This 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla safari is one of the shortest tours offered to Volcanoes National Park and is the ultimate trip for a business traveler that only has a weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) to spare or one that desires to incorporate the gorilla trekking experience on a long Africa safari that includes Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and or South Africa.
The safari starts and ends in Kigali where you will be picked and transferred to Volcanoes National Park for 2-3 hours, check-in at one of the Safari Lodges for the next two nights and return back. Interestingly this trip is tailor-made and can be customized or adjusted in your own style of travel.
Highlights of the 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla safari
- Kigali City tour.
- Trekking the mountain gorillas
- Scenic drive road trip through the countryside
- Cultural tour
- Plethora of bird species.
- Other animals of the Park are likely to be encountered.
Brief itinerary of the 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park jungles.
Day 3: Return back to Kigali City.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda.
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be welcomed and briefed by our driver/guide who will brief you about everything you need to know about the safari. After this 15-20 minutes’ briefing session drive Northwards of Kigali City to Ruhengeri at the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes through Rwanda’s most remote, lush and beautiful countryside and immerse your imagination into Mother nature’s own tranquility.
Travel time is between 2 and 3 hours depending on the number of stopovers with great drive speed to allow you relish the breathtaking countryside scenery. Once you arrive, you will check in to your lodge and later enjoy a delicious dinner while appreciating the beauty of this evergreen tropical forest.
Overnight stay at:
Luxury: Virunga Lodge.
Midrange: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge.
Budget: Kinigi Guesthouse.
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner.
Drive time: 2-3 hours.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park jungles
After a sumptuous early breakfast, drive to Kinigi Park Headquarters for gorilla briefing that lasts between 30 and 45 minutes.
Before venturing into the lush Tropical rainforest make sure to be physically fit because you will be hiking moderately steep slopes of 2400 to 4500 meters above sea level. Therefore have comfortable clothes and footwear, a backpack containing enough drinking water and packed lunch as well as a walking stick. The time spent gorilla tracking is unpredictable although it varies from 1-4 hours before the unforgettable encounter with one of the habituated gorilla families.
The location of each gorilla family usually depends on weather, their feeding range and movement of the previous day but with the trackers ahead of your tracking group, it will be easier to find them. Dos and don’ts will be issued at the Park Headquarters during briefing and make sure to adhere to them to avoid colliding with the giant apes.
Spend the allotted one hour to watch and capture this memorable experience as they go about their day to day activities. Unforgettable photogenic moments include mothers breastfeeding their babies, young ones playing around the silverbacks and foraging The sight of these outstanding creatures is the climax of the physically demanding trek and the entire safari. Later return to the Lodge to rest. In the afternoon head for a cultural tour around Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village where you will immerse into out sensational cultural experiences. Return to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Overnight stay at:
Luxury: Virunga Lodge.
Midrange: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge.
Budget: Kinigi Guesthouse.
Day 3: Return back to Kigali City.
With a delicious breakfast, check-out of the Safari Lodge and drive back to Kigali. Take a city tour on arrival with popular tourist sites such as Kigali Genocide Memorial Site, local markets, Craft markets and the Rwanda National Museum. The time to be spent in these places depends on you departure flight and later have Lunch before being driven to the Airport.
End of your 3 days Rwanda Gorilla Safari
This 3 days Rwanda gorilla safari Includes;
- A Full time English speaking guide.
- Gorilla permit.
- Transfers in a customized 4X4 Vehicle.
- 2 nights’ accommodation.
- Meals per the itinerary.
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off.
Exclusions;
- Visa fees.
- Travel insurance.
- Optional activities not on the itinerary.
- Beverages except the ones provided during meals.
- Gratuities and Tips.