Destination: Rwanda
Parks: Volcanoes National Park
Itinerary at Glance
Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes NP Gorilla Trek and return
Overview.
The 1 day Rwanda Gorilla trekking adventure tour from Kigali, brings you to a great encounter with the rare mountain gorillas. This trip starts with a pick-up in Kigali in the early wee hours of the morning, and you head off to Volcanoes National Park, to trek the gorillas and return in the evening. This short quick one day gorilla trekking tour, is for those who have less time in Kigali, for business or connecting with their flights, but would wish to not miss out on sighting the gorillas in the wilderness. We bring this tour to give you a great opportunity to see the gentle giants.
High lights.
- Gorilla trekking
- Country side view
- Hiking experience
Day 1: Gorilla Trekking Experience at Volcanoes National Park
Day Itinerary
Make sure you order for an early breakfast before you go to sleep. Exactly at 4:30am, your guide will be at the hotel lobby, waiting for you, meet up and share a short briefing before, you jump into your jeep and find your way to Volcanoes National Park, which is roughly a 2 hour’s drive from Kigali. You may decide to take a nap or share some interesting stories with your guide as you drive along. By 7 am, you will be reaching the park headquarters’ in Kinigi for briefing by 0730 hrs: Registration is a simple process where the park staff determines which group of gorillas you will visit. You can grab a cap off coffee in case you would wish to at the park restaurant.
The park staff discusses your fitness level and advises you of the gorilla trekking times and conditions to the various groups based upon their location in the park the previous evening. There are a total of 96 gorilla permits available each day with a maximum of eight trekkers visiting any one group. Your guide would have asked you, about your trekking fitness, and interest, so as to choose a gorilla group that matches your interest to join for the day.
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.
Our exhilarating trek in the footsteps of the rare and critically endangered Mountain Gorillas, the largest living primate on earth, starts in the cultivated foothills of the Volcanoes National Park with stirring views in all directions.
Upon entering the park, with paths carved by the mountains’ elusive buffalo and elephant, trekkers will be immersed in the mysterious intimacy of the rainforest, alive with colourful bird calls, butterflies and more. Through gaps in the canopy, the magnificent Virunga peaks, among the highest in Africa yet easily accessible, are glimpsed, beckoning an ascent.
Weaving through overhanging vines, moss-covered hagenia and giant lobelias that thrive in the tropical climate, our experienced trackers, who spend their entire lives in or close to this forest, bring you up close with the gorilla family.
Upon sighting the gorillas, you will stay with them for a magical hour as they go about their daily life, feeding, playing, resting; raising their young. Coming face to face with a giant silverback is one of the greatest wildlife experiences on earth. You will later return from the trek and meet your guide waiting for you, and drive to a local restaurant, for a quick lunch, before you hit the road back to Kigali, filled with great smiles on your faces. Depending on your convenient place of drop off, you guide will drop you at your hotel or on time at the airport for your evening flight, where you will say bye bye to each other. End of tour!
Meal Plan: Lunch
This safari package includes.
- Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- 1 Gorilla permit ($ 1500), per person
- En-route lunches
- Services of English speaking driver/guide
- Unlimited mineral water per day per person during safari
- Fun and other excursions as mentioned in the itinerary.
The package excludes expenses of personal nature like:
- Visa Fees & flights
- Optional activities
- Tips & gratuities
- Laundry
- Alcoholic drinks
- International vaccinations
- Health test requirements
- Porter fees while trekking
- Personal travel Insurance
- Personal shopping bills
- Phone call bills
- Extras while at the hotel
- Items of personal nature
Please contact us for a free detailed quote on the option of your choice. We can tailor a request that suits your interests, and budget, as well as we can arrange gorilla trekking in Uganda or gorilla trekking in DR Congo, combine with other activities. Write to us with more details about your safari.