3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour and Dian Fossey Tomb Hike
3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour and Dian Fossey Tomb Hike
Introduction
This 3-day itinerary combines gorilla trekking and a visit to Dian Fossey’s tomb in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. This park, the country’s most popular, harbors the second-largest population of mountain gorillas globally. Dian Fossey, a renowned primatologist, dedicated her life to studying and safeguarding these primates from poaching and trafficking. The park now offers access to 10 habituated gorilla groups year-round. Fossey’s groundbreaking research emphasized the importance of gaining the trust of the dominant silverback for successful interaction. In addition to her research, Fossey became a fervent advocate for gorilla conservation, particularly in the fight against poaching and trafficking. Tragically, her life was cut short, believed to be the result of a plot by these criminal elements. 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour and Dian Fossey Tomb Hike
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Pickup from Kigali – City Tour – Transfer to the Volcanoes National Park
Our Driver/Guide will come to pick you up from either the airport or your hotel in Kigali. The Guide will brief you about the tour and what to expect. If you need to buy anything, he will be the best person to advise you on where to go.
After the briefing, the driver will take you for a half-day Kigali city tour. During this tour, you will visit the genocide memorial site, the former presidential palace, the main city markets, and souvenir shops. You will then have lunch from one of the good eat outs or hotels in Kigali.
After lunch, the Guide/ Driver will start the journey to the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. This Journey takes two hours and you should be at the lodge by 4 pm for check-in and refreshments. In the evening, you can ask the Guide to take you for a tour of Lake Ruhondo and Burera (the twin lakes) or visit the Musanze town before going back for dinner.
Dinner and overnight stay at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Luxury), Hotel La Palme (Mid-range), and Muhabura Guest House (Budget).
Day 2: Gorilla trekking – Visit the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village
Day 2 begins with an early breakfast and a trip to the park offices for a briefing. It’s a good idea to request some light snacks from your hotel for sustenance during the gorilla trek. At the park offices, you’ll meet various officials, including park wardens and rangers, along with fellow tourists engaging in different activities. The briefing covers essential information about mountain gorillas, what to anticipate, and how to conduct yourself during the trek. Subsequently, you’ll be assigned to a specific gorilla family based on your fitness level, availability, and personal preference.
Gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park varies in duration, ranging from one to six hours, contingent on the assigned gorilla group’s location and feeding area. The terrain can be challenging, especially for those less physically fit, involving traversing dense bamboo forests, thickets, rugged landscapes, hills, and valleys before encountering the primates.
It’s crucial to strictly adhere to the rangers’ instructions, especially in the presence of the gorillas. Refrain from eating near them and maintain a respectful distance. When in a group, avoid encircling the primates to prevent any agitation. Flash photography is prohibited to avoid arousing their curiosity or causing alarm. You’ll have a limited hour to observe the gorillas once you locate them. After observing the family engage in play, grooming, and feeding, it’s time to depart. Your driver will be waiting at the starting point to take you back to the park offices for some relaxation.
In the afternoon or evening, your Driver/Guide will escort you to the Gorilla Guardian Village, formerly known as the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village. Here, you’ll have the chance to immerse yourself in the cultures of Rwanda’s three tribes. Additionally, you can purchase souvenirs for your loved ones back home. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the local medicine man and discover how common ailments were treated before the advent of modern medicine.
Dinner and overnight stay at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Luxury), Hotel La Palme (Mid-range), and Muhabura Guest House (Budget).
Day 3: Visit Dian Fossey Tomb and the former Karisoke Research Centre – Departure to Kigali
Wake up early as usual and take breakfast as you wait for the Guide to take you to the park offices for another briefing. You will then head out to the slopes of the mountains to follow the same route Dian Fossey trekking and gorilla tour. Fossey did it several times in a month decades ago. During the hike, the rangers will share with you all the information about Dian Fossey, her work with the gorilla, her foundation, and her legacy. You will get to meet some of the porters who worked with her at the time to give you their own accounts of how it was working with her. Dian Fossey is buried close to Digit, her favorite gorilla. You will also visit her former workstation and former Karisoke Research Centre.
After completing the Dian Fossey grave hike, you will slope down and find the Guide who should take you back to the hotel to check out and begin your journey back to Kigali. And that marks the End of the tour.
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