This 4 Days Gorilla & Dian Fossey Hike Rwanda tour includes trekking mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park as well as visiting the Dian Fossey tomb in the park. 12 habituated gorilla groups in Volcanoes National Park which visitors can visit trekkers every day. These include Agashya, Karisimbi, Kwitonda, Amahoro, Sabyinyo, Susa, and Umubano, among others. Dian Fossey was an American primatologist who lived in the Virunga Mountains. This was from the 1960s to 1985 when the poachers murdered her. During this time, Fossey was carrying out her research about gorillas. Also, she was safeguarding them from poachers. Her tomb is at Karisoke Research Centre which she established within Volcanoes National Park.
Trip Summary
Day 1: Meet & Greet at Kigali Airport. Transfer to Kinigi in Volcanoes National Park.
Day 2: Gorilla Tracking in Volcanoes National Park
On Day 3: Hike to Dian Fossey’s Grave.
Day 4: Leave Kinigi for Kigali.You can have a Kigali City Tour before your flight.
4 days Gorilla & Dian Fossey hike Rwanda Tour Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Rwanda & transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Upon arrival, your driver will pick you up from your hotel or airport. You will then transfer to Kinigi for an overnight. The journey goes through the beautiful rolling/majestic hills of Rwanda.
Dinner and overnight: Five Volcanoes Lodge/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Hotel Muhabura
Day 2: Gorilla Tracking in Volcanoes National Park
Enjoy an early morning breakfast and drive to the park headquarters with packed lunch and water. Then, attend a briefing by senior park warden on the ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’ while with gorillas.
Gorilla Trekking through steep and slippery Virunga slopes is so strenuous and takes 2-8 hours. The time depends on the gorillas’ movements and where they nested the last day. Visitors get at least an hour in the presence of the gorilla group. This thus allows them to monitor gorilla behavior and take enough photos. If on return to the lodge, you still have free time, the Iby’iwachu cultural village visit is worth a visit. Then, you’ll visit it or not depending on the time you conclude the trek.
Dinner and overnight: Five Volcanoes Lodge/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Hotel Muhabura
Day 3: Hike to Dian Fossey’s Grave
On this day, you’ll first have an early morning breakfast. A hike to Dian Fossey’s graveyard at the former Karisoke Research Center will then follow. This is where Dian spent about 20 years studying the Mountain Gorillas. The trek to the site is quite spectacular, as you pass through thick bamboo forests and afro-montane habitats. Also, you come across criss-crossed trails of tracks of forest buffalo and elephant! Hence, Expect to see all sorts of wildlife on your way up and down to the graves, nestled between the beautiful volcanic peaks of Karismbi and Bisoke.
Dinner and overnight: Five Volcanoes Lodge/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Hotel Muhabura
Day 4: Departure
After breakfast transfer to Kigali. Shortly, Depending on your departure flight, you can go for a city tour with visits to Genocide Memorial sites. These include Gisozi, Nyamata, and Ntarama. Then, you’ll have lunch in Kigali and later transfer to the Airport where the tour ends.
Tour Cost Inclusions
Gorilla tracking permit
Park Entrance fees
Accommodation & meals
Ground transport
Full-time English-speaking guide
Miscellaneous
Government Taxes
All activities listed in the itinerary
Cost Exclusions
Alcoholic beverages
Tips
Extra activities not in the itinerary
Personal shopping
