Overview
This 7 Days Gorilla trekking Dian Fossey and Golden monkey trekking safari is a perfect tour to bond with gorillas, golden monkeys and exploring Rwanda’s cultures, you will have an opportunity to visit the dense jungles in the beautiful Virunga volcanoes in Rwanda, Volcanoes National park is the only destination in Rwanda where you will find mountain gorillas and Golden monkeys in their natural habitat, you will have an opportunity to visit Dian Fossey’s grave, next to her the grave of the beloved gorilla friend Digit and 20 other gorillas that were killed by the poachers, you will also see the ruins of her house. You will enjoy this safari experience starting from Kigali and ending in Kigali.
Brief Itinerary
- Day One: Pick up from the hotel/Airport for a morning city tour and Volcanoes National Park
- Day Two: Morning Cultural experience and relaxation
- Day Three: Gorilla Trekking in volcanoes National park
- Day Four: Second Gorilla trekking Experience
- Day Five: Golden monkey trekking
- Day Six: Dian Fossey Tomb Visit
- Day Seven: Drive to Kigali for drop off to end the tour
Detailed Itinerary
Arrival
- You’ll be picked up from the airport (or hotel)
- Accommodation before the tour departs can be arranged for extra cost
Day 1: Pick up from your Hotel in Kigali for a city tour and drive to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast in the Morning, your driver guide will pick you up from the Hotel and start your 7-Day Gorilla trekking safari, you will start with a city tour in Kigali city you will visit the Genocide memorial and Kimironko market you will proceed for Volcanoes National Park arriving in the evening. You will check in at the lodge for relaxation followed by dinner and overnight
Luxury Lodge: Bisate lodge/One and only/Virunga lodge
Mid-range: Five Volcanoes lodge/Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Le Bambou Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Cultural experience in Volcanoes National park
After breakfast in the Morning, you will depart for your cultural experience where you will have an opportunity to explore cultural experience by the Iby’lwachu village, you will have an opportunity of participating in the cultural dances with the indigenous people of Rwanda you will later drive back to the lodge for relaxation
Luxury Lodge: Bisate lodge/One and only/Virunga lodge
Mid-range: Five Volcanoes lodge/Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Le Bambou Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Early morning benefit from a tasty breakfast at the lodge before your first exciting morning drive through the Switzerland of Rwanda Park that is too clear in the indigenous forest for Gorilla trekking and draws one to the real side of natural beauty. You will be briefed at the park headquarters and later depart for the gorilla trekking experience alongside the ranger guides. Once you find them, you will spend one hour with them taking pictures and later you will return to the starting point and embark on your vehicle and drive to the lodge for overnight
Luxury Lodge: Bisate lodge/One and only/Virunga lodge
Mid-range: Five Volcanoes lodge/Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Le Bambou Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Second Gorilla trekking of a different gorilla family in Volcanoes National Park
Early morning benefit from a tasty breakfast at the lodge before your first exciting morning drive through the Switzerland of Rwanda Park that is too clear in the indigenous forest for your second Gorilla trekking and draws one to the real side of natural beauty, this time you will visit a gorilla family different from the one you visited the previous day. You will be briefed at the park headquarters and later depart for the gorilla trekking experience alongside the ranger guides. Once you find them, you will spend one hour with them taking pictures and later you will return to the starting point and embark on your vehicle and drive to the lodge for overnight
Luxury Lodge: Bisate lodge/One and only/Virunga lodge
Mid-range: Five Volcanoes lodge/Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Le Bambou Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Golden monkey trekking experience
After your breakfast, depart the park headquarters for briefing and later start your golden monkey trekking experience,
Luxury Lodge: Bisate lodge/One and only/Virunga lodge
Mid-range: Five Volcanoes lodge/Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Le Bambou Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Hike to the Dian Fossey’s Tomb
After your breakfast, depart for a hike to the Dian Fossey’s grave, this hike takes about 3-4 hours but it is doable by anyone with basic fitness, the ranger guide will provide you with information about Dian Fossey regarding the role she played towards the conservation and saving these endangered mountain gorillas, reaching the site you will have an opportunity to visit her grave, lying next to her is the grave of her beloved gorilla friend , Digit along with 20 other gorillas killed by the poachers you will also see the ruins of her house, you will later bid farewell to Dian Fossey,
Luxury Lodge: Bisate lodge/One and only/Virunga lodge
Mid-range: Five Volcanoes lodge/Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Le Bambou Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Drive Back to Kigali or Airport to catch up for your flight back home
After your breakfast, you will bid farewell to Volcanoes National Park, embark on your vehicle and drive to Kigali or airport to catch up for your flight back home
Lodge: No Accommodation
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
This safari is available on private basis so you can contact us for a quote. Provide us with details of how many people you will be in a group, when you intend to travel and one of our specialists will respond to you as soon as we receive your email
- Gorilla permits: We encourage you to book gorilla permits in advance so that we secure your trekking spot. Gorilla permits are served on first come first serve by Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Please contact us so that we book them for you.
