnight at either Sabinyo Silverback Lodge or Bishops’ House (B/L/D) for 03 nights.
Day 3: Volcanoes National Park – Gorilla Trekking
Early breakfast at your lodge,
0630 hrs; Transfer to the Volcanoes National Park HQs
0700 hrs; Registration where the park staff determines which group of gorillas you will visit. The park staff discusses your fitness level and advises you of the trekking times and conditions to the various groups based upon their location in the park the previous evening. There are a total of 80 gorilla permits available each day with a maximum of eight trekkers visiting any one group.
Once the trekkers are put into groups, each group’s Lead Guide briefs the trekkers of the trekking procedures as well as the “do’s and don’ts” while in the presence of gorillas. After the briefing, trekkers return to their respective vehicles for the drive up the mountain to the starting point.
Trekking can take from two to six or more hours if the gorillas move before the park rangers locate them the next morning.
The guides stop frequently to allow trekkers a chance to rest and take photos along the way. Have lunch at the lodge, later evening free to relax or enjoy a community visit.
Dinner and Overnight.
Day 04: Golden Monkey Trekking today
Transfer this morning to the Park HQ. Visitors meet with their guides at Volcanoes National Park’s Kinigi Headquarters and the visit is done once per day. Golden Monkeys are a treat for the eyes. With their bright orange fur contrasting the green rainforests of the Virunga Mountains – it’s a photographers gem!
Like their neighbours the Mountain Gorillas, the Golden monkey can be found in very few places outside of Volcanoes National Park, and their rich colours, energetic demeanor, and sizeable troupes of up to 30 individuals are truly a sight to behold. More or less sharing the same home with the wonderful Mountain Gorillas, return to lodge. Lunch and afternoon free depending on return time.
Day 5: Departure today 07:00AM
Transfer to Kigali: After breakfast at Leisure, we drive back to Kigali enjoying the Scenic drive from the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes and drive south some banana plantations on a scenic drive to Kigali. Everything and everywhere, sheer green and hanging on the hills; Rwanda truly – land of a thousand fertile green hills.
Later transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Check-in starts 2hrs before flight time
The package includes:
- All the way Private Ground transportation in 4×4 Land Cruiser
- Airport transfers in Rwanda
- Accommodation in Single Occupancy (hotels and safari lodges)
- Meals as per itinerary
- Fulltime English speaking Driver/Guides
- Bottled drinking water and Snacks
- 1 Gorilla Tracking permit ($1500) per person
- Golden Monkey Trekking $100 per person
- Community visits and Tours as per itinerary
- Park Entry fees and Government Taxes
The package excludes any cost of personal nature like:
- East African Tourist Visa fees ($100)
- Extra Gorilla permit
- Any Vaccinations required
- Any Additional activities not agreed upon and not in Itinerary
- Tips
- Laundry unless stated
- Souvenirs
- Personal drinks and cigarettes
- International/ domestic Air ticket and related costs
