Nothing keeps you as alert, anxious, and happy from start to end as a gorilla trekking experience. Every bend and turn offers a new view of the forest. This 3-day gorilla trekking safari to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda takes you to one of only four homes of the endangered mountain gorillas, found along the Virunga chain of mountains.
Mountain gorillas live only in Africa and rank among the most exciting animals to watch in the wild. The safari starts and ends in Kigali, with comfortable accommodation and good food throughout.
3-Day Rwanda Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Pickup, Kigali city tour, and drive to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 2: Gorilla trekking and visit to the twin lakes
- Day 3: Departure after Dian Fossey grave hike
Detailed 3-Day Rwanda Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Pickup, Kigali City Tour, and Drive to Volcanoes National Park
Our company representative will meet and brief you on what to expect on the trip, either at the airport, your hotel, or your residence, before starting a city tour that lasts about 2 to 3 hours. You will visit local markets to pick up any items you need, exchange money for local currency, and see how the city runs day to day.
After lunch in the city, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial before continuing to Volcanoes National Park. The drive passes rolling hills, farmland, and homesteads scattered across the region. Arrive at your lodge in the evening for refreshments, dinner, and rest.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking and Visit to the Twin Lakes
At about 6:00am, enjoy breakfast at the lodge, then head out with your trekking gear to the park headquarters for registration, a pre-trek briefing, and assignment to your gorilla family. Rangers cover the rules of the forest before the trek begins, which takes 1 to 6 hours of hiking, plus one hour spent with the gorilla family once found, watching the dominant silverback, mothers with their young, and playful juveniles.
Photos and questions are welcome during this hour. Afterward, return to the lodge for lunch, followed by a relaxing evening by Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo, known as the twin lakes. Watch for birds and other wildlife around the water before an evening drive back to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3: Departure After Dian Fossey Grave Hike
After breakfast, take an optional hike to the grave of Dian Fossey, a conservationist who devoted her life to studying and protecting mountain gorillas. She is buried alongside several of the gorillas she studied, at the foot of the Virunga Mountains near the Karisoke Research Center she founded. Afterward, transfer to the airport, your residence, or your next accommodation near the park.
What to Bring
Pack hiking boots, a rain jacket, long trousers, a long-sleeved shirt, gardening gloves, insect repellent, sunscreen, drinking water, and energy snacks for the trek. A camera and binoculars help you capture the gorillas and other wildlife along the way.
What’s Included
This tour includes transport, a professional driver-guide, accommodation, and your gorilla trekking permit. Personal expenses are not included unless agreed at booking.
End of safari.