- Cost of the gorilla permit: The gorilla permits in Rwanda cost USD1500 for Non-Foreign residents, USD500 for East African Foreign Residents, USD200 East African Citizens
- Physical Fitness: Gorilla trekking can be physically demanding, a certain level of fitness will be required, please ensure you are in good health and have a certain level of fitness before you leave your country.
- Packing List: Please ensure you have comfortable walking/ hiking shoes that can handle the terrain, a rain Jacket, gloves, Camera, Binoculars,
- Age Limit: The Minimum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 15 years and above, please ensure all travelers are aged 15years and above.
- Accommodation Options: Please choose the accommodation that suits your budget, Volcanoes National Park has all options of Budget, Midrange and Luxury.
- Means of Transport: The best means of transport is by road, it takes about 2-3 hours drive to from Kigali to Vocanoes National Park. For budget clients, we recommend use of safari vans, then others can opt for Safari Landcruisers. All vehicles are comfortable with enough leg room, AC and are driven by our professional driver guides.
- Best time to visit: Volcanoes National Park can be visited all year round for gorilla trekking, The most preffered time is June to September, December to February because they are the drier months of the year.
- Chances of Seeing the Gorillas: The chances of seeing gorillas are 98% because there are trackers who follow the movement of gorillas on a daily basis, they communicate to the Park guides and you walk in the direction they are.
- Choose a gorilla family: You can choose your preferred gorilla family of the day of the trek, if you prefer a close/ easy trek due to your fitness level, please request it and communicate to your guide.
- Other activities: There are several activities you can do in Volcanoes National Park; namely Birding, Ibya’ iwachu cutural experience, Nature walks, Community visits. All these can suppliment your gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park
- Trip cost estimate:The cost of this gorilla tour is based on your travel style. The cost Includes gorilla permit, accommodation, Meals, transport, and all services. Kindly get in touch with our Safari expert
- About Volcanoes National Park: This Park is Situated in the far northwest of Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park protects the steep slopes of this magnificent mountain range – home of the endangered mountain gorilla and a rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, which embrace evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp and heath.Volcanoes National Park is named after the chain of dormant volcanoes making up the Virunga Massif: Karisimbi – the highest at 4,507m, Bisoke with its verdant crater lake, Sabinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura.
STANDARD: 4X4 SAFARI VAN
Our standard mode of transport is by road and we use 4×4 Safari Vans customized for game viewing and photography. Each safari van comes with a professionally trained driver guide and fuel for the whole safari. Our Safari vans have viewing hatches and each client is entitled to a window seat. Our Vans can take up to eight people. We also have 4×4 Super Customs very comfortable and stable on the road. These carry up to 5 people with their luggage. We also have 4×4 RAV 4 for a group of two people
UPGRADE: 4X4 LUXURY SAFARI LANDCRUISER
We have luxury latest Land cruisers each driven by professionally trained driver guides and fuel. They have pop-up roofs for proper game viewing and photography. They come with a small fridge for cooling your drinking water while on safari (which is always included while IN THE VEHICLE). They have inverters for charging small gadgets such as your smartphones and cameras. They can seat five to a maximum of seven people and each client is guaranteed of a window seat.
