3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari

Mountain Gorilla Family in Volcanoes National Park

3-Day Rwanda Gorilla Safari – $1950

Overview

The 3-Day Rwanda Gorilla Safari is conducted exclusively for trekking the endangered Mountain Gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, visiting Genocide museums in Kigali, and homage to the more than 1, 000,000 people who lost their lives.

This safari is designed to suit the time-constrained travellers who limit themselves to visiting only the Volcanoes National Park to track the Mountain Gorillas and depart. The Rwanda gorilla safari package includes a gorilla permit, transportation, meals, and accommodation.

Safari Highlights

• The thrill of trekking Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat and the humbling experience of coming face to face with them as they feed, play, rest, and bond with their young
• Viewing the awesome scenic features of the volcanic mountains
• Listening to heartrending accounts of the astonishing genocide that occurred in Rwanda in the late 1990s.

Activity Schedule

Day 1: Travelling to Volcanoes National Park and viewing the volcanic features
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park
Day 3: Visit the genocide memorial site in Kigali

Detailed Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Volcanoes National Park

Start this Rwanda Gorilla Safari by traveling to Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda. You will check in at the Hotel booked for you in Ruhengeri near the park and have lunch.  In the afternoon you’ll be taken for a scenic drive in the park for 2 – 3 hours to view the awesome volcanic landscapes after which you will retire to your Hotel for Dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park

Have an early breakfast and transfer to Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a briefing at 8:30 am on the rules to be observed during Gorilla trekking. You will be allocated a Gorilla family to trek with and guides to lead you to the Gorillas. The trekking will be a 2-5 hour exercise and upon sighting the Gorillas you will spend one hour with them.

You will thereafter drive to Kigali. Dinner and overnight will be at the Rwanda Gorilla Safari lodge reserved earlier.

 Day 3: Visit the Genocide memorial in Kigali and departure

After breakfast, the Rwanda Gorilla Safari party will visit the Genocide memorial site where thousands of people lost their lives during the genocide of the mid-1990s in Rwanda and be humbled by the told horrific stories of the Rwanda People during that horrific time.

Have lunch and later transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

End of the Rwanda Gorilla Safari

Alternative Gorilla Safari for your choice: 3 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Safari 

Requirements for this Safari:

•  A Visa – you can apply for a visa online or very easily get one at the point of entry into the country (airport)
• Travel & Health insurance – This should be arranged by you in your home country before you travel.
• Physical fitness
• Gorilla trekking permit

The Safari package includes:

• Accommodation as per the itinerary
• 4WD safari vehicle
• Bottled drinking water
• Gorilla trekking permit
• Services of an English Speaking Driver/guide.
• Guided nature walks
• Return airport transfers.

The Safari package excludes expenses of a personal nature such as:

• Other drinks apart from bottled water
• Laundry
• Tips to local guides
• Telephone expenses
• Porter fees while trekking Gorillas
• Personal Insurance
• Cigarettes

Recommended alternative Rwanda Gorilla Safaris:

• 5 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trek and Lake Kivu Safari
• 3 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking & Kigali City Tour

Best time to go on Rwanda Gorilla Safari

The dry(ish) seasons, December to February, June to September – though you should note that it can rain at any time during this season.

Where to stay – Rwanda Gorilla Safari Lodges

While on the Rwanda Gorilla Safari, there’re a couple of good gorilla safari lodges but we have selected the best to suit the Rwanda Gorilla Safari itinerary.

In Kigali, the five-star Kigali Serena Hotel is conveniently located (15-30 min from the airport), with double b&b. It has a sister hotel at Gisenyi, on Lake Kivu; double b&b, which can be used as a base for gorilla trekking (90 min to park entrance). Volcanoes Virunga Lodge is more convenient (40 min to 1hr) and has a good reputation but you pay for the spectacular location, which includes all meals and drinks. We can also offer you a variety of other places to stay near the park.

Rwanda Gorilla Tracking Permits

Rwanda Gorilla Permits (US$1,500 for foreign residents) are booked through the Tourism and Conservation Reservation Office of the Rwanda Development Board (This fee is included in the price of the safari and we do due diligence by processing the permit for you). Numbers are limited and permits get snapped up well in advance, you’re advised to make sure we book this permit way before the due date (2-3 months before).

What to take on the Rwanda Gorilla Safari

Dress carefully for the Rwanda Gorilla Safari Trek:

trekking trousers (carry waterproof trousers), layered shirts with long sleeves, waterproof top, walking boots, gloves (gardening gloves are ideal) for grasping stinging nettles, plenty of water, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect spray, and a camera.

Safari Porters to carry your backpack and give you a push/pull on steep bits (worth hiring, for $10/£6.50, even if you don’t think you need one) will provide a walking stick, or you may prefer to bring your own pole.

Request a quote for this safari